The 500 Festival sent a press release, this morning, reminding runners and walkers of its “Early Bird Special.”  That’s a lower price for entering the Mini-Marathon before the end of this month.  Here’s part of the message:

The early registration fee of $50 is set to expire on November 30.  From December 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010, registration reverts back to the regular $70. Registration will close on January 31, 2010 or the date the maximum field of 35,000 participants is reached.”

As further encouragement, the Festival office reminds all of us: the race has sold out the last eight years.

Now, don’t assume this is $3 million for you.  It’s for the Salvation Army.  The “Tree of Lights” campaign began today.  $3m is this year’s fundraising goal.  It is ambitious, to say the least, these days.  But, Development Director Jeff Stanger is optimistic that it can be achieved. 

At today’s opening ceremonies, Major Richard Amick, the Commander of the Salvation Army’s Indiana Division, offered an easy way to reach $3 million.  He challenged 100,000 people in central Indiana to make a donation of only $30.  He said that “breaks down to $6 a week from now until Christmas.” 

If $30 is a stretch, the Salvation Army will be happy to collect your spare change in the red kettles.  Members of the WISH staff will be there from 7 in the morning to 6 in the evening — ringing bells and collecting cash.  Please give.  As Major Amick said, “the need in central Indiana has never been greater.”

The health care debate has made T.R. Reid a very popular person.  He’s appeared on numerous talk shows, news broadcasts, and podcasts to discuss his new book about health care in the United States.  In one of those podcasts, he said he wanted to answer the question: “How come all the advanced democracies manage to provide high quality health care for half of what we spend?”  “It’s not all socialized medicine” in those other countries, Reid said. 

The book analyzes four models of health systems.  Reid writes, under the National Health Service in Britain, people may go their whole lives without paying a doctor bill.  He said taxes are high there.  But, Brits pay half of what we pay for health care.

Then, there’s the Bismarck Model in Germany.  It’s an insurance system with roots in the 1870s.  In this approach, Reid said doctors, hospitals, and insurance plans are private.  Employers and employees divide the cost of health  insurance premiums.

Reid described Canada’s National Health Insurance model as a blended system.  He acknowledged some points made by Canada’s critics.  He said there are limitations on the number of specialists and operating rooms and machines.  He also said that people are likely to wait, if they want attention for non-emergency medical care.  But, apparently, Canadians accept that.  Reid described a conversation with the Canadian Health Minister who told him the people “don’t mind waiting that much, as long as the rich Canadian and the poor Canadian have to wait almost the same amount of time.”

Then, Reid described the “Out of Pocket” model which he said is, in short, if you can’t pay, you don’t get care.

In Reid’s analysis, the United States’ model combines all of the above.  He said some Americans get the finest care and “millions of others never even get in the door.” 

Reid concluded insurance companies bear some responsibility for the complexities of our system.  He told one interviewer the insurers stay with one company only 4.8 years on average.  So, they — the insurers — assume the expensive diseases will fall on a customer’s next insurance company.

By now, you might have guessed where Reid falls in this debate.  He said the United States needs to make a moral commitment.  “If we Americans could find the political will to cover everybody,” he said, “if we had the will, all the other countries could show us the way.”

Here’s a lesson from a luncheon.  Prevent Blindness Indiana held its “Sight for Life” luncheon today.  It was a chance to promote good vision care — especially for children. 

PBI says, of the young people it screened last year, “about 12,000 or 21% needed a referral to an eye doctor.”  Today’s message also stressed the conclusion that poor vision “is a major factor contributing to teens leaving high school early.” 

Dr. Joel Zaba — an optometrist, researcher, and vision consultant — was the guest speaker.  He noted how the demands on our eyes have changed since the days of the old, traditional eye chart.  Now, much of what we see is 16 to 20 inches in front of us.  Technology makes us what he called “a near point culture.”

Dr. Zaba said children often don’t know when they have eye problems.  But, poor vision can appear as problems with their self-confidence and lead to feelings of inferiority.  Beyond that, he sees more than problems with school work.  Poor vision can lead to anti-social behavior.  So, his lesson is simple.  “Do as much as you can,” he says to make sure your children get proper screenings in grade school and even into high school.

