Sunday, January 30, 2011
Cartoon to explain bailouts
All of this is can be found in the exquisite book I mentioned a while back called "Too Big To Fail" by Andrew sorkin.
Friday, January 28, 2011
He's a SOB but he is our SOB
Hilarious video sent to me by a friend. I love this country as much as anyone but we have to be honest about some of our efforts in "nation building" and our efforts in spreading/defending "democracy".
Regime Change actions by United States. I know the reputation some think of wikipedia but I'm pretty sure this article is very accurate.
Ryan Murphy (Glee) vs. Nathan Followill (Kings of Leon)
Awesome open letter blasting both in this stupid twitter beef.
http://www.ology.com/screen/open-letter-ryan-murphy-and-nathan-followill
Both sides think they are more important then they really are.
http://www.ology.com/screen/open-letter-ryan-murphy-and-nathan-followill
Both sides think they are more important then they really are.
Daily Show Clip
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Bill O'Reilly Defends His Nazi Analogies | ||||
| ||||
This clip from the daily show airing last night was hilarious and right on. The use of Nazi references has gotten out of control and Fox News does this more than any other network. Lately I've become acquainted with Laura Ingraham on Fox News and she is so anti anything that is not conservative that she has now joined the ranks of Beck and Hannity for me on that network. She is a hypocrite (they all are but she is one of the worst offenders) and extremely right-wing in same vain as Beck and Hannity.
Slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God
25 years ago this morning I sat in the library of Mather Heights elementary school eagerly anticipating the launch of Space Shuttle Challenger. With school teacher Christa McAuliffe on board as the first civilian in space, this launch garnered more attention than usual. 73 seconds after liftoff all 7 astronauts were gone as the space shuttle exploded. Shock and confusion soon swept across the library. Teachers and students were crying. For my generation this was comparable to when JFK was assassinated. I'll never forget where I was when this tragedy happened. Growing up to be an astronaut was always my goal in life when I was a kid. This didn't happen but I do hope one day to still be able to go into space. Take a moment today to remember those astronauts whose lives were lost.
• Commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
• Pilot Michael J. Smith
• Mission specialists Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka and Judith A. Resnik
• Payload specialists Gregory B. Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe
• Commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
• Pilot Michael J. Smith
• Mission specialists Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka and Judith A. Resnik
• Payload specialists Gregory B. Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe
Thursday, January 27, 2011
I Follow Rivers - Lykke Li
Big fan of Swedish songstress Lykke Li. New album "Wounded Rhymes" will be out next month.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Michele Bachmann
So I just heard about Michele Bachmann's comments to the Iowans for Tax Relief event last Friday on the founding fathers of America. I don't know where she read or studied her history but OMG. I'm not sure if she misspoke or was trying to convey something different but she failed horribly. Here are a few of her statements:
"How unique in all of the world, that one nation that was the resting point from people groups all across the world,". "It didn't matter the color of their skin, it didn't matter their language, it didn't matter their economic status."
"Once you got here, we were all the same. Isn't that remarkable?" she asked.
She also stated how slavery was a "scourge" on American history, but added that "we also know that the very founders that wrote those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States."
Right there is her first mistake. First of all not all the founding fathers were against slavery. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson (who impregnated at lest one of his slaves), Benjamin Franklin (who later freed his slaves) and James Madison and of course numerous southern delegates to the Constitutional Convention all were for slavery. Some weren't of course such as John Adams (who never really spoke out against it because he wanted to be elected president), John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and John Marshall.
Second, the founding fathers didn't work hard to end slavery or erase language supporting it from the constitution. While privately some may have been against slavery, their goal of uniting the country and appeasing Southerners made them "compromise". The 3/5th compromise which started years before our constitution was ratified counted those bound to service (slaves) as 3/5th a person. The fugitive slave act of 1793 was actually written into the consitution. From wikipedia:
When Congress created "An Act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters", or more commonly known as the Fugitive Slave Act, they were responding to slave owners need to protect their property rights, as written into the 1787 Constitution. Article IV of the Constitution required the federal government to go after runaway slaves. The 1793 Fugitive Slave Act was the mechanism by which the government did that, and it was only at this point the government could pursue runaway slaves in any state or territory, and ensure slave owners of their property rights.
Section 3 is the part that deals with fugitive or runaway slaves, and reads in part:
SEC. 3. ...That when a person held to labor in any of the United States, or in either of the Territories on the Northwest or South of the river Ohio... shall escape into any other part of the said States or Territory, the person to whom such labor or service may be due...is hereby empowered to seize or arrest such fugitive from labor... and upon proof...before any Judge... it shall be the duty of such Judge... [to remove] the said fugitive from labor to the State or Territory from which he or she fled.
