A few weeks ago I attended a personal development seminar called Lifebook.
Never heard of it? Neither had I. You can check it out for yourself here if you'd like.
It was a work deal. Since I will soon be advising Lifebook on their marketing, and writing some kick-ass copy for their targeted direct campaigns, they decided it would be a good idea for me to experience their seminar in person. Who was I to argue with that logic? So I went.
What is Lifebook?
Lifebook was a concentrated, 4-day motivation/development seminar conducted in the comfort of a place called the "Lifebook Lounge." The lounge is a nicely renovated space in Chicago's warehouse district near the Lake Street El train, which you can hear rumble by about every 15 minutes - a sound I imagined was water rushing like a great waterfall. This delusion helped me keep the mood.
At around four grand, the Lifebook experience is not a middle class adventure. I considered myself privileged to experience it for free, and decided to make the most out of it. I put work aside and submerged myself in the experience.
I won't bore you with the details about the program here, but I will say it's markedly different from other personal development programs you may be familiar with. Instead of a Tony Robbins-like guru giving a pep talk, or some fancy new age way of thinking, it's a systematic process for evaluating your life across 12 different categories. A comprehensive life review, if you will.
At the end of the 4 day process, you come away with your Lifebook, which is a leather-bound guide to the person you smirk at in the mirror when you've had too much wine. That's right - it's the handbook to you. Your life. Your dreams. Your roadmap to success. Needless to say, everyone's Lifebook is different because it's written by you, for you. It's you giving yourself permission and instructions to do the things you were meant to do so you can achieve the things you want to achieve. Not earth-shattering stuff by any stretch, but an organized, helpful way to frame the life you have now so you can one day realize the life you WANT to have.
***
The biggest realization I made over that long weekend, and I did come to a number of realizations about my life, was that I lack vision. Always have. I don't plan for the future because I can't see it. I don't even try. I just go day to day reacting to whatever life throws my way. Sometimes life is good, and sometimes life sucks. But that's life, right?
I realized that I've managed success in large part because I'm a smart kid with a good work ethic. I catch on quick and I care what people think. I try. That made me the best cashier at the grocery store when I was 17. Made me the best bellhop at the Chancellor Hotel back in college. Made me the best, if only, copywriter in Champaign, Illinois after I graduated college. Made me a successful person at pretty much everything I've done, if an unfulfilled one.
It dawned on me that I wasn't working toward anything. I didn't have any goals. I just showed up for work every day and did my job. There was no game plan. No road map. Just the motions to go through. It was kind of depressing, actually.
So I began an exercise in self-reflection. I started thinking about who I am and what I bring to the world. What is my value? What do I enjoy more than anything? How would I spend my time contributing to the progress of society if salary weren't an issue? What's my talent? What's my gift?
I discovered that, by and large, my talents and gifts and contributions have been marginalized by the career I've chosen. Instead of doing what I enjoy - entertaining and enlightening with amusing essays, poignant observations, and insightful prose - I've been churning out marketing mumbo jumbo for corporate clients for over a decade! What a waste. And despite the successes I've enjoyed, I've been largely unsatisfied with what I do as a "professional."
So there I was stepping out of that 4-day seminar, which I'd only attended as a function of my job, realizing that I what I needed most in my life was a NEW one.
And so it begins, on page one of my Lifebook - the search for a better fit. And if I work as hard at that as I have the other jobs in my life - from grocery clerk to bellhop - I may just realize my true life potential.
One can hope, anyway.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
ENDORSE MINTS FOR FRESH IDEAS
Whoever wrote this endorsement for the Missouri Post-Dispatch did a phenomenal job summing up our choices. There are some great lines in here that jam it home gently.
*******
Barack Obama for President
By Editorial Board of the Missouri Post Dispatch
Nine Days before the Feb. 5 presidential primaries in Missouri and Illinois, this
editorial page endorsed Barack Obama and John McCain in their respective races. We did so enthusiastically. We wrote that either Mr. Obama's message of hope or Mr. McCain's independence and integrity offered America the chance to turn the page on 28 years of contentious, greed-driven politics and move into a new era of possibility.
