By John Y. Brown III, on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET  Earlier today I had an incident stuck on multiple automated call loops trying to get a simple question answered.
I know how it is and that these services help reduce time spent by employees dealing with routine questions but…… I had a simple but non-routine question and spent, on and off, 2 hours trying to get through. I finally did but the person kept referring to me as Mrs Brown until I corrected him–using my Barry White voice. But that’s another story.
So, as always, I tried to come up with a better way, a better mousetrap, a “big idea” to fix this commonplace problem.
But I couldn’t come up with anything beyond, well, hire live people to talk to live customers. That just doesn’t seem practical. And it’s so 1970s.
So, I griped a bit and then came up with what at the moment seemed an innovative and workable new approach that would decrease the “aggravation factor” for customers calling.
What was it?
Read the rest of…
John Y.’s Musings from the Middle: Automated Call Loops
By Jonathan Miller, on Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 8:30 AM ET The RP has written his most provocative piece yet — He argues in favor of legalizing marijuana. Check out an excerpt from his Huffington Post column published this morning:
While a recent Gallup poll revealed that a majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana, and Ron Paul — a proponent — has run well in the early GOP presidential primaries, most mainstream politicians still refuse to touch the subject, and many journalists continue to refer to legalization as a “radical” position.
It’s no wonder. The loudest voices for reform usually come from the political margins: the “hippie” Far Left and the libertarian Far Right. And while emanating from different directions, the two extremes share a similar credo: An out-of-control government has no business telling me what I can ingest.
A politically-influential cross-section of Americans, however, disagree. Many associate pot advocacy with the “anything goes” counter-culture of the 1970s that they blame for the decline of personal responsibility. Others worry that the logical extension of the philosophy could lead to legalizing “harder” drugs, prostitution, even polygamy. All of them — liberals, moderates, and conservatives — believe that there must be some moral standards established to guide public policy.
I’m part of that moral majority. But unlike Jerry Falwell’s version, my values system is based on the multi-religious mandate to “love your neighbor as yourself.” I’ve even written a book, The Compassionate Community, which applies Bible lessons and other religions’ texts to advocate for progressive policies that promote the common good.
And I’ve recently concluded that these same enduring moral values compel me to support legalizing marijuana.
Click here to read the full piece, “The Moral Case for Legalizing Marijuana”
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By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET
There is one presidential candidate we have not talked about enough up to this point: Vermin Supreme. [YouTube]
In today’s WWG we bring you more hilarious pranks! [.gif]
Free Shrugs. Love that kid. [picture]
This has got to be one of the best Twitter accounts out there. [Twitter]
Hitler’s mom – Michael Cera. Just saying. [picture]
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET Take a deep breath. A new study shows that stress actually shrinks the parts of the brain dealing with metabolism and emotions. [Time]
In the United States, the average binge drinker takes in eight drinks at a time. [Wall Street Journal]
Instead of concentrating on social media’s negative effects, more doctors are using the Web to interact with teens. [NY Times]
Newsweek provides tips from experts on how to get a bigger brain. Hint: sleep has a lot to do with it! [Newsweek]
New research in Sweden reveals an alternative pain management system for premature babies, who are often too small for traditional painkillers: sugar water, and the human touch. [NPR]
By RP Staff, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET We’ve got some good news to share regarding our site’s most popular writer, contributing RP Jeff Smith, from St. Louis Today:
 Since leaving federal prison, former Missouri State Sen. Jeff Smith has carved out a new life in New York, teaching politics and offering commentary on the election season.
And now, more than two years after the charges that torpedoed his own career in office, Smith is officially free from the federal government’s tether.
A U.S. District Court judge in St. Louis this week ordered an early end to Smith’s post-prison probation…
Smith, now a professor at the New School in Manhattan, has not been shy about discussing his time in prison — in fact, his writing on his incarceration has drawn attention because of its frankness.
His legacy has also not been forgotten in Jefferson City, where his term ended abruptly after he plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges.
In his address on Wednesday to begin the legislative session, House Speaker Steve Tilley, a Republican who visited Smith in his Kentucky prison, highlighted Smith’s experience as a reminder to legislators to make time for those that matter most.
“Focus your time on the people who love you for who you are,” Tilley said, “and not what title you have attained.”
By Grant Smith, RP Staff, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 10:00 AM ET
Complete coverage of CES (consumer electronics show) 2012. [Engadget]
Just what we’ve all been waiting for: a new version of Dungeons and Dragons is being released! [The New York Times]
Google is now getting personal, and will begin to search your “world.” [The L.A. Times]
Twitter to Google: you just broke the internet! [CNet.com]
By Robert Kahne, RP Staff, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 9:30 AM ET New Hampshire voted yesterday. Many of the pundits (including the ones on this site) did well predicting the top of the polls, but really sucked when it came to figuring out what would happen at the bottom. No one on this site predicted correctly that Newt Gingrich would defeat Rick Santorum for 4th place (although he did only win by 213 votes). For my money, the most important race last night was the one for 4th–and with Newt winning, that sets up an epic battle between Rick “Who’s in your bedroom” Santorum and Newt “Not My Wife” Gingrich for all the palmettos (and maybe a delegate or two) in South Carolina. Also, whoever win the battle between those two will likely be the person whom the media decides is the person who ACTUALLY lost to Mitt Romney. Should be one for the ages, folks.