Section 4 makes assisting runaways and fugitives a crime and outlines the punishment for those who assisted runaway slaves:
SEC. 4. ...That any person who shall knowingly and willingly obstruct or hinder such claimant ...shall... forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars.
She then states that John Quincy Adams was a founding father. He was not a founding father but I guess I'm just nitpicking a minor detail as he was a abolitionist and did spend his years after his presidency in the congress fighting to end slavery. Too bad he died well before the emancipation proclamation. She probably watched "Amistad" and thought it took place around the time of the founding of this country.
I point this out because way too may of our politicians and leaders do not know their history whether it is American or World history. They constantly spout untruths (sometimes intentionally) or just come off as being very ignorant. Of course they are not alone as a majority of Americans I feel are very ignorant of our country's history. We will have the blind leading the blind. Both groups need to wake up and learn a thing or two. Sad sidebar. I heard a stat this morning that around 77% of Americans can name all 7 dwarfs from Snow White but only 27% can name at least 2 supreme court justices. C'mon, there are nine justices and 27% can name only two or more. Just pathetic and a clear example of American's lack of knowledge on current events and history. Just watch any clip of Jay Leno's jaywalking. It will make you laugh but at the same time make me you feel sad.
Anyways I say all this because Bachmann is gearing up for a run at the Republican nomination in 2012. I think she has a good chance to win the nomination especially if Palin doesn't run. I think Palin will throw her support behind Bachmann and she is a darling of the tea party which will be a vocal and much more powerful group than I think people realize. However, one of the biggest issues I have with the tea party is their view of the founding fathers and American history. Frankly I think if they knew the founding fathers, they wouldn't like them very much and I don't think the founding fathers would like the tea party very much. They are trying to manipulate history to fit their viewpoint and their base which is growing is falling for it hook, line and sinker.
In closing I would like to end with a statement by Jamelle Bouie of The American Prospect (note: A liberal magazine)
"This is not to condemn the Founders are horrible, terrible human beings but to situate them as men of their time, filled with the prejudices of their class, and unwilling -- or unable -- to transcend them. If we're out to respect the Founding Fathers, then we should acknowledge their flaws and try to remember them as they lived, not as demigods in a morality play."
Well said sir!
"How unique in all of the world, that one nation that was the resting point from people groups all across the world,". "It didn't matter the color of their skin, it didn't matter their language, it didn't matter their economic status."
"Once you got here, we were all the same. Isn't that remarkable?" she asked.
She also stated how slavery was a "scourge" on American history, but added that "we also know that the very founders that wrote those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States."
Right there is her first mistake. First of all not all the founding fathers were against slavery. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson (who impregnated at lest one of his slaves), Benjamin Franklin (who later freed his slaves) and James Madison and of course numerous southern delegates to the Constitutional Convention all were for slavery. Some weren't of course such as John Adams (who never really spoke out against it because he wanted to be elected president), John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and John Marshall.
Second, the founding fathers didn't work hard to end slavery or erase language supporting it from the constitution. While privately some may have been against slavery, their goal of uniting the country and appeasing Southerners made them "compromise". The 3/5th compromise which started years before our constitution was ratified counted those bound to service (slaves) as 3/5th a person. The fugitive slave act of 1793 was actually written into the consitution. From wikipedia:
When Congress created "An Act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters", or more commonly known as the Fugitive Slave Act, they were responding to slave owners need to protect their property rights, as written into the 1787 Constitution. Article IV of the Constitution required the federal government to go after runaway slaves. The 1793 Fugitive Slave Act was the mechanism by which the government did that, and it was only at this point the government could pursue runaway slaves in any state or territory, and ensure slave owners of their property rights.
Section 3 is the part that deals with fugitive or runaway slaves, and reads in part:
SEC. 3. ...That when a person held to labor in any of the United States, or in either of the Territories on the Northwest or South of the river Ohio... shall escape into any other part of the said States or Territory, the person to whom such labor or service may be due...is hereby empowered to seize or arrest such fugitive from labor... and upon proof...before any Judge... it shall be the duty of such Judge... [to remove] the said fugitive from labor to the State or Territory from which he or she fled.
Section 4 makes assisting runaways and fugitives a crime and outlines the punishment for those who assisted runaway slaves:
SEC. 4. ...That any person who shall knowingly and willingly obstruct or hinder such claimant ...shall... forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars.