Over the past nine months, Mr. Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, has emerged as the only truly transformative candidate in the race. In the crucible that is a presidential campaign, his intellect, his temperament and equanimity under pressure consistently have been impressive. He has surrounded himself with smart, capable advisers who have helped him refine thorough, nuanced policy positions.
In a word, Mr. Obama has been presidential.
Meanwhile, Mr. McCain, the senior senator from Arizona, became the incredible shrinking man. He shrank from his principled stands in favor of a humane immigration policy. He shrank from his universal condemnation of torture and his condemnation of the politics of smear. He even shrank from his own campaign slogan,"County First," by selecting the least qualified running mate since the Swedenborgian shipbuilder Arthur Sewall ran as William Jennings Bryan's No. 2 in 1896.
In making political endorsements, this editorial page is guided first by the principles espoused by Joseph Pulitzer in The Post-Dispatch Platform printed daily at the top of this page. Then we consider questions of character, life experience and intellect, as well as specific policy and issue positions. Each member of the editorial board weighs in.
On all counts, the consensus was clear: Barack Obama of Illinois should be the next president of the United States. We didn't know nine months ago that before Election Day, America would face its greatest economic challenge since the Great Depression. The crisis on Wall Street is devastating, but it has offered voters a useful preview of how the two presidential candidates would respond to a crisis.
Very early on, Mr. Obama reached out to his impressive corps of economic advisers and developed a comprehensive set of recommendations for addressing the problems. He set them forth calmly and explained them carefully.
Mr. McCain, a longtime critic of government regulation, was late to recognize the threat. The chief economic adviser of his campaign initially was former Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, who had been one of the architects of banking deregulation. When the credit markets imploded, Mr. McCain lurched from one ineffectual grandstand play to another. He squandered the one clear advantage he had over Mr. Obama: experience.
Mr. McCain first was elected to Congress in 1982 when Mr. Obama was in his senior year at Columbia University. Yet the younger man's intellectual curiosity and capacity (and, yes, also the skills he developed as a community organizer and his instincts as a political conciliator) more than compensate for his lack of more traditional Washington experience.
A presidency is defined less by what happens in the Oval Office than by what is done by the more than 3,000 men and women the president appoints to government office. Only 600 of them are subject to Senate approval. The rest serve at the pleasure of the president.
We have little doubt that Mr. Obama's appointees would bring a level of competence, compassion and intellectual achievement to the executive branch that hasn't been
seen since the New Frontier. He has energized a new generation of Americans who would put the concept of service back in 'public service.'
Consider that while Mr. McCain selected as his running mate Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, a callow and shrill partisan, Mr. Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. Mr. Biden's 35-year Senate career has given him encyclopedic expertise on legislative and judicial issues, as well as foreign affairs.
The idea that 3,000 bright, dedicated and accomplished Americans would be joining the Obama administration to serve the public (as opposed to padding their resume(c)s or shilling for the corporate interests they're sworn to oversee) is reassuring. That they would be serving a president who actually would listen to them is staggering.
And the fact that Mr. Obama can explain his thoughts and policies in language that can instruct and inspire is exciting. Eloquence isn't everything in a president, but it is not nothing, either. Experience aside, the 25-year difference in the ages of Mr. McCain, 72, and Mr. Obama, 47, is important largely because Mr. Obama's election would represent a generational shift. He would be the first chief executive in more than six decades whose world view was not formed, at least in part, by the Cold War or Vietnam.
He sees the complicated world as it is today, not as a binary division between us and them, but as a kaleidoscope of shifting alliances and interests. As he often notes, he is the son of a Kenyan father and a mother from Kansas, an internationalist who yet acknowledges that America is the only nation in the world in which someone of his distinctly modest background could rise as far as his talent, intellect and hard work would take him.
Given the damage that has been done to America's moral standing in the world in the last eight years (by a pre-emptive war, a unilateralist foreign policy and by policies that have treated both the Geneva Conventions and our own Bill of Rights as optional) Mr. Obama's election would help America reclaim the moral high ground.
