Category: Soap Box

Time to End Employer-Based Health Insurance By Don@Smalldog.com There is a renewed interest in addressing health care reform on both the state and national levels. This focus may be enhanced by Michael Moore’s new film “Sicko” that starts next week. Much of the legislative efforts have been concentrating on the uninsured. I think this is…

In this season that proclaims Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards Men, it is a sad irony that there are dozens of violent conflicts throughout the world. It is not until the world learns that it cannot solve problems with violence that we will be able to address the vital issues of poverty, famine, literacy,…

What is Business Responsibility? I am taping a debate with a gentleman from the Vermont Business Coalition for Channel 3’s “You Can Quote Me” Sunday morning talk show. This coalition is a Political Action Committee (PAC) that is targeting Vermont legislators that they feel are “anti-business”. Unfortunately, their definition of anti-business is any legislator that…

Hand-held Cell Phones and Cars do not Match! By don@smalldog.com Riding a motorcycle puts you right out there in the elements and you are more a part of the world you are traveling through than if you are in a “cage” with the windows rolled up and the AC cranked. It is also a much…

Vermont has a public utility called Efficiency Vermont which is is the nation’s first statewide provider of energy efficiency services. They are operated by an independent, non-profit organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board. Funded by a surcharge on the electric bill, Efficiency Vermont gives out money to individuals and businesses when they…

I am genuinely frightened by the turn of events in the Middle East. I wanted to write about it for this issue of Kibbles & Bytes and my first inclination was to simply write, “STOP it, you miserable dolts! Stop killing each other!” or to quote Rodney King “Why can’t we all just get along?”…

The drumbeats of confrontation and war are beating in the controversy surrounding the nuclear weapons programs of North Korea and Iran. While it is a scary thought to realize that the North Koreans may have missile and nuclear technology to deliver a nuclear strike on the USA and the Iranian nuclear program and rhetoric is…

Gas prices were high when I was in Hawaii but they are rising fast now that I am back in Vermont with a gallon of gas costing over $3.00. On the one hand, I think that price is incredibly low considering the finite nature of the petroleum resources of our planet and the fact that…

The relatively unnoticed announcement from the International Olympic Committee that baseball and softball would not be allowed as an Olympic sport in the 2012 Olympics is an outrage. Baseball and softball are team sports that are played all over the world. Softball and baseball are the first sports to be cut from the games since…

I was stunned to learn about the General Motors $5+ Billion loss in a single quarter. It sort of puts things into perspective. It makes Apple’s outstanding quarter seem an even greater achievement but it also shows just how big GM really is that they can actually still be in business after losing over $5…