5 Things: SEEK2019, Headlines, and a Recommendation (1/24/19)

Welcome back!  In 2019, things may look a little different. This year, I am hoping to do a few more longer form writing pieces (still in the 5 Things mold), but focused a bit less on the headlines. This will help alleviate the time crunch which caused my fall schedule to be off. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

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3 Things I Learned from SEEK2019

1) There are a lot of Catholics in the US

You’re probably thinking, “Great, tell me something I didn’t know, David.” But, SEEK and the Camp Summit hammered home this point for me. I witnessed 16,000+ Catholics celebrate Mass, sing praise, and fall down in adoration together. Over 400 priests attended the event and heard countless confessions. Over 200 Catholic organizations, communities, and institutions (including Camp Gray) sponsored and attended the event. Numerous schools brought contingents of students from across the country. I met students from practically every state, and even some from other countries. The whole event of SEEK inspired hope in the future of the Church.

2) Catholic Celebrities are a Real Thing

Many of you reading this will know the names of some of these celebrities. The list includes lay speakers like Scott Hahn, Chris Stefanick, Leah Darrow, and Sarah Swafford. Of course there are also the numerous religious speakers like Sr. Bethany Madonna, Bishop Robert Barron, and (literally everyone’s favorite) Fr. Mike Schmitz. I highlight these folks for two reasons: 1) They are relevant and profound speakers and folks in the Catholic world look up to many of them. 2) It is amusing and heartwarming to see young Catholic men and women giggling like little children and giddy about the opportunity to meet their idols.

However, these ‘Catholic Celebrities’ (like all of our earthly role models) are just humans striving for Christ. In his keynote, Fr. Mike described how he failed to act in a situation involving a student suffering a seemingly minor injury on a plane. He said, “It wasn’t that I wasn’t moved, it was that I didn’t move. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, but that I didn’t care enough to act.” While it is important for us to have role models, just remember that they are not perfect. Certainly, be inspired by those Catholic Celebrities to strive for heaven. But also know, that Fr. Mike (and all your role models) needs prayers and support as much as the next person.

3) Everyone Needs a Retreat

While SEEK is not necessarily a ‘retreat’ it is valuable to help us recenter and refocus. The need to slow down and rejuvenate ourselves cannot be overstated. We live in a world that constantly demands our attention: emails, texts, social media, our friends and family, and so much more. It is important for us to take the time to find the rhythm of life for which we are created.

We don’t need to scroll through Instagram. We don’t need to rewatch The Office for the 17th time. We don’t need to play more games on our phones or consoles. We need to find time for prayer. Find time for good meals and conversations with loved ones. Seek out talks and videos that will inspire you to live your best life. Find time to explore your hobbies and passions. Read more books. Go to the gym. Take a retreat and refocus.
Find those things that reinvigorate you and do them.

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4) Headlines-

• Government Shutdown: Day 34….No Deal Yet, but here are Ideas
  • The longest shutdown in US history still rages on. Here is a reminder of the 25% of government that is actually shutdown.
  • Furloughed workers will miss their second paycheck at the end of the week.
  • Both sides still seem entrenched. Trump wants $5.7B for a border wall. Democrats feel Trump went back on his original deal. Both sides think the other will get blamed for the shutdown.

• The Democratic Primary is Crowded…And It Has Just Begun (CNN)
  • 2020 is expected to be crowded for the Democrats. Already eight folks (see below) have announced their candidacy. There is an expectation that big names like Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Beto O’Rourke (to name a few) will also join the fray.
    
    • Elizabeth Warren- 69, Senator of Massachusetts
    • Kirsten Gillibrand- 52, Senator of New York
    • Kamala Harris- 54, Senator of California
    • Julian Castro- 44, Fmr. Sec. Housing & Urban Development
    • John Delaney- 55, Former Rep. of Maryland
    • Pete Buttigieg- 37, Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
    • Tulsi Gabbard- 37, Rep. of Hawaii
    • Andrew Yang- 44, Businessman of New York

• Venezuela’s Two Presidents (Vox)
  • Nicolás Maduro won reelection in May 2018, but citizens and observers claim the process was rigged. Enter opposition pary leader, Juan Guaidó who claimed he is the rightful president and has received the support of many countries including the USA.

• Patriots-Rams Super Bowl Matchup Set
  • If you haven’t heard, this is the missed call that has Saints fans still mourning. If called, the Saints would have been able to run down the clock and kick a game-winning field goal as time expired. But, they lost in overtime.
  • Both Championship Games went into overtime on Sunday. Tom Brady and the Patriots were both great and lucky against the Chiefs. Their win gives the Patriots their 4th Super Bowl appearance in 5 years and their 9th since 2001. It also sets up a rematch of the 2001 Super Bowl (Tom Brady’s first) against the Rams. Brady is 5-3 all time in the Super Bowl with 4 SB MVPs.

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5) Recommendation of the Week – SEEK2019 Talks

A playlist of selected talks from SEEK2019

Alright, so this might be somewhat cheating, as I have already discussed SEEK2019 a lot up top. However, take some time and watch these talks from the conference. They are profound, entertaining, and thought-provoking. The talks have the capacity to impact you in a profound way. Take some time over the next week, and watch these!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things (10/18/18)

Welcome back!  So this is not Thursday…Sorry!

A brief reminder of my goals for this blog: this blog is meant for my own personal edification as much as to my audience. To be able to explain something, you need to have an understanding of the topic. So this blog helps me stay up to date with the news, practice my writing, and hopefully entertain and inform. I also plan to experiment with a few different styles, so let me know what you think! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

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National Headlines – Deficit Jumps by 17%, 6 Year High

Deficit vs. Debt

Just a reminder that the deficit is the one year shortcoming in the budget (FY2018 was $779 billion) while the debt is the total year over year that the government owes (currently upwards of $21 trillion).

Why this happened?

The United States has not run a budget surplus in over 15 years, so this is not unusual. It is notable the increase and the size of the deficit. Government spending rose 3% due largely to military and entitlements. Meanwhile, the GOP tax cuts started which meant that corporations paid $76 billion less in taxes which means less revenue for the government.

Why It Matters

Heading into the midterms, strategists initially thought the GOP could ride the strong economy and tax cuts message. However, personal tax cuts won’t start showing up for most individuals until 2019. Couple this with the fact that clinging to Trump seems to be the best strategy, and GOP candidates have not really stuck to the economy message.

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International News – WaPo Journalist Presumed Dead, Allegedly Murdered by Saudis

What Happened?

Here is a brief synopsis of the situation via our friends at AllSides:

“Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and longtime critic of the regime in Saudi Arabia, was allegedly murdered at the Saudi consulate on October 2, sparking global outrage over human rights abuses at the hands of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

Khashoggi, a US Resident with a green card and Saudi Arabian national, was at the consulate in Istanbul, Turkey to get marriage paperwork for himself and his Turkish fiance when this happened. He entered the consulate and never left.

After the Saudi Crown Prince denied involvement, President Trump was asked about it and said that the press was making this another ‘guilty until proven innocent’ case. However, Trump has since changed his tune slightly and said that if Saudi Arabia was found guilty there would be ‘severe consequences.’

Why It Matters

First and foremost, this is about a journalist who was (allegedly brutally) interrogated and murdered. That is an unfortunate story on its own merits. He was murdered due to his critiques of a regime which goes against “the exercise of fundamental rights, including the right to life and of expression and dissent.”

Furthermore, the Trump Administration, in contrast to the Obama Administration, has sought to make Saudi Arabia its main ally in the Middle East. Ultimately this is also a reflection of the United States and the countries we choose as allies. It is hard for the United States to wield any sort of moral authority when we ally ourselves with countries that commit murders because of what someone writes.

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Writer’s Choice – 2020!

In a few short weeks, the 2018 midterms will have come and gone. Once the postmortems have been written about the midterms, the very next article will be about who is running, particularly for President, in 2020. So, let’s write that article.

The Assumed Candidates

A quick note: As you will notice, the first three candidates on the list are female and it seems inevitable, that a female nominee will emerge.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): Basically everything Warren has done in the last year or so seems to indicate her plans are to run in 2020. This includes her recent spat with President Trump about her heritage.

Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY): One of the Democratic leaders  of the #MeToo movement, Gillibrand is  a shrewd politician and built her own image. She is not afraid to throw elbows and would be a good matchup against Trump.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA): Harris is a rising star from California in the Democratic Party. She has folks in her corner at least discussing the idea of a 2020 run.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ): Booker seems to have been planning to run for President (at some point) since he was elected Mayor of Newark back in 2006.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VA): Bernie had his base ‘feeling the Bern’ in 2016, and remains a prominent Democratic figure (despite his status as an Independent). However, it feels like his moment may have passed by 2020.

Obama Contingent

Joe Biden: Vice President under Barack Obama, Biden has not ruled out a run. His biggest marks against him? He is an old, white male in a party trending younger and more diverse.

Eric Holder: Part of the Obama Administration. First ever black Attorney General from 2009-2015. Well liked, well connected, smart, and his connection to Obama would be a huge plus.

Michelle Obama: Former FLOTUS seems unlikely to run, but would likely do remarkably well due to name recognition and her own celebrity.

Sleeper Candidates

These are candidates who may or may not run, but will certainly capture media attention if they do and could surprise people by how well they do.

John Kasich: The Republican Governor of Ohio never really stopped running after the 2016 election. He was one of the last to leave the Republican primary in 2016 and could try to run as an Independent in 2020.

Michael Avenatti: Outspoken attorney to Stormy Daniels has hinted at a presidential bid. He is similar to President Trump because he is an ‘outsider’ who knows how to get media attention. Also, the world seems to have lost its mind in the last few years so who knows.

Beto O’Rouke: Imagine this….O’Rouke, who despite gaining national attention for his Senate bid in Texas, loses in a close race to Ted Cruz. However, O’Rouke turns his popularity and massive 2018 funding into a run as a progressive who can carry the South.  It may not happen, O’Rourke wouldn’t run if won, and on Thursday he actually stated that it is a “definitive no.” So, if politics has taught me anything that means its about a 50/50 shot.

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Recommendation of the Week – The Weeds

The Weeds is my newest podcast addiction. Produced by Vox, the Weeds doesn’t just give the headlines, it digs “into the weeds” of the issues. The hosts spend time pulling apart different policy ideas or proposals that may be in the news. They also frequently end the podcast by highlighting a “white paper” or policy brief. Two notes: the podcast uses occasional expletives and is produced by Vox which gives it a bit of liberal lean.

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Inspiration of the Week  – Paul VI and Oscar Romero Canonized

Pope Francis canonized Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Oscar Romero this week. The communion of saints gained two more saints! If you don’t know much about these saints click the links below to read their stories!

You can learn more about St. Oscar Romero HERE

You can learn more about St. Paul VI HERE

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things (10/12/18)

Welcome back!  A brief reminder of my goals for this blog: this blog is meant for my own personal edification as much as to my audience. To be able to explain something, you need to have an understanding of the topic. So this blog helps me stay up to date with the news, practice my writing, and hopefully entertain and inform. I also plan to experiment with a few different styles, so let me know what you think! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

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National Headlines – Nikki Haley Resigns as UN Ambassador

On Tuesday morning, Nikki Haley resigned her position of US Ambassador to the United Nations. Haley’s resignation was unexpected, but will not be immediate; she will retain her post until the end of the year.

Why is she leaving?

The reasons according to Haley? To ‘take a break’ from public service in part because she’s a ‘big believer in term limits.’ Despite her rising political stature, Haley stated she is not running for president (or office) in 2020.

Other potential reasons?

Haley is first and foremost an effective politician. She was able to disagree with President Trump while not feuding with him, and grew her political star even as the UN Ambassador (a fairly low prestige cabinet position). So, what are some of the other political reasons she left?

• Her waning clout on the foreign policy team since John Bolton and Mike Pompeo have taken over as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, respectively.
• She is going out on her own terms before midterms. If she left after a poor showing from the GOP in the midterms, it could look like Haley abandoning ship.
• Perhaps she is vying for a different cabinet position (Secretary of State or Attorney General to name a few), as there are likely changes coming after the midterms.

Who could take over?

Dina Powell (former Bush WH Aide and Goldman Sachs Exec) is the only person we know that is being considered. However, there have been reports that there is a short-list of five individuals being considered.

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Business News – This Week in Tech

Tech companies continue to dominate the news cycle. Let’s take a look at some of the major headlines:

Facebook: Introduced a new device, Facebook Portal, a smart speaker optimized for video calls. Here is a review.

Google: Google+ being shut down after data breach.  However, Google had already scheduled a product launch for this week and it headlined a new Google Pixel phone.

Amazon: Upgrading minimum wage to $15/hour

Apple: Launching a streaming service which will be free to individuals on Apple devices.

What does all this mean?

Amazon is getting the headlines for $15/hour minimum wage, but that isn’t the whole story. The increase is slightly offset by a cut in other benefits, but Amazon and CEO Jeff Bezos stressed that there is an overall increase in compensation.

Apple is trying to take on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and the other subscription services that will continue to appear (read: Disney and AT&T’s services set to launch in late 2019). Apple is producing original content and shooting for more family-friendly. As the Wall Street Journal put it when they broke the story: “Apple has made clear, say producers and agents, that it wants high-quality shows with stars and broad appeal, but it doesn’t want gratuitous sex, profanity or violence.”

Facebook is not known for hardware, so this is a big leap for them. However, it shows the staying power of the Smart Home gadgets. On the other hand, these Smart Home products bring with them a level of privacy concerns. The last few months have brought plenty of privacy issues including Google’s data breach announced this week and Facebook’s data breach that led to hearings on Capitol Hill to name a few within the tech world. Data privacy and tech regulations will continue to be the issue that defines this generation.

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Writer’s Choice –  NAFTA is Dead. Long Live NAFTA!

Last week, President Trump agreed in principle to a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico to replace the current North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Here’s what you need to know about the appropriately (but not creatively) named United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Here are some of the highlights of USMCA compared to NAFTA:

This agreement is far from a done deal. The heads of state of each country negotiated the deal, but in the United States the legislature (Congress) must sign off on trade agreements. USMCA is unlikely to be taken up until 2019 when the new Congress comes in.

The Fallout

As noted, the updated agreement includes digital products which have drastically increased since the inception of NAFTA in 1994. This is one place that sorely needed updating.

This agreement has a few distinct changes, but keeps much of the NAFTA framework. However, President Trump is able to claim victory on a campaign promise to rework NAFTA. Love him or hate him, this adds to Trump’s list of campaign promises fulfilled: he has filled two Supreme Court seats, seen a roaring economy, and now has redone NAFTA.

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Recommendation of the Week – The Rewatchables

One thing, I have really come to enjoy is dissecting movies and what makes them great. The Rewatchables is a podcast from the Ringer that does just that with movies the crew can’t seem to stop watching. For example, they have reviewed everything from The Princess Bride to The Dark Knight to Die Hard to Jerry Maguire. Though sometimes explicit on the pod, the crew goes through categories like Best Quote, Apex Mountain, and Most Rewatchable Scene.

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Inspiration of the Week  – Drew Brees

This week, Drew Brees eclipsed Peyton Manning to become the leading passer in NFL history on Monday Night Football. He did it in style with a 62-yard touchdown pass and has now thrown for over 72,000 yards (just over 40 miles!)

However, the real inspiration came when Brees was asked about his achievements. He heaps praise on those around him, tries to inspire and make others proud, and gives glory to God. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things (10/3/18)

Welcome back! After taking a summer hiatus 5 Things has returned! A brief reminder of my goals for this blog: this blog is meant for my own personal edification as much as to my audience. To be able to explain something, you need to have an understanding of the topic. So this blog helps me stay up to date with the news, practice my writing, and hopefully entertain and inform. I also plan to experiment with a few different styles, so let me know what you think! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

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National Headlines – Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court Hearings

The Kavanaugh hearings have caught the attention of much of the country. If you need a refresher, this link is a full version of how we got here. Here are some of the main events of the last week:

• Last week, as part of the nomination process, Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assualt and misconduct, while Kavanaugh denied any such actions.
• After the testimonies, Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) asked for a one week FBI investigation into the case. This was authorized by the White House.
• As of Wednesday night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) filed for cloture setting up a procedural vote for Kavanaugh’s nomination on Friday. A final vote would then take place on Saturday.

The findings of the FBI investigation are likely not going to be made public, but will go to the committee. The investigation and other news reports over the coming days will likely impact the swing voters.

Here’s the political landscape:

Kavanaugh needs to be approved by a simple majority of Senators to be confirmed to the Supreme Court. (Note: in April 2017, the Senate changed the rules to require only a simple majority rather than 60 votes to confirm a Supreme Court nominee.) Republicans hold a 51-49 majority, and the vote likely to be down party line with the exception of a few swing Republican Senators: Jeff Flake, Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Flake voted for Kavanaugh as part of the Judiciary Committee, making Murkowski and Collins the two to watch most closely. Collins and Murkowski are also likely to vote in unison, as a split between the two would end in a 50-50 tie which Vice President Mike Pence could break.

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Local News – Battle for Wisconsin’s Political Identity

From Left to Right: Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Tony Evers, Leah Vukmir, Gov. Scott Walker

Main Players in Main Races:

US Senate Race:
Tammy Baldwin – Democrat (incumbent)
Leah Vukmir – Republican

Gubernatorial Race:
Scott Walker – Republican (incumbent) 
Tony Evers – Democrat 

Marquette University Law School conducted two polls, one in August and September, regarding the race. Let’s look at the numbers:

With a month to go before the general election both races will be tightly contested. Vukmir and Baldwin are fighting vehemently over topics like the support of Donald Trump, Brett Kavanaugh, and the Affordable Care Act. Evers and Walker have been fighting over taxes, Foxconn, and personal attacks on each other. Whomever you support, make sure to inform yourself and perform your civic duty. REGISTER AND GO VOTE!

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Writer’s Choice – Unanswered Questions

The Kavanaugh hearings (among other news stories over the last year) raise a lot of questions for us to consider. It is important for us to wrestle with some of these ideas, think critically about the questions, and search for truth and solutions. I parsed these out from the first section, because each of these questions would make worthy blog posts in there own right. I do not offer solutions, but hopefully this will help you look past the headlines of the case.

1. “What is truth?” -Pontius Pilate What do you do when there is a “he said, she said” case with little corroborating evidence? How do you determine the truth?
2. Temperament: Judge Kavanaugh’s temperament vs. Dr. Ford’s temperament during the hearings were vastly different. If Ford had been rude or yelled, and Kavanaugh had been reserved and respectable, the entire conversation around this situation would be different. Furthermore, what should be the temperament of a Supreme Court justice or should it matter? Should the Supreme Court just continue to “call balls and strikes?”
3. Partisanship and the Court: ? How much partisanship is too much? Picks to the court are nominated and confirmed through a partisan process. Judges will  Should the Supreme Court have term limits? Would term limits or the reinstating the 60 vote limit help nominate judges with broad appeal and less partisan?
4. Politics in the nomination process: Let’s assume Ford is truthful and Kavanaugh did sexually assault her. Would Republican Senators care? That sounds very harsh, but would the appeal of putting a conservative on the bench for the next generation outweigh any negative character? Similarly, if we assume Kavanaugh’s truthfulness and innocence would Democrats still vote against him? Would the parties be acting the same way if the roles were reversed?
5. The cost of replacement: Why not replace Kavanaugh with one of the other Supreme Court nominees? There were other judges (Amy Coney Barrett and Thomas Hardiman) who were deeply considered and endorsed by the conservative Federalist Society. So, why Kavanaugh? Would having your initial nominee be replaced by an equally qualified nominee really be a political loss, especially if you could still finish the nomination prior to the midterms?

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Recommendation of the Week –Morning Brew

Like 5 Things, but wish you could get the news daily? Well, with The Morning Brew (one of my multiple daily news sources) you can have the news delivered to your inbox every morning. They bring you the business news of the day in a light, entertaining manner. You can be smarter in just 5 minutes! Click here to subscribe to the Morning Brew! 

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Inspiration of the Week  –  Camp Gray 

5 Things summer hiatus was spent on 225 acres of God’s goodness. Many of you know of my love for Camp and the joy that it brings people. This blog is coming out on Alumni Giving Day for Camp, so feel free to click this link to support this incredible place! 

Also, here is Camp Gray Films latest creation, Holy Ground.

Lastly, here is another one of my favorite videos from Camp Gray Films, Paradox.

Hopefully these videos will help illustrate my passion for this place. Feel free to check out Camp’s Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (5/10/18)

Welcome back! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Iran Nuclear Deal

President Trump announced this week that he is withdrawing the United States from the Iran nuclear deal. The 2015 deal (approved by the UN Security Council and officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was one of the major foreign policy accomplishments of President Barack Obama.  The 2015 agreement was signed by the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, Germany, France, and, of course, Iran.

“The deal, signed in 2015, placed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear program to keep it from developing nuclear weapons. It required ongoing inspections and the destruction of nuclear equipment. In return, Iran got relief from some economic sanctions.” –NPR

President Obama entered into the international agreement and not a treaty which would require the approval of Congress. However, by doing so President Obama left himself open to this exact scenario. (This is also why President Trump was able to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.) This was explained succinctly by Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) “Today is a reminder that if you live by the Presidency, you die by the Presidency. …American foreign policy makes lasting progress when it is led by the President, approved by Congress, and presented honestly to the American people.”

President Trump was urged by leaders of the other nations (particularly Emmanuel Macron of France and Angela Merkel of Germany) to remain in the agreement. However, Trump has followed his instincts (withdrawing from the deal was a campaign topic for him), his method of trying undo much of Obama’s legacy, and the advice of his new hawkish foreign policy team Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security advisor John Bolton.

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Leah Vukmir’s Comments

Last week, I discussed Kevin Nicholson, one of the two Wisconsin Republican Senate candidates running against incumbent Tammy Baldwin this fall. This week, it is his primary opponent, Wisconsin State Senator Leah Vukmir, who is making headlines. Vukmir’s campaign circulated a press release saying that Tammy Baldwin was on “Team Terrorist.” Below is the image attached to the press release.

Vukmir is pictured with CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel while Senator Baldwin is pictured with Khalid Sheikh Muhammed, the man accused of planning the 9/11 attacks and a torture victim. You might remember from a few weeks back that Haspel was overseeing a prison that used torture during her tenure at CIA. Baldwin has not indicated whether she would vote to approve Haspel or not. As of Wednesday, Baldwin has not had a chance to meet with Haspel.

Obviously, this is political charged advertisement pitting Vukmir against Baldwin in a play for the general election. Vukmir is attacking Baldwin days before the Wisconsin Republican convention where she or Nicholson will receive the party’s endorsement. But let’s turn our attention to Haspel’s confirmation.

Haspel is still in the midst of a heated nomination process for CIA Director. Haspel’s contentious committee hearing centered around her CIA role regarding torture. At the moment, most Democrats are in opposition to Haspel as are Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and John McCain (R-AZ). Senator McCain made a statement asking his fellow Senators to vote against Haspel.

“I believe Gina Haspel is a patriot who loves our country and has devoted her professional life to its service and defense. However, Ms. Haspel’s role in overseeing the use of torture by Americans is disturbing. Her refusal to acknowledge torture’s immorality is disqualifying. I believe the Senate should exercise its duty of advice and consent and reject this nomination.” -John McCain (R-AZ)

When asked during her hearing, Haspel would not state definitely if torture was immoral. However, she did explicitly state that the CIA would not return to torture under her leadership. Haspel faces a tough road to confirmation, but is likely to be installed mostly along party lines.

3) Writer’s Choice → North Korea Talks

President Trump announced today that he will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12th in Singapore. This came shortly after three Americans held captive arrived safely home from North Korea in the early hours of Thursday morning. This summit will be the first ever meeting for the leaders of the two countries.

This is not a small move by the Trump administration. There is fear that North Korea and Kim Jong Un are trying simply trying to pull a publicity stunt. The concern is that the Kim will strive to get legitimacy from meeting with the leader of the free world. On the other hand, the Trump administration sees the summit as an opportunity to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle sounded off about the North Korea news. Senate leaders Mitch McConnell had this to say:

“We’ve watched administrations of both parties not be able to achieve what we had all hoped for in North Korea, and that is a peninsula without nuclear weapons. So this is as close as we’ve ever come. I think everybody’s a little bit cautious in dealing with the North Koreans for all the obvious reasons, but this is quite significant.”         -Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

On the flip side, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that the release of Americans from North Korea “should not be exalted; it should be expected.”

Another potential issue stems from the fact that Trump just announced the United States is leaving the Iran nuclear deal. The concern here is that North Korea will be wary to come to any agreement due to the United States pulling out of the agreement.

4) Recommendation of the Week → Need 2 Know

Do you wish you could get the headlines of the day delivered to you every morning? Need 2 Know gives you a the headline and short summary of 10 headlines every day covering politics, sports, business, tech, and pop culture. This daily email also gives you links to full articles and sometimes sassy comments, pictures, or GIFs.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → The Alchemist

The Alchemist is a great novel and a quick read. It hits on themes like following your dreams and “when you really want something to happen, the whole universe will conspire so that your wish comes true.” The story written by Paulo Coelho in 1988 has become a best-seller and beloved by many.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (5/3/18)

Welcome back!  As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines  → Boy Scouts of America Name Change

Last October, Boy Scouts of America announced it would allow girls to start joining Cub Scouts which serves kindergarten through 5th grades. In the same announcement, Boy Scouts of America announced girls will be allowed to join Boy Scouts (age 11-17).

Now, the Boy Scouts of America is changing its name. The parent organization will continue to be named Boy Scouts of America, and Cub Scouts will also retain its name. However, Boy Scouts (serving ages 10-17) will now be Scouts BSA starting in February 2019.

These moves come as the Boy Scouts try to bolster their falling enrollment and be more open to all. Certainly, there are people who praised the move as being more open and inviting to folks in the LGBT community. However, there is also a segment of people who find the move simply an attempt to be more politically correct.

The Girl Scouts (which are an entirely separate organization from the Boy Scouts of America) did not bat an eye at the move.

“Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for girls,” Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, said in a statement. “We are, and will remain, the first choice for girls and parents.” -USA Today

These different approaches to programming are sure to be analyzed moving forward. It will be interesting to see if the Girl Scouts are deeply impacted by the Boy Scouts of America new strategies down the road.