It also must be said that Mr. Obama is right on the issues. He was right on the war in Iraq. He is right that all Americans deserve access to health care and right in his pragmatic approach to meeting that goal. He is right on tax policy, infrastructure investment, energy policy and environmental issues. He is right on American ideals.
He was right when he said in his remarkable speech in March in Philadelphia that "In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world's great religions demand: that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother's keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister's keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well."
John McCain has served his country well, but in the end, he may have wanted the presidency a little too much, so much that he has sacrificed some of the principles that made him a heroic figure in war and in peace. In every way possible, he has earned the right to retire.
Finally, only at this late point do we note that Barack Obama is an African-American. Because of who he is and how he has run his campaign, that fact has become almost incidental to most Americans. Instead, his countrymen are weighing his talents, his values and his beliefs, judging him not by the color of his skin, but the content of his character.
That says something profound and good, about him as a candidate, and about us as a nation.
*******
Barack Obama for President
By Editorial Board of the Missouri Post Dispatch
Nine Days before the Feb. 5 presidential primaries in Missouri and Illinois, this
editorial page endorsed Barack Obama and John McCain in their respective races. We did so enthusiastically. We wrote that either Mr. Obama's message of hope or Mr. McCain's independence and integrity offered America the chance to turn the page on 28 years of contentious, greed-driven politics and move into a new era of possibility.
Over the past nine months, Mr. Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, has emerged as the only truly transformative candidate in the race. In the crucible that is a presidential campaign, his intellect, his temperament and equanimity under pressure consistently have been impressive. He has surrounded himself with smart, capable advisers who have helped him refine thorough, nuanced policy positions.
In a word, Mr. Obama has been presidential.
Meanwhile, Mr. McCain, the senior senator from Arizona, became the incredible shrinking man. He shrank from his principled stands in favor of a humane immigration policy. He shrank from his universal condemnation of torture and his condemnation of the politics of smear. He even shrank from his own campaign slogan,"County First," by selecting the least qualified running mate since the Swedenborgian shipbuilder Arthur Sewall ran as William Jennings Bryan's No. 2 in 1896.
In making political endorsements, this editorial page is guided first by the principles espoused by Joseph Pulitzer in The Post-Dispatch Platform printed daily at the top of this page. Then we consider questions of character, life experience and intellect, as well as specific policy and issue positions. Each member of the editorial board weighs in.
On all counts, the consensus was clear: Barack Obama of Illinois should be the next president of the United States. We didn't know nine months ago that before Election Day, America would face its greatest economic challenge since the Great Depression. The crisis on Wall Street is devastating, but it has offered voters a useful preview of how the two presidential candidates would respond to a crisis.
Very early on, Mr. Obama reached out to his impressive corps of economic advisers and developed a comprehensive set of recommendations for addressing the problems. He set them forth calmly and explained them carefully.
Mr. McCain, a longtime critic of government regulation, was late to recognize the threat. The chief economic adviser of his campaign initially was former Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, who had been one of the architects of banking deregulation. When the credit markets imploded, Mr. McCain lurched from one ineffectual grandstand play to another. He squandered the one clear advantage he had over Mr. Obama: experience.
Mr. McCain first was elected to Congress in 1982 when Mr. Obama was in his senior year at Columbia University. Yet the younger man's intellectual curiosity and capacity (and, yes, also the skills he developed as a community organizer and his instincts as a political conciliator) more than compensate for his lack of more traditional Washington experience.
A presidency is defined less by what happens in the Oval Office than by what is done by the more than 3,000 men and women the president appoints to government office. Only 600 of them are subject to Senate approval. The rest serve at the pleasure of the president.
We have little doubt that Mr. Obama's appointees would bring a level of competence, compassion and intellectual achievement to the executive branch that hasn't been
seen since the New Frontier. He has energized a new generation of Americans who would put the concept of service back in 'public service.'
Consider that while Mr. McCain selected as his running mate Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, a callow and shrill partisan, Mr. Obama selected Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. Mr. Biden's 35-year Senate career has given him encyclopedic expertise on legislative and judicial issues, as well as foreign affairs.
