Author: Randy Slovacek

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Economists say regulation has little effect on unemployment

GOP politicians are constantly assailing the EPA and other regulatory agencies as being “job killers” saying the regulations cost too much in labor.

Now, economists who have studied the effect of regulations on unemployment say that’s not quite correct.

From the Washington Post: Economists who have studied the matter say that there is little evidence that regulations cause massive job loss in the economy, and that rolling them back would not lead to a boom in job creation.

Firms sometimes hire workers to help them comply with new rules. In some cases, more heavily regulated businesses such as coal shrink, giving an opportunity for cleaner industries such as natural gas to grow.

“Based on the available literature, there’s not much evidence that EPA regulations are causing major job losses or major job gains,” said Richard Morgenstern, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan think tank Resources for the Future who worked at the EPA starting under the Reagan administration and continuing into President Bill Clinton’s first term.

The researchers concluded that higher spending to comply with environment rules does not cause “a significant change” in industry employment. When jobs were lost, they were often made up elsewhere in the same industry. For every $1 million companies spent, as many as 11 / 2 net jobs were added to the economy.

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Ezra Axelrod – American Motel

New song from out singer/songwriter Ezra Axelrod.

“After 25 years of accumulating memories and fantasies, I went and checked into the American Motel. This is what I remember, I tried to fit it into 4 minutes 47 seconds. x Ezra”

From Ezra on AmericaBlog Gay: 

I’ll never forget that morning I woke up in a stranger’s bed, dazed and confused. “Where the hell am I?” I wondered out loud, then stumbled to the window to pull back the curtains. The sign said it all: “American Motel.” I let out a little cry of disbelief.

You know you’ve hit rock bottom when you wake up at the American Motel. It was the ultimate walk of shame, especially in my hometown in the middle of nowhere Oregon. People were already out mowing their lawns in the summer heat, eying me with that knowing gaze. I was just wondering where I’d left my truck the night before…and more importantly, what exactly I’d done with that guy back there in bed!

There’s something about that moment that stayed with me over the years. For me, waking up in the American Motel is the ultimate metaphor for adolescence, coming of age, and fumbling through your twenties in search of your place in the world.

My career as a songwriter is about recounting the journey I’ve been on, from that morning in the American Motel, to wild adventures in Latin America and a fight to hold on to true love, and finally to my new life as an “auto-exile” in London with a sexy South American I met 7 years ago (when I was 18), and who’s been my partner in crime on this crazy adventure. The song “American Motel” captures the first steps of this epic journey.

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Farmers have one of best years ever amid concerns of US recession

From AP: While much of America worries about the possibility of a double-dip recession, stories of prosperity are cropping up as U.S. farmers enjoy their best run in decades, thanks to high prices for many crops, livestock and farmland and strong global demand for corn used in making ethanol.

Farm profits are expected to spike by 28 percent this year to $100.9 billion, and the amount of cash farms have available to pay bills also is expected to top $100 billion — the first time both measures have done so, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. All the while, crop sales are expected to pass the $200 billion mark for the first time in U.S. history, and double-digit increases are expected in livestock sales.

“We’re just experiencing the best of times,” said Bruce Johnson, an agricultural economist at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. “It’s a story to tell.”

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Abercrombie & Fitch opens in Singapore

So, normally, a new A&F store opening wouldn’t be much news for The Randy Report, EXCEPT there’s a video!

Check out the 40 shirtless “greeters” who showed up to announce the opening of the new A&F flagship store in Singapore.

According to the Straits Times: Employed by retail brand Abercrombie & Fitch, about 40 of these male models stood in a straight line flashing smiles and striking poses outside the yet-to-open flagship store in Singapore’s premier shopping district.

Among the 40 models, about five were sourced locally.

Responses from the ground were tepid at first this morning, with many onlookers taking pictures from afar. But, curiosity soon overtook the passers-by, and within half an hour, the men were swarmed.

(via Towleroad)

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FOLLIES Broadway revival 2011 and the fab Elaine Paige

Brunch with Elaine Paige and Michael

 This afternoon Michael and I had the great fun of having brunch with the fab Elaine Paige before attending the matinee performance of the new revival of FOLLIES on Broadway.

Elaine is much fun and couldn’t be more charming.  We caught up and laughed for about two hours before we walked her over to the Marquis Theatre for her matinee where she stopped the show with her performance of “I’m Still Here.”

Elaine was fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in awe of the rich material that is FOLLIES again. Having been a part of the first Broadway revival ten years ago, I am very familiar with the material and sitting in a dark Broadway theater again in the presence of this powerful show about midlife regrets and chances missed was a very emotional theatrical journey all over again.

I loved seeing the show again.  And I also loved seeing dear, wonderful Flo Lacey on a Broadway stage again – right where she belongs.

After the show we went to dinner with Elaine to talk more theater and laugh a lot more.

A very, very cool day.  If you have a chance to see Elaine and company in FOLLIES I highly recommend you do.  The Broadway production closes January 22nd I believe, but it will travel to Los Angeles in May to play 6 weeks at the Ahmanson Theater.

Backstage with Elaine Paige and Michael