 

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Nicholson’s Comments Make National News

This week, Wisconsin Republican Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson made headlines for comments he made politicizing military service. Nicholson was asked about his conservative record compared to his primary competitor, Republican State Senator Leah Vukmir. Nicholson’s conservative record has been under fire during this campaign. He was President of the College Democrats and spoke at the 2000 Democratic National Convention prior to joining the military.  During a radio interview on Wednesday, Nicholson made the following statement:

“And just because some people that don’t call themselves conservatives and don’t always act conservative do something conservative — like, let’s talk about John Kerry — and signed up to serve this country, that doesn’t mean that that’s not a conservative thing to fundamentally protect and defend the Constitution,” Nicholson said. “Because I’ll tell you, the Democrat party has wholesale rejected the Constitution and the values that it was founded upon. So I’ll tell you what: Those veterans that are out there in the Democrat party, I question their cognitive thought process because the bottom line is, they’re signing up to defend the Constitution that their party is continually dragging through the mud.” -CNN

Here are two takeaways:

1. the phrase “I question their cognitive thought process” has ended up in the headlines or subheading of a lot of articles. Nicholson made a partisan attack– Democrats for dragging the Constitution through the mud– which are not new in US politics. But, questioning someone’s “cognitive thought process” is more harsh then partisan attacks.
2. Nicholson decided to politicize military service. Yes, military members take an oath to defend “the Constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic.” But his assertion that service is inherently conservative doesn’t add up. In general, Democrats and Republicans hold different views of how the Constitution should be interpreted, but Nicholson’s point is based on the premise that conservatives hold the correct view of the Constitution.

3) Writer’s Choice → Trump’s Week

President Trump’s week has been filled with new lawyers and new questions. Here is a rundown of just a few of the headlines/stories around Trump this week.

• White House Lawyer Ty Cobb will retire at the end of May. Emmet Flood, a lawyer who represented President Bill Clinton during his impeachment process will join the staff. -NY Times
• “Special Counsel Robert Mueller, in a meeting with President Donald Trump’s lawyers in March, raised the possibility of issuing a subpoena for Trump if he declines to talk to investigators in the Russia probe, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.” -CNBC
• Former New York City Mayor and now Trump attorney, Rudy Giuliani, stated that President Trump repaid Michael Cohen for the money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. This report comes a few weeks after Trump stated he knew nothing of the $130,000 payment. –USA Today
• President Trump was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by Republican Congressman for his work on the Korean Peninsula. “Since taking office, President Trump has worked tirelessly to apply maximum pressure on North Korea to end its illicit weapons program and bring peace to the region,” the letter reads. -CNN

I have frequently written about President Trump due to his polarizing personality and odd presidency. In any other presidency, these headlines might have held the news cycle captive for much longer. And while President Trump is often raked over the coals for his behavior, it is important to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Unfortunately, this is not what happened at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, the annual roasting of the Washington politicians. Some of the jokes by Michelle Wolf were simply attacks on people’s personal appearances.

With that said, I encourage us all to take heart and to do what we can to make the world a better place around us. We need to rise above the lies, personal attacks, and degradation of others ideas. This is not a novel ideal and is not just necessary because of the Trump administration. However, the last 18 months has brought out the uglier side of most of us. But, I implore us to do great things. How are you going to make the world more awesome today? I will let my friend Kid President help answer this question.

 

4) Recommendation of the Week → Friends

---

There are only a few shows on Netflix that I have actually watched all the way through. Two (Parks and Recreation & The West Wing) have already had their day in the sun as a recommendation. Today, it is the timeless classic Friends. There are so many hilarious one-liners and heartfelt moments throughout the series. Also, I recently had a conversation with someone about would be incredibly different if it happened today. The show takes place in a simpler world when friends simply chatted over coffee instead of being attached to their smartphones. If you have never seen it and are looking for a new Netflix show, you should check it out.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a wonderful resource that strives to “provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.” They have explanatory videos on most school subjects including math, grammar, and science. Most of their explanations are worth exploring whether you want to learn a new topic, or are struggling to understand a certain concept.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (4/26/18)

Welcome back! No Wisconsin news this week because, well, it’s my blog and I had other things I wanted to cover. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) Writer’s Choice #1  → Alfie Evans

When an infant grabs the attention of the media, the Pope, and multiple heads of state it must be due to incredible circumstances. Well, Alfie Evans an infant in the United Kingdom, is doing just that as he finds himself at the center of a debate regarding healthcare and medical ethics.

Here is a quick synopsis of the situation:

Who is Alfie Evans?

23 month old “Alfie Evans has a rare, degenerative disease and has been in a semi-vegetative state for more than a year. Medical experts in Britain agree that more treatment would be futile but his parents want to take him to the Vatican’s Bambino Gesu children’s hospital in Rome, which has offered to care for him” (Reuters). While it is unclear how long Alfie would survive without life support, but medical experts state that there is no chance of Alfie getting better.

So, why can’t his parents take him to Rome?

“In the UK, the law doesn’t consider either doctors or parents to be automatically right. That’s why, when an agreement can’t be reached, it comes down to the courts to make the final decision based on the evidence available.  Professor of medical ethics at the University of Oxford Dominic Wilkinson says there are two fundamental questions that must be answered:

• What is the right thing to do for a child?
• Who should decide?

‘The interests of the child are paramount,’ he says.” -BBC

What do we make of all this?

While Alfie’s case is tragic it brings up all sorts of legal and moral issues.

Should parents have the right to determine what happens to their child? (In America, I think most would answer yes.)

If a parent chooses something potentially harmful for their child should that be overruled by the state or another authority? (We say no in this case, but what about in the case of child abuse? Or what about a situation where a parent refuses medical treatment (a blood transfusion, perhaps) for religious reasons?)

Should someone be kept alive via the assistance of life support or can a loved one make the decision to pull the plug?

In Alfie’s case, is extending his life (and potential suffering) more ethical than removing life support?

What is the difference between legality and morality? In this case, while the decision to deny Alfie care may be legal, is it moral?

These are all questions that we should ponder and seek guidance when considering. I look to the teaching of the Catholic Church in such times. I would encourage you to research more into these issues. Here are some of the Church’s views on end of life issues according to the Catechism. 

2) National Headlines → VA Nominee Withdraws

Adm. Ronny Jackson has withdrawn from consideration to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jackson was nominated by Trump in March to lead the VA. Jackson has been the physician for the last three presidents and was somewhat of a surprise choice to lead the department. However, at the time the only main knock against Jackson was his lack of managerial experience. The VA is the second largest department (behind the Department of Defense) so an unproven manager could have caused issues.

Yet, it wasn’t until this week that President Trump’s choice to lead the VA was truly under fire. Allegations mounted this week as rumors swirled that “Jackson was allegedly “abusive” to his colleagues, loosely handled prescription pain medications and was periodically intoxicated, even once wrecking a government vehicle while drunk” (CNN).

These allegations caused a distraction for the nomination process, from which Jackson ultimately withdrew today. The immediate impact of this is that the VA remains without a leader since former VA Secretary David Shulkin was fired (or left depending on your view) in March.

3) Writer’s Choice #2 → Tech News Round-up

 

 

Amazon

Shortly after announcing that Amazon Prime had over 100 million subscribers, Amazon made another announcement. Those 100 million subscribers would see their annual fee rise from $99 to $119. This 20% increase will go into effect on May 11th.

Spotify

Spotify’s 90 million free users are getting a revamped experience. The first major overhaul to the platform since 2014 will allow for a limited selection of on-demand instead of shuffle only playlists. “Those aren’t playlists you make yourself, however. The 15 full-control playlists are generated by Spotify based on your listening habits and are constantly updated, most of them daily. They include a total of 750 songs.” -The Verge. 

Gmail Update

Gmail also made a major update to its platform. Some major updates will include smart replies, nudging you to follow up on messages, and easy access to attachments from the inbox. Also, it will notify you of potential junk and spam mail, suggests unsubscribing from newsletters you do not desire, and send confidential messages which cannot be forwarded, copied, or printed and can be set to expire.

Facebook Ad

Facebook made an ad to try and own up to its faults. This mea culpa is a fair assessment that the social media giant screwed up. It is worth a watch.

4) Recommendation of the Week → INFINITY WAR!

10 years of buildup has finally led to this. When Iron Man kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there was huge anticipation to see many of our favorite characters come together for Avengers. The most recent Marvel movies have made us accustomed to seeing multiple superheros in the same movie. But, Avengers Infinity War brings together all the superheros from the last 10 years to save the world. My inner 12 year old is jumping for joy. That is what makes these movies great. There are moments that should make the little kid inside of you cheer. So, if anyone is looking for me on Sunday, I will be eagerly soaking in every moment of what has been teased fort he last 10 years.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Pints with Aquinas

The premise of this podcast and site:

“If you could sit down with St. Thomas Aquinas over a pint of beer and ask him any one question, what would it be? Every episode of Pints With Aquinas addresses a question St. Thomas answers in the Summa Theologiae, as well as other works of his.”

Matt Fradd is a wonderful speaker who walks us through some of Aquinas’ works. The podcasts are entertaining, insightful, and thought-provoking.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (4/19/18)

Welcome back! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → News Roundup

Syria Attacks

Last Friday, President Trump addressed the nation and announced military strikes against Syria. The strikes, done in conjunction with France and the United Kingdom, were carried out as a retaliation for suspected chemical weapon attack last week. In Friday’s address, President Trump called out Iran and Russia (Syrian allies) for supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s “barbarism and brutality.”

Barbara Bush

The Former First Lady and Former First Mother passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92. Barbara was the wife of the 41st president, George H.W. Bush, and the mother of the 43rd president, George W. Bush. She and Abigail Adams are the only two women to hold the distinction of First Lady and First Mother. Barbara and George celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in January

New Cuban President

Today, for the first time in nearly 60 years, someone not named Castro will rule Cuba. Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the handpicked successor of Raul Castro, was voted in as President with a near unanimous vote Thursday morning. Castro will remain in an active leadership role as the top individual in the Communist Party of Cuba. While the President of Cuba is no longer a Castro, the regime in Cuba is unlikely to drastically change in the near future.

Baby in the Senate

This week, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) became the first senator to cast a vote with her baby by her side. “The rule change, voted through by unanimous consent, was done to accommodate senators with newborn babies, allowing them now to be able to bring a child under 1-year-old onto the Senate floor and breastfeed them during votes.” -CNN

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Record Winter Storms

As I ate my lunch yesterday, my phone buzzed with a winter weather alert. I turned on the local news station to see the ever-growing list of schools closing early. I watched as large, fluffy snowflakes (the perfect kind!) fell calmly and peacefully on the Camp Gray pines.  What a perfect winter day…ON APRIL 18!

The first summer camp training starts one month from today! As of late Wednesday night, Baraboo recorded 9 inches of snow. However, that is nothing compared to the over 24 inches of snow recorded in areas surrounding Green Bay. The highest record total was in Amherst with 33 inches.

Here are some photos from the Weather Channel with some of the incredible snow totals!

Being almost a month into spring, the snow is not just impacting our sense of seasons. Farmers are often looking to start in the fields in April. While April snow showers are not abnormal, the amount of snowfall that has accumulated across the state set many records. The snow will cause a late start for crop farmers due to the wet conditions. It will certainly be the cause of some long days for farmers as they rush to get their crops planted.

3) Writer’s Choice → James Comey’s Book 

Former FBI Director James Comey released his new book A Higher Loyalty this week. If you don’t remember much about Comey, here is a quick rundown of why you should know his name.

• Comey was installed as FBI Director in 2013.
• During the 2016 election season, Comey and the FBI were investigating Hillary Clinton for using a private email server during her time as Secretary of State. In July, the FBI recommended to Attorney General Loretta Lynch not to prosecute Clinton.
• In late October, only 11 days before the 2016 election, Comey announced the discovery of new emails that may be related to the Clinton probe.
• In March 2017, Comey acknowledged the FBI was investigating collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Russians.
• In May 2017, Comey was fired by President Trump.

So, why are we discussing Comey almost a year later? Well, in part due to his book release which describes his decisions and role in the 2016 election. Comey has been blasted by pretty much everyone for his actions. Democrats (including Hillary Clinton) blame Comey (at least in part) for Trump winning the 2016 election. Many Republicans and Trump supporters see Comey as the leader of the FBI who wouldn’t let go of the Russia investigation.

Comey’s book has been depicted by some media outlets as his “revenge” for being fired by Trump. But, from the reviews and excerpts I have read, it appears to be Comey’s genuine attempt to lay out a case for how and why things transpired the way they did. Perhaps you despise Comey for his actions against Clinton and Trump. Perhaps you are indifferent and did not know Comey’s name until today. However, his book entitled, A Higher Loyalty, has an underlying theme from which all public servants could learn. Comey’s message is that we should ascribe to principled judgement and doing what is right because “the higher loyalty is to lasting values, most important the truth.”

*Also, check out this interview of Comey with Stephen Colbert

4) Recommendation of the Week → Fantastic Mr. Fox

Roald Dahl’s classic story Fantastic Mr. Fox was brought to life on the big screen by Wes Anderson. If you don’t know Wes Anderson (as I didn’t) he has an incredibly distinct style that once you see, you’ll never be able to not see. It has a star-studded case including George Clooney, Bill Murray, Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon, Owen Wilson, and Willem Dafoe. The story has some goofy humor, fascinating visuals, and intricate design work.

(For more on the intricate design work watch the short featurette below. Then, after you go spend 87 minutes enjoying the film, spend a little more time watching the “Everything Great About” video below. It includes a more detailed explanation of Anderson’s style, some of the humor you might have missed, and some broader themes from the story!)  

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Andre Ingram’s Debut

Would you spend 10 years in pursuit of your dream? Andre Ingram has spent the last 10 seasons in the NBA’s G League (essentially its minor league) desperately chasing an opportunity to play in the NBA. And not only did he play, but he deliver 19 points in his first game!

Ingram is obviously a feel good story, but his example teaches some great lessons about pursuing our dreams. The three main points in this great Entrepreneur article about Ingram are 1) Never, ever stop fighting for your dreams. 2) Trust the process and never stop believing. 3) Be ready for your moment.

So, to end this on a huge cliche….follow your dreams and seek them with relentless vigor.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (4/12/18)

Welcome back! 5 Things is back after a brief Easter hiatus. There is a lot to catch up on so let’s get to it. Also, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Zuckerberg on Capitol Hill

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has spent the last two days answering questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Zuckerberg responded to questions from over 100 lawmakers in over 10 hours of hearings.

The hearings focused on Facebook’s handling of personal data and the potential for regulation of the tech giant. Zuckerberg admitted that “it is inevitable that there will need to be some regulation” of internet firms. Reuters reported that “forty times [Zuckerberg] told lawmakers he had no answers at hand and would get back to them later.”

Facebook offers a free service which means their revenue comes from using our data to target ads for specific groups. So, while Facebook does not sell your data it internally curate ads targeted at specific groups. Advertisers pay a higher price for such targeted groups.

Here are some takeaways:

• There is unlikely to be any legislative action on Facebook. Lawmakers were not anywhere near a consensus of where to even begin with regulation.
• Furthermore, midterms are only 7 months away and there is unlikely to be any large legislation passed in that time.
• Three interesting exchanges: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked Zuckerberg if he would disclose personal information such as what hotel he stayed at last night. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) brought up the question of whether or not Facebook could be considered a monopoly. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) as well as some other Republicans accused Facebook of holding a liberal bias and shutting down or banning conservative groups/pages.
• Also, despite the negative press, almost all of us continue to use Facebook. Most of us don’t mind the targeted shopping advertisements, and even if we do, the social network’s benefits seem to outweigh the drawbacks.

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Paul Ryan Retiring in November

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced on Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in November. Speculation that Ryan might not return to the House has been swirling for the last few months. These rumors started shortly after Ryan and Republicans overhauled the tax code, something Ryan has worked towards his entire career. The House Speaker also has been a reluctant partner with President Trump. Ryan has been lambasted by both parties on many occasions.

Ryan, 48, has spent the last 20 years on Capitol Hill cited his desire to spend more time with his wife and three kids as part of the reason for his exit.

“My wife’s doing 90 percent of the parenting and I don’t want that to happen,” Ryan said. “And I basically knew, if I do another two years after this year, they’re only going to know me as a weekend dad.” –Politico

For now, Ryan will remain as Speaker of the House. Over the next few months we will sort out who might become Speaker of the House assuming the Republicans hold their majority in the House. Kevin McCarthy, the House Majority Leader, and Steve Scalise, the House Majority Whip, appear to be the two leading candidates for the speakership.

He also said he’s not sure what he’ll do next. He hinted at continuing his work on curing poverty, and said he would think further in 2019, once he’s officially out. Asked whether he would run for office again, Ryan said no. But he would accept an ambassadorship to Ireland in a decade or so, he said. –Politico

On a personal note: while I know there are a wide variety of opinions regarding Paul Ryan, he is somewhat of an idol. He is a Catholic lawmaker from 20 minutes away from my hometown who was a prominent politician during my formative teenage and young adult years. I respect Paul Ryan and am always thankful for anyone who commits themselves to public service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 

3) Writer’s Choice →FBI Raids Michael Cohen’s Office and Hotel Residence

This week, the FBI raided the office and hotel room of “President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, on Monday morning, seizing business records, emails, and documents related to several topics, including a payment to a pornographic film actress” (NY Times).

The FBI became involved after a referral from Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Here is another New York Times article that gives a run down of some of the legal points brought up by this move.

“Notably, investigators also could have used a grand jury subpoena to order Mr. Cohen to turn over the materials they were pursuing, without seeking a judge’s advance permission. A subpoena would have permitted Mr. Cohen to decide for himself which of his files to turn over and which to withhold as irrelevant or falling within a valid claim of lawyer-client privilege. By contrast, when law enforcement officials execute a search warrant, the government goes in and seizes a broader set of materials — like hard drives and the contents of filing cabinets — then sorts through them itself.”  –NYTimes

While this is just another part in the story of the Trump presidency, it is unclear what will come from the raid. While there are potential ties to President Trump, this spells trouble for Michael Cohen. The ability to obtain a warrant hinges on the likely discovery of criminal activity which is a ominous implication for Cohen. But, to use one of President Trump’s favorite lines: “We’ll see what happens.”

4) Recommendation of the Week → Marketplace

Marketplace is a great podcast for you to see how the news of the day is impacting the business world. The podcast is describes itself as “your liaison between economics and life.” The 20-30 minute daily podcast hosted by Kai Ryssdal explains current events and their impact on everyday life in simple and digestible segments.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Michael Brandwein

This past week, I had the good fortune of attending the American Camp Association Midstates Conference. There I got to see one of my favorite speakers Michael Brandwein. Michael is a leading voice in the camping industry as well as business development. Here is a short sample of Michael’s dynamic speaking style as he discusses the Secret of Life!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

10 by 10 Easter Edition: Churches, Sports and Cities

Welcome to a new intermittent series called 10 by 10, which (per the name) I will give you 10 lists of 10 things on my mind. Most of these involve something I am passionate about and wanted to share with you. Some of the listed items have appeared in 5 Things as recommendations or inspirations, but that is largely because I enjoy them.  Without further ado, let’s roll the lists!

1. 10 Sports Stadiums I in which I would like to Attend a Game 

   1. 

      Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers)

   2. 

      Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox)

   3. 

      Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)

   4. 

      Madison Square Garden (New York Knicks)

   5. 

      Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

   6. 

      The Horseshoe (Ohio State Buckeyes)

   7. 

      Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke University)

   8. 

      Staples Center (Los Angeles, CA)

   9. 

      Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees)

   10. 

       Rose Bowl Stadium (Pasadena, CA)

2. Top 10 Sports Moments since 2000
   1. #16 UMBC upsets #1 Virginia (2018)
   2. Boston Red Sox comeback from 3-0 in the ALCS against the Yankees (2004)
   3. Patriots 25 point comeback in Super Bowl 51 (2017)
   4. Villanova beats buzzer to win National Championship
   5. Boise State wins Fiesta Bowl with 3 Trick Plays (2008)
   6. Music City Miracle (2000)
   7. Malcolm Butler Interception Seals Super Bowl 49 (2015)
   8. Giants beat Patriots with Helmet Catch Super Bowl 42 (2008)
   9. Texas scores on 4th down to beat USC in Rose Bowl (2005)
   10. Phelps Eight Golds (2008)
3. 10 Favorite American Cities I Have Visited 
   1. Washington DC
   2. Denver
   3. Milwaukee
   4. Minneapolis/St. Paul
   5. St. Louis
   6. Madison
   7. Boston
   8. New York
   9. Chicago
   10. Cincinnati
4.  10 Favorite Smells
   1. Campfire
   2. Cinnamon Rolls
   3. Outdoor Grilling
   4. Fresh Cut Grass
   5. Sizzling Bacon
   6. Fresh Baked Cookies
   7. The Smell Right after a Rainfall
   8. Peanut Butter
   9. Garlic/Pizza/Italian Food
   10. Smell of a beach
5. 10 Favorite Camp Gray Activities 
   1. Cassidy Games
   2. Capture the Flag
   3. Canoeing
   4. Campfires
   5. Jocularity after every meal
   6. Explorer Ritual
   7. Culvers Trip
   8. Devils Lake Trip with Explorers
   9. Hiking the Purple Trail
   10. Super Crazy Adventure Time
6. 10 Words that are Ridiculous
   1. Doiley
   2. Duty
   3. Kabab
   4. Hullabaloo
   5. Snickerdoodle
   6. Kerfluffle
   7. Squeegee
   8. Indubitably
   9. Discombobulated
   10. Shenanigans
7. 10 Maps/Images/Facts that will mess with your brain
   1. Maine is west of Chile
   2. 2040 is as close to today as 1996

   3. 

      China and India combined have over 2 billion people

   4. 

      5% of the world’s population live in the blue. 5% also live in the red.

   5. 

      Alaska is huge!

   6. Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr. were born in the same year (1929).
   7. Oxford University (1096) is older than the Aztec Empire (1427)
   8. There is enough water in Lake Superior to cover all of North and South America in 1 foot of water.
   9. There are more atoms in a glass of water than there are glasses of water in all the oceans on Earth.
   10. Cleopatra (born 69 BC) lived closer to the invention of the iPhone (2007 AD) than she did to the the building of the Great Pyramid (circa 2500 BC)
8. 10 Musicals I Love
   1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
   2. Oklahoma
   3. Wicked
   4. Les Mis
   5. Hamilton
   6. The Lion King
   7. Newsies
   8. Grease
   9. The Sound of Music
   10.  High School Musical
9. My Favorite American Churches/Shrines I’ve Visited 

   1. 

      Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul, MN

   2. 

      St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, Camp Gray, Reedsburg, WI

   3. 

      Holy Family Shrine, Greta, NE

   4. 

      Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

   5. 

      Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill, Hubertus, WI

   6. 

      St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, NY

   7. 

      The Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee, WI

   8. 

      Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, La Crosse, WI

   9. 

      Christ the King, Evergreen, CO

   10. 

       Church of the Gesu, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

10. 10 Movie/TV Quotes I Often Find Myself Saying/Thinking

    1. 

       Hawkeye, Avengers

    2. 

       Tom Haverford, Parks and Rec

    3. 

       Ron Swanson, Parks and Rec

    4. 

       Captain America, Avengers

    5. 

       Tom Haverford, Parks and Rec

    6. 

       Tom and Donna, Parks and Rec

    7. 

       Michael Scott, The Office

    8. 

       Chandler Bing, Friends

    9. 

       Han Solo, Star Wars

    10. 

        Chandler Bing, Friends

         

Happy Easter Everyone!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (3/22/18)

 

Welcome back! 5 Things will be off next week for Easter, but there will be 10 by 10! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Facebook’s Rough Week 

Have you ever done some online shopping only to have an ad for those super cute shoes you were eyeing appear moments later on Facebook? This is something you are likely familiar with whether you enjoy those targeted ads or not. Let me explain it a different way using Parks and Rec:

Facebook has been maligned this week for the mishandling of user data. Here’s what went down:

“Facebook said it gave permission to University of Cambridge psychology professor Aleksandr Kogan to harvest information from users who downloaded his app… [which] offered a personality test. But Facebook users who downloaded the app also gave the professor permission to collect data on their location, their friends and content they had “liked.” That was allowed under Facebook’s rules at the time.  Kogan provided that data — which included information from over 50 million profiles — to Cambridge Analytica, breaching Facebook’s rules.” -CNNMoney

Kogan’s action was a breach because Facebook does not allow the psychological profiling information he collected was not to be used for political purposes. This spells trouble for Facebook because it shows how this personal data can quickly slip out of its reach.

Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting group that did work with the Trump campaign, used this data to run targeted political ads. This comes on the heels of Facebook’s role in the 2016 election which saw Russian groups spending on targeted political ads as well.

There has certainly been consequence to Facebook’s action (or inaction) on these issues. Some users are starting a #deletefacebook movement as they felt this invasion of privacy was the last straw. Many users are flocking to Instagram (note that Instagram is owned by Facebook) which feels more personal with less news and ads. Facebook’s stocks have also taken a beating falling about 7% costing the company about $37 billion in value.

2) Wisconsin Headlines → UWSP mulls program changes, makes national headlines

The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point finds itself in the gaining national attention after they announced potential changes to their academic curriculum. Due to declining enrollment, UWSP faces a $4.5 million deficit over the next two years, and is looking to find ways to balance the budget. The following points to be discussed are part of a proposal that need to still be approved by a governance committee as well as the UW system’s Chancellor and Board of Regents.

The current proposal calls for UWSP to drop 13 majors largely in the humanities and social sciences. This would be done while also expanding programs that have “clear career pathways.” Below is a statement from UWSP (via Washington Post)

UW-Stevens Point proposes expanding academic programs that have demonstrated value and demand in the region, including:

• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Information Systems
• Conservation Law Enforcement
• Finance
• Fire Science
• Graphic Design
• Management
• Marketing

These programs have existed as options and would expand to majors. In addition, new bachelor’s (or advanced) degree programs are proposed in:

• Aquaculture/Aquaponics
• Captive Wildlife
• Ecosystem Design and Remediation
• Environmental Engineering
• Geographic Information Science
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Natural Resources
• Doctor of Physical Therapy

To create programs that meet the evolving needs of students, UW-Stevens Point proposes shifting resources from programs where fewer students are enrolled. Discontinuing the following programs is recommended:

• American Studies
• Art – Graphic Design will continue as a distinct major
• English – English for teacher certification will continue
• French
• Geography
• Geoscience
• German
• History – Social Science for teacher certification will continue
• Music Literature
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Sociology — Social Work major will continue
• Spanish

It is important to note that while these programs would no longer be offered as majors, that does not mean UWSP is cutting all courses in philosophy, for example. Many of these programs will be scaled into minors and certificates allowing the school to cut back on personnel costs for these programs. UWSP noted that this change would impact somewhere around 6-10% of students (the number is approximate due to students with multiple majors and undeclared majors). You can learn more about it from this campus forum held at UWSP. I recommend starting at the 58 minute mark.