The idea that 3,000 bright, dedicated and accomplished Americans would be joining the Obama administration to serve the public (as opposed to padding their resume(c)s or shilling for the corporate interests they're sworn to oversee) is reassuring. That they would be serving a president who actually would listen to them is staggering.
And the fact that Mr. Obama can explain his thoughts and policies in language that can instruct and inspire is exciting. Eloquence isn't everything in a president, but it is not nothing, either. Experience aside, the 25-year difference in the ages of Mr. McCain, 72, and Mr. Obama, 47, is important largely because Mr. Obama's election would represent a generational shift. He would be the first chief executive in more than six decades whose world view was not formed, at least in part, by the Cold War or Vietnam.
He sees the complicated world as it is today, not as a binary division between us and them, but as a kaleidoscope of shifting alliances and interests. As he often notes, he is the son of a Kenyan father and a mother from Kansas, an internationalist who yet acknowledges that America is the only nation in the world in which someone of his distinctly modest background could rise as far as his talent, intellect and hard work would take him.
Given the damage that has been done to America's moral standing in the world in the last eight years (by a pre-emptive war, a unilateralist foreign policy and by policies that have treated both the Geneva Conventions and our own Bill of Rights as optional) Mr. Obama's election would help America reclaim the moral high ground.
It also must be said that Mr. Obama is right on the issues. He was right on the war in Iraq. He is right that all Americans deserve access to health care and right in his pragmatic approach to meeting that goal. He is right on tax policy, infrastructure investment, energy policy and environmental issues. He is right on American ideals.
He was right when he said in his remarkable speech in March in Philadelphia that "In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world's great religions demand: that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother's keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister's keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well."
John McCain has served his country well, but in the end, he may have wanted the presidency a little too much, so much that he has sacrificed some of the principles that made him a heroic figure in war and in peace. In every way possible, he has earned the right to retire.
Finally, only at this late point do we note that Barack Obama is an African-American. Because of who he is and how he has run his campaign, that fact has become almost incidental to most Americans. Instead, his countrymen are weighing his talents, his values and his beliefs, judging him not by the color of his skin, but the content of his character.
That says something profound and good, about him as a candidate, and about us as a nation.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
NEGATIVE ATTAX
Here's a handy tax calculator to help you combat the haters who claim Obama is going to raise your taxes. The fact is, for most of us, he's proposing a tax break. But don't take my word for it...see for yourself!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
PRESIDENT PALIN?
Here's a sneak preview of what'll be one catastrophic stroke away if the haters get their man.
ENJOY!
ENJOY!
Monday, October 13, 2008
CHOKEAGO IS...
My kind of frown.
Man, it sucks being a sports fan in Chicago these days. Let's just change the name of the city to CHOKEAGO. Did you see the Bears come back to win the game with 11 seconds left yesterday...only to have the Falcons inexplicably turn the tables and use those 11 seconds to send the Bears home a bunch of losers like their baseball-playing neighbors the White Sox & Cubs.
Speaking of whom, that's been the biggest topic of conversation at the sports bars this past week - which baseball team sucked harder. You've got the Sox fans clinging to their one playoff win as evidence of having out-performed their north-side rivals. The Cubs fans point to the record as support for their claim that their lovable losers were the better squad. The sad fact is, they both fucking blew it after all the hype about having a cross-town World Series match-up.
Man, it sucks being a sports fan in Chicago these days. Let's just change the name of the city to CHOKEAGO. Did you see the Bears come back to win the game with 11 seconds left yesterday...only to have the Falcons inexplicably turn the tables and use those 11 seconds to send the Bears home a bunch of losers like their baseball-playing neighbors the White Sox & Cubs.
Speaking of whom, that's been the biggest topic of conversation at the sports bars this past week - which baseball team sucked harder. You've got the Sox fans clinging to their one playoff win as evidence of having out-performed their north-side rivals. The Cubs fans point to the record as support for their claim that their lovable losers were the better squad. The sad fact is, they both fucking blew it after all the hype about having a cross-town World Series match-up.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
DON'T BE HATIN'
Some fucking racist idiot brought a stuffed monkey doll wearing an Obama sticker to a Palin campaign event in Johnstown, Pa.