If you need advice on that, contact Prevent Blindness Indiana.  I have also posted a clip of Dr. Zaba’s speech on my Facebook page.

God has a fan page.  As I write this, 2,970,932 have declared themselves “fans”.  At first, I thought there must be something demeaning about a fan page for God.  Then, I realized it’s just another example of how people are learning to appreciate the power and potential of social media sites.

In June, a survey by The Conference Board, a research organization, reported “43% of the online community now uses social networking sites” such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn.   The organization reported Facebook is “used by 78% of online households, followed by MySpace (42 percent), LinkedIn (17 percent) and Twitter (10 percent). 

Fan, friend, or follower (on Twitter), I’m intrigued by the ways people have found to use the internet for inspiration.  In fact, a Facebook friend inspired me to write this.  Christina McGairk has a Master’s degree in Journalism but a dream for something different.  That’s why she is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Shine 5:16.  She describes it as an online magazine for single Christian women.  Her mission is to “let them know they are not alone in this world.  That there are other single Christian women who are trying to do God’s will and be obedient.”  McGairk says “nothing beats good ol’ face-to-face networking.  But being online enables you to work with people beyond geographical boundaries.”

The Billy Graham organization used Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace to promote its “Rock the River” Tour this past summer.  The tour featured a variety of musical performances and an evangelistic message from Franklin Graham.  The organization designed the tour to reach young people.   “The reality is,” the tour’s web site said, “75 percent of those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior do so by the time they are 18.  We should not neglect anyone of any age, but if we want to rescue people for Christ and build Christ’s church for the next generation, we must reach out to youth or chances are they will never be reached.” 

Mike Barclay of Crawfordsville is a counselor and a blogger.  By day, he advises homeless men who visit the Wheeler Mission in downtown Indianapolis.  As a blogger, he writes The Passionate Pursuit.  He says his blog is designed for Christians who want to do more than just go to church on Sundays.  “I have attempted with my blog,” he says, “to motivate Christians to grow closer to God and live out the Bible in real life not just in theory.”  Barclay says he sees “huge potential” in the ability of social networking to “help those in need, share prayer requests … and how we as the church can best help.”    

Sometimes, the sites are not spiritual as much as promotional.  Churches have discovered ways to market themselves via social media.  A site entitled “Media Salt” carries the motto: “God isn’t bland.  The church shouldn’t be, either.”  Media Salt’s founders say, in the old days, churches led the way in art and culture.  Now, they say church use of media has become “an embarrassing afterthought and a poor imitation of what’s being done in popular culture.”  That’s why the Media Salt site encourages church leaders to be creative and “stop waiting for it to catch on.”  

Christina McGairk is clearly not waiting.  Shine 5:16 allows her to reach her audience of single Christian women without the expense of publishing a glossy magazine.  She admits “nothing beats good ol face-to-face networking but being online enables you to work with people beyond your geographical boundaries.”

Mike Barclay says the “current generations of Christians is not willing to accept the faith of their parents and grandparents.  They want to get involved and make a difference.  This is also the same generation that can’t live a day without checking with Facebook and Twitter.  I am excited to see how God uses the internet to make a difference for the people he loves.”

When I mentioned all of this to my friend Justin Bessler, formerly of the Salvation Army of Indiana, he said he’s not a fan of the God fan page.  “I’d rather consider myself a ‘friend’ of God,” he said,  ”but Facebook won’t allow him to have a profile … Maybe I’ll just follow him on Twitter.”

The following is an e-mail from a viewer who objected to the handling of our interview with Michael Feinstein, the Grammy-nominated performer.  He is now also the Artistic Director of the Performing Arts Center under construction in Carmel. 

That was really a cheap shot on Michael Feinstein. Your interview with him asking his income was not appropriate. I am in the business of discovering incomes and needs. Asking this Feinstein fellow about his income when he politely had mentioned to stay away from certain questions was a cheap shot. What  show did you intereviewer think he was on Chris Mathews. I thought I would give you a try this morning only to get the weather sorry I was disappointed.

Since the sender may not be the only person feeling that way, here is my response to that viewer. 

Dear Mr. _____, 

Maybe part of our report on Michael Feinstein was not sufficiently clear.  I did the interview.  So, I know the question that was replayed on the newscast.   