This whole conversation takes me back to an issue that came up at my alma mater during my college years. It was a very similar issue of the humanities programs being scaled back while some career pathway programs were more heavily funded. I understand the need to remain financially viable and the positive spin that such a proposal limits the amount of impacted students. However, I also know that double majoring in Political Science and Organizational Leadership were vital to expanding my critical thinking skills, exposing me to various worldviews, and encouraging me to question my preconceived notions.

This is not a knock against the sciences or career based majors or vocational training. Many schools include the humanities and social sciences as part of some form of general or liberal arts education However, these programs are still relevant and necessary now more than ever. In this time of partisanship and “fake news”, we need individuals who can think critically and search for truth. Our businesses need people who can innovate and solve global issues. Do a quick Google search regarding the importance of humanities programs and there will be thousands of articles delving deeper into this issue. But, I will leave it at this: the humanities and social science programs are indispensable to any education.

3) Writer’s Choice → Lenten Reflections

This year for Lent I am trying to be more intentional. This will be my last Lenten reflection for the coming Sunday’s readings.

Mark 11:1-10 OR John 12:12-16; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Mark 14:1—15:47

Holy Week may seem like just another week with a few extra obligations. We may think, “Cool, I get to wave around palm during Mass!” or “Why do I have to watch someone get their feet washed?” or “Wait didn’t I hear these reading already this week?” But how can we not be moved during Holy Week?

This Sunday, we walk with Christ on the final days of his journey to Calvary. Put yourself in some of these stories: the woman who anoints Jesus with oil, struggling to stay awake with the Apostles in the garden, Peter’s declaration that he would walk with the Lord to the end, or any of the onlookers during the Lord’s crucifixion.

How can we not be moved by the Lord’s passion? Christ prays so fervently he sweats blood. His closest companions deny that they even know him. He has a criminal chosen to be freed instead of him. Then he is scourged, tortured, mocked, and told to carry his cross. That is like making someone dig their own grave prior to their imminent death.

The Lord died for YOU. And do we even care? Are we even moved by it? Or are we simply indifferent? Do we write off the Passion as just a story? One that we hear once a year around Easter?

Of course, the Lord’s death is only part of the story. It was necessary for Christ to die in order to conquer death. He died for our sins so that we can live with Him in Heaven. However, we need to believe. We must acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord and Savior. And the all-powerful God became man, died for our sins, and rose to conquer death because HE LOVES US. All we have to do is love him back.

4) Recommendation of the Week → The Sandlot

This classic baseball movie is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary in April. Whether you remember the line, “You’re killing me Smalls!” or “The Great Bambino” there is something everyone will love. As you can see above, few Milwaukee Brewers players got together and reenacted a scene from the movie with a special guest appearance from Hank as the Beast.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Fr. Jacques Philippe

Yesterday, Fr. Jacques Philippe spent the day at Camp Gray. Fr. Jacques is a French priest and has written a number of spiritual books. His books Interior Freedom and In the School of the Holy Spirit are two books by him I would highly recommend. I hope you find someone like Fr. Jacques who is able to have their writings speak to your heart.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (3/15/18)

Welcome back! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Tillerson Out, Pompeo In 

On Tuesday morning President Trump, ousted Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State with the following tweet:

Tillerson as long been at odds with the president disagreeing on major policies such as the Iran Nuclear Deal. He also further strained his relationship with Trump when he allegedly called the President a “moron” and did not explicitly deny that statement. Unlike most Secretaries of State, Tillerson did not seem to have the ear of the President and foreign officials noticed that he was not a direct line to Trump and the White House. From the outside, “reviews generally rated him somewhere between ineffectual and the worst secretary of state on record.” 

“Pompeo’s nomination will go before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, while Haspel will face the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The GOP chairmen of both panels said they would hold confirmation hearings soon.” –USA Today 

Both Pompeo and Haspel are already being scrutinized. Pompeo’s views closely align with Trump and tend toward a less globalistic and more protectionist view. The argument against Haspel is that “she ran a secret prison in Thailand where a suspect in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks was waterboarded 83 times — and then was involved with ordering evidence about that waterboarding to be destroyed.” That is a dark part of the USA’s anti-terrorism efforts. Using such techniques on suspects was not an incident isolated to Haspel after 9/11. She, like many intelligence officers, were likely following orders (repugnant and inhumane orders to be sure), but orders none the less. That does not excuse what happened under Haspel’s watch. But, she will likely be pulled through a lengthy, drawn out, and messy confirmation hearing.

2) National Headlines #2 →Round Up

Pennsylvania Special Election

Democrat Conor Lamb won the special election for a House seat in Pennsylvania’s 18th district yesterday. Donald Trump carried the district by 20 points in the 2016 election making this a big win for Democrats.

When Speaker Paul Ryan was asked about the race, “Ryan defined Democrat Conor Lamb as a ‘pro-life, pro-gun, anti-Nancy Pelosi conservative’ and noted that there wasn’t a Democratic primary that would have pulled Lamb to the left” (CNN). While Ryan’s assessment might stretch the truth (Lamb personally opposes abortions, but supports abortion rights and has advocated for stronger background checks but opposed other restrictions) his larger point about the primary should be noted.

This special election could be the writing on the wall for Republicans, but it is hardly a typical race. Both parties spent big on this race: Republicans poured in over $10 million and Democrats aided around $3 million. Also, as Ryan noted, Lamb was able to run a more moderate campaign in a district that went heavily conservative in 2016.

Larry Kudlow to replace Gary Cohn 

Larry Kudlow will replace Gary Cohn as President Trump’s top economic adviser and Director of the National Economic Council “Kudlow was a budget aide during the Reagan administration. He was chief economist at Bear Stearns from 1987 to 1994. He informally advised Trump on taxes and other economic issues during his 2016 run for president” (CNBC) Kudlow supports lower taxes and fewer regulations, but may disagree with Trump on his trade policies.

Student Walkouts

It has been a month since the school shooting in Parkland, Florida and students across the country walked out of their schools on Wednesday in attempt to keep the conversation going. The walkouts got the attention of media outlets, but certainly were not universal. The walkouts might continue a conversation, but no policy is likely to happen. The moment seems to have passed without any major national legislation. However, I hope students, teachers, families, and communities alike can find a way to continue their engagement and to quote The West Wing: “raise the level of public debate in this country and let that be their legacy.”

 

Toys R Us Closing

The toy store giant announced that it will be liquidating and closing or selling all of its US stores. The company has suffered the same fate as many large brick and mortar stores that have failed to keep up with the digital and online shopping experience.  However, “the decision to liquidate the company might not be the final chapter if a buyer surfaces who wants to buy some of the stores and operate them as an ongoing business. Many in the toy business believe there is room for a smaller version of Toys R Us.” –USA Today

Stephen Hawking Passes Away

I would be remiss if I did not mention the passing of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. Though diagnosed with ALS when he was 21, Hawking lived another 55 years dying at the age of 55. Hawking, considered the greatest scientist of our time, will be remembered by his most famous work “A Brief History of Time.”

3) Writer’s Choice → Lenten Reflections

This year for Lent I am trying to be more intentional. That said, I will be offering a reflection every week during Lent for the coming Sunday’s readings. (**Note: Some parishes use the Year A “Scrutinies,” during weeks 3-5 of Lent. They are typically used when there are parishes with RCIA candidates. Liturgically, the church is in Year B and I am reflecting on those.)

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33

The Lord is fairly explicit in his hopes for us. We are called to lose our life, to die in order to produce much fruit. He tells us that “The Father will honor whoever serves me.” So, we are called to serve the Lord. He must increase and we must decrease. We need to let the Lord fill us up and dwell in our hearts. We must do so with a clean and pure heart as Psalm 51 says.

This does not mean it is going to be easy. The Lord says whoever hates his life (and in the beatitudes those who are persecuted) will find eternal life. This may seem frightening or discouraging. And there may be days that it seems downright impossible to achieve eternal life. We simply must make the request that the Greeks do: “We would like to see Jesus.”

Keep Jesus at the center of your eye, the center of your clean heart, and the center of your life. Strive to see Him and draw close to Him every day. It won’t be easy. We will get distracted. We will fall short of His perfection. However, with the help of His grace we will preserve our life for eternity.

4) Recommendation of the Week → WPR Politics

Since Wisconsin was bumped out of our headlines this week, it still deserved a shout out! The Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) Politics Podcast is here to help. WPR Politics wades through the news to sift out what you need to know that week in Wisconsin. If you want to learn more about what is going on in this great state (especially on the politics/government side of things) check out this podcast!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → March Madness!

The next four days are perhaps the most fun weekend in all of sports. Basketball, upsets, and crazy college mascots and students all on four channels for 12 hours a day. Cinderellas will rise and favorites will fall.  The weekend is full of entertaining and exhilarating moments, as well as heartwarming and heartbreaking stories. Enjoy it!

Side note: While I filled out a few brackets, my main Final Four include Villanova, Kansas, Cincinnati, and Xavier with Villanova winning over the Xavier.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (3/8/18)

Welcome back!  This week’s edition is late due to the breaking news about tariffs in our national headlines. That caused for a bit of a rewrite, so thanks for bearing with me! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

Despite strong opposition from top Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump announced a new set of tariffs today.

“Tariffs of 25% are to be placed on steel and 10% on aluminium imported into the US. The tariffs will go into effect in 15 days and include exemptions for Canada and Mexico.” –BBC

Canada and Mexico are some of the largest trade partners for the US. President Trump also seems to be trying to utilize the tariffs to be able to renegotiate NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) which he has long sought to do.

Alright David….this sounds like one of those topics that is incredibly boring. Why should I care?

A tariff on imported steel and aluminum could cause prices to rise on things like beer cans, soup cans, baseball bats, and more products. According to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, price increases are likely to be relatively insignificant.  “He said on Friday that the price of a can of Campbell’s soup would go up only six-tenths of one cent” (CNN). However, the larger potential fallout could include a falling stock market and a looming trade war.

Okay, that makes sense. But, before we go too far can we define some of these terms? Specifically tariff and trade war?

Tariffs: Basically a tax on imported goods, thus making those foreign products more expensive and helping the domestic version of that product. Learn more about Tariffs here via CNN

Trade War: Basically when countries retaliate against a country that imposes tariffs, quotas, or other trade barriers. This could lead to tit-for-tat responses to one another threatening the global economy and diplomatic relations.

But David, does President Trump even have the authority to do this?

Yes. The President is “using a rarely used legal provision known as Section 232 that allows the president to impose tariffs unilaterally if imports are determined to pose a national-security risk” (The Hill).

The argument being that China’s saturation into the steel market could leave the US vulnerable in the event of a war. America could need tanks, guns, cars, planes, etc. and not have the capacity to meet demand due to the shrinking steel industry.

However, other countries are likely to take the US to court, arguing that the decision violates World Trade Organization policy.

What else has happened so far?

• The president’s top economic adviser Gary Cohn, a supporter of free trade, resigned on Tuesday. More than 100 Republicans have signed a letter addressed to the president, expressing their “deep concern” about the tariffs
• International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has warned “nobody wins” in a trade war, saying it would harm global economic growth
• The EU has proposed retaliatory measures against a number of US goods including bourbon and peanut butter
• China has threatened an “appropriate and necessary response” in any trade war with the US. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China and the US should strive to be partners rather than rivals

-BBC News

It is also important to note that Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) is already penning legislation to nullify the tariffs. Also, to name just a few other prominent Republicans who oppose the deal include: Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady.

I want to learn more. What other resources can you point me towards?

• Defying GOP, Trump orders steel and aluminum tariffs -The Hill
• Trump tariffs: US President imposes levy on steel and aluminium -BBC
• What is a trade war? -CNN
• Will there be a trade war? –POLITICO Money Podcast

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Marquette University Polls

Marquette University polled statewide voters on a number of issues including Foxconn, President Trump, Governor Walker, and other upcoming statewide elections.

Just a reminder that, including local incentives, the deal “could eventually pay Foxconn roughly $4.5 billion  if it hits capital investment and job creation benchmarks” (WPR).

When Marquette asked voters statewide whether the deal was worth it,

• 49% said the state was paying more in incentives than it would get back from Foxconn,
• 38% said state would at least break even
• 13% said they didn’t know

When statewide voters were asked whether the Foxconn deal would benefit businesses close to them

• YES = 25 %
• NO = 66%
• Didn’t Know = 8%

*Statistics from Marquette Poll via WPR

Whether the Foxconn deal will ultimately be beneficial to the state cannot be determined in the present. However, in politics, perception can often lead into a reality.

Some other highlights from the poll:

• The Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidates are unknown to many voters. 77% and 81% of voters said they “didn’t know enough to form an opinion” on Judge Rebecca Dallet and Judge Michael Screnock, respectively.
• The same is true for Tammy Baldwin’s challengers for the US Senate. 85% and 83% of voters said they “didn’t know enough to form an opinion” on Republican candidates Kevin Nicholson and Leah Vukmir, respectively.
• Governor Walker is divisive in Wisconsin.  47% said they approve and 47% said they disapprove of his job. That is similar to his 48%-48% last June in a similar poll.
• President Trump got a slight uptick in approval with 43% approval and 50% disapprove. That is close to the 41% approval and 51% disapproval last June.

**Note about the poll: “The Marquette poll interviewed 800 registered voters from Feb. 25 through Thursday and had a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points” (WPR).

3) Writer’s Choice → Lenten Reflections

This year for Lent I am trying to be more intentional. That said, I will be offering a reflection every week during Lent for the coming Sunday’s readings.

2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23; Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 3:14-21

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” John 3:16 Chances are you have heard this scripture passage at some point in your life. It is one of the most quoted verses and succinctly sums up the Gospel story.

We are saved by grace. The second reading reminds us of this. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.” We cannot save ourselves. We must follow the Lord for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is not our works that save us; we cannot earn the Lord’s mercy. We are made for the Lord’s Divine Love. We are imperfect and fallible. We are called to love as God loves, but do we?

Here is one way you could measure it: Would you be willing to die for someone? Not just your friends or family or neighbor, but someone who annoys you. who bothers you, who irritates you. And not just die, but suffer. Brutal and torturous suffering. And to die for someone who doesn’t even care that you died for them. That is what Jesus Christ did. That is how we are to measure our love. You are made for Divine Love. Follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

4) Recommendation of the Week → The Phantom Tollbooth

This wonderful book leads the main protagonist, Milo, on a journey through the Kingdom of Wisdom. “The text is full of puns and wordplay, such as when Milo unintentionally jumps to Conclusions, an island in Wisdom, thus exploring the literal meanings of idioms.” Milo seeks to restore Rhyme and Reason and meets people such as the King of Dictionopolis, Tock the Dog who ticks, and the Symphony of Color. Enjoy!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → How I Built This

In this NPR podcast, Guy Raz “dives into the stories behind some of the world’s best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built” (NPR). It is almost like a mini biography of these influential leaders from companies like Kate Spade, Southwest, LinkedIn, and many more.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (3/1/18)

Welcome back!  As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Week at the White House

What a week. There have been all sorts of stories pouring out from Pennsylvania Avenue this week. All of these stories are on top of things like the continued debates in wake of the Parkland shooting, HUD being accused of frivolous interior decorating expenditures, and Congress returning to session. Here are just a few that had my attention.

Donald Trump’s Re-Election Campaign

This week, Donald Trump named his campaign manager for his 2020 re-election campaign. Trump announced Brad Parscale, the digital director for his 2016 campaign, as his 2020 campaign manager. The news of the re-election campaign is not a surprise since Trump filed paperwork for re-election on his Inauguration Day. However, the announcement of the campaign comes 980 days prior to the 2020 election which is earlier than any president.

Hope Hicks, White House Communications Director, Resigns

One of Trump’s closest advisors resigned this week. Hope Hicks has been with Trump for the last three years since the beginning of the campaign. She cited burnout and fatigue and the ability to pursue other options as her reasons for leaving. However, the optics of the situation are not good as Hicks resignation comes the day after telling the House Intelligence Committee she told “white lies” for the President. However, after conversations with her lawyers, Hicks indicated that she “had not lied about matters material to the investigations into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible links to Trump associates” (NYTimes).

Jared Kushner Gets Security Clearance Downgrade

The President’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, received a downgrade in his security clearance from “Top Secret” to just “Secret.” Kushner had been utilizing a temporary security clearance since background checks had not been completed. Kushner will now no longer be able to access the Presidential Daily Brief, the famous national security brief. His lawyers stated it would not impact his work which includes things such as Middle East Peace, Liaison to Mexico, and dealing with the opioid crisis. As Chief of Staff Gen. John Kelly seeks to bring more discipline to the White House, more staffers may lose their interim clearance. “Kushner may be the first, and one of the most influential, individuals to be revealed to have had a security downgrade – but he may not be the last” (BBC).

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Wisconsin is the 11th Best State in the Union

US News released the results of a new study that lists Wisconsin as the 11th best state in the nation. The study ranked each state on eight categories each weighted for importance. Health care was the most important category accounting for 16% of the score, while quality of life accounted for 8% of the score. See the above link for more information on how the scores were tabulated. Here is how Wisconsin fared in the eight categories (1 is high, 50 is low):

• Health Care: 17
• Education: 18
• Economy: 27
• Opportunity: 8
• Infrastructure: 26
• Crime & Corrections: 22
• Fiscal Stability: 19
• Quality of Life: 3

The categories were weighted differently, based on importance. For example, health care was weighted heavier than quality of life. Even though Wisconsin ranked 3rd in quality of life, a category that considered a state’s natural and social environment, it didn’t help the overall ranking too much since it was the least important category. –TMJ4 

According to the study, Wisconsin lagged behind the average in the economy and infrastructure. Unfortunately, road construction seems to be a continuous issue in Wisconsin which is a major part of the infrastructure category.

Wisconsin’s western neighbor, Iowa, came in at number 1 on the study while Louisiana rounded out the states at 50.

3) Writer’s Choice → Lenten Reflections

This year for Lent I am trying to be more intentional. That said, I will be offering a reflection every week during Lent for the coming Sunday’s readings.

Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25

How would you describe Jesus? What are the first words that come to mind? Loving? Compassionate? Wise? Of course those describe Christ. However, would you think of words like passionate, zealous, convicted? In today’s Gospel, Jesus is depicted as these things when he drives out the merchants from the temple. Imagine the cacophony of coins on stone floors, tables being over turned, and raised voices. That is an image of Jesus that we do not frequently envision.

I couldn’t write about Jesus flipping tables without including this picture.

However, it is the equivalent of Jesus grabbing us and shaking us out of our indifference to the Lord. Jesus reminds us that we are to respect the Lord. For indeed God is God and we are not. In the first reading, this is enumerated via the 10 Commandments. These laws may seem outdated and from the time of Moses, but they are still relevant today. They are still utilized as an examination of conscience and can help us measure ourselves against the Lord’s expectations for us. The first commandment is a hard enough task in itself. “”I, the LORD, am your God, … You shall not have other gods besides me” (Ex 20:2-3). Is God the center of our lives? Do we treat the Lord with less importance than money? Than our career? Our friends and family? Food? Sex? Maybe we need Jesus to overturn our tables, scatter our coins, and flip our priorities back to his divine love.

4) Recommendation of the Week → National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day!

How can I not support my favorite food’s national holiday? First of all, I love obscure and wacky holidays like this day. Secondly, I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER! It can be used with some many things: PB&J, on toast, with honey, with apple slices, as ants on a log, bellyachers, scotcharoos, cookies, Reese’s, and so many other wonderful things. Also, the perfect PB&J includes: whole wheat bread, creamy peanut butter, and strawberry jam. Where do you fall on the creamy and crunchy debate? Or the perfect PB&J debate?

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Dr. Seuss

March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’ birthday and National Read Across America Day. Dr. Seuss was an integral part of many childhoods, including mine, with books like Hop on Pop, Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Oh the Places You’ll Go, and The Lorax to name just a few. His books are fun, goofy, entertaining, and beloved by millions. He also is the mind behind many wonderful quotes such as the ones in this link. Go read a Dr. Seuss book in his honor this weekend!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (2/23/18)

Welcome back!  As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Billy Graham

There are two headlines that have my attention this week. First, is the continued conversation about the Parkland shooting last week. The students have spoken out against Congress’ inaction, particularly during a town hall in Florida with Senator Marco Rubio.  There was frustration that the Florida legislature voted down measures to ban assault weapons. The fact that this is still dominating the news cycle gives me hope that this may be a tipping point. Not necessarily for gun control laws to be passed, but a tipping point that our society has had enough mass shootings and is ready to do something, anything, about it.

But, I wrote about that last week. The second headline I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the passing of the legendary Rev. Billy Graham yesterday. He was often known as “America’s pastor” and was arguably the most well known Christian in the world during the entire 20th century.

Rev. Graham was beloved by many and will be deeply missed. However, he did not want us to mourn his death. If you have never read or heard any of his wisdom, I encourage you to check out his many works. Or if you want the shortened version, feel free to check out some of his quotes

Thanks for the memories Rev. Graham. Enjoy your eternal home!

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Spring Elections

Tuesday was election day in Wisconsin! Elections for many state and local offices were held and I hope you got out and voted. The highest profile battle was among Tim Burns, Rebecca Dallet and Michael Screnock for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Tim Burns ended up being the odd man out, receiving only 17.6% of the vote, as only two of the three would move on to the general election in April.

“Sauk County Judge Michael Screnock and Milwaukee County Judge Rebecca Dallet will compete for a 10-year term on the state’s highest court in the April 3 general election.” -Wisconsin State Journal

“Dallet, who is backed by some liberals, came in second after receiving the support of hundreds of judges and lawmakers across the state” (WI State Journal). Dallet did her best to thread the needle of being to the left of Screnock and the right of Burns on the political spectrum.

Screnock, a conservative judge backed by many Republicans including Governor Walker, earned 46.6% of the vote. “That support and financial help drew criticism from his opponents and liberals who said Screnock would be a “rubber stamp” for Republican lawmakers if elected to the court” (WI State Journal). 

The spring general election is on April 3rd. So, take some time between now and then to ensure that you are registered to vote. Don’t know how? Check out this link! Go perform your civic duty and make your voice heard in April! 

3) Writer’s Choice → Lenten Reflections

Lent started yesterday and I am trying to be more intentional this year. That said, I will be offering a reflection every week during Lent for the coming Sunday’s readings.

Gen 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18; Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; Rom 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10

The Beloved Sons

Have you ever done something radical during Lent? Perhaps slept on the floor? Given up meat? Taken only cold showers? These can all seem like fairly bold ways to shake up our routine and strive towards communion with God. While these things may genuinely be a sacrifice, they pale in comparison to Abraham’s radical obedience to the Lord.

The readings skip over some of the most gut-wrenching moments in the story. Isaac asks Abraham, “Where is the sheep for the burnt offering,” and Abraham replies, “God will provide the sheep.” He even binds Isaac and raises his hand to slaughter his beloved son.

One of my favorite depictions of Abraham and Isaac on the mountain

Abraham’s trust and obedience to the Lord was absolute. Even to the point of sacrificing his beloved son. Just as the Father sent his beloved Son to die for the sins of the world. In the Gospel, the Lord explicitly tells Peter, James, and John that “”This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Paul brings this full circle for us in his letter to the Romans writing,”He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all.”

So, in our obedience to God during this Lenten season we can take heart. For in these small sacrifices we make during this time, we die. However, as St. Paul put it, “Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised.” We die to ourselves, in order to be raised with Christ.

4) Recommendation of the Week → Eisenhower’s Box

In honor of President’s Day, I want to share some of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s wisdom. The above matrix can help you prioritize your life. You can place things within the matrix by determining if they are important and urgent, important and not urgent, not important and urgent, or not important and not urgent. The important but not urgent usually contains the most fruitful things in life like prayer, exercise, calling loved ones, spending time with family and friends, etc. However, since they do feel urgent we frequently let these things slip through the cracks. You might yourself living in the not urgent and not important quadrant of television, social media, gossip, etc. I urge you to make time for the important but not urgent things, namely by cutting some of the not urgent and not important things in life.

5) Inspiration of the Week  →Kayla Rhuby’s National Anthem

This week’s inspiration needs a little context. It has been hard for me to feel patriotic this week. The gun control debate in the wake of the Parkland school shooting has left tensions high. The Olympics wrap up on Sunday, and despite some great performances (women’s hockey and Shaun White to name a couple) Team USA has been less than stellar. Lastly, Fergie sang a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner that was, well, interesting and has drawn criticism to say the least.  With that all said, this incredible performance of the national anthem from Kayla Rhuby (a high school senior!) kept popping into my head. This video focuses on Challenger the eagle and the 9/11 tribute, but you can still hear Kayla’s performance. Also, she is set to release an album this year! You can also check out more of her music on Soundcloud here!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (2/15/18)

Welcome back!  As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Florida School Shooting

17 families are heartbroken in Florida this week. Another school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School left 17 adults and children dead. This is the second mass shooting (the Las Vegas shooting) that I have written about in the relatively short lifespan of this blog. That piece covered some thoughts on the role of the NRA, politicians sending “thoughts and prayers,” and what could be done to stop this in the future.

There have been plenty of arguments in the last 48 hours of whether the solution is stronger gun control, mental health initiatives, or perhaps everyone should be allowed to carry a gun to defend themselves. Regardless, we can all agree that mass shootings should not happen.

Here is a morbid thought experiment: name the most recent mass shooting in the US prior to Florida. Las Vegas? San Bernadino? Sandy Hook? Columbine? Others? Do all of those city names sound too familiar? My point: there are too many of them.

So, how do we get to policy and change?

Well, people on all sides of the debate need to decide if they want this to be political or if they want to actually commit to ending gun violence. Rather than casting blame on either sides ideas (“This could have been prevented with stricter gun laws!” or “If someone in the school had a gun, they could have stopped him!”) lawmakers and citizens alike need to sit down and genuinely listen each other. Put aside politics, put aside lobbyists, and put aside preconceived notions. Have a real debate. And not about whether guns or people or something else is to blame. A debate about how we end gun violence in this country. A debate about how we want to shape our future.

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Assembly Passes Welfare Package

Governor Walker called a special session on the state’s welfare system earlier this year. Today, the Assembly passed a package of bills as part of that session. No Democrats supported the bill and a few Republicans voted against it as well.

Walker and Republican lawmakers have touted the bills as a way to help people transition from government assistance to self-sufficiency when the state’s unemployment rate is at a historically low 3 percent, but Democrats say the package is an election-year ploy that would harm the needy in an effort to appeal to a conservative base. –Cap Times

The most prominent feature of the package would expand requirements for food stamp recipients “from 20 hours a week to 30 hours a week, and extend those requirements to parents of children older than 6 years old, who had previously been exempt” (WPR).