Realizing he was caught on camera, he passed it off to a child he didn't know.
It's amazing to me that these people still exist. In the millions. It's 2008, yo. Fuckin' A give racism a rest already.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Realizing he was caught on camera, he passed it off to a child he didn't know.
It's amazing to me that these people still exist. In the millions. It's 2008, yo. Fuckin' A give racism a rest already.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
POP UP REPLAY
I just read a Reddit threat on CNN's debate coverage and someone had a genius idea.
They should air the debates a day later as VH1 Pop-Up videos! As the candidates spout and spew their numbers and accusations, little bubble bursts would pop-up to help us separate fact from fiction, and rhetoric from reality.
Someone needs to referee these events with all of the false claims flying back and forth. Showing the debate the next day with fun "facts" and other tidbits would make for a far more enlightening and entertaining experience.
They should air the debates a day later as VH1 Pop-Up videos! As the candidates spout and spew their numbers and accusations, little bubble bursts would pop-up to help us separate fact from fiction, and rhetoric from reality.
Someone needs to referee these events with all of the false claims flying back and forth. Showing the debate the next day with fun "facts" and other tidbits would make for a far more enlightening and entertaining experience.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
MASQUEERADE PARTY
Looks like I found this year's Halloween costume. Thanks to Gene for the lead. I LIKE!
LOBBY HOBBY
First read this:
"We're also going to put an end to the tens of billions of dollars squandered every year on special favors and corporate welfare. At a time when many working families can hardly afford their mortgage, their groceries, and gas for the car or truck, we need to close the door firmly on corporate lobbyists."
- John McCain, August 22, 2008
Then go HERE.
(Note Obama ranks, too, but just a fraction of the amount)
"We're also going to put an end to the tens of billions of dollars squandered every year on special favors and corporate welfare. At a time when many working families can hardly afford their mortgage, their groceries, and gas for the car or truck, we need to close the door firmly on corporate lobbyists."
- John McCain, August 22, 2008
Then go HERE.
(Note Obama ranks, too, but just a fraction of the amount)
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Friday, October 03, 2008
GO WITH THE FLOW
In case you missed the Vice Presidential debate last night, here's a copy of Sarah Palin's cheat sheet. She made expert use of it imho.My friend JB summarized the spectacle quite well, I thought. Without his permission, I'll let him describe it for you:
*******************
As expected, the local paper greets me this morning with the headline:
"GOP hopeful holds own during debate." I guess if the Couric/Gibson
interviews are your baseline, she was fucking phenomenal. Knocked it
out of the park. If you'd never heard of her before and your baseline
is what most rational citizens might expect from an oval office
candidate, it was once again tragically embarrassing. Some of my
favorite highlights:
- What I have to imagine was the first ever VP debate "shout out."
- Her affectionate use of the term Joe Six Pack.
- The wink!
- The look on Biden's face during the stretches where Palin seemed to be
randomly stringing words together in the hopes of filling her time
(pretty much any time they showed Biden...)
- Her claim that "energy" is her "area of expertise." (I can only assume
that living on top of oil is to energy expertise as living next to a
foreign country is to foreign policy expertise.)
- Her suggestion that McCain's Vietnam service means he "knows how to
win a war." (Uh, (1) we lost that war, (2) McCain was shot down twice,
then (3) captured and held for the entire conflict... not exactly a
winning resume)
- And dag nabbit, I love me them folksy witticisms!
*****************
Thanks, JB. That was it in a nutshell. Holy friggin' shit...millions of people are actually going to punch the ticket with her name on it CHOOSING her to be Vice President.
Looks like 8 years of Bush has really lowered the bar for the highest posts in the land.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
SEPTEMBER MADNESS
Thanks to Gene for sharing this gem. Everybody get your brackets in!CLICK IT TO ENLARGE
OFFSHORE DRILLING OR JUST OFF-BASE?