She then states that John Quincy Adams was a founding father. He was not a founding father but I guess I'm just nitpicking a minor detail as he was a abolitionist and did spend his years after his presidency in the congress fighting to end slavery. Too bad he died well before the emancipation proclamation. She probably watched "Amistad" and thought it took place around the time of the founding of this country.
I point this out because way too may of our politicians and leaders do not know their history whether it is American or World history. They constantly spout untruths (sometimes intentionally) or just come off as being very ignorant. Of course they are not alone as a majority of Americans I feel are very ignorant of our country's history. We will have the blind leading the blind. Both groups need to wake up and learn a thing or two. Sad sidebar. I heard a stat this morning that around 77% of Americans can name all 7 dwarfs from Snow White but only 27% can name at least 2 supreme court justices. C'mon, there are nine justices and 27% can name only two or more. Just pathetic and a clear example of American's lack of knowledge on current events and history. Just watch any clip of Jay Leno's jaywalking. It will make you laugh but at the same time make me you feel sad.
Anyways I say all this because Bachmann is gearing up for a run at the Republican nomination in 2012. I think she has a good chance to win the nomination especially if Palin doesn't run. I think Palin will throw her support behind Bachmann and she is a darling of the tea party which will be a vocal and much more powerful group than I think people realize. However, one of the biggest issues I have with the tea party is their view of the founding fathers and American history. Frankly I think if they knew the founding fathers, they wouldn't like them very much and I don't think the founding fathers would like the tea party very much. They are trying to manipulate history to fit their viewpoint and their base which is growing is falling for it hook, line and sinker.
In closing I would like to end with a statement by Jamelle Bouie of The American Prospect (note: A liberal magazine)
"This is not to condemn the Founders are horrible, terrible human beings but to situate them as men of their time, filled with the prejudices of their class, and unwilling -- or unable -- to transcend them. If we're out to respect the Founding Fathers, then we should acknowledge their flaws and try to remember them as they lived, not as demigods in a morality play."
Well said sir!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Beady Eye - The Roller
If the Beatles were playing music today, this is what they would sound like except way better. Beady Eye is Liam Gallagher's new band since the break up of Oasis. While hugely popular in England, they never made a huge dent stateside besides Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova and a few other minor hits. Anyways, not sharing this because it is anything special, but the beginning sounds like a poor man's Beatles.
The Black Keys - Howling for You on Letterman
Man guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney are some seriously talented musicians. If you don't know this band, check them out. They been a around for years. Their album last year "Brothers" in my opinion was album of the year for 2010. Gonna see them in concert in April (wish it was at Coachella)! Anyways enjoy!
Al Davis
Davis looks like a cross between the Sith emperor from Star Wars, Gollum from Lord of the Rings, the crypt keeper from Tales of the Crypt and one of the ghost pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean. Time to retire Al if the Raiders are ever to have a chance to be seriously competitive again.
Angry Birds show in development
Trailer for add-on to game
Great, another show I'll probably become addicted to. Great game but porting over to tv might be difficult.
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/angry_birds_show_wdp24PkGfPBGQwIyif4PbN
Great, another show I'll probably become addicted to. Great game but porting over to tv might be difficult.
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/angry_birds_show_wdp24PkGfPBGQwIyif4PbN
A change in the triumvirate at Google
So for the past decade Google has been led by a triumvirate of three men.
This has now changed with the announcement of CEO Eric Schmidt stepping down and becoming chairman and Larry Page resuming the role he had years ago as CEO. Other co-founder Sergey Brin will be working on strategic products. I can't blame Schmidt for stepping down. After almost a decade as CEO, he has built Google as the top search company and one of the most popular and important companies in the world. However, at his age and wealth, why would he want to continue the next big battles against Apple, Twitter and Facebook. He will now be the public face of Google and government liaison which may be his most important role as Google has become the DOJ's and EU's public enemy no.1.
(Update) Cringely on Schmidt Can't say I disagree much with his viewpoint.
This has now changed with the announcement of CEO Eric Schmidt stepping down and becoming chairman and Larry Page resuming the role he had years ago as CEO. Other co-founder Sergey Brin will be working on strategic products. I can't blame Schmidt for stepping down. After almost a decade as CEO, he has built Google as the top search company and one of the most popular and important companies in the world. However, at his age and wealth, why would he want to continue the next big battles against Apple, Twitter and Facebook. He will now be the public face of Google and government liaison which may be his most important role as Google has become the DOJ's and EU's public enemy no.1.
(Update) Cringely on Schmidt Can't say I disagree much with his viewpoint.