“Other bills in the package would:

• launch a pilot program to pay out the earned income tax credit monthly, rather than annually, for some individuals.
• create a “pay for performance” system for contractors that provide services in the state’s worker training programs.
• allow the state to partner with private businesses to provide social services, and base state payment to those organizations on determined performance metrics.
• require child support compliance to be eligible for the state’s Medicaid program.
• authorize the state to apply for a federal waiver to offer health savings accounts in Wisconsin.
• authorize new state food stamp cards that include photo identification.”

Source: Wisconsin Public Radio

The package is now off to the Senate who may take it up as early as next week. If it can pass there, Governor Walker is likely to sign it in to law.

3) Writer’s Choice → Lenten Reflections

Lent started yesterday and I am trying to be more intentional this year. That said, I will be offering a reflection every week during Lent for the coming Sunday’s readings.

“Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

Genesis 9:8-15, Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:12-15

Lent is a time of penance. During the season of Lent, we fast and pray, we deny ourselves, and serve others. It is a time to do good things.  He came so that we “might have life and live it to the full” (John 10:10).

Lent is a time of reconciliation. Repent! Jesus commands us to do so in the Sunday Gospel. To love him. To turn to Him. To follow Him. To walk in His “way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

Lent is a time of renewal. The readings remind us of Noah and God’s covenant with him. Noah obediently followed the Lord and was able to abide in his love.

Choose the Lord this Lenten season. It is not about giving up chocolate, or simply formulating good habits. It is about following Christ. It is about believing in His conquering death. It is about walking with Christ. It is about imitating Christ.

Even if you think, “I have been a pretty decent human and haven’t killed anyone.” What kind of standard is that? We aren’t called to be pretty decent, we are called to be like Christ. So, “repent (Go to Confession!) and believe in the Gospel.”

 

4) Recommendation of the Week → Ben Rector

People frequently ask about your favorite things as an icebreaker. I struggle with these because it is hard to pinpoint something that I would choose over all others. Ben Rector would certainly be the closest I would come to a favorite. He has a fun, passionate, and human sound to his music. I can’t help but sing along and smile when I hear his music. Check him out!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft

Lent has begun and maybe you want to dedicate yourself to more prayer time. Maybe you just find it hard to pray in general because you feel like you are just sitting in silence. This book is not just for beginners, but for anyone who wants to revitalize their prayer life. Peter Kreeft is logical, accessible, succinct, and entertaining. He is one of my favorite writers and is bound to make another appearance on the blog.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (2/8/18)

Welcome back!  Today’s news was constantly changing. I wanted to post on Thursday, but with the most updated information. Things may have changed since you read this, but thanks for checking it out. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Despite Budget Deal in Senate, Government Shuts Down

The government is shut down for the second time in a month.  The Senate proclaimed earlier this week, they had a two year budget agreement, but as of this writing nothing had been voted on.

What does the proposed budget deal contain?

The accord increases defense spending by $80 billion in fiscal year 2018 and by $85 billion in fiscal year 2019, while raising nondefense spending by $63 billion and $68 billion. It suspends the debt ceiling until March of 2019, ensuring Congress won’t have to deal with the legislative headache again until after this year’s midterm elections. –The Hill

How does each party feel about that?

Most Republicans are excited about the defense spending, but some Republicans worry about the impact of lifting the debt ceiling and the impact on the deficit. One of those is Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) who was pushing for an amendment to keep current budget caps in place, held up any vote on the bill.  Democrats on the other hand are thrilled about the domestic spending increases. However, there is no solution for DACA which has been a sticking point for the last few months. For example, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) spoke on the House floor for eight hours protesting the lack of progress made on DACA.

What’s next?

The government is shutdown. The feeling around Washington is that it is likely to be a short shutdown and could be resolved as early as Friday morning. The shutdown could be over before folks even wake up.

While Senator Paul and others are worried about spending, it appears the Senate has the votes to pass the bill. The House faces a rockier path. Democrats want Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI to make a statement, similar to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), promising a discussion on the future of DACA. There is also a contingent from the House GOP who, like Senator Paul, are worried about the increased spending.

Here is the latest from CNN as to what to expect:

• The next vote is at 1 a.m. ET. Paul will be allowed to speak again for an hour.
• Expect the final passage to happen after Paul’s remarks.
• The bill then goes to the House, where a vote will happen between 4 a.m. ET and 6 a.m. ET.
• Lawmakers think the shutdown could be over before most federal workers wake up tomorrow morning.

2) Wisconsin Headlines → New Outlets at the Dells

As you take a break from your waterpark adventures at the Dells to do some window shopping in the Dells, there will be new stores for you to check out. Columbia and Michael Kors headline four stores that will be stepping in to the Outlets at the Dells.

“Columbia will take over the Hollister space, neighboring Customer Service, said Michelle Zuelke, general manager of the outlets. Michael Kors will be on a corner, which used to be Aeropostale, near Banana Republic. Vera Bradley will take the place of the calendar shop. Francesca’s Boutique will fill half of the space that J.Crew occupied, she said.” -Wiscnews

These strategic changes for the Outlets came after a number of leases expired. I am blessed to live an area that is booming. The Kalahari Resort is expanding its conference center. Last week, Baraboo was ranked as the 15th best micropolitan in the US. Camp Gray is in the midst of capital campaign. What a wonderful place to live!

3) Writer’s Choice → Lent and the Olympics are Coming! 5 by 5 Style!

5 Things to do this Lent:

1. Spend 30 more minutes in prayer
2. Start a new routine (Exodus 90, Whole 30, Best Lent Ever)
3. Write a letter or make a phone call or do a random act of kindness for someone you care about every day
4. Volunteer
5. Try a new spiritual practice: Attend the stations of the cross, Go to Confession no matter how long it has been, Commit to reading Scripture, Enact the works of mercy

5 things to give up instead of chocolate (Courtesy of LifeTeen)

1. “I’ve never done it, but I’ve heard of people giving up the snooze button on their alarm clock. They said that it was harder than they thought, but it taught them a lot about discipline.” – Jessica, a Life Teen Missionary
2. “…this year I am giving up meat!” – Kimberly
3. “This year I’m giving up having my phone with me during the day because I’m always checking my email throughout the day. My hope is that having moderation I can be more present to the people around me. I want them to see my deeper connection with God.” – Kaitlin, a Life Teen Missionary
4. “I fasted for all of Lent one year. One meal a day really brings souls to Jesus, especially your own!” – Erika
5. “I’ve heard of people giving up their beds for Lent. They slept on the floor or the couch.” – Anna

5 Events I am looking forward to in winter Olympics

1. Curling: Way harder than it looks. Shuffleboard meets household chores.
2. Luge/Skeleton: ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING!
3. Hockey: A wrestling match but players get a wooden stick & knives on their shoes.
4. Biathlon: Guns and skiing? Yes please!
5. Speed skating: Suits like Fro-Zone? Yup. High speed? Yup. Lots of crashes? Yup.

5 stories to watch during the Winter Olympics

1. Countries make their Olympic Debut
2. Four New Events this Year
3. North Korea Sending a delegation
4. Russia Olypmics Ban
5. Wisconsin Athletes at the Olympics

5 Next Olympic sites

1. 2020 Tokyo
2. 2022 Beijing
3. 2024 Paris
4. 2026 TBD (Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Sweden and others are in the running)
5. 2038 Los Angeles

4) Recommendation of the Week → Miracle/Cool Runnings

 

Two teams that were never thought to have a chance. Two teams that became a success. Cool Runnings is loosely based on a story about the Jamaican bobsled team that will leave you laughing the whole way through. Miracle is an inspiring true story of the 1980 USA hockey team winning the game dubbed “the miracle on ice.”

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Best Lent Ever with Dynamic Catholic

Want to up your game for Lent this year? Check out the free email program from Dynamic Catholic. Every day will help give you inspiring stories and a day by day guide to improve every day. Become the best-version-of-yourself this Lent and sign up!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (2/1/18)

Welcome back!  I am sorry for the late post. The day got away from me! I hope you enjoy! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → State of the Union Address

Tuesday was President Trump’s first State of the Union address of his presidency. Already countless words have been used to break down the speech and its implications. Allow me to add some of my thoughts on the State of the Union. (Though if you want a quick breakdown from someone other than me, here is an article from the Hill)

General Thoughts:

The State of the Union (SOTU) is the height of political theater. The general sentiments are: “Let’s cheer when our party likes something” and “Let’s scowl when the President says something we deeply disagree with.” The clip above is 51 minutes. Trump’s speech took about 80 minutes in real time. That’s 30 minutes of clapping and applause just for show.

Some of the statements that stood out and will end up in headlines:

“The state of our union is strong.”

“This, in fact, is our new American moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American Dream.”

“…ending chain migration. (Applause.) Under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives.” (*Note: this is one of the few times Democrats openly booed and hissed during the SOTU)

“My duty, and the sacred duty of every elected official in this chamber, is to defend Americans, to protect their safety, their families, their communities, and their right to the American Dream. Because Americans are dreamers too.”

Odds and Ends

Trump and the White House touted their lines about bipartisanship. Though as a Republican president with a Republican Congress, there were plenty of plays to the base.

Trump also acknowledge 16 “Skutniks” (a “regular person” story the President acknowledges during the SOTU. Named after Lenny Skutnik who was used in such a way during President Reagan’s SOTU.)

Rep. Joe Kennedy III (yes, that Kennedy family. He is the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy) gave the official Democratic response to the SOTU. His speech was good and full of hopeful idealism. However, everyone keeps being preoccupied by the shiny spot at the corner of his mouth. Get over it folks.

Overall impact of the SOTU

Honestly, it will probably come to yield very little fruit. Policy-wise, Trump laid out four pillars for immigration and talked about his infrastructure goals. He did also called for Congress to keep Guantanamo Bay open. Trump also touted the strong economy and tax reform.

It is always an interesting time to hear what the priorities for the government are. The SOTU is hugely popular. Trump’s SOTU was the sixth most viewed SOTU since 1993 with about 46 million people. That’s more than double NBC’s Sunday Night Football (20 million), CBS’s Big Bang Theory (19 million) and the finale for HBO’s Game of Thrones (16.5 million with streaming and apps.

 

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Baraboo Ranks 15th among small cities

An economic research firm found Baraboo economic strength ranks 15th in the nation’s “micropolitan” market. Policom Corporation, the Florida research firm who conducted the study, defines micropolitan as cities with a population of 10,000 to 50,000. The study looks at over 550 micropolitan markets across the country. This adds to the list of Baraboo’s accolades in recent years.

“In September, the Circus City made U.S. News & World Report’s list of six up-and-coming American cities. In 2013, Smithsonian Magazine named Baraboo the No. 4 small town to visit in the U.S. The next year, the book “The Economic Viability of Micropolitan America” noted Baraboo as a success story.” -Baraboo News Republic

Mayor Mike Palm already stated that he is hoping to continue to move the city up the list.  With Devil’s Lake and the Circus World Museum among other things, Baraboo continues to thrive in south central Wisconsin.

3) Writer’s Choice → Super Bowl Week

This week the hoopla surrounding the Super Bowl takes over the Twin Cities. As you know by now, I am an avid sports fan. While my beloved Packers are not in the big game, you can bet I will still watch the spectacle. Here are a few thoughts and predictions from the best way to host a Super Bowl party to the outcome of the game.

Super Bowl Traditions: For years the Earleywine family has enjoyed watching the Super Bowl with some family friends. But, we are always sure to have two things: cocktail wienies and Jell-O the color of each team.

Prop Bets: During the Super Bowl bets are placed on almost every aspect of the day. These do not include the many in game bets such as who will catch the first pass or who will score the first points of the game. Here are some of the wackier prop bets and my best guesses (in blue): Shout out to USA Today for the wacky prop bets. 

What color will Pink’s hair be when she starts to sing the National Anthem?

White/blonde: 5/4
Pink/red: 7/4
Blue/purple: 5/1
Brown/black: 5/1
Green: 5/1

What color will Bill Belichick’s shirt be at kickoff?

Blue: 4/5
Gray: 3/2
Red: 15/2
White: 15/2

Will former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb’s vomiting incident from Super Bowl XXXIX be mentioned during the TV broadcast?

Yes: 3/2
No: 1/2

Will Justin Timberlake cover a Prince song during halftime?

Yes: 2/1
No: 1/3

How many times will “wardrobe malfunction” be mentioned during the TV broadcast? (Note: From kickoff to final whistle, not including halftime.)

Over 1.5 times: 17/10
Under 1.5 times: 2/5

Who will the Super Bowl MVP mention first in his speech?

Teammtes: 2/1
God: 4/1
City: 5/1
Coach: 7/1
Owner: 10/1
Family: 16/1
None of the above: 2/1

Which number will be higher?

Kickoff temperature in Minnesota: 2/3
Total points scored in the first quarter: 11/10

As for the actual game: I am looking forward to watching the teams that were clearly a cut above all season. I think the Eagles are being shortchanged a bit because they lost MVP candidate Carson Wentz late in the season. Also, because the Patriots are the Patriots and have such a track record for success.  I think Philadelphia will jump on the Patriots early, but Brady and the Pats will stage a comeback. Tom Brady will get the ball one too many times against the Eagles and sets the Pats up for a game winning field goal. Final Score: Patriots 24, Eagles 21 

 

4) Recommendation of the Week → Trivia by Pat

Trivia nights have exploded across the country in recent years. My good friend, Pat, hosts some of the best Trivia Nights around! Not only does he regularly host trivia, but he posts daily trivia on his Facebook page every day as well! Check it out!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Man’s Search for Meaning

This book by Viktor Frankl is an incredible story of his time in German concentration camps.  Here is a brief synopsis from the website HighExistence:

“A blend between a memoir, a psychological investigation and a self-help book, Frankl delivers a powerful message: finding meaning lies at the core of being human. From his own experience as a psychiatrist combined with anecdotes from his time in the concentration camps, he tells us how important it is to find meaning in our own lives and what we can become if we don’t. Suffering, he conveys to us, is inevitable. But as to how we cope with it is dependent on ourselves. If we can find meaning, even in the worst acts our species has ever inflicted upon his fellow man, we will be able to move forward with renewed purpose.”

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (1/25/18)

Welcome back!  As you will hear more about below, I attended the Catholic Camp Summit this week. However, I still wanted to write this week, but it will be short and sweet. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Sports in America

Sports dominated this week’s headlines: Here are just a few headlines with some thoughts on each. The most pressing headline involves the sentencing of sexual predator Larry Nassar, the gymnastics doctor for Michigan State and US Olympic Team. He received 40 to 175 years in prison. This was the front page of the Detroit Free Press today:

That is over 150 women who testified and shared their story against Nassar. Michigan State also appears to have been negligent in reporting and investigating claims regarding Nassar’s abuse. The MSU President resigned, and there is an expectation others at MSU or the US Olympic Committee will be forced to resign as well.

Football

Super Bowl Rematch: The Patriots and Eagles will have a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX. You may love or hate the Pats, Tom Brady, and Bill Belicheck, but they have reached eight Super Bowls together. That’s incredible.

New XFL: The league that existed for one year is reportedly making a comeback. The XFL will start again in 2020 by founder Vince McMahon who tried the original product in 2001.  McMahon is the sole owner and wants to provide a “gimmick free” product. There have been some proposed hardline policies for the league: players will not be allowed to have a criminal record, they will stand for the national anthem, and the games will be down in two hours.

Basketball

All-Star Teams: All-Star teams were announced and people are debating who got snubbed and who shouldn’t have made the roster. Also, a new format this year will allow the top vote-getters (LeBron and Steph Curry) to draft their team. That should be televised and done publicly. They show other events like the skills competitions during the weekend.

Sports Betting?: However, All-Star hype has covered up a bigger story in  the NBA. The NBA is pursuing a “1% commission (the league is calling it an “integrity fee”) of the amount wagered on any events concerning NBA games and says that the fee should be coming out of the revenue received from sports betting operators that would be involved in the transaction.” 

Baseball

New HOFers: Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, Trevor Hoffman, and Chipper Jones are all new additions to the Hall of Fame. The biggest debate of snubs revolve around Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens who both are linked to being aided by steroids.

Field of Dreams: Vandals caused thousands of dollars in damage at the Field of Dreams in Iowa this week.

Perhaps one of baseball’s most iconic places, an online cause already raised $15,000 for repairs for the damages. Good job crowdfunding for a beloved landmark!

2) Wisconsin Headlines → State of the State Address

Governor Walker gave his annual State of the State address this week. He touted his accomplishments and put out his “Ambitious Agenda for Wisconsin in 2018.”

“Walker’s seven-part agenda includes more money for schools, a career program for college students, work and drug-testing requirements for public assistance recipients, rural small business grants, conversion of the state’s troubled youth prison into a medium-security adult prison and setting up smaller regional juvenile facilities, stabilization of the health care market and the child tax credit.” -Wisconsin State Journal

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin made statements accusing Walker of “lurching all over the political landscape in a political cover-up to buy votes.” Chairwoman Martha Laning also said, “An attentive governor who loves Wisconsin would spend all four years taking care of Wisconsinites and doing what is best for all our people, our communities and our economy. Scott Walker has spent seven-plus years giving away our taxpayer resources to billionaires, Foxconn and his presidential campaign donors.”

3) Writer’s Choice → Catholic Camps Summit

This week, I spent all week with about 75 folks from 16 Catholic Camps around the country. Working for Camp Gray has been such a blessing for me. It was wonderful to see the other incredible work these folks are doing. We had three priests and a nun who are all Camp Gray alumni speak as keynotes. We were able to play, pray, and learn together as a community. Check out some of these great camps around the country. Some might even be close to you!

1. St. Therese’s Camp (Alaska)
2. Camp Pendola (California)
3. Camp Wojtyla (Colorado) 
4. Life Teen Summer Camp (Georgia)
5. Camp Totus Tuus (Kansas)
6. Prairie Star Ranch (Kansas)
7. Camp Sancta Maria (Michigan)
8. Camp Re-NEW-all (Missouri)
9. CYC (Minnesota)
10. Catholic Youth Summer Camp (Ohio)
11. Camp Our Lady of Guadalupe (Oklahoma)
12. The Pines Catholic Camp (Texas)
13. Bishop Hodges (West Virginia)
14. CYO Summer Camp (Washington)
15. Camp Gray (Wisconsin)
16. Love Begins Here Missions (Wisconsin)

4) Recommendation of the Week → The Count of Monte Cristo

The Dumas classic is also an incredible movie starring Jim Caviezel as well as a young Henry Cavill (Man of Steel). I recently rewatched the 2002 film and am reading the novel for the first time. A synopsis from Google: “The classic story of an innocent man wrongly, but deliberately imprisoned and his brilliant strategy for revenge against those who betrayed him.” The film hits on themes of justice, mercy, revenge, and peace. It is a wonderful story!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Rend Collective 

Last Friday, Rend Collective dropped their new album. Some personal favorites from the new album include: Life is Beautiful, Marching On, and True North.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (1/18/18)

Welcome back!  As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Immigration and Government Shutdown…Again?

Shortly after last week’s blog, Donald Trump made his now infamous “shithole” remark regarding Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries. That comment made headlines, but lost in the shuffle was the fact that the White House shot down a bipartisan immigration package which included protection for those under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Just 10 days ago, the president had offered to sign whatever bipartisan immigration package Congress could put forward.

Last fall, Trump announced that he would end the DACA program. The Trump administration felt DACA was unconstitutional and an overreach of an executive order issued by President Obama. Democrats are fighting to find a long term solution for DACA recipients and hoped to find leverage during one of these short term spending bills. For example, the government is currently only funded through Friday, and Republicans are unlikely to pass a continuing resolution along party lines meaning Democrats have their leverage.

All of this could lead to a government shutdown if Democrats hold their ground.

The Republicans have another stopgap measure in place to avoid a shutdown. Check out the graphic for details:

There are concerns that the resolution would not pass, which would likely cause a government shutdown. What does that actually mean? Check out this article for more details about a shutdown 

“Activities related to national security (like the military services), safety and order (air traffic control, law enforcement) and medical care (veterans’ hospitals) are among the essential activities that carry on. So does the U.S. mail, since the Postal Service has its own funding stream. U.S. Treasury debt auctions continue, Social Security and Medicare checks get mailed, food stamps are distributed. Federal courts are open but their work is subject to disruption.” –Washington Post

This could be the 13th shutdown since 1981. The previous 12 have lasted anywhere from one to 21 days.Unless you plan on travelling to a national park or work for the federal government, a shutdown is unlikely to majorly impact your day to day life. But, it is a sign of gridlock in Washington.

If I were a betting man, I would wager there will be at least a short government shutdown.

2) Wisconsin Headlines → Special Elections

After winning in New Jersey and Virginia, Democrats won another special election across the country: this time in Wisconsin’s 10th Senate district. Patty Schachtner, won by just over 10 percentage points, which marks a 28 point swing from the results in 2016.

Governor Scott Walker and Speaker Paul Ryan both took notice.

Walker called the race a “wake up call for Republicans in Wisconsin.” When asked about the results Ryan said, “Typically, we have held this seat,” but “we lost this seat last night, so, yeah, we — I think we should pay attention to it.”  –Politico

Tuesday also saw two other special elections in the 58th and 66th Assembly Districts. Republican Rick Gundrum defeated Democrat Dennis Degenhardt to win the 58th Assembly District, while in the 66th Assembly District, Democrat Greta Neubauer won as she faced no Republican opposition in a Democratic stronghold.

The 10th Senate District got the headlines as Republicans worry about a Democratic wave nationwide in the midterms later this year. Many of the special elections in the past year have been for state office. Republicans hope to ride on their tax victory and robust economy. Democrats are looking to push back against President Trump and his administration. A lot can change between now and election day 2018, as well.

3) Writer’s Choice → Apple in the USA

Apple announced this week they will be opening a new corporate campus in the USA, hiring 20,000 workers, and paying $38 billion in taxes from overseas profits. Apple’s move comes on the heels of the new corporate tax law passed at the end of 2017.  President Trump and Republicans praised the move citing the tax bill as the reason for the announcement.

“At the same time, the company is realizing a savings of $42 billion from the new tax bill, notes analyst and investor Gene Munster, from Loup Ventures, as it takes advantage of a one-year window that lowers the tax rate on repatriated profits to 15.5%. That’s less than the 21% tax rate on corporate profits from the new law, itself a drop from the 35% prior rate.” -USAToday

Apple is not necessarily doing this to be patriotic. The new tax legislation allows for Apple to bring their assets back stateside at the lower rate of 15.5% on a one time move. However, Apple would be taxed at 21% on that money if they had not brought it back.

Apple becomes the most recent major company to announce expansions in the United States. Last week, Wal-Mart raised its starting wage for employees. Amazon is scouting cities for its next major headquarters. Microsoft and Alphabet could follow Apple’s lead in returning money to the US. The impact of these investments and repatriation are to be determined. Politicians claim these investments will boost the economy and aid Americans, but economists are not so sure. Only time will tell.

4) Recommendation of the Week → PTI

This show is my guilty pleasure. Tony and Mike are just like two guys bantering back and forth in a bar. They are passionate and emotional about topics. They have people they consider “ya boy.” They have their fun taglines. And they fact check themselves at the end of every show to ensure their arguments are valid. It is entertaining, provocative, and so much fun. Check it out on ESPN every weekday or on their podcast!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → St. Sebastian

Saint Sebastian is my confirmation saint and his feast day is on Saturday! Here is a quick story:

Sebastian was a Christian in the Roman army. When he was found out, he was brought before Emperor Diocletian and sentenced to death by a firing squad of archers. He was shot and left for dead. He was nurtured back to health by those who were supposed to bury him. He returned to face the Emperor and decried his cruelty against Christians. He was caught and beaten to death with clubs.

So, yeah…..Sebastian, a Christian martyr, is a rock star. I pray we all have the zeal in our faith that Sebastian had.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (1/11/18)

Welcome back! Happy 2018 and I look forward to my first full year of blogging! If you missed it, please check out the recent Look Back At-It article on the new Tax Reform Legislation.  As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → 2018 Round-up

After being off for the holidays there are a few headlines that I would like to cover.

Fire and Fury

 Fire and Fury is the new tell all by author Michael Wolff about the Trump White House. Full disclosure, I have not yet read the book, but here is what I know. Wolff has a history of writing steamy/gossipy text in which he paints a colorful picture. He seems to be less worried about the exactness of details, and more worried about creating a juicy theme. Some sources came from the gossip mill in the West Wing, while some may have come from senior staff or even the president. Read the book if you want, but take it with a grain of salt.

Nuclear Button:

Fun tweet of the week.

While some people were frustrated by this, Trump (as we have seen) has a tendency to do policy in a public setting like this. This largely made news because Trump tweeted it, instead of using formal channels in our government (memos, formal condemnations, speeches, etc) to remind North Korea of our nuclear power.

Congressional Representatives Leaving

As of today, 31 House Republicans will not seek reelection to the chamber, the highest number for a party during a midterm year since 1994. That is just part of the grim picture for Republicans who currently hold the House majority by 24 seats.  “Going back to World War II, the president’s party loses an average of 28 seats in his first midterm election…The exception was in 2002, when the Republicans gained seats about a year after the Sept. 11 attacks.” Democrats hold an 11 point advantage on a generic ballot (i.e. “Are you more likely to vote Democrat or Republican in the coming midterm,”) at the moment. If that polling data holds up, Democrats could overcome the Republican advantage of district maps drawn in 2010 by the GOP.

Wal-Mart Raises Minimum Wage, Closes 63 Sam’s Club Stores

Wal-Mart announced this week they would raise their minimum wage to $11 per hour as well as expand benefits, and offer one-time bonuses to employees who did not qualify for a wage increase. The cited reason for this increase was the GOP tax bill that passed last month. However, later on the same day, Wal-Mart announced it will close 63 Sam’s Club stores and lay off thousands of workers. It is an interesting juxtaposition for Wal-Mart.

2) World Headlines → Walker’s 2018 Goals

In Governor Walker’s weekly address, he laid out some of his priorities for 2018. He discusses some of his 2017 victories (such as adding $200 per student in every school) and gives broad priorities for 2018. So, while his address is somewhat self-promoting (see paragraphs three and four), it will be interesting to keep an eye on what Walker is able to accomplish in 2018.

WEEKLY ADDRESS

“2017 was a great year for the state of Wisconsin, but there’s more work to be done and we’re ready to keep moving our state forward in 2018.

Student success is a key priority for us in the coming year, and I’m proud that we now invest more actual dollars into our schools than ever before. This year we put in an additional $200 per student into every school in the state, and we’ll add another $204 on top of that next school year.

We also made major investments in our technical college system and into the University of Wisconsin system. Plus, to make college more affordable, we froze tuition for six years in a row and provided more needs-based financial assistance than ever before.