Full election results here.
By RP Staff, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 8:30 AM ET  Contributing RP Jason Atkinson was featured this week in a television piece commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Tucson tragedy that left six people dead and critically injured Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Giffors, who has miraculously recovered, was a fellow classmate of Jason’s (and The RP – pictured behind Giffords) in the inaugural class of the Aspen Institute’s Rodel Fellows program.
From KDRV News Watch 12:
The tragedy in Tuscon that took the lives of six people and injured many more, resonated with Americans across the country.
For one state lawmaker, it was his friend Gabrielle Giffords who fought to stay alive that morning and has been recovering ever since.
State Senator Jason Atkinson studied along side Giffords for two years. The two developed a friendship which broke through their political barriers.
Sunday he looked back on that morning and said there are lessons to be learned.
January 8, 2011 Senator Atkinson received a phone call telling him to turn on the television.
“Between watching television and being on the phone with friends we just couldn’t believe what had happened,” said Senator Jason Atkinson.
His colleague and good friend Gabrielle Giffords was shot and many others in the same condition.
“I was worried about Gabby and that terrible injury,” said Atkinson.
Click here for the full story.
By RP Staff, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 4:00 PM ET OK, folks, round two of the 2012 GOP presidential primary, which means round two of the fearless predictions of our recovering politicians.
Last week, our RPs boldly made their Iowa caucus prognostications, and with the exception of RP staffer Zack Adams (who predicted the correct finish of the top 6 candidates) and Artur Davis (the only contributing RP to predict the correct order of the top 3), well…let’s say they are lucky to get a second chance. But this web site is all about second acts, right?
And we ask you to join them in the comments section as well. No fun prizes, but instant fame and glory to the reader who is the closest.
So, here goes the New Hampshire experiment:
The RP: Romney 39; Paul 19; Huntsman 17; Santorum 12; Gingrich 11; Roemer 1; Perry less than 1%. Ron Paul let me down — big time — last week, but I still have confidence that the independents will keep him in a solid second place. And I predict that the media darling, John Huntsman, will underperform. And my big surprise: Buddy Roemer ekes out 6th place from under Rick Perry’s nose. Oh, yeah, and Mitt Romney wins big. Yawn.
Paul Hodes (contributing RP and former New Hampshire Congressman): Here goes from the Granite State…Romney 34; Huntsman 19; Paul 18; Gingrich 14; Santorum 12; Perry 3
Zac Byer (RP Staff): 1st – Mitt Romney (32%); 2nd – Ron Paul (19%); 3rd – Jon Huntsman (15%). [Click here to read his Zac’s full report from Manchester, New Hampshire.]
Jason Grill: 1. Romney (Needs at least 35% or a 10 point win); 2. Huntsman (The candidate with the best chance to beat President Obama in the general); 3. Paul (Another third place finish, but still relevant); 4. Gingrich (Edges out Rick, but Tick…Tick…Tick…SC is next. Boom); 5. Santorum (No Iowa magic tonight); 6. Perry (Already hunkered down in SC for his last stand)
Greg Harris: Romney – 35; Huntsman – 21; Santorum – 16; Paul – 13; Gingrich – 11; Perry – 4
Steve Schulman: With apologies to Frank Sinatra…Mitt Romney – If he can’t win it here, he can’t win it anywhere…Ron Paul – He’ll do it his way…Jon Huntsman – Strangers in the night…Rick Santorum – Please don’t talk about him when he’s gone…Newt Gingrich – Fly him to the moon, let him play among the stars…Rick Perry – Ain’t that a kick in the head…And too bad Michele Bachmann dropped out … that lady is a tramp!
Read the rest of…
The RPs Predict the New Hampshire Primary
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Tue Jan 10, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET
The NFL playoffs are underway and we have already seen some fantastic matchups. So far the Saints out-offensed the Lions, the Texans just looked like the better team against the young Bengals, the Giants pounded the Falcons, and the Broncos stunned the injured Steelers. Here is your updated playoff schedule. [Fox Sports]
Peter King does his weekly breakdown thang in the MMQB column. You don’t want to miss these. [Sports Illustrated]
The Giants might have the best front 7 in football. They certainly were dominant against the Falcons. [Yahoo! Sports]
The Broncos defied conventional wisdom to defeat the favored Steelers on the first play of OT. [CBS Sports]
The Tampa Bay Bucs are reported to be in talks with Marty Schottenheimer regarding their vacant head coaching position. A bizarre choice if you ask me as they would be going from one of the youngest coaches in the league: Raheem Morris, 35, to one of the oldest in Schottenheimer, 68. But there you have it. [ESPN]
15 reasons why both Alabama and LSU will win the national championship tonight. [ESPN]
An Alabama-LSU preview from the men at Football Outsiders using their innovative statistics. [Football Outsiders]
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