One of the greatest lay-down ever
Jump to 7:00 minute mark. This is one of the greatest lay-downs in poker history. This was live on ESPN last Saturday. The Poker Caribbean Adventure (PCA) is one of the three or four biggest tournaments of the year. Winner gets $2.3 million, second gets $1.8 million. Thinking through like he did and listening him to explain his reasoning it makes sense but the way Oliver played (a maniac) during the final table makes this a tough lay-down.
Oliver ends up losing the heads-up battle. Like Daniel said, this hand will come back to haunt him.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Classic Ricky Gervais
Mostly hilarious bits from the 2011 Golden Globe Awards. Last time you will see him hosting an awards show in Hollywood.
New Pro Poker League
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=6032880
Saw this post yesterday on a new pro poker sports league. This league is being started by Annie Duke and Jeffrey Pollack. Pollack is the former commissioner of the WSOP and is currently chairman of the PBR and a former NASCAR and NBA executive. This is not the first time an attempt has been made to form a pro poker league. On the face of it, it sounds like a great idea that would be successful. However, Duke and company face a big challenge ahead of them. The biggest obstacle will be sponsorship from mainstream companies. To create the prize pools, they will need corporate sponsorship from other than poker related entities. So far this has proven impossible from well known and established companies. The WSOP has been successful in getting Milwaukee's best, Jack's Beef Jerky, and Planters Peanuts. This is fine and dandy but for a professional league to be successful you need more leading commercial companies like soft drink companies, leading beer companies, fast food chains or a cellular provider. This will prove difficult for them I fear as there is still a stigma associated with poker and gambling in general.
The second issue is who do you choose to play and what criteria do you create to allow for new entrants to gain admittance and for exempt players to keep their spots. There are so many top notch poker players from around the world that this will be hard to limit to 200. They will get all the old guard that are popular and have had significant TV exposure in the past. This will include people who have not done much in the last 3-5 years but because they were big at the poker boom in 2003-04 they will get invited. Duke states the league is for best players and that fans want to see TV pros. They are not the same thing. The best players today are not known to most casual fans.
The third issue will be tv coverage. For this to be successful they need a network to host it. ESPN may or may not since the calendar is full of more popular sports and they show a good amount of poker right now with the NAPT and the WSOP. Other cable channels will not expose this to the common man. The people who watch on Fox sports, GSN and Versus are hardcore poker junkies like myself, not your causal weekend sports watcher. ABC, FOX, NBC, or CBS need to be the destination. I suspect Fox or NBC may be ideal since they already show poker related content.
I wish them luck and hope they are successful but I feel it may be difficult to accomplish this and sustain it successfully.
Saw this post yesterday on a new pro poker sports league. This league is being started by Annie Duke and Jeffrey Pollack. Pollack is the former commissioner of the WSOP and is currently chairman of the PBR and a former NASCAR and NBA executive. This is not the first time an attempt has been made to form a pro poker league. On the face of it, it sounds like a great idea that would be successful. However, Duke and company face a big challenge ahead of them. The biggest obstacle will be sponsorship from mainstream companies. To create the prize pools, they will need corporate sponsorship from other than poker related entities. So far this has proven impossible from well known and established companies. The WSOP has been successful in getting Milwaukee's best, Jack's Beef Jerky, and Planters Peanuts. This is fine and dandy but for a professional league to be successful you need more leading commercial companies like soft drink companies, leading beer companies, fast food chains or a cellular provider. This will prove difficult for them I fear as there is still a stigma associated with poker and gambling in general.
The second issue is who do you choose to play and what criteria do you create to allow for new entrants to gain admittance and for exempt players to keep their spots. There are so many top notch poker players from around the world that this will be hard to limit to 200. They will get all the old guard that are popular and have had significant TV exposure in the past. This will include people who have not done much in the last 3-5 years but because they were big at the poker boom in 2003-04 they will get invited. Duke states the league is for best players and that fans want to see TV pros. They are not the same thing. The best players today are not known to most casual fans.
The third issue will be tv coverage. For this to be successful they need a network to host it. ESPN may or may not since the calendar is full of more popular sports and they show a good amount of poker right now with the NAPT and the WSOP. Other cable channels will not expose this to the common man. The people who watch on Fox sports, GSN and Versus are hardcore poker junkies like myself, not your causal weekend sports watcher. ABC, FOX, NBC, or CBS need to be the destination. I suspect Fox or NBC may be ideal since they already show poker related content.
