Paradies Shops

Since I found myself in airports constantly I always have a book with me so I don't buy books along the way. But I was intrigued by this program from the Paradies Shops:

"Read and Return"

Buy it , read it, return it, receive a 50% refund!


The Paradies brochure I picked up listed at least 50 different locations in various USA airports thus offering plenty of opportunity to return the books you purchase. Should I lose a book or completely forget to bring one to read on a future trip I plan to utilize this re-purchase program.

Todd

Baby Boys

Having delayed parenthood for decades I am now the father of a handsome baby boy!!

So I am in search of recommendations from readers for great books to read to baby boys. He is a new born so "The Dangerous Books for Boys" is too advanced for him of course so suggestions are welcome. One college buddy of mine suggested the following books for me to read so I will pursue thinking these might be good books to hand down to our son:

Dobson's "Bringing Up Boys"

and

Robert Lewis' "Raising a Modern Day Knight"


Thanks for your suggestions,

Todd

Leave Us Alone

This weekend I just finished reading a manuscript copy of Grover Norquist's new book -- "Leave Us Alone" -- which is to be published in late March 2008 I am told. Mr. Norquist is president of Americans For Tax Reform, www.atr.org, based in Washington DC.

The book's title speaks for itself -- we want the government to leave our guns, our money, our families, and our basic freedoms alone (my wording) -- but you have to wonder how many public schools are going to stock this book in their student libraries don't you?

For me the best part of the book was the explanation of the need for a flat tax as the means to end the current class warfare that politicians create to pit different economic classes/taxpayers against each other. If we were all paying the same income tax rate THEN we would have some transparency in terms of government spending.

Buy a copy of this book then give your copy to a friend to help spread the word if you can,

Todd

Minnesota's Famous Sons and Daughters

Yesterday I saw my old basketball buddy - Danny Flynn - at the gym so I talked with me about his last book, "Famous Minnesotans - Past and Present" , which I have read. No - I was not listed!!

Danny told me that he is nearly done working on "Volume II" of his book -- no I am not in this one either -- so I wanted to do a post about it to help promote his work.

Always good to see writers continuing their work.

Todd

Literate Cities

I have to admit I am a sucker for the various "rankings" that come out like this one from Central Connecticut State University:

"America's Most Literate Cities - 2007"

1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
2. Seattle, Washington
3. St. Paul, Minnesota
4. Denver, Colorado
5. Washington DC
6. St. Louis, Missouri
7. San Francisco, California
8. Atlanta, Georgia
9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
10. Boston, Massachusetts

Looked at geographically the one region of the USA not represented in this "top ten" list is the "Southwest" with cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Austin, Dallas, etc. clearly missing.

As a resident of Minnesota I am proud to see our Twin cities both ranked in this top ten list. To celebrate I plan to quit work early to read a book :-)

Todd

Reading to Children

The recently released report, "Reading Across the Nation" (USA), noted that just "under half of the parents surveyed said they or other family members read every day to their children, from newborns to five year olds..........."

In terms of percentage of families that read to their children the state rankings included:

HIGHEST - Vermont at 67%

LOWEST - Mississippi at 38%

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

For limited government activists like me these statistics represent the primary problem we have in the USA -- parents who do not take action on their own for the benefit of their children thus "inspiring" politicians to offer "assistance and solutions..."

I just have to pose this primary question -- if the families in Mississippi want to ignore their children's' education/development why should a resident of Minnesota like me have to pay for some "Head Start reading is fundamental" program that simply takes money out of my pocket that I could better spend on my own children?

Todd

Boys

According to a recent USA Today editorial I read there is a "gender gap" in terms of reading performance whereby girls perform much better -- 55% better in one Cook County, Illinois elementary school that was evaluated.

So the U.S. Librarian of Congress, James Billington, has named author Jon Sieszka a "Reading Ambassador" for a campaign designed to get more boys to read. Mr. Sieszka's campaign can be found at this website:

www.guysread.com

I applaud citizens like Mr. Sieszka who use their talent for a civic need like this one since an illiterate population only becomes more dependent on government programs. But perhaps more importantly is the other "gender gap" -- namely the fact that men in the USA still earn more than women do for doing the same job. Today's boys need to empower themselves by reading more so they are better providers for their future families since men are still the primary wage earners in the USA today although this could change soon as girls outperform boys in reading.

Personally I would love to see the Boy Scouts of America join this reading campaign by creating a "Reading" merit badge.

Thanks Mr. Sieszka,

Todd