First, as we try to determine whether Mr. Feinstein is being paid with public funds, asking about his income is appropriate.  Before the Friday interview, there had been several print and broadcast reports addressing the interest in the salary — believed to be $500,000 – going to Mr. Feinstein.  So, “cheap shot” it was not.  

Second, in arranging the interview, one local official suggested that we not dwell on the subject of Mr. Feinstein’s salary.  His words were, I believe, to avoid asking Mr. Feinstein “to defend his salary.”  I knew that, if I were to make that my only line of questioning, it would be an unproductive interview.  So, I asked one question about it: What does he make of the attention to his salary?  I can imagine several possible answers to such a question — which did not demand a defense of his paycheck.  

Our report also allowed Mr. Feinstein to describe his plans for the Performing Arts Center under his leadership as Artistic Director.  That was by far the biggest element of the story.  And, considering the investment in that project, it’s important to know how he intends to make it a success.   It’s unfortunate that this disappoints you.  

Best wishes,  

Eric     

I understand the sensitivity to salary issues.  But, I also know that people who are following the Performing Arts Center project would be aware of Mr. Feinstein’s paycheck.  I tried to find a polite way to present the issue.  He politely chose not to answer it and we continued the conversation.

A college professor says “democracy requires a different kind of education.”   NPR offered a podcast of its interview with Mark Slouka from the University of Chicago.  He said he worries that our schools aren’t doing enough with the humanities.  

It’s a personal matter for Slouka.  He’s a professor of English.  But, he said this should also be a public concern.  He said education “has become about the GDP and we are raising a nation of workers — not citizens.”  He wants children who can participate in the ”American tradition” of skepticism.  That means directing students to courses that may challenge them or even “disturb” them. 

Slouka admitted “humanities don’t pay off in a way that’s visible.”  But, he told NPR he fears economic demands for job production and higher incomes are “taking the essence out of education.”  What’s wrong with valuing economic production?  “Johnny’s not going to just work in a cubicle all his life,” Slouka said.   The humanities serve other human needs.

Slouka said his goal requires a different way of thinking.  ”We need to start considering that maybe the rising tide of demagoguery in America is, kind of, a warning sign … A true humanistic education is sort of the perfect antidote to demagoguery.”  In his view, such training would “further what’s best about our democracy and forestall what might be coming down the line.”

You can read more of his thoughts in the September issue of Harper’s magazine.

The stock market must be like sports.  Fans of either one can find a statistic for just about anything.  I say that because, over the weekend, I read a market analysis from Rusty Vanneman of E*TRADE Capital Management. 

Vanneman said September “easily ranks as the worst performing calendar month of the year” and “has the largest average loss.”  He goes on to say that the potential reasons for the poor performance are not “entirely convincing.  Some just write it off as a market superstition.”

Vanneman noted an August investor survey revealed the return of  ”bearish” sentiments.  He goes on to explain a couple of reasons for the pullback.  One being “investors are human and aren’t always rational.”  The other is something called the “recency effect” which “basically states that investors tend to overemphasize the probability that a recent market event will repeat itself.”  He questions whether people are “overstating the risk of another dramatic sell-off”.

Here’s the point of his analysis: September might be a good time to “add to our stock market positions.” 

Of course, this comes with several caveats and disclaimers – which I will offer here –  ”The above Market Commentary may contain certain forward looking statements which should not be mistaken for recommendations or considered an offer to buy or sell specific securities.  None of the investment ideas or statements expressed should be viewed as personal advice.”

You can vote for Angela Buchman.

You can vote for Gene Rodriguez

You can vote for Jeane Coakley.

Just vote in the Most Beautiful Eyes contest.  You will be asked to make a contribution to Prevent Blindness of Indiana.  This is PBI’s fundraiser to help support its essential eye care programs.

In the last few days, I’ve heard a couple of economic analysts make the same prediction: the success of Cash for Clunkers may lead to slow sales at Christmas.  The analysts say many of the buyers of those new cars didn’t have car payments — until now.  That means, now, they will have less money to spend for the holidays.

I asked local financial expert Peter Dunn what he thinks of that prediction.  Here’s his response: