Category Archives: Uncategorized
Sweatshops and Social Justice: Can Compassionate Libertarians Agree?
My latest column has been posted at C4SS – it is a response to an article written by Matt Zwolinski for the Bleeding Heart Libertarians blog. Here is a taste:
Libertarianism is not about people just getting by; it is about maximizing human liberty. Liberty cannot be achieved as long as eking out a living in dangerous conditions for 12 to 14 hours a day is an individual’s most attractive option. In such a society, the mutually beneficial arrangements that define the world of commerce have clearly broken down. There is no reason that libertarians or other advocates of a free market need to sacrifice their moral compass at the altar of economic development. Economic development can and should be achieved in many different ways, but it will take the cooperation of both labor and capital to see that sweatshops do not continue to be an acceptable path to prosperity. I hope that libertarians will be at the forefront of that struggle.
Interview with WGN News at 9pm
At the beginning of October, John Stephenson and I were interviewed for a segment about Bachelor’s Grove that was to be aired on the WGN 9pm news on Friday October 28th. We were asked to keep it secret for several weeks, but tonight it will be shown to the public. I have not seen the report, although I do know that the reporter and her cameraman filmed every angle of the cemetery and it should be a very interesting and well-done segment. Although John Stephenson was the star of the show, I was included to provide background and historical information. John has moderated Bachelors-Grove.com for the past several years, and has taken a few anomalous photographs in the notoriously haunted cemetery. Whatever you believe about the validity of the stories told about Bachelor’s Grove, you are in for a special treat. Make sure to tune in!
The Conclusion of the “Heartland is Haunted” Book Tour!
I am finally back home from the “Heartland is Haunted” book tour, and what a success it was! On the final day of the tour, I stopped over at the Book Warehouse in Tuscola before heading over to the main event, a retelling of folklore and ghost stories of central Illinois at Peck Cemetery outside of Oakley, just northeast of Decatur. Peck has long attracted negative attention in the area and this event was held to raise money to help restore the cemetery and prevent further vandalism and desecration. About 70 people attended and showed their support. Moreover, I sold out of every single copy of my book Haunting Illinois that I brought on the tour!
I would like to thank everyone who made my first book tour such a success, including Carl Jones of Lincolnland College, Becky Guymon for putting together the Coles County events last weekend, Sharilyn Kibler-Russell, Gretchen & Lisa from Barnes and Noble in Champaign, Jim Heater of CHIPS, the staff at the Camargo Township Library, Catherine Novak of Beads N Botanicals, Cameron Crosby for his photography, and especially Angie Johnson for putting together the headline event! I could not have done this without any of you, and I am eternally grateful – but I also cannot forget to thank everyone who attended the events as well. I met a lot of great people along the way and I hope I made a few more fans!
“Heartland is Haunted” in Champaign-Urbana, Turns into Final Lap
It was a packed day yesterday with two back-to-back appearances in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, one at the Beads N Botanicals on Broadway in Urbana and the other at the Barnes and Noble at the Marketview Shopping Center in Champaign. There were a lot of new faces at both these events, but some familiar ones as well. I spoke about some local legends at both of these appearances, and even shared a story from pioneer Illinois at Beads N Botanicals when one lady asked me to retell a story I had related on WILL Public Radio the previous day. After the events, some friends and I went to Old Chicago and enjoyed some calzones while talking about how well the book tour was going so far, as well as catching up, of course. If you wanted to attend but missed both book signings, you can pick up a signed copy of my book at both Barnes and Noble and Beads N Botanicals, but hurry because they are selling out fast!
Today I will be at the Book Warehouse at the Tanger outlet mall in Tuscola from 1 to 3, and then at my final event of the tour – “Legends and Lore of Central Illinois” at the notoriously haunted Peck Cemetery outside of Oakley (near Decatur) from 5 to 8pm. Money from the event will go to help restore the cemetery and preserve its history. I hope I see you there!
“Heartland is Haunted” Reaches Villa Grove, Moves Toward Champaign-Urbana
I didn’t know what to expect last night when I pulled up to the small Camargo Township Library in Villa Grove, but I was pleasantly surprised. My audience was primarily students from the local high school and many of them, I learned, were from the football team, the Blue Devils, which were 2008 Little Okaw Valley Conference Champions. They had all heard of Ashmore Estates, and many of them had seen the season premier of Ghost Adventures, so they were all eager to hear what it was like to be on the show. I shared a lot of local ghost stories with them and I was interested to know if there were any from Villa Grove. I saw an abandoned railroad depot on my way into town and I was sure there would be some story about the place. To my surprise, there wasn’t! Never the less, the kids asked a lot of questions and bought up Haunting Illinois in droves. I’m afraid I might not have any left after I go to Champaign and Urbana tonight!
This evening I will be at Beads N Botanicals in Urbana from 4:30 to 6:30 and then directly afterwards I am heading over to the Barnes and Noble in Champaign and will be there from 7 to 9pm. Please join me there and make sure to mention that you heard about the event on my website!
“Heartland is Haunted” Rolls into Springfield and Villa Grove
Last night I shared folklore and ghost stories from all over Illinois, as well as my experience being interviewed for the season premier of Ghost Adventures and WGN News, at Carl Jones’ class at Lincolnland College in Springfield. The talk was well received, and the “Heartland is Haunted” t-shirts were a big hit too! Afterwards, Carl and a friend met me at Mowie’s Cue for a round of beers and some fried mushrooms and mini tacos. All in all, it was a very fun evening and left me excited about the second leg of my book tour!
This afternoon I spoke briefly on WILL 580-AM out of Urbana before hitting the road for my next destination. Tonight I will be speaking at the Camargo Township Library in Villa Grove, Illinois, a small town east of Tuscola, from 6 to 8pm. As for right now, however, I am enjoying some ice cream at Flesor’s Candy Kitchen in Tuscola and preparing for my presentation!