Healthcare is another priority, and I’m pleased that a recent report shows that healthcare systems in Wisconsin are ranked number one in the nation for quality. We’re also one of the top states in the country for access to healthcare coverage, and we ended the waiting list for children needing long-term care.

We’re also removing barriers to work so that people can transition from government dependence to true independence, and putting in place work requirements and screening to ensure those seeking public assistance can pass a drug test. For those who fail, we provide rehabilitation because we know we can find a job and a career path for everyone who’s able to work. You see, more people are working in Wisconsin than ever before, and we need everyone who is able to work to be engaged in the workforce.

Student success, healthy families and seniors, removing barriers to work, and building a strong workforce are our priorities for 2018.

Working together, we can keep moving Wisconsin forward.”

3) Writer’s Choice → College Football Champions

With just under four minutes in regulation, Alabama tied the game at 20. Georgia received the ensuing kick-off and went three-and-out. Alabama regained possession with time for one final drive. They drove into field goal range, and missed a 36 yard field goal as time expired sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, Georgia started with the ball, but found themselves going backward. Their kicker bailed them out by drilling a 51 yard field goal. That forced Alabama to score a touchdown rather than a field goal to win the game. Alabama’s freshman quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, was sacked for a 16 yard loss pushing the Tide to the edge of field goal range. However the next play, Tagovailoa, who played the second half after Alabama benched their starting quarterback, looked off the safety, threw a perfect pass down the sideline for a walkoff touchdown to win the national championship, 26-23. Every boy’s dream.

While the title game was incredibly entertaining, the benched quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and the title game hero, Tua Tagovailoa, are the main reason I am writing this piece. Hurts proved to be the ultimate teammate, supporting his backup Tagovailoa at every moment during the second half. Hurts did not sulk, pout, or appear upset at any point. Rather, he helped talk through strategy, pump up his team, and willing to serve any possible way. Talk about a true team player.

And Tagovailoa who became the hero, took his newfound stardom with incredible humility, thanked God for his opportunity, and praised his teammates.

These two men provided great examples of how to play the game with class, grace, and dignity. Hopefully they will continue their great work as role models.

4) Recommendation of the Week → The West Wing

My newest obsession is a bit of a throwback. The walk and talks, the policy talk, the dilemmas of a presidential administration, and the quick witted humor all make this show a classic. I have not completed the series, but I am sure I soon will. Follow President Bartlett and his staff’s triumphs, defeats, and decisions on Netflix.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Jim Caviezel at SLS18

Watch this video for what will be the best 15 minutes of your week.  I was able to witness this in person. You see, last week I had the genuine pleasure of attending the FOCUS SLS18 conference. A gathering of over 8,000 Catholics in Chicago was inspiring and fulfilling. As you see at the start of this video, they showed a trailer for Jim Caviezel’s new movie about Paul the apostle. Then, Jim Caviezel showed up. And blew everyone’s mind.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (12/21/17)

Welcome back! Please check out yesterday’s Look Back At-It article on the new Tax Reform Legislation. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations. 5 Things will be off for the holiday season. Thanks for making 2017 awesome and we will see you in 2018! Merry Christmas everyone!

1) National Headlines → Government Funded for the Holidays

After passing tax reform, the government had to turn around a stopgap spending bill before the Christmas recess. The bill passed both the House and Senate today funding the government until January 19th. The government has continued to kick a longer spending bill down the road and keeps passing stopgap bills.

This bill included: “short-term extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), some spending “anomalies” for defense, a waiver for the pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budgetary rules so the GOP tax bill doesn’t trigger Medicare cuts and an extension of a controversial surveillance program.” -The Hill

Congress is in recess until 2018. Republicans leave on a high note with their tax reform legislation and avoiding a government shutdown. The GOP will hope these legislative victories will give them momentum heading in the 2018 midterm elections. Democrats will look to push against the President Trump and the GOP tax plan, focusing on the tax cuts for corporations and high-income households. All that will shape up for an interesting midterm election cycle.

2) World Headlines → United Nations Push Back On Jerusalem Move

After President Trump’s recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the international community pushed back on the decision. Earlier this week the U.N. Security Council put forth a resolution that demanded states from placing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem. The resolution did not explicitly name the United States or President Trump. The Security Council has ten rotating member states and five permanent members: United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. Each permanent member holds veto power over any resolutions. So, this resolution was approved by all 14 member states and promptly vetoed by the US.

Then on Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution demanding the United States rescind its decision on recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The vote passed 128-9 with 35 abstentions. Major United States allies like the United Kingdom, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia voted in favor of the resolution. Israel and the US voted against the measure.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, condemned the declaration saying the US was “singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation.”  She went on to say:

“We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.” -Nikki Haley

The vote is nonbinding and a largely symbolic measure. However, it does go to show that the international community is largely against the United Nations in this measure.

3) Writer’s Choice → Merry Christmas (5 by 5 style)! 

I had considered doing a Christmas 10 by 10, but instead enjoy this mini 5 by 5.

Five Favorite Christmas Albums/Songs?

1. O Holy Night -Josh Groban
2. It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas -Michael Buble
3. Ding Dong Merrily on High -Rend Collective
4. Christmas Eve/Sarajevo -Trans-Siberian Orchestra
5. All I Want for Christmas is You -Mariah Carey

Five Last Minute Present Ideas

1. Fun Socks
2. A Themed Coffee Mug
3. Good Books
4. Homemade Crafts or Cookies
5. A Subscription (to Spotify, Netflix, a magazine, or something else!)

Five Christmas Treats I Love

1. Belly-achers (aka buckeyes or chocolate cover peanut butter balls)
2. Christmas sugar cookies
3. Orange Slices
4. Grandma’s Mint Oreo dessert
5. Mom’s Scotcheroos

Five Favorite Christmas Traditions

1. Christmas Dinner at Grandma’s
2. Hiding things (scissors, wrapping paper, tape, etc) in the Christmas Tree until Mom notices
3. Going to a movie with my family
4. Having Grandma come over to see what presents we got
5. Playing in the snow

Five Favorite Christmas Movies

1. It’s a Wonderful Life
2. Elf
3. Die Hard (yes it is indeed a Christmas movie)
4. The Muppet Christmas Carol
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Original version)

4) Recommendation of the Week → Manitowoc Minute 

Oh my gosh! If you want a fun 3-minute Wisconsin news segment every week this is for you. Wisconsin accents and love for the Packers. Check it out, and keep ‘er movin!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Star Wars, Civic Duty, and the Minnesota Catholic Conference

I came across this article written by a member of the Minnesota Catholic Conference. It brings together two of passions: Star Wars and civic duty. The Minnesota Catholic Conference is also a wonderful resource. Every state has their own Catholic Conference to advise Catholics on how certain pieces of legislation will impact them. However, Minnesota has a wonderful social media presence and I would encourage you to check it out. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

Look Back At-It: Tax Reform (12/20/17)

Welcome to the intermittent series of Look Back At-It. In this series, we check back in on a topic that made local or national news in 5 Things. Things may have changed since you read this. Also, please note that I offer a few more of my personal thoughts about the bill in the latter half of this article while the first half is largely a policy overview.

David, I am sure there is all sorts of great stuff in here, but can you just point me to how this bill will impact me?

Yes. If you just want to know how your taxes will be impacted, check out these tax calculators. They may not be perfect, but they should give you an idea of what your taxes could look like going forward.

• CNN Tax Bill Calculator 
• NY Times Tax Bill Calculator
• Washington Post Tax Bill Calculator 
• There are certainly others you can find as well using a quick Google search.

Okay, help me understand this whole tax reform process and timeline?

Sure. Here is a timeline courtesy of CNBC. The first tax bill was introduced in early November. The GOP plans to get this all squared away by Christmas. They held a joint conference to mesh the two bills last week.

The House passed the bill Tuesday and sent it to the Senate. The Senate passed the bill in the early hours of Wednesday morning. However, the Senate parliamentarian found a a few minor provisions in the bill that need to change to conform to reconciliation rules. This means that the House will have to pass the bill again. That vote is expected today and President Trump is expected to sign the legislation by the end of the week.

So what are some of the major provisions? 

For a more complete list of provisions, click on the link above from NPR. Or if you are feeling extra wonky check out this analysis from the tax policy center. But if you just want some of the highlights, keep on reading!

Here are the new tax brackets:

 

Single

Married Filing Jointly (MFJ)

A few more of the major provisions:

• The tax bill doubles the standard deduction.
• Lowers the top tax rate from 39.6% to 37%
• Tuition Waivers for college students will remain untaxed
• State and Local Tax  Deduction remains, but only up to $10,000
• Child Tax Credit expanded to $2,000, 
• Repeal Individual Mandate (which is the rule in Obamacare requiring individuals to have health insurance or pay a penalty)
• “Pass through” business rate of no higher than 29.6% (down from 39.6%)
• Lowers the top tax rate from 39.6% to 37%
• Corporate Tax Cut from 35% to 21% 
• Repeals Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for corporations

A few other important notes about the procedural parts of the bill:

• All the corporate tax cuts are permanent while all of the individual cuts are set to sunset (or expire) in 2025.
• “The Republican budget’s reconciliation rules said that any bill passed could only add $1.5 trillion in federal debt over 10 years, meaning the legislation as written fits within the window.” -Business Insider

So, is this really a tax cut for the middle class?

It partially depends on how you define middle class. The benefits increase for high-income households. Check out this chart.

The JCT (Joint Committee on Taxation) found that individuals making $20,000 to $100,000 (middle class taxpayers) would see $61 billion in savings. That is about 23% of the individual tax cuts. 

A few thoughts on taxes, tax policy, and the like

It is important to remember that in tax policy, fairness and simplicity are hard to reconcile. If everyone paid a flat tax rate of 15% would that be simple? Yes. Would it be fair? Perhaps not. It would not allow you to take deductions, exemptions, or credits for things like charitable giving, education expenses, or mortgages.

Corporate tax cuts were a vital part of this legislation. The US does have the highest listed corporate tax rates (at 35%) among OECD (developed) economies. However, the effective tax rate (what is paid after deductions and credits) was about 18.6% which puts the US at the higher end of the spectrum, but not the highest. The new corporate tax rate of 21% puts the US in the middle of the OECD economies.

The legislation is expected to increase revenues and economic growth. However, no independent analysis shows the tax bill paying for itself as some Republican leaders have argued. After years of harping on Democrats for adding to the deficit, the Republicans are okay adding to it in order to pass their reform.

A few numbers for the road

1. $1.456 trillion: The cost of the bill according to Joint Committee on Taxation, a nonpartisan Congressional committee. As mentioned above that narrowly fits in the $1.5 trillion reconciliation window. Other analyses show different results, ranging from $448 billion to more than $2 trillion, but no analysis shows the legislation paying for itself.

2. 503 pages: The length of the tax bill. That number swells to 1,097 including the conference report and other appendices.

3. 47 days: Consider that the last major tax overhaul (during Reagan’s administration) took almost two years from the initial framework to passage. Even Obamacare (which some felt was jammed through Congress) took about 9 months to pass.

4. 26%: People who itemized their deductions last year. Predictions are that about 8% of people will itemize deductions with the doubling of the standard deduction. While you won’t be able to file on a postcard 9 out of 10 people will be able to take the standard deduction, fill out one form, and be done with it. So, while the tax code is not necessarily getting a huge simplification (and it some ways it will be more complicated especially on the corporate side), it should allow many individuals to spend less time agonizing over taxes.

More resources:

Full text of the tax bill including conference reports

Analysis of the Tax Bill 

Key provisions of the tax bill NPR

Peace love and all the above,

DJE

 

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (12/14/17)

Welcome back!  I planned to have a Look Back this week on Tax Reform. I decided to wait one more week as it looks like an agreement is reached and a vote is coming early next week. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Brexit Vote

The June of 2016 may seem like a distant memory. However, on June 23, 2016 the people of Great Britian voted to exit (British exit=Brexit) the European Union. That referendum was just the beginning. The country is slated to have until March of 2019 to formalize the terms of their exit. To that end, the House of Commons voted this week on a piece of legislation dealing with the final terms of Brexit.

Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, and her administration have worked hard to hammer out the details of Brexit. May promised to give Parliament a “meaningful vote” on the terms of the final Brexit agreement. Yet, the House of Commons passed an amendment, 309 to 305, “that any final deal to withdraw from the European Union be submitted to Parliament — as legislation — before it can be put into effect.”

All of this occurred on the eve of a European Union summit which May is scheduled to attend. The vote serves as more of an embarrassment for May rather than a setback. Nevertheless, there is concern that it will be harder to move forward with negotiations.

May and her faction argue the vote serves only to shorten the timeline for the agreement. Now, that it is has to go through Parliament (not a fast procedure), lawmakers predict an exit deal must be finalized by fall of 2018 to ensure passage by March of 2019. The unenviable task to reach terms of leaving the E.U. is an extremely complex and intricate process. We will see if they are able to make their 2019 deadline.

2) Local Headlines → Return of the Rodgers

He’s back!

Aaron Rodgers was medically cleared to play this week after suffering a broken right collarbone against Minnesota earlier this year. Cheeseheads rejoice!

“So you are telling me there is a chance?”

Yes, the Packers are still eligible for the playoffs. And with Aaron back, we can R-E-L-A-X and “run the table” right? Right. But how do the Packers make it into the playoffs?

How tough will it be for the Packers to do their part and win all three?

The Packers remaining schedule:  @Carolina(9-4), vs Minnesota(10-3), and @Detroit(7-6).

The “best” scenario for the Pack (via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel): 

Packers win out. Seattle loses once more (preferably against the Rams) and doesn’t wind up winning the West. Carolina loses once more after losing to Packers. Playoffs!

But what if the Packers lose?

It is still possible, but exponentially more difficult, for the Packers to make the playoffs. I won’t go into all of the contingencies, but it would involve even more help than the Packers.

If the Packers lose, should they let Aaron Rodgers continue to play?

Yes. While the injury may be fresh, he has been medically cleared to play. And, he wants to play. The injury becomes irrelevant. His chances of re-injuring his collarbone will be the same as any other injury. The Packers do not need to continue to evaluate Hundley. They have seen him play during Rodgers injury and (for better or worse) know what they have with him under center.

While Rodgers makes the Packers better, I’ll leave you with his thoughts on his injury and coming back:

On coming back to save the season: “Hopefully it gives a lift to some of the guys, but I’m not coming back to save this team,” Rodgers said. “I’m coming back to play quarterback the way I know how to play it. Hopefully, we all raise the level of our play collectively and find a way to win these three games.”

On whether he is actually ready to come back from his injury: “I wouldn’t be standing here ready to play if I wasn’t confident I could go out there and play the way that I’ve always played,” Rodgers said. “There’s just no point in doing that. It’s a risky game; it’s a dangerous game. There’s risks every time you step on the field.

3) Writer’s Choice → Doug Jones Wins Senate Race

Alabama a traditionally deeply conservative state, elected Democrat Doug Jones to the US Senate. Jones is the first Alabama Democrat elected to Congress since 1992.  He was running against Republican Roy Moore who is accused of sexual assault with minors.

Now its time for a mini 5 Things in which I give you 5 quick things to know about the aftermath of this election:

1. Keeping in line with his defiant personality, Roy Moore did not concede the election. The vote is not close enough for an automatic recount which means Moore’s campaign would have to pay for a recount.
2. President Trump congratulated Doug Jones, and walked back his full-throated endorsement of Roy Moore saying he “was right” and “Moore couldn’t win the general election.”
3. Jones cannot take his seat until the election results are verified by the state. That is likely to happen in early January which is a fairly typical timeline for special elections. Jones will hold the seat until the election in 2020.
4.  Democrats think this win (along with local elections in New Jersey and Virginia a few weeks ago) could set them up to flip control of Congress in the 2018 midterms.
5. Jones beat Moore on a margin of 49.9% to 48.4%, a difference of about 21,000 votes. There were about 22,000 write-in votes cast in the election. Alabama’s other Republican Senator, Richard Shelby, who has been in office since 1987, encouraged people to write-in Republican candidates rather than vote for Moore.

4) Recommendation of the Week → STAR WARS!!!!

I don’t think I need to say much about this. I love this saga. I love Star Wars. Watch every episode. Yes, all of them. (Personally, my favorite is Empire Strikes Back.) Watch the trailer. Get hyped. Go see the movie starting Friday!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → The Catholic Gentleman

This week I want to encourage you all (men in particular) to “Be a man. Be a saint.” We are living in a time when there are sex scandals, abuse of power, a lack of true identity and manliness. Insert the Catholic Gentleman. There are lots of great articles about true manliness and masculinity. Per their site: “you’ll find posts about manly saints you can imitate, beer, dressing sharp, marriage, spiritual weapons and a lot more. ” Enjoy!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (12/7/17)

Welcome back! This week, I am going to continue last week’s trend and forgo the local news. Too many important news stories broke this week for me to ignore them. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines →  Tax Reform

I have a Look Back At-It post scheduled for early next week to give you the latest on tax reform. But for now here are a few things to note about the bill:

1. Senate Republicans passed their version of the bill in the early hours of Saturday morning. The bill goes to a joint conference committee to iron out the differences between the Senate and House bills.
2. Congress is using budget reconciliation processes to move this bill along. Reconciliation can be used once per budget cycle and allows for:
   1.  Each reconciliation gets a specific set of instructions. One important rule this time: Congress can only add $1.5 trillion to the deficit.
   2. the Senate to pass the bill with a simple majority rather than needing 60 votes to pass.
   3. Other rules include: a 20 hour debate cap (rather than unlimited debate), prohibits filibustering, and amendments must be relevant to the bill
3. After the differences are ironed out, each chamber will put the bill to a simple yes or no vote. If it passes both houses it will head to the President’s desk for approval.

Senators were frustrated about the handwritten changes in the tax bill in the eleventh hour causing images like this one to go viral.

This is no way to pass legislation. It does shed some light on the horse trading and last minute concessions and deals that impact most bills. Furthermore, the bill will go to conference where there will be some changes to the final product. So, while these handwritten changes are not great, there are more changes to come.

2) Writer’s Choice #1 → Israel’s Capital

President Trump announced today that his administration will recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, breaking with years of US foreign policy and the international community.

Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and until now all countries have maintained their embassies in Tel Aviv. -BBC News

Israel laid claim to Jerusalem (which Jews, Christians, and Muslims all see as a holy city) in 1967, but that annexation is not recognized by the international community. Palestinians seek a “two-state solution” to give them their own state from Israel. The Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

Trump announced the move as a “recognition of reality” and “the right thing to do.” He also, noted multiple times in the announcement that he delivered on his campaign promise to make this move. Prominent Republican lawmakers, such as Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), have praised the decision.

Other world leaders did not shower Trump with praise. Theresa May, the Prime Minister of Great Britian, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, both denounced the move worrying about peace within the region. Furthermore, over half of UN Security Council members called for an urgent meeting by the end of the week to discuss the announcement. Protests already started in Jerusalem as of this morning.

3) Writer’s Choice #2 → News Roundup

Russia Olympic Doping

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Russia from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea due to systemic doping and drug violations. The IOC ban means that Russian government officials cannot attend, their flag will not be displayed nor their national anthem played, and the official records will show that Russia won no medals. However, Russia athletes that pass rigorous drug testing can compete under a neutral flag uniform.

John Conyers Resigns from the House; Senator Al Franken to resign from Senate

The House’s longest serving member, John Conyers (D-MI) resigned on Tuesday amid sexual assault allegations.  Conyers’ case is set apart because “in 2015, he had used $27,000 in taxpayer money to settle a wrongful dismissal complaint made by a female aide, Marion Brown, who said she was fired for not giving in to his sexual advances.” Senator Al Franken (D-MN) is also announced today he would step down “in the coming weeks” amid calls for his resignation due to sexual assault allegations.

Government Funding

The stopgap government spending bill signed earlier this year (after Trump’s infamous “Chuck and Nancy” meeting) runs out at the end of the week. Currently neither house of Congress has a spending bill on the floor. The House is expecting a bill by today that would fund the government through December 22nd. Democrats are likely to use the bill for a permanent protection for immigrants who were brought into the country by their parents, also known as DREAMers.

Roy Moore Endorsement

President Trump gave a full endorsement of Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate special election. The Republican National Committee, also followed Trump’s lead signaling their opinion that a problematic Republican is better than any Democrat. Arizona’s Republican Senator Jeff Flake wrote a check to Democratic candidate Doug Jones with a memo “Country over party.”

Michael Flynn pleads guilty

Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in regard to sanctions conversations with Russia. Flynn was Trump’s national security advisor during his campaign and early days of his presidency. Trump insinuated in a tweet that he fired Flynn because he knew he lied to the FBI and VP Pence. His personal lawyer also announced that he wrote the tweet raising questions about who writes Trump’s tweets.

4) Recommendation of the Week → Hammerings of the Human Heart

Well folks, Brother Father Kevin (my brother who is indeed a Catholic priest) started his very own blog! And boy, oh boy, will you want to check it out. It is his collection of  thoughts on beauty, being, life, literature, music, and the meaning of life. His first post talks about Fyodor Dostoevsky’s quote “Beauty can save the world.” His blog includes things like movie and book reviews, homilies, podcasts, thoughts on art/beauty, as well as prayer and scripture. I encourage you to check out Father Kevin’s blog

5) Inspiration of the Week  → One Percent Challenge

Recently Spotify released their year in review stats for users. People spend tens of thousands of minutes listening to music every day. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it got me thinking about how we spend our time. Faith probably lands pretty high on most of our priority lists. But, we often don’t prioritize it. However, I promise you 1% of your day can change your life. 1% of your day is 14 minutes and 24 seconds. “Less than the average minutes of commercials in a 1 hour tv program.” I encourage you to renew your commitment to faith this Advent. Try the 1% challenge.

 

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (11/30/17)

Welcome back! Since we were off for the holiday last week, I decided to cover more national headlines in place of the state news this week. Also, I hope you enjoyed the first 10 by 10 last week as well. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → CFPB Directors

Monday morning was an awkward day in the office at one federal agency. Over the holiday the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Richard Cordray, stepped down and named former chief of staff Leandra English the deputy director. The Dodd-Frank Act, which created the CFPB, states that the deputy director (English) becomes acting director in the absence of a director (Cordray).

However, shortly after this announcement by Cordray, Donald Trump also named Mick Mulvaney Acting Director of the CFPB. Trump did so by citing the Vacancies Reform Act, which allows the president to name temporary replacements while a permanent department head is confirmed by the Senate.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, as well as the chief legal counsel at CFPB, stated that Trump did indeed have the authority to name an acting director. Leandra English sued the Trump administration but a federal judge upheld the DOJ’s position, solidifying Mick Mulvaney as the Acting Director of CFPB.

While Mulvaney is legally Acting Director, there is still concern about his role in CFPB. First of all, he has been openly critical of CFPB as the definition of government overreach and over-regulation. Furthermore, he is also the director of the Office of Management and Budget (which, you guessed it, is the agency in charge of enacting the federal budget) which is no small job.

2) Writer’s Choice #1 → Sexual Misconduct

During the last few weeks, I have wondered what I could possibly say about this topic. Unfortunately, sexual assault and harassment is prevalent in our society. It is appalling and wrong and it will take systemic change in our society to make the situation better.

Recently, politicians John Conyers, Roy Moore, Al Franken, and Donald Trump all have allegations of sexual misconduct against them. Celebrities such as Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., and Kevin Spacey also face allegations. There are certainly others as well.

First of all, it is important to note that every single one of these cases are different and unique. Obviously all are not okay, but to lump them together is to make a false equivalence of their transgressions. Second of all, why are politicians seemingly held to a different standard?

I would argue that they do not have a direct supervisor/boss/board of directors that can terminate their employment. They are representatives which means there must be a collective will of constituents or peers to remove the individual from office.

Furthermore, people tend to make up their mind early about a candidate who they feel is “their” candidate. This is the reason why Congress has an abysmal approval rating, but incumbents retain their seats and an incredible rate. Here is a chart depicting that idea from 1992 to 2012.

So basically people have the mentality of “Throw the bums in DC out! But just not our bum….”

When political candidates, such as Roy Moore or Donald Trump, are accused of such things we see a few things happen. First there is typically a knee-jerk reaction against the candidate when any negative news breaks. However, after a few weeks that tends to level back out. Unfortunately, it tilts back towards a partisan issue. For example, in the case of both Trump and Moore, Republicans use the argument that “Despite their moral missteps, our candidates are still better than a Democrat.” Kellyanne Conway made that exact argument to CNN saying they needed Moore to help pass the tax reform package.

I hope sexual misconduct does not continue to be a partisan issue. There seems to be a new allegation every few days against a big name celebrity. Hopefully those who were assaulted or harassed continue to feel emboldened to speak out, and this will serve as a tipping point for our culture.

3) Writer’s Choice #2 → Net Neutrality

What is net neutrality? It sounds….*yawn* …suuuuuupppper boring.

Here is the boring stuff. Here is a definition form Business Insider.

“Net neutrality is a broad principle dictating that all websites and apps on the internet be treated equally. It commands that internet service providers like Comcast and AT&T abide by three core guidelines: no blocking certain websites, no artificially slowing down certain sites, and no soliciting payments from certain sites in exchange for faster speeds and superior quality.” -Business Insider

For example, under current rules Comcast (an ISP) cannot slow down (aka
“throttling”) or block Netflix. They also cannot create “fast lanes” (known as paid prioritization) depending on whether a company pays a higher premium for access.

What could change?

This current policy was set in place in 2015 by the Obama administration. The current head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Ajit Pai, has proposed changing the Obama-era rules that classify ISPs as “common carriers” and treat them as public utilities. The Obama-era rules are likely to be overturned by a vote on December 14th.

However, it should be noted that Pai’s proposal requires ISPs to “disclose if they allow content blocking, slowing though so-called throttling, or paid prioritization in which a third-party owner pays an ISP to have their content move more quickly.” Also, the change would eliminate the broad discretion the FCC has over ISP conduct and would make the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the sole arbiter of enforcing these rules.

Who supports the net neutrality repeal and why?

ISPs like Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, and more support the repeal of the current rules. They argue that the current rules are heavy-handed regulation. The ISPs believe that the industry can be self-regulated by the free market.  Verizon’s legal counsel Craig Sillman said in a video “The FCC is not talking about killing the net neutrality rules. In fact not we nor any other ISP are asking them to kill the open Internet rules. All they’re doing is looking to put the open Internet rules in an enforceable way on a different legal footing.”

Who opposes the net neutrality repeal and why?

Content providers such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Uber and more support the 2015 provisions and oppose Pai’s proposal to repeal them. They argue that it could cause the cable-zation of the internet packages. Also, they stated that it could adversely impact start-ups and smaller companies trying to promote their content.

What does all of that mean?

Sillman’s line about the “different legal footing” is outlined above. The repeal of Obama-era rules are all but guaranteed at this point. So, the hope is the ISPs are true to their word about committing to an open and free internet.

Furthermore, we as consumers are unlikely to see any immediate changes. The repeal would go into effect in January, but there is likely to be a court challenge that would hold up any immediate implementation.

4) Recommendation of the Week → Michael Buble’s Christmas Album

It’s that time of year. The silky smooth voice of Michael Buble singing Christmas music. It doesn’t get much better than that. Turn it on and enjoy!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Jimmy V Week

“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” -Jimmy V.

Watch this. It will be the best 11 minutes of your week.

Check out the wonderful work the V Foundation is doing to support cancer research and programs.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

10 by 10 Thanksgiving Edition: Books, Movies, and Podcasts Oh My

Welcome to a new intermittent series called 10 by 10, which (per the name) I will give you 10 lists of 10 things on my mind. Most of these involve something I am passionate about and wanted to share with you. Some of the listed items have appeared in 5 Things as recommendations or inspirations, but that is largely because I enjoy them. Also, there are multiple lists regarding thankfulness because, you know, Thanksgiving. Lastly, this is my first stab at the 10 by 10, so if you have ideas or feedback let me know! Without further ado, let’s roll the lists!

1. 10 Books for which I am thankful
   1. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
   2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
   3. Harry Potter by JK Rowling
   4. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
   5. Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly
   6. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
   7. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
   8. Wooden on Leadership by John Wooden
   9. Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft
   10. Virtuous Leadership by Alexandre Havard
2. 10 Superhero Movies for which I am thankful
   1. Avengers: the pinnacle of Marvel’s brilliance. The intersection of superheros from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to save the world. Heck yea!
   2. Captain America Winter Soldier: The best stand alone Marvel movie. Plus Captain America is a boss.
   3. The Dark Knight: The best Batman movie ever. Heath Ledger’s Joker is legendary. The themes and tones of the movie are incredible. Just overall great
   4. Civil War: A psuedo-Avengers 3 film. So many cool set pieces: The airport scene. Cap vs. Iron Man. Everything with Black Panther. So awesome.
   5. Avengers- Age of Ultron: Watching Avengers work together to save the world from the get go is just so cool. The rapport, the banter, the excitement.
   6. Lego Batman: Meta to the max. Its self-inflicted humor and hilarious dialogue fits the bill to make this one of the best Batman movies ever.
   7. Wonder Woman: The female superhero film done right. Gal Gadot is legit.
   8. Spiderman Homecoming: The sixth Spiderman film of the millennium finally hit the sweet spot of capturing a teenage superhero. Funny, awkward, and action-packed.
   9. Iron Man: The movie that ultimately kicked off and gave us hope for the MCU. Not my favorite superhero film, but in 2008 it rocked the world.
   10. Guardians of the Galaxy: The movie that proved pretty much anything Marvel does is going to be hilarious and awesome. No one knew what to expect and Marvel hit it out of the park.
3. 10 Podcast I am thankful for help keeping me up to date on current events
   1. NPR’s Up First
   2. Politico Playbook Audio Briefing
   3. Wisconsin Public Radio Politics
   4. NPR Politics
   5. FiveThirtyEight Politics Podcast
   6. Left Right Center
   7. 1947: The Meet the Press Podcast
   8. Planet Money
   9. Politico Money
   10. Slate Political Gabfest
4. Culver’s Flavors of the Day I am thankful exist
   1. Brownie Batter Overload
   2. Caramel Fudge Cookie Dough
   3. Caramel Peanut Butter Cup
   4. Chocolate Oreo Volcano
   5. Cookie Dough Craving
   6. Crazy for Cookie Dough
   7. Double Marshmallow Oreo
   8. Mint Explosion
   9. Really Reese’s
   10. Salted Double Caramel Pecan
5. 10 Shows I am thankful are (or have been) on Netflix 
   1. Parks and Rec
   2. The Office
   3. Friends
   4. Sherlock
   5. Star Trek
   6. Blue Bloods
   7. Last Man Standing
   8. Everybody Loves Raymond
   9. NCIS
   10. The West Wing
6. 10 Best Holidays (in order in the humble opinion of yours truly)
   1. Thanksgiving: Family. Food. Football. Fall. Fun. Fantastic.
   2. Independence Day: Birthday of the greatest country on Earth.
   3. Christmas: It’s Christmas. A month of specialized music, presents, family, joy, and most importantly the birth of Christ.
   4. Easter: The Resurrection. He is Risen. Spring. New life.
   5. Veteran’s Day: Honoring those who served our great country.
   6. Memorial Day: Honoring those who gave their life for this great country.
   7. New Year’s: A new calendar year means an opportunity for new beginnings. Plus, always a fun/casual holiday to see family and friends.
   8. Mother’s/Father’s Days: Honoring those who brought us into the world
   9. Super Bowl Sunday: Should be a national holiday. Always fun to get together with friends and watch football or the commercials
   10. President’s Day: I am a history/politics nerd. Yay great American Presidents!
7. 10 More Podcasts I am thankful for entertaining me and/or making me think
   1. Harvard Business Review Ideacast
   2. Stuff You Should Know
   3. Presidential
   4. Intelligence Squared
   5. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law
   6. Pardon The Interruption
   7. Catholic Stuff You Should Know
   8. Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire
   9. TED Radio Hour
   10. Fr. Mike Schmitz
8. Most Influential Presidents (in chronological order)
   1. Washington: The first president. The leader of the Revolutionary Army. Considered the ideal man…tall, strong, war hero.
   2. Jefferson: Louisiana Purchase which essentially doubled the size of the nation. Main author of the Declaration.
   3. Lincoln: For obvious reasons, like leading the US during the Civil War.
   4. Wilson: Led US through WWI. Helped create the League of Nations (the precursor to the United Nations)
   5. FDR: Led the US out of the Great Depression, through Pearl Harbor and the beginning of WWII and only president elected to three and four terms.
   6. Truman: The only individual in history to authorize the use of nuclear weapons. For better or worse, showed us the devastation such power can bring.
   7. Ford: Only president never elected to the executive office (VP or President). He was appointed to take over for Spiro Agnew as Nixon’s VP after serving for 25 years in the House and then assumed the presidency after Nixon’s resignation.
   8. Reagan: Led US through the Cold War. Introduced Reaganomics. Touted as the icon of the Republican party
   9. Obama: The first black president. Passed Obamacare. Helped recover US economy from the greatest economic downturn since FDR.
   10. Trump: Challenging the norms of what we assume a president should do. For better or for worse, he is/will be a huge influence on the presidency.
9. Bible Verses
   1. “Be still and know that I am God.” -Psalm 46:10
   2. “I came that you might have life and live it to the full.” -John 10:10
   3. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
      Philippians 4:8
   4. “A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit” –Psalm 51:10
   5. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.” –1 Thessolonians 5:16-17
   6. “Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.” –Deuteronomy 6:5
   7. “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” -Colossians 3:2
   8. “You are the light of the world.” –Matthew 5:13
   9. “Rather let the greatest among you be as the youngest, the leader as the servant.” –Luke 22:26
   10. “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” -Romans 12:2
10. Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Day
    1. What am I thankful for today?
    2. What have I done to help someone else today?
    3. What have I done to become a better person today?
    4. If today was your last day on Earth, would you want to do be doing what you are going to do?
    5. Would you be okay with your actions being publicized on the front page of a newspaper?
    6. What are your biggest goals in life?
    7. What is holding you back from accomplishing those goals or becoming that better person?
    8. If you died tomorrow, what would you regret not accomplishing?
    9. How can you live life more fully/more adventurously/more boldly?
    10. What can I do to live out God’s plan for me today? This week? This Year?

Also, a special shout out to my friends and family for being wonderful human beings and influences on my life. I am grateful for all of you! Spread the gratitude and love this upcoming holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Peave, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (11/16/17)

Welcome back! A quick update that 5 Things will be next week for Thanksgiving, but a new 10 by 10 series will make its debut on Tuesday!  As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Tax Reform Proposals

*Tax Reform was part of 5 Things a few weeks back. There will be a Look Back At-It on taxes in the coming weeks as the administration tries to finish their policy. 

What do Ron Johnson, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and 400 millionaires/billionaires have in common? They all have recently spoken out in some way against the proposed GOP tax bill.

Ron Johnson (R-WI) became the first GOP Senator to openly voice his opposition to the bill.  Johnson cited an unfair advantage to large corporations compared to other small businesses like “pass-through” entities.

USCCB said the bill was unacceptable during their annual meeting this week.  They spoke out saying that this is the “first federal income tax modification in American history that will raise income taxes on the working poor while simultaneously providing a large tax cut to the wealthy. This is simply unconscionable.”

It should be noted that USCCB did praise certain parts of the bill, such as doubling the standard deduction, but rejected the bill on the whole.

Over 400 millionaires and billionaires urge Congress not to cut taxes on the wealthy.  Individuals including Ben and Jerry of ice cream fame and George Soros signed a letter stating Congress should not pass legislation that “further exacerbates inequality.”

Just today the House passed their tax bill 227-205 with no Democrats supporting the bill. This measure was somewhat expected, and the real test will come when the bill tries to pass the Senate. Senate Republicans hold a 52-48 majority and with Ron Johnson already speaking out against the bill, the Republicans may need bipartisan support (which they are unlikely to get) to pass the bill.

A few notes for the road about the tax plans:

• On the whole, the Senate and House plans are the same. There are certainly differences that would need to be ironed out, but they are largely similar bills.
• The Senate GOP plan includes a repeal of the individual mandate (which requires everyone to have a healthcare plan or pay a fine) in their tax plan.
• One major partisan issue in the reform is the repeal of the SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction. This deduction allows you to write off what you pay in state and local taxes from your overall taxable income. This is used extensively in Democratic held states which tend to have a higher in state tax.

 

2) Local News → Wisconsin Hunting

With deer hunting season right around the corner, Governor Walker signed a legislative bill which eliminates age restrictions on hunters. Let’s look at the changes and then the rationale.

Under the previous mentoring rules, individuals over the age of 10 could go hunting within arms distance of an 18 year old who had passed a hunter safety course. Also, the two individuals could only use one firearm between the two of them.

However, the new bill eliminates the age restriction and single firearm policy in the hunting mentorship program. Now, individuals under the age of 10 can participate in the mentorship and could carry their own firearm.

The multiple firearm policy is what seemed to irk most lawmakers who opposed the bill. Opponents argued that each hunter having their own firearm could lead to more accidents, as the mentor might not give his full attention to the mentee. Proponents argue that parents should be able to decide when their child is ready to hunt.

I would tend to agree with both of those sentiments. If I were President (or in this case Governor) for a day, I would have pushed for allowing children of any age to hunt. However, I would make sure there is only one firearm between the mentor and mentee.

3) Writer’s Choice → Lord of the Rings 

This week Amazon (yes, that Amazon) agreed to a multi-season deal to create a series based in Middle Earth prior to the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. As a resident Lord of the Rings nerd, I want to be thrilled about seeing more adventures take place in Middle Earth. However, I am nervous about what the final product will actually entail.

Jeff Bezos, the head honcho at Amazon, gave the directive to create a blockbuster hit a la HBO’s Game of Thrones. Amazon reportedly paid between $200-250 million just for the production rights. The company has not yet started any sort of casting, scripting, or production so the actual content will not be out for at least a few years.

The film adaptation of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was a huge hit and has an avid fan base (including yours truly). The Hobbit movies are often criticized for being bloated into three movies. Regardless, I would argue that author JRR Tolkien’s ability to tell a story is largely what drove the success of the first installment of movies.

I am concerned that this will turn into a replica of Game of Thrones (not necessarily a bad thing, but Middle Earth should be its own wonderland) or an over-dramatized fantasy story (looking at shows like you, Once Upon a Time). 

Furthermore, the trend of everyone having different streaming platforms is getting out of hand and could hurt this TV series. You can watch shows on Netflix, HBO, and Hulu with places like Disney, CBS, and Amazon trying to get further into this trend. Even as an avid Tolkien and LoTR fan, I will not be purchasing Amazon Prime to check out the adventures of Middle Earth. Am I intrigued and want to see more things happen in Middle Earth? Absolutely. Do I think this project will ultimately fail? Unfortunately, yes.

4) Recommendation of the Week → Late Night with Seth Meyers

Seth Meyers has quickly become one of my favorite comedians, political or otherwise. His comedy is always relevant, silly, and hilarious. His show includes Weekend Update style monologues, desk segments including A Closer Look and The Check In,  as well as other ridiculous segments like Ya Burnt, Press Briefings, and Bad Sponsors. Enjoy a sample of recent segments!

 

5) Inspiration of the Week  →  Wild Goose with Fr. Dave

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Stuebenville Young Adult Conference called Encounter (shout out!). Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR celebrated Mass and helped encourage about 700 young adults to encounter the Holy Spirit and let it guide their lives. Similarly, Fr. Dave teams with 4PM Media to create the Wild Goose series to “invite Catholic Christians into a more profound life giving relationship with the Holy Spirit.”

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (11/9/17)

Welcome back! A quick update that 5 Things will be off the week of Thanksgiving, but a new 10 by 10 series will make its debut that week!  As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → One Year Later

Let’s do a thought experiment. I will give you two scenarios and you tell me whether you think it would occur under a Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton presidency.

Scenario A: The President agrees to a funding deal with Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Jobs are being created and the unemployment rate hit its lowest point in 16 years.  The President is on an 11 day diplomacy tour in Asia.

Scenario B: The debt ceiling was raised.  There is no new border wall. The stock market is at an all-time high. Obamacare is still in tact with a few tweaks.

Based on the 2016 Presidential campaign, you might guess Hillary Clinton for both. However, this is the reality for the United States one year into the Trump presidency.

November 8, 2016. A year ago yesterday Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. We are one quarter (or perhaps one eighth) through the Trump presidency, and the reality is this: the world keeps spinning.

Trump’s administration has yet to pass any signature legislation as they failed repealing Obamacare, there is no border wall, and tax reform is a tough sell. While Democrats demonize most of Trump’s agenda (as they likely would with any Republican president), Trump’s policies* are not the issue.

Trump is largely vilified for his lack of adhering to the norms of the presidency. His tweets, his “tell it like it is” philosophy, his desire to win, and his to desire to do what he wants without regard for any of his predecessors work (i.e. calling out countries, backing out of US agreements, deals, and accords) is often what gets people riled up about President Trump.

While we shouldn’t dismiss Trump’s disregard for adhering to norms, it is good to take stock of the situation.  Of course, there are those whom Trump has attacked either via legislation or Twitter including: minorities, immigrants, refugees, the citizens of Puerto Rico, and more. You may love or hate Trump (and in spite of seemingly ridiculous things that happen every day), but for many Americans day-to-day life under President Trump remains unchanged.

*Editor’s Note: I do not agree with all of Trump or the Republican party’s policies. Nor do I agree with the Democratic platform. I am simply recognizing the fact that many policy items are charged by partisan politics and that is not the main issue many see with Trump.

2) Local News →Convention of States

Wisconsin’s Senate passed an interesting proposal in support of a convention of states to add a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. The state Assembly approved the same measure in June. With that, Wisconsin signs on as the 28th state to call for the convention which would leave just six more states to meet the 34 (2/3 of 50) needed to call the gathering. The convention only allows for an amendment to be proposed. It would take 38 (3/4 of 50) states to ratify this balanced budget amendment.

Quick history recap: The US Constitution has 27 amendments. The Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments) were passed as part of an original deal for ratification. That means there have been only 17 amendments in the last 230 years. And only three of those have come in the last 50 years, most recently in 1992. And none of those have come via a state convention call.

The proponents for a balanced budget amendment argue that it will help get government spending under control and pay down the debt. Specifically the states must call for convention because Congress is unlikely to change its ways and has led us to this massive debt burden.

However, opponents argue that government will either have to massively cut programs or raise taxes to pay for those programs. They also worry, the convention will become a free for all. Also, some Democratic opponents called out the fact that the GOP has control of both houses and the presidency; therefore it should be able to pass a balanced and sensible budget.

There is still a long way to go on the road to actually amending the Constitution. I don’t believe there is enough political will to actually make this amendment happen, but it is interesting to see state’s using the power in our federalist republic.

 

3) Writer’s Choice →  College Football Playoffs

The second set of college football playoff (CFP) rankings came out this week, and for those of you who missed here, here is the current top 10 in the playoff rankings.

RK	TEAM	REC	TREND	LAST WEEK	NEXT WEEK
1	Georgia	9-0	—	vs South Carolina W 24-10	11/11 @ #10 Auburn
2	Alabama	9-0	—	vs #19 LSU W 24-10	11/11 @ #16 Mississippi State
3	Notre Dame	8-1	—	vs Wake Forest W 48-37	11/11 @ #7 Miami
4	Clemson	8-1	—	@ #20 NC State W 38-31	11/11 vs Florida State
5	Oklahoma	8-1	—	@ #11 Oklahoma State W 62-52	11/11 vs #6 TCU
6	TCU	8-1	+2	vs Texas W 24-7	11/11 @ #5 Oklahoma
7	Miami	8-0	+3	vs #13 Virginia Tech W 28-10	11/11 vs #3 Notre Dame
8	Wisconsin	9-0	+1	@ Indiana W 45-17	11/11 vs #20 Iowa
9	Washington	8-1	+3	vs Oregon W 38-3	11/10 @ Stanford
10	Auburn	7-2	+4	@ Texas A&M W 42-27	11/11 vs #1 Georgia

There has been some outcry that undefeated Miami and Wisconsin are ranked lower than multiple one loss teams. UW Athletic Director and former CFP selection committee member, Barry Alvarez had this to say about leaving out undefeated teams:

“I think that would be very difficult to do,” said Alvarez, whose term with the committee expired in 2017. “There’s no part of me that says if you go undefeated as a Power 5 and win your conference championship, and you’re not going to be in the final four? I don’t see that. That would shock me.” -Barry Alvarez

However, it is plausible that Miami and Wisconsin could win their respective conference undefeated and one could be left out of the playoffs. Miami controls their own destiny as running the table would include wins over #3 Notre Dame and #4 Clemson (their likely ACC Title opponent.)

Wisconsin, on the other hand, likely needs some help. It needs OU and TCU to split their (likely) two games against each other. It needs Miami to split its games with Notre Dame and (likely) Clemson. And of course, Wisconsin needs to beat ranked teams in Iowa and Michigan as well as win the Big 10 title game.

The committee puts a lot of stock in strength of schedule and quality wins/opponents. Wisconsin could sneak in (like Washington did last year) if they win out despite their relatively weak schedule. They have the makings of a championship team (with great defense and ball control), but the coming weeks will determine Wisconsin’s fate.

One more thing, most of these assumptions are based on Alabama and Georgia running the table, meeting in the SEC title game, and both still making the CFP. So, if either loses prior to the SEC Title game….well, suffice it to say this playoff picture will be even more fun.

4) Recommendation of the Week →  Politico, Politico Playbook Audio Briefing and Politico Money

Politico is one of my favorite nonpartisan news source and focuses on the “intersection of policy and politics” (both passions of mine.)  However, they also do a daily 3-5 minute Politico Playbook Audio Briefing podcast to give you a run down for the day. Ben White also recently started the Politico Money podcast to help break down the happenings of things like the stock market, tax reform, fiscal and monetary policies, and more in simpler every day terms.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Happiness – Peter Kreeft

Here is the audio of one of my favorite lectures of all time. I know it is an hour, but Peter Kreeft, a philosophy professor at Boston College, is entertaining, insightful, profound, yet succinct. I’ve listened to this lecture many times and always find a new nugget of wisdom.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (11/2/17)

Welcome back! This week’s topics needed some thorough explanation, so I apologize that the news is a bit lengthy. Keep an eye out for a new Look Back At-It in the coming weeks. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Mueller Investigation

The investigation into Russia’s influence in 2016 by special counsel Robert Mueller had new developments on Monday morning. Let’s break down who’s who and what’s what.

Robert Mueller: Works for the Department of Justice and was assigned as the special counsel to investigate possible Russian influence on the 2016 elections. Also, former FBI director from 2001 to 2013.

Department of Justice: A department of the executive branch of government. Responsible for representing the United States in legal matters. Houses agencies like the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) among many others. Headed by the Attorney General: currently Jeff Sessions

Indictment: A formal written statement charging someone with a crime. It tells the person what crimes they are being charged with and what court has jurisdiction.

Grand Jury: literally a big jury. Rather than the 6-12 in a trial jury, there are 12-23 people on a grand jury. Also, grand jury proceedings are secret. “At their core, grand juries are about finding probable cause that a crime has been committed,” says Danny Cevallos, CNN legal analyst. Learn more from CNN about grand juries

Dossier: A collection of papers/files containing details about a specific person or subject. (Essentially a fancy word for a manilla folder with related documents).

Steele Dossier: named after the intelligence agent who wrote the dossier regarding Trump-Russia information. Some of the research was originally funded by a conservative group in October 2015 doing opposition research on Republican primary candidates. In April 2016, funding was taken over by the attorney to the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The validity of this intelligence dossier has been questioned, however it ultimately led to the Mueller investigation.

Paul Manafort: Former Trump campaign chairman who was indicted Monday along with Rick Gates, Manafort’s business partner. They were indicted because

“Manafort and Gates were directing a campaign to lobby the US on behalf of the government of Ukraine and officials there, the indictment says, they were required to report the work and income. They didn’t and when asked by the Justice Department about it, they lied about it.” -CNN

It is important to note that Manafort (and Gates) are not being indicted for activity with Trump’s campaign. However, it certainly isn’t good to have your campaign chairman indicted for illegal foreign relations.

George Papadopoulos: A former Trump foreign policy advisor.  “He pleaded guilty in early October to lying to federal investigators about his contacts with Russians, according to court documents unsealed on Monday by special counsel Robert Mueller.” -The Hill

This investigation will take months or possibly years. So, you can expect to see a Look Back At-It sometime in the future.

2)  Local News → Madison Diocese 

**Disclaimer: If you want to understand the full extent of this topic, it is imperative for you to do some extra reading.  The MUST READ links are critical to have the full picture. 

The Madison Diocese found itself having to clarify statements that came via a leaked email of Vicar General Msgr. James Bartylla (who is second in command to  this week.

Msgr. Bartylla’s email was intended as a direction and considerations  for the priests of the diocese regarding funeral rites for those in homosexual unions.   MUST READ: Before you continue reading, I would encourage you to read the full leaked email for yourself here. After just reading the email you might think, “Wow. That directive seems harsh or homophobic or uncharitable.”

However, this email was taken somewhat out of context. First of all, as Msgr. laid out in his clarification paper and interview (both below) these directives are consistent with what the has taught for millennia. Secondly, the email is not an official policy as all of personal situations are to be handled on a case by case basis, but instead merely guidelines and considerations for priests. Thirdly, these directives were meant for priests who have studied theology for years. Thus, some of the wording in the email is “shop talk” and a sort of shorthand between priests. This has caused some misunderstanding and misconceptions.

MUST READ: Msgr. Bartylla’s wrote a white paper clarifying the Church’s teaching and some of the terminology he used in the email.

“I want to make sure … it’s clear to people that the church welcomes those who have same-sex attraction,” Bartylla said. “One of the gravest problems that would come from the leak is the perception that we do not care.”

For example Huffington Post wrote an article with the headline, “Queer Catholics In Wisconsin May Be Denied Religious Funerals To Avoid ‘Public Scandal.’”  That sounds terrible, especially given the phrase “public scandal.” However, public scandal has a very distinct definition within the Church. It defines scandal as “leading another person into sin.” Rewriting the HuffPo headline with that definition sounds much more reasonable.

 

I’ll leave you with this quote from Msgr. Bartylla’s interview (which you can read in full below):

“Civil law is not the arbiter of what is morally licit or illicit. It is not the arbiter, as we know from failed nations who allowed things or did things that were terribly immoral under the guise of the law.” -Msgr. James Bartylla.

MUST READ: Wisconsin State Journal interview with Msgr. Bartylla regarding the issue, the media and public response, and his clarification.

 

3) Writer’s Choice →  October Sports Recap

A few weeks ago in this section, I wrote about the fact that October is the best month of the year for sports. Here are a few quick takes from the past month.

NFL: Ezekiel Elliot is suspended. Again. Maybe? See the link for a timeline of Elliot’s suspension that spans 4 months, includes 3 different hearing sites, and 6 judges federal judges. Well, at least our justice system works quickly in the US….

NBA: It’s October. NONE OF THE NBA GAMES MATTER RIGHT NOW. NBA has an 82 game season and over half the teams in the league make the playoffs. It is thrilling to have the NBA back though.

MLB: The Houston Astros won the World Series. What a huge lift for that city that was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey a few months ago. It was also probably the most entertaining series I have ever seen. Games 2 and 5 were instant classics and sweet comebacks. The most homers in a series (by Game 5!). The likely AL MVP. Cy Young Candidates. It just felt entertaining. What a series.

4) Recommendation of the Week →  Thor: Ragnarok and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

This weekend, Marvel Studios is set to release yet another superhero movie. And, I am still as excited for Thor: Ragnarok as I was for Iron Man when in premiered in 2008. We are currently in Phase 3 of the MCU and some people may think, “Ho-hum…another superhero movie.” However, if you don’t feel that little kid excitement of watching your childhood superheros kick butt during a movie, you are watching movies wrong. Enjoy the spectacle, appreciate the jokes, and just enjoy that little kid leaping for joy when the superhero does something ridiculously cool. And go check out Thor: Ragnarok!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Tuesdays with Morrie 

20 years ago, Mitch Albom wrote an international best seller. It is a heart-warming story about an old sociology professor suffering from ALS who tries to pass on his wisdom about life to a former student. They cover topics of family, career, love, and more. A super simple and quick read that will help put the right perspective on life for you.

 

 

 

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (10/26/17)

Welcome back! Thanks for reading now as we are almost two months into the blog. If you have suggestions for ways to improve the blog or topics you would like me to write about I would love for you to contact me! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → National Parks

According to headlines: taking a family vacation to your favorite national park might get more expensive if a proposal by the National Parks Service (NPS) is put into place. While that makes for a catchy headline, is it true? I would like to say yes and no.

First of all, it is still only a proposal. The proposal would more than double vehicle fees from $25-$30 to $75 during a five-month peak season (each season differs depending on the park) at 17 of the most popular parks (like Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, and Grand Canyon to name a few) in the United States. These proposed fees are an emphasis on the almost $12 billion in deferred maintenance. However, the proposal projects to increase entrance fee revenue from about “$199.9M to $268.5M, annually – an increase of 34.3% over Fiscal Year 2016.” That would seem like a good figure, however, the Trump administration has proposed cuts that would slash the National Parks budget by $296 million next year. NPS is also expecting to lose around 1,200 jobs.