I wish them luck and hope they are successful but I feel it may be difficult to accomplish this and sustain it successfully.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Real Time w/Bill Maher is back
Caught the premier of the new season of Bill Maher. He started the season off right after last season was lackluster in my opinion. This week's guests were James Carville (Democratic strategist), Mike Murphy (Republican Strategist), Chrystia Freeland (Global Editor-at-Large of Reuters), Elizabeth Warren (Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) and Marin Short (entertainer). Great debate took place. I urge everyone to watch it, right or left. I think you would learn a thing or two...or at least be exposed to contrary opinions which may make you think about your own opinions.
Two great quotes from the show:
I'd like to see a better linkage between the gun control stuff we have now and the crazy-filter. Because if you look at Virginia Tech and you look at this guy, it is too easy for mentally ill people to get guns; because there’s no mental screening anymore.
- Mike Murphy
There’s ten “birthers” in the House of Representatives. So they ask the Speaker, they said, do you believe Obama was born in the United States? He said, I do. And they say, so what about these ten people? He said, it’s not my job to tell them what to do. Of course that’s your job! You have a whip. You have a majority leader. You crack people into line. You go to them and you say, you’re an embarrassment to the Republican Party.
- James Carville
Two great quotes from the show:
I'd like to see a better linkage between the gun control stuff we have now and the crazy-filter. Because if you look at Virginia Tech and you look at this guy, it is too easy for mentally ill people to get guns; because there’s no mental screening anymore.
- Mike Murphy
There’s ten “birthers” in the House of Representatives. So they ask the Speaker, they said, do you believe Obama was born in the United States? He said, I do. And they say, so what about these ten people? He said, it’s not my job to tell them what to do. Of course that’s your job! You have a whip. You have a majority leader. You crack people into line. You go to them and you say, you’re an embarrassment to the Republican Party.
- James Carville
UMC Memorial
So I got home this afternoon from a weekend in Tucson with my lovely girlfriend. Saturday we had lunch by U of A and swung by the University Medical Center to see the memorial that has been erected since the tragedy. I thought I would share some pictures I took on my cell phone. Doctors continue to be amazed at Rep. Giffords recovery. Keep it up Gabby!! Sunday we went to the Safeway shopping center where the shooting took place. We had the lunch we were going to have the day of the shooting then went grocery shopping and stopped at Coldstone for some ice cream. There was a memorial setup in the middle of the driveway in front of the Safeway with shopping carts blocking the way so cars don't go through. Very touching and bittersweet.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Superbowl Predictions
Greenbay vs. Steelers. I'll leave my pick of the winner till the week of the game!
McCain Op-Ed
Say what you will about the John McCain of the last few years but his op-ed piece in the Washington Post rang home the truth in my opinion. I don't understand how anybody can say Obama is not a patriot. What has he done in the last two years to show contrary? He is not against this country and is not anti-american.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/14/AR2011011403871.html?hpid=topnews
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/14/AR2011011403871.html?hpid=topnews
H.264 battle enters a new phase
Google has decided to drop the H.264 video codec out of their Chrome browser and future Chrome OS in favor of their proprietary format called WebM which I found out reduces storage by a factor of 2x. Google's defense in this is that they want an open web, not one where one has to pay royalties. While this may be true, their real target here is Apple. This move is intended to slow down Apple. Apple is a huge fan of h.264 having it in all their products expecially their iOS. When google switches, that means all of youtube videos may or may not play on apples devices. Possible boost for android here but one I don't really see being significant. Google is giving a big boost to Flash in this which is interesting since they have no stake in Adobe...leading to speculation that maybe one day they may try and buy them. Would be an interesting move which would cause Google to be even more of a competitor against Apple and Microsoft than they already all. For those who want to play h.264 videos in chrome, flash will be needed. Apple for those who don't know strictly ban flash from their devices.
More than likely consumers won't see much a change, at least initially but this could change at some point down the road. The real headache will be for web developers and those who work a lot with video.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Cold War Kids
When Hang Me Up to Dry came out a few years back, I went out and bought there new album based off that song. Not a mistake as Robbers and Cowards was a good album. When their second album came out I went and bought it and I think I've listened to it twice. It was really bad. I thought maybe they were one hit wonders but then an EP came out which I honestly haven't listened to besides the song "Audience" which was a good song. Now their new album comes out in a few weeks. The song above is called "Louder than Ever." Not bad, kinda catchy but not as strong as their debut.
Jeopardy in Jeopardy of losing
I predict that Watson, the IBM computer will come out ahead in its challenge against Jeopardy's two greatest champs. Jennings I suspect will come close and may even win one of the rounds but Watson will probably win the overall match.
Jeopardy vs Watson
You’re all enraged right now, but by next week you’ll have forgotten all about this.
