Criteria for an ideal publication are found below, with the price of a subscription being no object:

• Ease of reading: Relatively brief articles written at the level of comprehension found in newspapers and Time, NEWSWEEK, et al
• Pictures: Loaded with vivid, glossy photographs, with succinct but engaging captions
• Diagrams: A picture says 1,000 words, but a graph can convey an argument at a glance, and without the use of logic
• Publication must be on a monthly, or bi-monthly, basis
• Conservatism must be argued – not beltway Republicanism – as this needs to reach the heart and mind of readers to effectively counter liberalism’s insipidness
• Number of articles – A “single-subject” magazine will not suffice. Magazine must touch on every aspect of the conservative spectrum - though only a handful of topics per issue

If anyone knows of such a magazine, I would greatly appreciate your comments.

Rags that have been eliminated from consideration include:

• Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, Townhall Magazine

Thank you for any suggestions! I’m sure innumerable others are faced with similar perdicaments with special people in their lives.

What “Means of Production” or “Sectors of the Economy” does the Federal Government lack control over?

I had a multiple choice list put together, but it seemed incomprehensive and elementary (I’m a sales guy/blogger – so my devotion to the details here is not all the way there), so I’m leaving this as an open ender…

While I can’t really comment upon executive bonuses, I would like to opine about corporate travel, and some of the corporate perks we’re so resentful of.

Companies have begun to restrict the travel of their executives and are curtailing corporate training, seminars, and expos (read: Trade Shows) that might be perceived as excessive or indulgent. As such, the travel and tourism industry’s woes have been doubled in the already recessionary business environment.

What is wrong with ensuring a face-to-face meeting with an important client – even if it will entail a significant investment? Or viewing a trade show exhibit display prior to purchasing a product costing hundreds of thousands? What is wrong with investing in the expertise of your workforce by sending valued employees to seminars, symposiums, or corporate training, even if it’s 1,000 miles away? While most of these employees long ago lost their zeal for traveling on business, their trips cost significant corporate dollars. Those costs are paid to hard working individuals in the tourism and travel industry – everyday these people vye for opportunities to make those trips as comfortable and productive as possible for their customers. The interdependence of trade shows, travel, and tourism industries is great. There are a myriad of talents required for a single custom exhibition booth -from it’s design, to its construction, to its installation on the convention hall floor (and all of the tasks in-between). This represents an underrecognized, and underappreciated engine of employment.

Is there anything wrong with that? Are the torches and pitchforks really needed? Unless we wish to chastize the hard working service providers in these industries, we ought to support corporate travel, perks, and even a healthy dose of “excess!”

That question struck me when I noted that the new executive administration ushered in a set of executive orders supporting/strengthening unions in America. The executive orders are aimed at hindering the efforts of non-unionized businesses trying to resist unionization of their labor force. Now when a business is working under federal contract they are no longer required to post a notice informing employees that they may opt-out of financially supporting a union; they will not be reimbursed for expenses associated with dissuading employees from unionizing; and they must offer new jobs to existing employees first.

I don’t proclaim to understand the finer points of how these orders affect practices currently in place for employers. I have gleaned that this clearly does not apply to every employer – just those working under federal contracts. Convention centers like McCormick Place in Chicago are actually funded and owned by the municipalities or states – is that outside of the grasp of the executive order? Is that an extension of executive orders or legislation yet to come?

In any business it’s important to keep ears open for lawmaker actions with effects on the economic environment. In this case, it may appear that my “sounding the alarm” about these orders is a bit of a stretch – but I think this is indirect linkage that will lead us to yet higher costs for show services. Am I sounding off prematurely? Will this have zero effect and I’m just paranoid?

How about a $800,000,000,000 stimulus package invested solely in trade show exhibit spending? Anyone in favor of that? Call your congressmen NOW!