On the other hand, this fee increase may not throw off your entire vacation. Only 118 of the 417 of NPS sites even charge an admission fee. During seven non-peak months of the year, the price would not increase at all. Annual parks passes will remain the same cost of $80. So, I encourage you to still go check out those national parks and all the goodness and beauty the United States has to offer!

If you feel passionately about the fee increases, there is in fact something you can do about it. A public comment period on the proposed fee increases began Tuesday and ends Nov. 23. The public can submit comments here.

2)  Local News → Titletown District 

Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers are teaming up to bring a piece of Silicon Valley to America’s Dairyland. In 2015, Green Bay announced the Titletown District next to Lambeau Field. Per the Packers website:

“Titletown District will maximize its unique location to attract more visitors to the area, spur additional regional economic growth, offer new amenities to residents and complement the greater Green Bay area’s draw as an excellent location to live, work and play.”

Well this past week, Microsoft announced it will be partnering with the Packers to launch TitletownTech in the Titletown District. The building set to be home to TitletownTech will open next year.

TitletownTech will initially focus on three areas:

TitletownTech Accelerator. The Accelerator will work with startups and young companies to incubate or accelerate and bring to market new digital technology products and services.

TitletownTech Venture Capital Fund. The Venture Capital Fund will invest in and provide capital to help launch new companies that participate in the TitletownTech Accelerator.

TitletownTech Labs. The Labs will enable established businesses to send employee teams to work at TitletownTech for 18 weeks to develop new digital technology products and services.

The new technologies and digital support offered to local area businesses and startups will be tremendous positive impact. My personal favorite part of this project, is the Venture Capital Fund which Microsoft and the Packers will both be investing $5 million over the next five years. Not only that, but they will donate “all the profits and capital returns from the Venture Capital Fund to philanthropy and economic development.” The hope is the Titletown District and TitletownTech will spur economic growth and make the area a more desirable place to live and work.

Good work Packers and Microsoft, what a cool way opportunity for the community.

3) Writer’s Choice → Grand Old Party, but for who?

When the GOP (which stands for Grand Old Party and is the Republican party) first tried to repeal and replace Obamacare, the swing vote in the Senate belonged to John McCain (R-AZ) who went against President Trump and the party. McCain has also blasted Trump in recent days citing Trump receiving a draft deferment due to bone spurs. A few weeks ago, I highlighted the Twitter feud between Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) and the president. Corker has continued that trend as of late. Now this week, Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) has announced he will not seek reelection in 2018 during a scathing speech on the Senate floor.  These three Republican Senators have been quite vocal in their disapproval of President Trump’s antics, behaviors, and norm-breaking. So, what is going on with the GOP? 

Many recent articles are calling this the GOP Civil War with Trump and his supporters on one side and the traditional “establishment” on the other. Flake has stated that he will refuse to be complicit with Trump’s agenda and behavior stating:

“We were not made great as a country by indulging or even exalting our worst impulses, turning against ourselves, glorying in the things which divide us, and calling fake things true and true things fake.” -Senator Jeff Flake

Corker said (among other things) in a Tuesday interview that Trump’s main legacy would be “debasing” our nation. Corker, McCain, Flake, and Ben Sasse (R-NE) have spoken out against Trumps behavior. However, will more Republicans speak out against Trump’s behavior? Or are these Senators on the way out and the establishment on the decline?

Trump has divided the GOP along lines that may have existed and were just exacerbated by the president. While Democrats are certainly not unified in all policies, there seems to be three parties working in a two-party system: Democrats, Republicans, and Trumpians. Those Trumpians are symbolized by the likes of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who has promised to have a far-right challenger in every GOP Senate primary in 2018.

People expected a lot to get done with Republicans in control of the White House, Senate, and the House. However, is it any wonder that essentially having no majority party (sorry, Republicans) but three minority parties has caused even more gridlock? Come 2018 someone will be having a party in Congress. The question is will it be the Democrats, the Trumpians, or will it be a Grand Old Party?

For more on this topic check out these articles, podcasts, and videos:

Seth Meyers: A Closer Look at GOP Civil War

NPR Politics Podcast October 24th: Flake to Leave Senate

Washington Post: GOP Civil War

4) Recommendation of the Week →  Presidential

Whether you consider yourself a history student or you were the student who slept through history class, this podcast is for you. In a lead up to last year’s Presidential election, Washington Post reporter Lillian Cunningham decided to make a podcast for every president, starting with George Washington and ending with then President Obama. These podcasts highlight each president based on their personality, upbringing, and experiences and how those impacted their presidency.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Defy Designs 

This week, I wanted to highlight and give a shout out to Defy Designs for making my blog prettier than I ever could. Jordan created Defy Designs “because I believe we are called to something greater. We are called to defy mediocrity.” These backgrounds for your phone or desktop will help inspire you and make your day. With Bible verses, song lyrics, and quotes these beautiful designs can make any device prettier. Please check them out and a huge thank you to Defy Designs!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (10/19/17)

Welcome back! This Monday I wrote the first installment of the new series Look Back At-It (About that thing I typed) checking in on the gerrymandering case. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

**Disclaimer: I’ve tried to avoid focusing all of the news on Trump, however as the most powerful and controversial figure in America, it is important to try understanding him. Many of the headlines this week were the continuation of topics that have already come up in this blog: healthcare, immigration, Twitter wars, tax reform, etc. So, I want to touch on those briefly within the broader topic of trying to understand Donald Trump.

1) National Headlines → Donald Trump’s Winning Agenda

I am convinced that Donald Trump is either a complete genius or utterly overwhelmed and confused by the presidency. At times he makes statements and takes actions that are beneficial to himself and make him look presidential. Other times, he seems to be living in his own world with his own set of facts. Check out the amount of statements Trump has made as of September 30th that are mostly false, false, or “pants on fire.”

While all politicians lie and twist the truth, Trump does so at an unprecedented rate. For reference here are the five top presidential candidates during the 2016 election.

Surprisingly, Trump actually has been more truthful (percentage-wise) while in office than on the campaign trail. All of this to say, why does Trump so frequently say things that are blatantly false or contradictory?

A few real-life examples: In the last 48 hours Trump has taken multiple stances on Obamacare insurance subsidies which help lower income folks receive healthcare at a reasonable cost. He cut the subsidies via executive order, then he praised the bipartisan effort to restore the subsidies, and then he walked back on those comments.

This past week, he decertified the Iran nuclear deal and wants to renegotiate despite the rest of the world leaders involved being staunchly opposed to that idea. He has made or hinted at similar moves with things like the Paris Climate Accords, and NAFTA. His most glaring arguments have via Twitter against Republicans, Democrats, allies, and enemies. But again it begs the question, why?

Trump is not a politician. He does not see his agenda as a partisan standoff. He sees it as a business—“as an endless string of deals, to be won or lost, both at the negotiating table and in the court of public opinion.”  That’s why Trump wants to bring down ObamaCare, and renegotiate Iran’s deal, Paris Accords, NAFTA, and others. He wants to win. That’s why he gets in Twitter feuds. He needs to win those, too. Or at least undermine his competition regardless of who it is.

So Trump’s policies will be guided by his true north star: the desire to win at all costs, and make the other side the loser.

For more on Donald Trump’s paradigm check out this interview this week from Forbes

2)  Local News → America’s Dairyland

Our state of self-proclaimed cheeseheads proudly embrace the fact that we live in America’s Dairyland. However, Kurt Bauer who is the executive director of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, suggested that “America’s Dairyland” should no longer appear on Wisconsin license plates. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s most influential business lobby, does not plan to lobby for this idea in the Capitol, but it is an interesting sentiment. Bauer also clarified that he sees this as simply a “conversation starter.”

Dairy is ingrained in our state. Wisconsin is the national leader in cheese production, and second in milk. (California leads the nation in milk production, and despite what their commercials might have you believe, happy cows obviously come from Wisconsin!) The slogan “America’s Dairyland” has appeared on Wisconsin plates since 1940 and even endured other challenges about 30 years ago for new plate slogans. Furthermore, dairy lobby as well as Farm Bureau have both spoken out against Bauer’s sentiments.

Bauer argued that Wisconsin is due for an upgrade to appeal to a younger demographic who may not see Wisconsin’s large agrarian economy as attractive as the urban and business life. Bauer suggested our state motto of “Forward” as a potential alternative saying  “To me, ‘Forward’ connotes resolve, indomitability and progress — not a bad image to project to the rest of the world.”

3) Writer’s Choice → Bad Breaks, Mourning, and Faith

Speaking of cheeseheads, Packer nation was collectively saddened this weekend. After what appeared to be a fairly normal tackle by Anthony Barr, Aaron Rodgers lay on the turf wincing in pain. As you probably know by now, Rodgers was diagnosed and will have surgery on his broken right collarbone. Some people declared the Packers season over. Others were more optimistic, but still see the outlook as bleak at best.

Of course, Aaron Rodgers is one of the most talented quarterbacks to ever play, and is arguable the best quarterback currently in the league. And of course the Packers are a better team with him playing. The same goes for stars like Odell Beckham Jr, JJ Watt, Dalvin Cook, David Johnson, Eric Berry, Greg Olsen and others.

Yet, when these stars get hurt, there is an immediate response of despair, hopelessness, and inevitable failure. We feel a visceral hurt, a true letdown in our aspirations. Why do we do this? Why do we take the loss of one player, no matter how prominent, so hard? Are there not 52 other players on the team?

Brett Favre got his break after an injury. So, did Steve Young, Randall Cunningham, and Tom Brady. More recently, players like Dak Prescott and Kareem Hunt have stepped into the spotlight after injuries. Do I really believe Brett Hundley is the second coming of Aaron Rodgers? No. Do I think he still could be pretty darn good? You bet. Have a little faith Packer nation.

4) Recommendation of the Week → Parks and Rec

Last week, I recommended my first movie and this week you get my first TV show. Parks and Recreation is my favorite show of all-time. By a long-shot. In mockumentary style like The Office, Parks and Rec has some incredible one-liners, unforgettable characters, and many lessons for the audience to learn. Whether telling us to “Catch Your Dream” or “Treat Yo’ Self,” Parks and Rec is always good for a smile, a laugh, and a feel-good moment. Check it out on Netflix!

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis

David, are you really recommending a kid’s book? YEP! Because Narnia is so much more than a children’s story. There are Christian themes of temptation, forgiveness, faith, and many others (as Lewis was indeed a Christian writer.) There are also sword fights, sea voyages, dragons, centaurs, unicorns, and any other creature you could imagine.  I love the Last Battle as Lewis describes the end of time and the paradise that is heaven.  Each of these seven stories are only about 100-200 page books that you will thoroughly enjoy.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

Look Back At-It: (About that thing I typed) — Gerrymandering

Welcome to the newest intermittent series of the blog. In this series, we will check back in on a topic that has made local or national news in 5 Things. In Look Back A.t.I.t.t. we will get an update on the topic, dig a little deeper into it, and what could happen next. Enjoy!

Alright, David, can you give me a quick recap of what is going down?

In my first ever 5 Things post, we discussed the topic of gerrymandering, specifically how a situation in Wisconsin was headed to the Supreme Court. Well, when the Court came back for it’s October session, they heard oral arguments for the Gill v. Whitford case.

Gerrymandering is the redrawing of voting districts for political advantage. District maps are redrawn after the census which occurs every 10 years. As noted in this New York Times article, gerrymandering is not new to the US, nor is it solely used by one party. Both political parties have used gerrymandering to their advantage, and their arguments fluctuate with their control of the legislature.. Gerrymandering for partisan advantage is not necessarily illegal, although gerrymandering based on race is prohibited. So, why is this case different? Check out this chart.

The case of gerrymandering in Wisconsin is being pursued because despite Republicans in the Assembly winning only 48.6% of the statewide vote, GOP legislators took 60 of the 99 seats.

Basic example of how gerrymandering works

Okay. So, what happened at the Supreme Court?

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments from both sides. Oral arguments only last an hour and it is generally the time for the justices to ask questions of those making arguments. Some of the key players were Misha Tseytlin Wisconsin’s Solicitor General and Erin Murphy (on behalf of State Legislature) argued for the state of Wisconsin and the current maps. On the other side, Paul Smith argued on behalf of the plaintiff against the current maps.

Great…can you remind me of the Supreme Court justices? Asking for a friend….

Alright. A bunch of names about to come your way.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Stephen Breyer are all generally liberal leaning justices appointed by Democratic presidents.

On the other side, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, newly appointed Neil Gorsuch, and Chief Justice John Roberts, were appointed by Republican presidents and make up the more conservative wing of the court.

However, that is only eight and you may remember from civics class the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) consists of nine members. Justice Anthony Kennedy (appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan) appears to be the deciding opinion in this case.

So, you are telling me I should pay attention to Kennedy?

Yep. And so did pretty much everyone in the Supreme Court during arguments.  Quick flashback to 2004: SCOTUS heard Vieth v. Jubelirer a similar case about gerrymandering. Kennedy wrote a concurring opinion (which means he voted with the majority but for his own, differing, or additional opinions) for the case. In that decision, the court ruled against doing anything with the gerrymandered districts because, as Kennedy put it,there was no “workable standard” to use to identify how far is too far.

How is Gill v. Whitford different than Vieth v. Jubelirer in 2004?

Well, Paul Smith and the plaintiffs (those who believe there was extreme gerrymandering) have come up with what they believe to be a workable standard. Law professor Nicholas O. Stephanopoulos and research fellow Eric M. McGhee from the University of Chicago came up with an “efficiency gap” to measure wasted votes (votes cast for the losing candidate or in excess of the margin needed to win for the victor) to help identify gerrymandering.

We will look at the simple way (there is a more sophisticated formula used in the paper) to calculate the efficiency gap:  If you take the vote margin (amount over 50%) and double it, you get the amount of seats that should be one. According to Stephanopoulos and McGhee doubling the margin is what happens in practice during elections.  For example: if Democrats won 53% of the votes (3% margin) they should get 56% of seats. However, in reality with the current maps, Democrats won 53% of votes and only received about 38% of the seats.

 

Interesting. Are the justices considering the efficiency gap as a workable standard?

Yes and no. Conservative justices were skeptical to say the least. Chief Justice Roberts had the most quoted line of the day calling the efficiency gap “gobbledygook.” Justice Alito asked, “Is this the time for us to jump into this, when there are still so many questions about the theory?” Justice Gorsuch questioned the Supreme Court’s authority to revise district maps.

On the other side, Justice Sotomayor likened this extreme gerrymandering to “stacking the deck for 10 years.” Justice Ginsburg voiced that the “precious right to vote” is at the heart of this case. Justice Kagan argued that the technology used to gerrymander these district maps could be used on the back-end of the process to ensure more neutral maps.

Justice Kennedy did not ask Paul Smith (arguing against the current maps) any questions during his 30 minute period. He was more active during Tseytlin and Murphy’s sessions conversing with them about whether the plaintiff had standing (the right to bring a case forward) which Kennedy affirmed they did.

What comes next?

Unfortunately now it is simply a waiting game until June 2018. In June the Supreme Court will actually vote on the case. If Kennedy affirms the plaintiffs argument against the maps, there could be a flood of cases into the judicial system from many other states. If Kennedy does not deem the efficiency gap as a workable standard and votes in favor of the state, the partisan divide in our country could continue to deepen.

You can expect another Look Back regarding gerrymandering in June when a decision comes down from the courts. Until then:

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

 

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (10/12/17)

Welcome back! My apologies for the delay in the post today. Thanks for checking out the blog. This Monday will be the first installment of the new series Look Back AttIt (About that thing I typed) where we will check in on a topic that has already arisen in the news sections. I am excited to write it and hope you find it useful! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Corker vs. Trump

The Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations, committee Bob Corker (R-TN), and President Trump have been exchanging a war of words all week. Trump having a Twitter feud might seem like nothing new but here are a few reasons it is more important than other spats.

Senator Bob Corker has only recently gotten into a feud with President Trump. Corker endorsed Trump during his presidential campaign. Corker was also floated as potential running mate for Trump and made the short list for the prominent cabinet seat of Secretary of State.

Fast forward to October 2017: Senator Corker declares he will not seek reelection in 2018 when his term is up. In doing so, he is less bound by his party loyalty (because what are his constituents or donors going to do….not elect him?) allowing him to be more of an independent.

So, Bob Corker decided to start speaking his mind. Last Wednesday Corker stated that Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and Chief of Staff John Kelly are “people that help separate our country from chaos.” Trump fired back in his preferred method, Twitter, saying that Corker “begged” him for an endorsement in 2018.

Corker has unleashed some bombshells at the President. In addition to his statement above, Corker has said that Trump may be “setting the US on a path to World War III” and that the White House is an “adult day care center.” Here is a list of a few other remarkable statements Corker has made about the President

Ultimately, this is not simply about a few stinging (albeit quite hilarious) insults between Republican politicians. Some have argued that Corker is freely speaking his mind and voicing thoughts that Republican politicians would only whisper in private. They believe this is indicative of the greater divide in the party between establishment Republicans and Trump supporters. However, no one has really supported Corker either because they do not agree with him or they are fearful of what agreeing with him would mean.

 

2)  Local News → UW System Restructuring 

The UW System is proposing a new structure that would make all of the UW College branch campuses of four-year universities. Here is a list of what those changes would look like.

• The Rock County college would join UW-Whitewater.
• The Baraboo/Sauk County and Richland colleges would join UW-Platteville.
• The Barron County college would join UW-Eau Claire.
• The Manitowoc, Marinette and Sheboygan colleges would join UW-Green Bay.
• The Washington County and Waukesha colleges would join UW-Milwaukee.
• The Marathon County and Marshfield/Wood County colleges would join UW-Stevens Point.
• The Fond du Lac and Fox Valley colleges would join UW-Oshkosh.

This proposal will be brought to the Board of Regents in November for approval. There are some potential benefits and drawbacks to this new system. The new system would allow for students to obtain four year degrees rather than only Associate’s Degrees at the UW College Campuses. Also, credits should more easily transfer between systems. The lower cost will also still apply to the UW College systems.

On the flip side there is likely to be job cuts as some administrative positions will be doubled up under the new system. While a cost savings for the UW system, that will be detrimental to those laid off.

As mentioned above the proposal is not final until passed by the Board of Regents in November.

3) Writer’s Choice →  Catalonia, Brexit, and Nationalism in the Age of Trump

You may have never heard of Catalonia. However, this week Catalonia (a region in Spain) held a referendum in which they declared their independence from Spain.  This has caused controversy as Spain insisted the referendum was illegal and sent police to prevent voter turnout. Furthermore, less than half of voters turned out and after Spanish police started seizing ballot boxes Catalonia officials allowed voters to cast ballots wherever they pleased.

As of today, the Catalans have supposedly declared their independence although they are certainly not unified in their declaration. Consequently the Prime Minister of Spain has put an deadline on this whole ordeal.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has given two demands: 1) Clarify whether the region has actually claimed independence. 2) If it has, rescind that claim. Catalonia leaders have five days to clarify the claim and three additional days to rescind it.

This nationalistic approach is nothing new. Donald Trump won on an America-first and nationalist agenda. Trump is skeptical of international agreements from things like the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), to the United Nations. Elsewhere in the world, Great Britain voted to leave the EU. Nationalist groups have gained more seats in European elections, namely Germany. Scotland has considered a referendum for independence.

These treaties, alliances, and international organizations are necessary for the world today. Europe’s economy is stronger and more stable because of the EU. Cooperation is necessary in all walks of life including our politics and global economies.

“Global citizenship is required to establish worthwhile and effective trade deals, and ensure economies around the world are thriving- without it, political uncertainty will heighten.” –The Global Rise of Nationalism

While nationalism is not necessarily bad, it cannot be taken to the extreme. We must work with our brothers and sisters around the globe to make this a world in which we are proud to live.

4) Recommendation of the Week → The Princess Bride

One of my favorite movies, The Princess Bride, came out a just over 30 years ago on September 25, 1987. This is a story that knows and appreciates the “story-ness” of itself. It will make you laugh, it will make you cheer, and it will make you say “gross is this a kissing movie?” An absolute classic with one of the most oft-quoted scripts Princess Bride is a must for your movie list.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

This is one of the most well-known leadership/self-improvement books of all-time. It also happened to be a textbook for the best (and my favorite) class I took in college. In this book, Stephen Covey strives to show people how to best to build a personal character ethic and find their “true north.” Covey explains that this isn’t a novel to be read once, but a toolkit to help you grow constantly and continuously.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (10/5/17)

Welcome back! My apologies for the delay in the post today. Thanks for checking out the blog. Keep an eye out for upcoming series of 10 Lists of 10 and Look Back AttIt which will be posted on Mondays in the coming weeks. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Las Vegas and Gun Control

Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, Orlando, and now Las Vegas.  These are all in the top 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern US history. All of them have happened in the last 10 years.

By now, you have probably heard the tragic news about the Las Vegas shootings by Stephen Paddock earlier this week. If not, you can read more about it here.  As of this writing 59 people have died and over 500 were injured. However, there have been incredible stories of heroism and unity through these attacks.

Other than the actual tragedy, why are people riled up about this?

After a tragedy such as this, it is natural for us to grieve, mourn, and do what we can to console others. For many of us, that means empathizing with and praying for the victims of the tragedy. However, backlash has arisen with politicians sending their “thoughts and prayers” to the victims. This article specifically tells about 75+ members of the House and Senate who sent out “thoughts and prayers” to the victims of Las Vegas.

However, the main irony is that all 75+ received donations from the NRA (National Rifle Association) which is one of the most effective lobbying groups in Washington. While politicians should certainly send their thoughts and prayers, we elect them to find policy solutions to major problems like gun violence.

So, what is Congress doing?

TBD. There appears to be a Republican-led effort in the House to ban the use of “bump stocks” which the shooter used in Las Vegas. Bump stocks allow a semi-automatic rifle fire at a rate similar to that of a machine gun without making it a fully automatic weapon which are currently illegal to possess. The NRA actually supports this measure which increases the likelihood of an affirmative vote.

Why is the NRA so important?

In a brilliant (albeit profane) piece by John Oliver regarding the NRA, he discussed that while you and I currently care about gun regulation, we probably won’t two weeks from now. The NRA cares all the time. Furthermore, they simply have to say no. The NRA does not need to come up with solutions, they (and their supporters) just advocate for NO increase in regulation, NO universal background checks, NO studying gun violence by the CDC, and more.

David, isn’t all of this just a politicization of this tragedy?

Perhaps it is. However, as I mentioned above in two weeks (or probably less) people won’t care about gun violence. Saying that this is not the time to talk about gun control is absurd. If now is not the time, when is the time?

2)  Local News → Facebook Ads

If you watch the Late Show with Stephen Colbert (or followed any part of the Trump presidency) you will know there has been growing allegations of Russia’s involvement with the 2016 election.

In September, reports arose that Facebook sold 3,000 political ads for $100,000 to a “Russian troll farm” which called itself the Internet Research Agency.  According to Facebook, approximately 10,000,000 people viewed the ads during the election season.

These ads were reportedly not focused on any specific candidate or issue.

 “Rather, the ads and accounts appeared to focus on amplifying divisive social and political messages across the ideological spectrum — touching on topics from LGBT matters to race issues to immigration to gun rights.”

This week, it was revealed Michigan and Wisconsin were both targeted and were states that Trump won by margins of only about 11,000 and 27,000 respectively.  It appears about 44% of the ads were viewed prior to the election and the rest were viewed after the election.

Facebook testified in front of Congress this week and has vowed to change its ways. They will do so by hiring 1,000 people to review ads placed on the site and will require political ads to put disclaimers (like you see on television) about who funded the ad.

3) Writer’s Choice →  Best Month of the Year!

Well, folks the best month of the year for sports is upon us. We are a quarter of the way through the NFL season, the MLB playoffs are in full swing (pun very much intended), the puck dropped on the NHL season yesterday, and NBA preseason tipped off with the regular season starting in less than two weeks. For a few precious weeks in the sports world, all four major US sports will be in season.

In the NFL, people have wondering if their teams woes are reversible or if their success is sustainable. In NHL and NBA, hope springs anew with new seasons. In the MLB, the hunt for October is over and it is time to win or go home.

So, I love this time of year. Where did my love come from? Well,  love my Wisconsin sports teams (Packers, Bucks, Brewers, and Badgers) and enjoy cheering for them. However, I also just love a great game. Whether it is a pick-up basketball game, a game of capture the flag, a preseason game, or the Super Bowl I just want it to be competitive and entertaining.

As my family can attest growing up I was a sucker for sports stats and trivia. I love playing fantasy football, filling out a March Madness bracket, and often filled out the weekly football pick ’em contest in the newspaper.

All of this to say, that I love the camaraderie of sports and how it can bring people together. My favorite pastime is sitting down to watch a Packer game with my Dad on a crisp Sunday in the fall. So, thanks Dad for always having a sports factoid to throw at me, or a new sports story to chat about with me. I’m grateful for all that you taught me about sports and through sports. See you for a Packer game soon!

4) Recommendation of the Week → Calvin and Hobbes 

My favorite comic strip of all time is Calvin and Hobbes. Bill Watterson’s story of a young boy and his stuffed tiger will certainly make you laugh, but it will also might make you think, reflect, or cry. With alter egos like Stupendous Man and Spaceman Spiff, along with inventions of things like Calvinball and the Transmorgifier, there is always a new adventure for Calvin and Hobbes.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Word on Fire/Bishop Barron’s Homilies

Bishop Robert Barron and the folks at Word on Fire create awesome Catholic content. They have study programs, blogs, videos, lectures, sermons, homilies, guides, and more. Creators of the renowned Catholicism video series, Word on Fire is doing incredible work. They make the faith accessible, tangible, and relatable.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (9/28/17)

Welcome back! We are already a month into the blog and the start of 5 Things. This weekly update will continue, but also keep your eye out for a new (somewhat regular) series as well in the coming weeks. As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Tax Reform

What are some of the highlights of Trump’s Tax Reform Framework?

Well, if you like to geek out over this stuff like me you can read the full policy brief here. If not, that’s hopefully why you are reading this! Here are the five goals laid out in the plan.

• Tax relief for middle class families.
• The simplicity of “postcard” tax filing for the vast majority of Americans.
• Tax relief for businesses, especially small businesses.
• Ending incentives to ship jobs, capital, and tax revenue overseas.
• Broadening the tax base and providing greater fairness for all Americans by closing special interest tax breaks and loopholes.

Cool David. That all sounds nice. What does that mean in practice?