Spokeo.com is a site I heard about last year. Read a post on TechCrunch about them so I decided to see what has changed. They have grown a lot and offer multiple ways to search. I did a search on me and the little info they had on me was about 50% correct. This in my opinion is due to the fact I keep a low profile on the Internet (No social network accounts or picture sharing accounts).If this doesn't open your eyes to the lack of privacy, then nothing will.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Oh No He Didn't!
Dam Gavin Newsom has some big balls. He picks a man who has no prosecutorial experience nor has ever tried a case to be D.A. of San Francisco for at minimum the next year. Just because someone has a law degree doesn't qualify them. Some are calling it bold and brash and I guess it is but is it the right move? I think not and frankly makes me wonder why George Gascón took the position. He is taking from what I understand a $60k paycut and going into a position where he probably won't have the respect of his staff, an area he has no expertise on and a job he may be out of in a year. I'm sure he will shake up the DA's office like he did in Mesa PD and SFPD respectively but like in both those situations, he left before finishing the job(especially in SFPD). I feel this will be the same case, but maybe by that point the LAPD chief position will open up and he will go there. That has been his end goal anyways. I hope he does a good job and succeeds in the role but I think this will be his toughest job yet. Get ready D.A. office staff, a tornado is about to come through...but hey like most tornado's it probably won't last long.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/10/BA1M1H5RT9.DTL&feed=rss.news
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/10/BA1M1H5RT9.DTL&feed=rss.news
They were giants; she is a pygmy.
So this morning I saw that Sarah Palin had actually given a video response of over 7 minutes yesterday about the shootings in Tucson. I just thought she had given a written statement. I watched the first four minutes and then closed the video in disgust. I thought to my self, why did she do this? Sarah Palin is not important and is basically inconsequential in our country. She currently holds no political office, and really has no job. All she does really is contribute her opinions on Fox News. That is her only job and all she really provides. She is a fake reality star (but hey most are right). So why did she make this speech? No other former political leaders (and loose calling her one when she was governor for only slightly over 2 years) has released statements. To my knowledge no former presidents have released comments or statements expressly about the shootings. Why should she? She is nothing but a person who was done a disservice by the Republican party in being their VP nominee in 2008 and instead of trying to stay out of the spotlight afterwards, decided to quit her job and make a ton of money while contributing nothing and stirring up controversy. Recently she has accomplished this by her website and the symbols she used during the 2010 campaigns and then by her statement yesterday and the way she conducted herself.
Anyways, basically what I'm trying to say can be summed up in an excellent opinion piece on CNN today by democratic operative (consultant I guess is PC term) Paul Begala. I've always been wishy washy on him. His devotion and loyalty to the Clinton's for all those years made me sick as I think both of them are very overrated but there are times where I feel he makes complete sense and this piece my sis made me aware of is just unbelievable. His line about Clinton and Reagan being Giants and Palin is a pygmy put a big smile on my face. I thought it was hilarious. However, later it made me think that Clinton and Reagan were only Giants in the fact that they were popular during and after their terms as President but in hindsight they were really nothing special...at least in my opinion. Neither would make my list of 10 best Presidents but even on their worst day, both would be better than Palin on her best. If the Republican's want any chance of winning back the Presidency in 2012, they better not elect Palin in the primary. Guaranteed defeat.
Link to article. http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/13/begala.palin.reagan/index.html?hpt=C2
Anyways, basically what I'm trying to say can be summed up in an excellent opinion piece on CNN today by democratic operative (consultant I guess is PC term) Paul Begala. I've always been wishy washy on him. His devotion and loyalty to the Clinton's for all those years made me sick as I think both of them are very overrated but there are times where I feel he makes complete sense and this piece my sis made me aware of is just unbelievable. His line about Clinton and Reagan being Giants and Palin is a pygmy put a big smile on my face. I thought it was hilarious. However, later it made me think that Clinton and Reagan were only Giants in the fact that they were popular during and after their terms as President but in hindsight they were really nothing special...at least in my opinion. Neither would make my list of 10 best Presidents but even on their worst day, both would be better than Palin on her best. If the Republican's want any chance of winning back the Presidency in 2012, they better not elect Palin in the primary. Guaranteed defeat.
Link to article. http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/13/begala.palin.reagan/index.html?hpt=C2
Possibly the greatest tv review ever
Big fan of Tim Goodman who used to write for the San Francisco Chronicle and now writes for the Hollywood reporter. I didn't watch Off the Map because it looked awful...glad I saved myself the torture.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/bastard-machine/concise-reviewrecap-map-71031
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Great Song
Been jamming to this song by Young the Giant titled "My Body" for about a month now after my girlfriend discovered it and turned me on to it. Enjoy the song and check out the band if you have a chance. They have a promising sound!
