RICOCHET

School children aren’t the only ones recoiling from Michelle Obama’s healthy food initiatives. White House executive pastry chef Bill Yosses has resigned, with the New York Times claiming that Michelle is “partly to blame.”

An accomplished New York chef, Yosses was originally hired by Laura Bush to make his famed sugar art, fruit soufflés and cookie plates. But when Michelle took over, she instructed the dessert master to make healthier treats and smaller portions. She also strictly reduced the number of desserts served to the first family.

According to the Times, Yosses replaced butter with fruit purées, replaced sugar with honey and agave, and replaced modern flour with whole grain and heirloom versions.

RICOCHET

We all know the pre-flight drill: Place your tray table in the upright and locked position. Make sure your seat belt is fastened. All electronic devices must be turned off.

(For me they add, “for the last time sir, put away the bottle of Maker’s Mark.” Between swigs, I reply, “can’t you see I’m trying to put it away?!”)

At last, the FCC is considering getting rid of the cellphone ban since there is no evidence that their use causes any safety issues. Seeing the nanny state rolled back even a little is a welcome sight, albeit a shocking one.

Unfortunately, the party that is supposed to stand for liberty and personal responsibility is standing in the way:

FREEDOMWORKS

Like many 11-year-old girls, Madison Root has braces. Wanting to help her parents’ pay the orthodontist, Madison decided to sell little pieces of mistletoe she clipped off bushes at her uncle’s farm.

Last Saturday morning she stood at the well-trafficked Portland Saturday Market and sold the holiday favorite, each hand-wrapped and tied with a red bow. That’s when security personnel arrived.

A private security guard told Madison that her entrepreneurial initiative was a crime. The market is held in a public park and Portland city ordinance bans little girls from selling mistletoe without proper approval from city bureaucrats.

Little Madison committed the shocking crime of practicing capitalism without a license.

FREEDOMWORKS

October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, according to StopBullying.gov — a federal website that is suspiciously still operating during the government’s draconian 17% shutdown.

The official website defines bullying as “unwanted, aggressive behavior” that involves “a real or perceived power imbalance.” Instead of focusing on grade-school toughs administering swirlies and wedgies, government should focus on the far more sinister bullying from their own bureaucracy.

A businessman named Craig Zucker sold sets of small, strong magnetic spheres called BuckyBalls. In 2009 his creation became an Internet sensation and by the following year his company had $10 million in sales.

FREEDOMWORKS

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending a discussion with authors and radio hosts Dennis Prager and Hugh Hewitt. While the Sunday talk highlighted faith and culture over politics, Prager did share his oft-quoted maxim, "the bigger the government, the smaller the citizen."

According to a new Gallup poll, Americans are starting to agree. In an all-time high, 60% of Americans believe the federal government has too much power.

FREEDOMWORKS

We had to replace our 12-year-old washer and dryer a while back.

“What a compelling lead sentence, Jon! I can’t wait to see how this cliffhanger ends!” Don’t worry, I’ll get to the point soon.

Since our old appliances were bargain basement, no-frills models, we thought we’d treat ourselves to something a little higher-end. The cheapest new units were double what we paid a dozen years ago and they had fewer features. The really expensive units looked nice, but behind the bells and whistles they felt plastic and cheap.

FREEDOMWORKS

I remember the Old Age — the time Before Obama. 

We had cruel rulers who were so focused on wars and greed that they never shared a vital secret with their subjects. These latter-day Neros and Caligulae didn't once tell the dessicated masses about a simple, life-giving treasure. The treasure of Water.

It was a dark time. A thirsty time.

HEARTLAND INSTITUTE

There are few retail experiences worse than buying a car. Before setting foot in a dealership, I spend weeks researching makes and models, printing out price sheets and psyching myself up like I’m headed into an MMA bout.

“What if he tries to sell me the extended warranty? I’ll say no! Rustproof undercoating? Spin kick! That lease looks like a pretty good opti… Death grip!”

Despite constant promises of zero haggling and low-pressure sales, I always leave a dealership with a pronounced limp and wondering where my watch went.

In a world of one-click ordering from Amazon and iTunes, why can’t I just purchase the exact car I want on my terms? The answer is simple: Most state governments have made it illegal.

FREEDOMWORKS

This week, the White House launched a new initiative for a “better, smarter, faster government.” At a showy Monday press event, President Obama declared, “we need the brightest minds to help solve our biggest challenges… It’s up to each and every one of us to make it work better.”

Where exactly has The Smartest President Ever decided to focus several of his brightest minds? On punishing “Raisin Dissidents.”

No, Raisin Dissidents isn’t a college indie band or a molecular gastronomy trend that all the foodies are raving about. I would call the very concept “Orwellian” but not even the author of Animal Farmand 1984 could have concocted such a ludicrous term.

FREEDOMWORKS

Like many moms with young kids, Rhea Lana Riner was struggling to live on a very tight budget. While some moms were buying name-brand outfits for their children, Rhea Lana was digging through consignment stores and garage sales to find the best deals. As her kids outgrew their clothing, she would sell them at her own garage sales but couldn't earn enough to keep her budget balanced. 

Frustrated by the experience, Rhea Lana decided to invite other cost-conscious moms to get together to buy and sell each other's clothes at her home. Every sale attracted more families eager to sell and buy, so she moved to larger venues. Some of the consignment moms started volunteering to help at the community events. 

Hundreds of young families were helped by Rhea Lana's Children's Clothing Exchange, the poorest of whom thanked her while fighting back tears. She moved the sales online, then started franchising the process to help parents and kids beyond her hometown. Last year, 51 Rhea Lana events were held across 22 states.