I am so glad you asked! A few specifics that Trump has proposed include:

• Reduce the number of personal income tax brackets from seven to three (12%, 25%, and 35%)
• Double the standard deduction to $24,000 and $12,000 for married couples and single filers, respectively
• Eliminates the estate tax (aka death tax) which impacts those making over $5.5 million
• Cut corporate tax rates for 20% (down from 35%) and small business rates down to 25% (from 39.6%)
• Repeal Alternative Minimum Tax which largely impacts those who make between  $200,000 and $1 million

Wait, so is this what is actually going to be signed into law?

No. This is the FRAMEWORK for what the White House administration hopes to see in a tax reform bill. So, while a piece of legislation will likely have many of these details, this is not the actual legislation.

A few other things to note because it will bother me if I don’t write about them….

• The current framework outlines all of the good parts of the tax reform, without bringing up any of the potential draw backs. Cutting taxes (the government’s revenue source) means there must be a way to make up the budget deficit. While it was not included because this is not actually legislation, the reality is there has to be a way to pay for all the tax cuts.
• In regards to this new tax proposal, Trump insisted in his speech on Wednesday “It’s not good for me, believe me.” Well, since we do not know Trump’s tax status (as you may remember he didn’t release any tax returns) we do not know if this is true. However, if he is worth as much as he has claimed, the repeal of the estate tax, lowering of the top income tax bracket to 35% (down from 39.6%), and slashing corporate tax rates would all seem to benefit the President and/or his family.
• This is a long legislative battle ahead and much of the policy details will be fleshed out in legislative committees over the next year. GOP leadership hopes to pass tax reform before the 2018 midterm elections to have a legislative victory to boast during the campaigns.

2)  Local News → Voter ID Laws 

A study by UW-Madison political scientist Ken Mayer determined that between 16,000 and 23,250 voters from Milwaukee and Dane county were “deterred” in the 2016 election by Wisconsin’s voter ID laws.  Both Dane and Milwaukee counties are among the most liberal counties in Milwaukee and the study suggests that the voter ID laws disproportionately impacted African American and low-income voters.

Why do we have Voter ID Laws?

Governor Scott Walker’s administration passed the law back in 2011 (it was held up for a few years by litigation, but eventually went into effect) as a way to help prevent voter fraud. This law means that voters need a proper form of identification to prove who they are so people cannot commit voter fraud. Opponents of this type of law say that it discriminates against those without the means to obtain a valid ID card.

Would this have changed the election results in Wisconsin?

It’s hard to say, but probably not. Even if all of the 23,250 voters turned out to vote for Hillary Clinton she still would not have had the votes to surpass Trump in Wisconsin. Trump won 1,409,467 (47.9%) votes while Clinton only won 1,382,210 (46.9%) a margin of over 27,000 votes.

Were Voter ID laws really the reason people didn’t turn out to vote?

Yes, but not the only reason. Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article:

Many of those who did not vote said they did so for reasons that didn’t have to do with the voter ID law — such as because they didn’t like any of the candidates on the ballot, were ill, didn’t have time or didn’t think their vote would matter. But 7% or more said they did not vote because of the ID law.

There are many reasons (as listed above) as to why individuals do not turn out to vote. For the last 50 years, the United States is consistently between 50-65% voter turnout. Check out the graph below.

Three (and a half) things to take away:

1. Voter ID Laws do disproportionately impact African-American and low-income voters.
2. Since there is little evidence of widespread voter fraud, these laws seem to simply be hurting rather than helping.
3. Voter turnout is generally weaker in the USA than other major countries.
   1. My quick rant….one of the basic attributes of a democracy is free and fair elections. While we may take that for granted here in the US, it is absolutely a privilege to be able to make your voice heard at the ballot box. While our system is certainly not perfect and the candidates often leave something to be desired, please vote. It is your fundamental right as an American to vote and find other ways to make your voice heard. Voter turnout will never be 100% and maybe 50-60% isn’t that bad. Or maybe in a country where we value our basic freedom and inherent rights, it is.

3) Writer’s Choice →  Trump vs. NFL

On Friday, Donald Trump was at a campaign rally for Luther Strange (who ended up losing his primary, but that is a different topic) in Alabama. In a move that can only be rationalized as a play to unify his base supporters, Trump went on a tangent against the NFL at the rally with the following statement:

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag to say get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he’s fired, he’s fired.”        -Donald Trump

This set off a storm of responses from NFL owners, general managers, coaches, players, and fans. Every single NFL team staged some sort of protest during the national anthem.

My thoughts:

1. Regardless of what Trump thinks, it is appalling for him to publicly call people/players “SOBs.” Though name-calling is nothing new for Trump, most people expect the president of the United States to be have more decorum.
2. While I believe those who are able should stand for the anthem, I do recognize the freedom and right of individuals to protest.
3. Colin Kaepernick started protesting last year by kneeling during the national anthem to raise awareness of police brutality against African Americans. While some have followed suit prior to this past weekend, this weekend was different. Largely, these protests were not against police brutality or even against the flag (as many claimed). They were a show of unity against President Trump’s blatant attack against players and their organizations.

 

4) Recommendation of the Week → Intelligence Squared

What is it? A non-partisan, non-profit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. addresses a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics.

What’s their mission? Our mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse.

The objective is to give you a well-rounded perspective of the issue, and then make your conclusions from there. The audience in the debates actually vote for their stance on the topic before and after the debate. These podcasts (or videos depending on which you prefer) are fascinating and help give a more full understanding of different topics. Happy learning!

5) Inspiration of the Week  →Kid President

I am a firm believer that we should all spend more time with people under the age of 10 and over the age of 70. Kid President helps remind me of why. Perhaps you need a Pep Talk, or advice on how to make the world more awesome, or you want to send a thank you to your Mom.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (9/21/17)

 

Welcome back! After some heavy topics in the last few weeks (hurricane recovery, debt ceilings, and budget analysis) we have one dense topic and a couple of lighthearted items this week. Just a quick reminder to check out last week’s blog if you missed it. Also, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.

1) National Headlines → Healthcare…Again

Republicans want to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. ACA, a.k.a. Obamacare)….. again.  Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) summed up the current effort incredibly well stating:

“You know, I could maybe give you 10 reasons why this bill shouldn’t be considered. But, Republicans campaigned on this so often that you have a responsibility to carry out what you said in the campaign, That’s pretty much as much of a reason as the substance of the bill.”

Senator Grassley’s comments pretty much sum up my thoughts and opinions about the Graham-Cassidy Bill.

Quick background:

March 2010: President Barack Obama signs Obamacare into law

2015: Obamacare becomes fully implemented into the US Healthcare system.

May 2017: House passes the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

July 2017: The Senate version called the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) is voted down.

Jump to September 2017: Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have introduced a bill (aptly referred to as the Graham-Cassidy Bill at the moment) that is gaining steam in the Senate. This is the third major piece of legislation that Republicans have proposed as a way to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Here is an article from NPR comparing the way the current law and the different Congressional proposals impacts different groups of people.

Three main takeaways regarding Graham-Cassidy’s changes to the current law.

1. “It repeals major provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including the Medicaid expansion, the individual and employer mandates and the subsidies to help people afford insurance.”
2. “It takes money from those programs and turns it into block grants for each state to set up its own health care system.”
3. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) will not have time to score (complete a full analysis) the Graham Cassidy bill before the September 30th deadline to vote. October 1st begins a new fiscal year and ends certain Senate provisions which allow the Senate to pass legislation with 51 votes (Republicans hold a 52 seat majority) rather than the 60 typically needed.

For those of you that prefer visual graphics, here is a nice chart put together by the Commonwealth Fund, an independent health care research group (they tends to lean slightly left of center, but overall puts out good information).

 

Graham-Cassidy was little more than afterthought less than a week ago. However, it is looking like a real possibility that the Senate will put it to a vote. If passed, the bill would head to the Republican controlled house and potentially to President Trump’s desk.

2)  Local News → New Exhibit Coming to Baraboo Zoo 

For my friends familiar with the Baraboo area, you might know of a quaint little park called Oschner Park. Not only is it a beautiful park, but it is home to one of my favorite places in Baraboo: Baraboo’s Zoo, also known as Oschner Park Zoo!

The following videos will show you that the Baraboo Zoo (which has free admission!) is home to some of incredible animals such as black bears Berryboo and Bugaboo, timber wolves Apache and Montana, a coterie (that’s the family/community) of prairie dogs, and a many more animals!

Ever since my first trip to the Baraboo Zoo during my time at summer camp, the zoo has been raising funds for a new river otter exhibit. Late last month, the zoo broke ground for the new exhibit! This week they started construction for the exhibit.

How cute is this little fella?

The zoo is a unique and fun experience. While there are certainly larger zoos with more animals, the Boo Zoo (as we affectionately call it ’round these parts) is an experience to take in. A wonderful afternoon can be spent in Oschner Park checking out the zoo, strolling through the park, playing on the playground, and walking along the Baraboo River. The prairie dogs, black bears, monkeys, and timber wolves are all must sees.

If you want to stay updated on the construction project, learn more about the zoo, or take an adventure to Oschner Park Zoo check out their Facebook page.

So, I ask you friends… do you have a favorite exhibit at the Boo Zoo? Or a favorite hidden gem around your area? Please share them with me as I would love to check them out!

 

3) Writer’s Choice →  Hobbit Day!

This Friday, September 22nd, is Bilbo and Frodo Baggins birthday! For those of you thinking “Who is that,” they are the main protagonists in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classics The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, respectively. 

Cool David…why do you know this or care? 

Wait…you mean other people don’t know this?!? To be fair, my brother reminded me of this wonderful holiday. That said, The Lord of the Rings trilogy (both the books and the movies) are among some of my favorite works. Tolkien’s works are literary classics.

Why do you like LOTR so much?

Tolkien was a devout Catholic and those themes shine through in the world of Middle Earth. While I could probably write a book (and some people have) about the Christian themes in Tolkien’s work, I will refrain from doing so. However, here is a small sample from Dr. Peter Kreeft (who has indeed written a book and given lengthy talks about Christianity and the Lord of the Rings) about Christ’s presence in the Lord of the Rings.

I will share one example of the Christian themes. When describing the Elvish land of Lothlorien, Sam explains to Frodo,

“If there’s any magic about, it’s right down deep, where I can’t lay my hands on it, in a manner of speaking.”

“You can see and feel it everywhere,” said Frodo.

“Well,” said Sam, “you can’t see nobody working it.” –The Fellowship of the Ring

Does that sound like a way that God works in our lives? Seeing is not necessarily believing.

How should I celebrate Hobbit Day?

Here are just a few ways you could celebrate!

1. Watch one of the movies
2. Start one of the books
3. Dress up like a hobbit
4. Go on an adventure in nature
5. Indulge in one (or more) of the Hobbit meals…Treat yo self!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the best quote from LOTR?

 I am going to give you 5. Even that barely scratches the surface of Tolkien’s goodness and wisdom. 

While it is unrealistic for me to expect you to share the same passion that I do for Tolkien’s writings, I do hope you find the time to do some reading of different literary classics. Find a book/story/movie you love and share its goodness with the world.

4) Recommendation of the Week → CinemaWins

Do you ever watch movie that you absolutely love? Do you wonder why you love it so much? Do you try to describe parts of the movie to a friend and they just don’t understand why it’s so great? Do you wish there was more optimism in the world? Then this YouTube channel is for you.

One of my absolute favorite YouTube channels, this channel creates videos entitled “Everything Great About ____________.”  The channel rewards “wins” for things like a film’s music, hilarious moments, teamwork, saving your friends, and those moments that are so cool you can only say “Yup!”

These videos are enjoyable, entertaining, and engaging. I look forward to checking out the newest videos when they come out at the end of the work week.

 

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Matthew Kelly’s Rhythm of Life

I can guarantee this will not be the only time that Matthew Kelly and his work will make an appearance on my blog. This week specifically, I would point you towards one of his earlier works Rhythm of Life.

The tagline of this book is “Living Everyday with Passion and Purpose.” Matthew Kelly encourages us to take care of the four aspects of the self: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Matthew Kelly’s writings strive to empower us to become the “best-version-of-ourselves.”

I will also give quick shout out to Matthew Kelly’s organization, Dynamic Catholic. Check out the wonderful work they do!

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

 

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (9/14/17)

Welcome back friends! I am thrilled to bring you the second installment of 5 Things. If you missed last week, you can catch up on it here. If this is your first time to my blog please check out my other content and my reason for starting this blog.  If you have questions about anything that I write about I would love to chat with you more so please contact me.

Two quick disclaimers this week. First, these stories are all a few days old, but relevant and still dominating the news cycles. Second, two of our topics deal with budgets and finance…WAIT PLEASE KEEP READING! You are probably thinking “David, that sounds awful. Why would I want to read about that?” You are correct. You probably don’t. That is exactly why you should take five more minutes and read about what is going on with both the state budget and federal debt ceiling. Happy reading!

1) National Headlines → Harvey, Irma, and the Implications of Hurricanes

After Texas was blasted by Hurricane Harvey, this week brought devastation to Florida by Hurricane Irma. There has been plenty of coverage of the damage caused by Irma, and that certainly should not be overlooked. An image floating around that caught my attention was this photo comparing Hurricanes Andrew and Irma.

Upon seeing this, I wondered “Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for the entire state days before landfall. The people just saw Texas devastated by Harvey. Why on earth would anyone stay?”

Certainly there are the elderly, home bound, or those without personal transportation who would struggle to leave. However, state authorities were helping to evacuate such individuals. So, shouldn’t people just leave? It’s not always that simple. Some gas stations were running out of fuel. Public transportation options were swamped with individuals leaving. There is an interesting Huffington Post article outlining more reasons why people don’t “just leave” when asked to do so.

Despite the impending catastrophe, many Floridians were left asking, “Where can I go? How can I go? How long will I be gone? How long could I be without power? What will my home look like? What will my neighborhood look like?” These are all questions left to be answered for the people of both Florida and Texas.

Congress has tried to help answer some of these questions. This week Congress passed  and the president signed an emergency funding measure for more than $15 billion in Hurricane Harvey relief. That package which was coupled with the debt ceiling increase (more on that in Writer’s Choice) also included over $6 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) budget through December.

While many of us know people who have been impacted by these storms, the best thing we can do for them is to not forget. In a 24/7 news cycle, we tend to quickly forget what happened. These areas in both states are going to take months, if not years to rebuild and repair.

 

2)  Local News → Wisconsin State Budget Proposal Approved By Joint Finance Committee 

On September 6th, the Joint Finance Committee passed Wisconsin’s $76 billion biennial budget more than two months after the deadline of June. This committee includes Democrats and Republicans from both the State Senate and Assembly. The proposal was passed by the committee on a party-line vote with 12 Republicans in favor and four Democrats against. The Joint Finance Committee has spent months on the bill and while there are expected to be some changes, the last few budgets have gone from Joint Finance to the Governor’s desk more or less in tact. Here is a flow chart to help you see the general process.

The Republican majority Assembly will get the first crack at the proposal and is expected to pass the bill without much variance. However, the Senate (which holds a 20-13 Republican majority) does not have the 17 votes it would take to pass the bill. Once passed by both chambers, the bill is expected to be signed by Governor Walker with minimal substantive changes.

I just wanted to highlight a few details that struck me as I researched the budget.

Education will be hotly contested. Republicans will play up the fact that they are increasing funds to both the K-12 ($639 million increase) and higher education ($36 million increase) budgets. However, Democrats will quickly remind you that the last budget cut $250 million from the higher education budget. Furthermore, they will argue that much of the K-12 budget will support private school in the private program rather than public schools.

Transportation and Roads funding were just kicked down the road for another time. The state will borrow $400 million over the next two years for road work which is less than the $500 million Governor Walker requested. This is both a shortfall and a short term solution. There is no long term solution in site for road work projects and the shortfall in Transportation funding may cause delays in some scheduled projects.

Foxconn is not directly tied to the budget, but is important to note. Foxconn is the company that made headlines in late July by agreeing to build a manufacturing plant in Wisconsin while receiving a large tax incentive of up to $3 billion (dependent on Foxconn meeting certain metrics in job creation) to do so. That money would come out of the general fund which is used to pay for schools, prisons, healthcare, and more.  The deal has been controversial with advocates praising the deal for bringing in jobs while opponents argue that the state should not be giving such large incentives to do so. Currently there is no guarantee how many jobs will be created though advocates say there could be up to 15,000 jobs. The manufacturing plant is expected to be put up in Racine or Kenosha area.

3) Writer’s Choice → Debt Ceiling 

This past week President Trump agreed to a deal with lead Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for a three month extension of the debt ceiling. Great? Bad? What does that mean? and more importantly…

What the heck is the debt ceiling? 

The simple definition of the debt ceiling is the set limit of money that Congress can borrow. Put another way, it is the maximum amount of debt the government can carry at any given time.

Okay. Why was it created?

It was started 100 years ago so Treasury could borrow money (up to a set amount) without seeking approval from Congress every time.

Well, that seems logical. And it will help rein in spending, right?

Well, no. Congress already created the budget and knows how much their budget deficit (the yearly shortfall in the budget) will add to the national debt (the total amount of money owed by the US). Congress has already allocated and/or spent that money. Thus, they need to raise the debt ceiling to meet their obligations.

Huh? How about you explain with an analogy?

“The nation’s debt limit is similar to the limit your credit card company places on your spending. But there’s one significant difference. Congress is in charge of both its spending and the debt limit. It already knows how much it will add to the debt when it approves that year’s budget deficit. When it refuses increase the debt limit, it’s saying it wants to spend but not pay its bills. That’s like your credit card company allowing you to spend above its limit and then refusing to pay the stores for your purchases. ”

From Debt Ceiling: Definition, Current Status, 2017 Crisis by Kimberly Amadeo

 

Wait, so Congress can just raise the debt ceiling?

Yup.

That seems….

Silly? Irresponsible? Yes. It is silly for Congress to just keep up the debt which would eventually become unsustainable. However, defaulting on the US debt would be quite literally nothing short of an worldwide economic meltdown.

Is this a new thing? I feel like I have heard about this before…

Check out this article…it might sound familiar. It is eerie how fitting this is today including the political cartoon. Please note the date at the bottom.

“WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The Senate on Thursday joined the House in passing a short-term increase in the U.S. debt limit, allowing the government to borrow for a few more months……

….But the increase only allows borrowing through early February, meaning House and Senate lawmakers will have to kick off an election year with a debate on the debt.”

 

 

DECEMBER 24, 2009 BY LOU SCATIGNA of The Financial Physician

Which party uses the debt ceiling?

Well…both. Look at this.

Why does Congress keep doing this?

Raising the debt ceiling is a separate vote from passing the budget. That said, Congress could hypothetically approve the borrowing when they approve the spending.  However, they do not. That separate vote allows one party to hold out while trying to get concessions from the other side. Thus, both parties end up using the debt ceiling as leverage. This has caused government shutdowns which can cause certain government employees to be laid off, agencies to cut back, and departments to shut down services.

Shutdowns have happened for at most a few days or weeks at a time. However, during that time the government cut back enough to be able to pay its bills. The United States is known for being the most reliable creditor in the world. Even the idea of the US defaulting on its debt, would send the markets into a frenzy.

The time for Congress to be fiscally responsible is when creating the budget. Not when we are nearing the fiscal cliff of the debt ceiling. I hope our elected officials can find ways to work on bipartisan measure to rein in spending, run surpluses, pay down the debt, and invest in the country’s long term success.

Okay. This has been…well, bleak. David, do you have any positives?

The positive (if there is one) about this is the fact that the debt ceiling draws national attention at least every few years. We need to have more conversations about this. Our national debt just surpassed $20 TRILLION. (Check out the US Debt Clock to just be overwhelmed by numbers). That is significant.

Oh, and if you click on just one link this entire post check out this visualization of the national debt.

For more explanation of the debt ceiling:

Here is an NPR video, if that is your style.

Here is a Washington Post article, if that is more your jam.

 

4) Recommendation of the Week → NPR Podcasts:  Up First, NPR Politics, Planet Money, and many more

I will stick on my recommendations for reliable news sources for another week. I love podcasts (as evidenced by last week’s inspiration) and find the NPR has many quality podcasts. Three that I listen to regularly: 1) Up First gives you a rundown of the daily news in 10 minutes every weekday morning. 2) NPR Politics is 20-40 minutes a published twice a week doing more deep dives and analysis into the news, politics, and policy that week. 3) Planet Money is a 20-30 minute podcast billed as what you would learn if you asked a friend to “Meet me at the bar and tell me what’s going on with the economy.” NPR may not sound the most riveting, but they produce informative, entertaining, and insightful podcasts.

5) Inspiration of the Week  → How Great Leaders Inspire Action: Inspired by Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why

This week, one of my favorite writers and speakers, Simon Sinek is the inspiration of the week. His classic book, Start with Why, is the focus of his website and the linked TED talk above. Sinek’s ability to concisely and coherently convey feelings that many of us have is among his many talents. As a bonus recommendation from Sinek, I would also recommend his book Leaders Eat Last. If you want a synopsis of that book, check out his talk by the same title.

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

 

5 Things David Wants You To Know This Week (9/7/17)

 

1) National Headlines → DACA (Find out more about DACA and DREAMers from our good friends at NPR. What is DACA? )

Brief: President Trump issued an order dto phase out DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), an executive order issued by President Obama in 2012, which protects about 800,000 immigrants brought here illegally as children (known as DREAMers) unless Congress acts.  In what is already a busy month for Congress with items like a government funding bill, raising the debt ceiling, emergency funding for disaster relief, President Trump has added another big item to the agenda. That said, President was facing a legal battle from the Attorney Generals of 9 states who argued the Constitutionality of DACA and gave Trump until September 5th to make a decision.

The talking points for repealing DACA: Obama’s executive order was probably an overreach of his power. Congress is tasked with legislating, not the President (however immigration reform has not been a palatable item to follow through on). We are nation of law and order, borders, and proper immigration.

The talking points for keeping DACA: DREAMers are among the most sympathetic of illegal aliens and came here through no fault of their own. Thus, they should not be punished for that. Also, DACA recipients must have applied and have a clean record. Therefore, they are already citizens in every way except on paper. More often than not they are contributing effectively to society through running a small business, working at a Fortune 500 company, or attending a university.

 

2)  Local News → Gerrymandering (Learn more about the case from our friends at the NY Times)

Wisconsin is in the news as prominent Republicans filed briefs asking the Supreme Court to rule that extreme gerrymandering is unconstitutional. Gerrymandering is the redrawing of voting districts for political advantage. Well known Republicans such as John McCain, John Kasich,  Bob Dole, and Arnold Schwarzenegger support this bipartisan measure while groups such as the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, Republican State Leadership Committee all filed briefs to the Supreme Court on the opposite side.

As noted in the article, gerrymandering is not new to the US, nor is it solely used by one party. Both political parties have used gerrymandering to their advantage, and their arguments fluctuate with their control of the legislature. The case of gerrymandering in Wisconsin is being pursued because despite Republicans in the Assembly winning only 48.6% of the statewide vote, GOP legislators took 60 of the 99 seats (as indicated by the graphic above). While objections have been made to this, we will have to wait until October 3rd to hear arguments in the Supreme Court.

 

3) Writer’s Choice → Football is Back!

Football comes back in full force this week and I could not be more excited. While I try to defend my league crown in fantasy football, I am also looking forward to cheering on my Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. Some fun headlines and stories that struck my interest over the last week.

Texas A&M blows a 44-10 lead in the 3rd quarter (Ouch!)  

Badgers Start Slow, Win Big (Go Bucky!)  

JJ Watt Raises $27M+ for Hurricane Harvey Victims (Hooray for Wisconsin Boys!)

Ezekiel Elliott Suspension; He Will Play Week One (Law Degree Not Required :D)

NFL Postpones Bucs-Dolphins Due to Hurricane Irma  

 

I wanted to touch on this last article. The NFL decided to give both teams a week one bye and move their game to the week 11 bye which both teams happen to share. I strongly disagree with the league’s decision on this one. There are plenty of neutral sites the teams could have played the game during week one. Miami will be returning from a game in London and have to play rather than recovering during their bye week. Both teams now have to play 16 straight games, and anyone in the league will attest to the importance of the midseason bye.  The NFL also could have sold tickets at a game in a neutral location and donated the funds back for a relief effort to those impacted by Hurricane Irma. Poor move NFL.

 

4) Recommendation of the Week → All Sides

This week I would recommend the website All Sides. I am often struck at how differently bias helps shape a certain argument. It is fascinating to look across a story and see how biased sites portray the story depending on their leanings. It will also help you recognize which way certain news sites lean politically. I highly recommend sifting through their site to find unbiased and credible news from sources like NPR, BBC News, The Hill, Politico, and more.

 

5) Inspiration of the Week  → Fr. Mike Schmitz Podcast

Check out Fr. Mike Schmitz Podcasts! He usually publishes a 5-10 minute podcast weekly ranging on many topics. A personal favorite of mine published recently is his podcast titled “Training vs Working Out .”  Fr. Mike does wonderful work at UM-Duluth as their chaplain as well as with Ascension Presents in order to create this media.

 

Peace, love, and all the above,

DJE

 

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts

Welcome!

Thanks so much for checking out my blog. I know writing a blog is trendy and everyone wants to be a published writer by putting their thoughts on the internet. You are correct that this is indeed me putting my thoughts for people to read on the interwebs. However, that does not make me trendy or hipster. Or maybe it does, but I refuse to accept that notion! As you will come to find out I love to create lists, so I may as well start with one in my introduction.

1. Why did I start this blog?

I want to share my thoughts about a plethora of topics. I also wanted to practice my writing skills. What better place to do that than a public forum for everyone to read? My main posts will be my weekly “5 Things to Know” published on Thursdays. I will follow the general guidelines of bring you: 1) National News 2) Local News 3) Writer’s Choice 4) Recommendation of the Week 5) Inspiration of the Week.

2. David, couldn’t I find this information elsewhere?

Sure. And I will often point you to more information or sources outside of my blog. In my first 5 Things, I will point you to sites like NPR, New York Times, ESPN, and more. These topics are things that interest me, and may or may not interest you.

3. What do you hope to accomplish with this blog?

As noted above, I want to grow as a writer. I also want to connect with you, my readers, and hopefully leave you educated, entertained, and inspired. I am certainly not an expert, but am simply your fellow student trying to share my take and understanding of a specific topic.

4. David, what if I have follow up questions to a topic you cover?

PLEASE ASK! I would love for you to contact me and talk with you more about a certain topic. Again, I am no expert but I hope to help you and I both learn more about the topics covered.

5. Is 5 Things the only blog you will post?

For now, yes. You can count on seeing a 5 Things with the formula outlined above consistently. As I continue to develop this blog, new series may arise. For now, stayed tuned for more 5 Things to be posted on Thursdays.

Happy reading and thanks for joining me for the journey!

Peace, love, and all the above!

DJE