Baseball Hall of Fame
So yesterday Trevor Hoffman announced his retirement from Baseball. The long time reliever and MLB's all-time save leader is a lock for the hall of fame and rightly so. However, there is no way he should get in the hall of fame before Lee Smith. Smith retired as the all-time saves leader. He was a dominant reliever for over a decade and has very similar stats as Hoffman.
Smith Stats
Hoffman Stats
Smith has been eligible since 2003 and has never achieved the 75% of votes needed to enter the hall. He may end up being like Bert Blyleven who will get inducted this year after I believe 13 years of waiting. I hope Smith doesn't have to wait this long but he may. However, with the PED's controversy hanging over former locks for the HOF such as McGwire, Bonds, Clemens and Palmerio, he may have plenty of opportunities as the only sure lock of players in the next few years that I can think of off the top of my head is Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson and John Smoltz. Johnson will be a first ballot while the other two may not be. One last plug for entry is for Tim Raines. One of my favorite players growing up and a very underrated player. A player who if he didn't play in the Rickey Henderson era would probably be in. HOF writers, vote for Smith and Raines. They deserve it.
Smith Stats
Hoffman Stats
Smith has been eligible since 2003 and has never achieved the 75% of votes needed to enter the hall. He may end up being like Bert Blyleven who will get inducted this year after I believe 13 years of waiting. I hope Smith doesn't have to wait this long but he may. However, with the PED's controversy hanging over former locks for the HOF such as McGwire, Bonds, Clemens and Palmerio, he may have plenty of opportunities as the only sure lock of players in the next few years that I can think of off the top of my head is Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson and John Smoltz. Johnson will be a first ballot while the other two may not be. One last plug for entry is for Tim Raines. One of my favorite players growing up and a very underrated player. A player who if he didn't play in the Rickey Henderson era would probably be in. HOF writers, vote for Smith and Raines. They deserve it.
So you're telling me I now have a chance...
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/shakira-splits-with-boyfriend-after-11-years-20110111
Anybody wanna give me odds she gets back together with him?
Things I learned on my way into work
Certain species of mosquitos hibernate
David Bickler, the lead singer of Survivor (Eye of the Tiger fame) is the singer on the "Real Men of Genius" Budweiser ad campaigns.
David Bickler, the lead singer of Survivor (Eye of the Tiger fame) is the singer on the "Real Men of Genius" Budweiser ad campaigns.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Hank Haney Project
So caught the premier episode of Hank Haney Project where he is coaching Rush Limbaugh this time around. I watched a few episodes of the Charles Barkley project and thought it was great. Didn't see Ray Romano but will give this season a watch. One thing that was apparent and also to the producers of the show is that Hank Haney has a hot young wife. Recently married it seems and frankly it seems like she might get more air time than Limbaugh...not that I would complain about that!
As Nelly once famously said "Must be da Money"
One quick thought before bed time
I'm annoyed as how the media says "suspected gunman" Jared Loughner. I understand why they do that because he hasn't been convicted or admitted his guilt but c'mon the guy is as guilty as sin. Just say shooter or murderer. That is what he is. He will plead not guilty by reason of insanity but I truly hope he gets the death penalty and they speed up the appeal process(assuming he is found guilty) and execute him. He deserves nothing less!
Link for your enjoyment, or dismay...
I lifted that title from my friend who sent this link to me. Reading this blog scared and disheartened me. I though the list of examples on this would never end. It eventually did but not after being way too long. Please read.
Looks like main source for article is the coalition to stop gun violence.
The authors coining of the word "Becking" is accurate in my opinion. I feel Glenn Beck is a fearmonger and combined with his religious ideology truly scares me at times. What scares me more is how popular he is. I don't get it!
TV Shows
So last night ended the season of one of the best shows on TV and a show that few probably really know about. I'm talking about Men of a Certain Age on TNT. This show is great and the only downfall was that the season was only 6 episodes long. It stars Ray Romano (co-creator of the show), Scott Bakula, and Andre Braugher. Who would have though the best acting job is probably done by Ray Romano. He plays a neurotic, socially awkward, recovering gambling addict party supply store owner who is recently divorced with 2 kids and pursuing a dream of playing on the Senior Golf Tour. Braugher plays a car dealership owner (After recently taking it over from his former NBA star father) with 2 kids and suffers from diabetes and sleep apnea. Bakula plays a struggling actor who has no problem getting women. Excellent show, can't say enough. First 2 season may be about 18 episodes, easy to watch. New season starts this summer.
