:NOTE: If you can see then and are expecting something else ... log in to vox.

I use the privacy/security features of vox heavily. Most of my posts are made for neighborhood, or more restrictive. I have always said that I blog primarily for myself, then to communicate with people I know, not the whole wold.

Every so often people I attempt to send posts to have issues getting to them. Today I received one such email.

::: Key Point :::

::: Goal for this Tip Nation :::
Be able to know if you are logged into vox or not.

::: Neighborhood :::
One great way to check new posts of people you want to read about is to look at your neighborhood. At the same time it is somewhat subtitle to be able to tell if you are signed in or not.

-- Not Logged in --

Vox-neighborhood-signed-out

Vox-neighborhood-signed-in

Vox-email

::: Single Post :::
I use the vox system to sending posts to people many times. This system is easier for me to use then for you to check the post. Like the above, you have to be logged in. Thus here is how it works again:

Step 1. I sent you a post.
Step 2. You Receive an email similar to the screen cap to the right
There are three links there.
- 1 "nation" - this is my vox user name, it links to my vox blog. If you are a signed in you will see what I have authorized your account to see. If not you will see less.
- 2 "Read More" - this links to the actual post I am sending to you. When you click on this it will look one of two ways, see below.
- 3 "Nation" - this is at the end of my message and links to my vox blog. Same at the above.

Step 3. You click a link and it goes to either my blog or the specific post. Since there is not a lot of difference between the two, we are focusing on you knowing what it looks like when you are going to find something that is not "public" or for "anyone".

Vox-single-post-not-logged-in

The above post is what most people see when they click on the "Read More" link. What is going on? Well, you are not signed in. If you look in the gray section under the search box you see "Already a Member? Sign In" That is what you want to click. Also notice, like the above example. Your icon is not in the top middle.

Log in and it should go back to the post you are looking for. Otherwise you might look in your neighborhood once you are logged in. This will show the posts, though not necessarily the one you were sent.

When you are logged in and looking at the post it looks like this:

Vox-single-post-logged-in

I hope this edition of Tip Nation has helped you enjoy and understand Vox even more.

I support The FairTax, I like seeing people who understand it and are able to articulate what it would do.

The Fair Tax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS

Mike Huckabee answers the question from John McCain on the FairTax in the Florida Republican Debate.

If you want to learn more try the about page at FairTax.org or pick up the paperback version of The FairTax Book.

Basically it would:

• allow you to bring home 100% of your paycheck
• reduce the costs of all goods and services (compliance costs, corporate taxes, etc)
  
• add back in an inclusive sales tax
• send a check to every household equal to the taxes for the month up to poverty level spending - thus the poor are not taxed.
• not tax used items - only new items
• promote saving and investing (because savings and investing is no longer taxed)

FairTax: The Truth: Answering the Critics :Amazon.com:

FairTax:The Truth CD: Answering the Critics

I just ordered two copied of FairTax: The Truth: Answering the Critics

I also ordered a copy of the audiobook version of it because I like audiobooks.

Then since I never picked up a papberback version of  The Fair Tax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS . They added additional information to the paperback version that was not in the hardback version. If this is the first you have heard about The FairTax, this is the version you should start with.

The Fair Tax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS

Neal Boortz

Mike Hammock, an Economics Professors who I respect and have read for years, wrote a great piece about unions inspired in part by the current writers strike.

I agree with everything he says and he makes important points most do not take into account or know. Here is a great part from the long post:

Unions can serve an important role in communicating information from low-tier workers to upper management. They may have lower transactions costs of coordinating certain kinds of worker activity than other forms of organization in some industries. If left to the competitive marketplace, we would only expect unions to survive in those areas where they are socially beneficial (again, absent any special protections).

He then goes on to blast the idea that "Unions we have in the USA" = "automatically good".

I encourage everyone to read it.

::: Update :::
A follow-up post has been posted. I am not finished reading all of it, but, so far, this has been the most interesting thought:

Bryan Caplan argues that it can be rational for you to hold incorrect beliefs, because there is no consequence for being wrong, and holding a belief can make you feel good. For example, it might feel good to believe that businesses are part of a conspiracy to oppress workers, and that only unions can counter them. It is wrong, but why should you bother to have a different view? Holding a more nuanced view (that labor unions are sometimes valuable, and sometimes not, and that worker exploitation is not likely to happen in competitive labor markets) would require costly study on your part. It might also make you less liked by your friends, or cause you to feel guilty for giving up your support for the little guy. (As it happens, I support the little guy too, but I don't think unions are the way to help him).

Today is Vox's first anniversary since the official launch.  What's the best experience you've had on Vox in the past year?

I am going to go with two:

::: 10 Thoughts :::
At one point, soon after this was posted. Someone, maybe more the one person, sent me this post. It was funny enough that I marked it as a favorite and still find them funny.

::: [Vox is Good] :::
REDmjck made this post about why she uses vox and such and the kind words she shared about other people and her highlights was a good example of a great experience I've had on Vox.

I am sure I could post more, I could talk about posts I have made. Times when I sent out mass messaged to my friends or asked for help or just shared with some very close friends. In the end, the act of communicating, the responses I have received, and the information I have sent out has been the basis of all the good from my part.

Happy Voxiversary!

First watch this video then read the rest.

Radiohead release their seventh studio album today and it's only available online and you set your own price.  Will you buy the album?  Do you buy the idea?

Maybe, I am not sure. I have never knowingly listened to Radiohead, but I like supporting interesting business models.

Do I buy the idea? I am not sure what there is to buy. It is great marketing. The success of failure will really depend on how much value the band provides to the customers. Some will want the band to keep making music and will either send them money for the CD or will go to a concert (or purchase something else). Others, like me, might pay nothing for the CD and will potentially become a fan. As the fanbase grows the amount of people who go to concerts and such increases & that is where label artists really make their money.

Reminds me of this post by TechCrunch.