Ok, so one of my favorite assignments in Graduate School was having to balance the New York State budget and writing a memo to the budget director outlining the rationale of my decisions - YES, geeky. Anyway, you can imagine my excitement with this NYTimes budget puzzle - again, YES, geeky!

The fact of the matter is that a simple tool or exercise like this has the potential to opening people's eyes who think that balancing a budget can simply be done through reducing spending or raising taxes. It is a puzzle, just like the title says. Some fixes provide short term relief but over time do little to reduce the overall deficit.

A few of my favorite ways to reduce the federal deficit:

eliminate earmarks!

Right, because eliminating less than 1% of the federal budget will have a HUGE impact. Sure, sure, there is the infamous Bridge to Nowhere project but earmarks are designed to bring much needed money back to congressional districts to fund projects such as infrastructure projects, social services, National Parks improvements and other necessary and important projects. We trust that our elected officials will use their best judgment to determine what exactly these projects are, and with new Democrat reforms tot he earmark process, it is easier than ever to see what projects a member has submitted for consideration by the Appropriations Committee, using this online tool. For example, in using this tool, I can find out that my former boss submitted a proposal for $400,000 to fund a 24/7 drop-in center for homeless LGBT youth. A worthy project. An underfunded project. $600,000 for a ferry dock landing for the Statue of Liberty. A National tourist spot that millions visit, without this type of funding, how are people going to get to the Statue? Oh, wait, let me guess - it is their personal responsibility? Ok. Right.

If you look at this tool, you will see some of the biggest expenditures come from military spending. But using the logic that was used to kill the

Saturday, November 13, 2010

the outlaw, being a little badass.a little staged photo in the park, I mean, what else is there to do on a Saturday?





















a favorite pic using Hipstamatic and the lovely fall.

day off
dinner at fish camp
= goodness!

tonight my friend Jennifer Flynn was honored by having an award named after her, in her speech she referenced this quote:

"Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love."
— Martin Luther King Jr.

so powerful and really, words to take in and live and understand.

Jen founded this wonderful organization that I've had the pleasure to work with. She is a true inspiration.

i started running again. we'll see how long i can keep it up. i do love running through the streets of brooklyn on a crisp fall night.

i.must.write.more.

that is the reality. some days it is easier to post pictures with few words or sentiments but that was not the purpose of 181 days. remembering the doorway technique. the wallet list.

i make wishes on first seen stars, throw pennies into wells.
believe in things like promises and sunsets.
tracing memories back wondering how others store time.
pages. paintings. pictures.

181 meant no edits. just posting.

Last Thursday, I read this blog and thought, "good job mom." Well, in the past couple of days, it is all over the internet. Today, the Today show featured two moms whose sons like to play dress up. You can see the video below. I think that these conversations are important. And I still think the line that the mother used in her blog post is so true, ‎"...I am not worried that your son will grow up to be an actual ninja so back off." I mean, let's get real, if a 5 year old wants to dress up as his favorite Scooby-Doo character, Daphne, does not mean that he is going to grow up to be gay. Good for this mom for allowing her child to play dress-up, to play make-believe, to simply let this child be himself, gay, straight or otherwise.