Californication started on Sunday and was excellent as usual. This show is a guilty pleasure of mine and David Duchovny shines as the messed up novelists Hank moody. Season 4 started where season 3 ended with Hank being bailed out for assault on a police officer. However, the real star of the first episode was Addison Timlin. I have never heard of her but she will not be forgotten. Watch it and you will understand (especially if you are a guy).
Shameless started just after Californication and had a really good pilot. Emmy Rossum stars as the caretaker to numerous younger siblings while her drunk ass father player by William H. Macy just drinks. Good start, hope they keep it up.
Now time to say goodbye to V. How I looked forward to this show after being a fan of the short lived series from the 1980's. I've tried and tried to keep giving it a chance with the hope it turns around. It hasn't after the season premiere and is entering the dead pool for me. The special effects seem cheap and acting is nothing to write home about.
Next week is idol...might be the end for me on that too without Simon but I'll give Perry and Lopez a shot.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Too Big To Fail
Just finished reading an excellent book titled "Too Big to Fail" I highly recommending this book if you want to know practically all the details about the wall street crisis back in 2008. Not sure how Sorkin got everyone to talk and get such details but amazing insight into greatest finaincal crisis since The Great Depression. The cartoon below illustrates clearly what the Wall St. fat cats were doing for the last decade plus.
Guns
Found this editorial from Jeff Pearlman's Blog. I have some stuff to say on guns in America and will do so in a future post. Till then read this editorial. GUNS
Bright Eyes - Shell Games
Bright eyes new album will be out next month but for now enjoy this new song off the album, titled "Shell Games." I'm a big fan of the song and can't wait for the album.
"The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions"
Those words in the titled were uttered by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and have hit home in the last few days since the tragedy in Tucson. Having been less than 5 miles away when the shooting happened and pulling to the side of the road when sheriff deputies were speeding to the scene, I was shocked when I heard what happened. For a city of significant size, Tucson is a rather quiet city. I was in town visiting my girlfriend for the weekend and we were shopping and about to go to lunch at the shopping center where the shooting happened. We were planning to go to the tasty Beyond Bread for lunch which is located in the Safeway shopping center where the shooting took place. Obviously we never made it.
As is common in events like this, people have been searching for blame. Some like the sheriff of Pinal County blames the rhetoric and dialogue that has been taking place in the country over the last few years. Others blame Sarah Palin and her "cross hairs" web page during the campaign which placed a target on Rep. Giffords district. The blame lies in one place and that is with the deranged perpetrator of this crime Jared Lee Loughner.
However, I do have to agree with the sentiments of the sheriff. The 24 hour news media cycle which dominates our tv and computers screens and the ease with which people believe thirty second sound bytes has led to a lot of nasty rhetoric and angry people. Some of it legitimate and some of it misplaced. This person acted alone and is to be blamed alone but the media and political leaders in this country need to look within themselves and feel a sense of culpability. Whether it is a drive for viewership (which translates to money) or political power (which means more money), this country is headed in the wrong direction. To me two things need to happen to get this country back towards right direction but I have my doubts as to if either is ever possible. First people need to become informed and actually give a dam. Get up to date on current events. Stop getting all your facts from only one source and actually read/watch multiple sources and do your own research. Don't believe the hype or the 30 second sound bytes. Look beyond the candidates and figure out who makes those campaign commercials and actually read the sites of both candidates to get accurate information on where they stand on issues. Second is to have serious campaign finance reform. Way too much money is involved in politics from lobbysists and PACS to individual and corporate donors who buy influence. The ever growing partisan supreme court didn't help matters on this early last year. I personally feel that politicians should not be allowed to take any money from donors or lobbyists. The government should come up with some plan to pay for elections. Washington is constantly up for sale and has been for years and with the recent ruling by the supreme court will only make it worse. Stopping the flow of money is truly the only way to have serious and positive change. I truly believe this. Why haven't we had serious health care reform, gun control reform, and environmental reform? Easy answer is money. What else could it be...
Welcome
Welcome to a new blog titled Stewman's World. Stewman is me, a full-time working stiff, a technology enthusiast, music and movie buff, reformed video game player, avid non-fiction reader, poker player wannabe and uncle to the cutest niece in el mundo! The idea for this blog has been percolating in my head for sometime now and I finally decided to take the plunge. My goals for this blog are simple. Just to vent my thoughts, expose the masses to some good music, discuss current events, politics, books, and everything in-between. I encourage constructive dialogue and hope I am able to learn a few things while hopefully being able to open people's eyes to things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)