Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Some random news items

Kentucky Fried Chicken is taking steps to ensure the security of its secret recipe. That's good news--we wouldn't want anyone else making that junk and inflicting it on an unsuspecting public. Popeye's, anyone?

Cities are trying and failing to generate "small town charm." If you want a hint why, visit the article and take a look at the picture. Sorry, putting up a building that resembles any other office building in a parklike setting will not help your city get small town charm. For the genre-challenged, that's called "yet another nondescript office building like you see in 10000 other suburban settings." If you want "small town charm," try "adequate on street parking, lighting, and sidewalks." It's a lot cheaper, and a lot more effective.

St. Paul merchants discover that the promised $148 million windfall for the city from the GOP convention didn't exactly pan out as expected. As if most of us (especially the anti-GOP demonstrators) have a budget exceeding $750 per day for a four day convention. Duh. Hopefully voters remember this boondoggle at election time, as the "thinking" of civic boosters isn't exactly up to snuff.

3 comments:

Jim Peet said...

Re: St. Paul merchants discover that the promised $148 million windfall for the city from the GOP convention didn't exactly pan out as expected. As if most of us (especially the anti-GOP demonstrators) have a budget exceeding $750 per day for a four day convention.

Comment: Politicians will use the same kind of logic to support public financing of a new Vikings' stadium.

Re: travel budget: When I travel on corporate business (it used to be about 4 times a year but now much reduced), we were / are permitted $ 50 per day for all meals. It doesn't roll-over. So say one day you spend $ 30, you can't spend $ 70 the next day. And the hotels ... well let's just say truckers park in the front!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that's how like our new racetrack/slots casino is "good for the local economy."

Yes, people shutting themselves up in a building three miles outside the city limits and (in an area where the suburban belt is atypically thin, so there's little in the way of shopping or hospitality nearby) and betting on horses and pressing buttons while eating in-house meals -- yeah, that really uplifts our local economy.

Bike Bubba said...

One wonders if any of the boosters take a look at the numbers and ask "is this at all reasonable?"

Is this what we get when all of the reporters had the New Math?