Can we just dispell the myth of offshore drilling once and for all? Even the U.S. Department of Energy is in agreement here - offshore drilling is not a viable solution to our dependence on foreign oil. It would take another 20 years to fully realize, and even then would only represent a sliver of our national consumption. Instead of investing in subsidies that encourage oil companies to extract this relatively insignificant amount of oil, why not invest in alternative technologies that will actually have an impact on consumption?
Have you heard about the Chevy Volt? Up to 40 miles on an electric battery before requiring even a drop of gas. This is just the beginning.
We have the technology. It's really not that far-fetched. Corporations are slowly catching on, finally beginning to provide products that make sense (from a conservation perspective at least, if not economical just yet), and we need to make smart decisions as consumers to support and sustain innovation of this nature. This is how we will finally escape from an unhealthy relationship with oil.
We'll all be able to stay connected over long distances, get to work and back every day, and take those long road trips...without help from the fickle sheiks and barons who control our every move.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
FAREEDOM RINGS!
Even McCain supporters are beginning to have a hard time with his choice for Vice President because the more she opens her mouth, the clearer it becomes: she is woefully under-qualified for the position. How could McCain possibly have come to the conclusion that Palin was the best person to succeed him as President of the United States? It makes no sense at all.
Fareed Zakaria, in this article, actually calls her "dangerously ignorant." He goes on to say that McCain's selection of her was "irresponsible" and in no way consistent with his commitment to always put "country first." In this critical decision, he was clearly not thinking of the country.
I loved Fareed before, but I love him even more now for calling it like it is: A massive political blunder that puts all Americans in danger.
Here's the original Newsweek article for your review.
CASE IN POINT:
COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
Fareed Zakaria, in this article, actually calls her "dangerously ignorant." He goes on to say that McCain's selection of her was "irresponsible" and in no way consistent with his commitment to always put "country first." In this critical decision, he was clearly not thinking of the country.
I loved Fareed before, but I love him even more now for calling it like it is: A massive political blunder that puts all Americans in danger.
Here's the original Newsweek article for your review.
CASE IN POINT:
COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.
Friday, September 26, 2008
THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO
In this photo, John McCain puts "country first," suspending his campaign so he can rush back to Washington and rescue the American economy.
PALIN COMPARISON
Here's the person John McCain decided should succeed him as President of the United States of America in the event something should happen to him.
I don't know about you, but I'd feel safer with Katie Couric as Veep. She seems to have a better handle on world affairs.
I don't know about you, but I'd feel safer with Katie Couric as Veep. She seems to have a better handle on world affairs.
BANKS FOR NOTHING!
If you're wondering about money and banks and how in fuck's Eden we ended up in this mess, check out this informational cartoon. It's a 45-minute lesson on banking that explains all you need to know. For example, it describes how bank loans are not backed by assets in the vault. In fact, they're backed only by the signature of the person promising to pay it back. So, in essence, banks are creating money. They don't actually have the physical money to cover all of these loans they're handing out!
The result? Enough bad loans and WaMu - you're done!
Seriously, check out the vid. It's super enlightening as a morning econ refresher with your morning coffee.
Really - click on it and sit back. You will learn some amazing shit about banks. I didn't really know there was anything amazing about banks until I watched this, but MAN, what a scam these suits are running on us. All that money we've been borrowing?? It's all backed by deposits of other loans from other banks. LOANS. Not deposits of hard currency in circulation, but money created by banks. And it's all legal because our government was complicit in enabling the entire thing.
The bottom line is, as we all know, debt is BAD. But somewhere along the way, we were told that it was okay to have debt. In fact, it became NORMAL for Americans to owe the bank so much money it would take 30 YEARS to pay it back.
How is that normal? Think about that. Agreeing to give a quarter to half of your monthly income every month for 30 years to a bank in exchange for a house that leaks. And yet, that's what goes on every day. And it's easy to understand why. How else would any of us own anything? We'd all be renters because, let's face it, who has $200K sitting in the bank to buy a house? And if you did have $200K, you probably wouldn't dump it all on a house. That's a lot of beer money.
Check out the video. Every American should be versed on these simple principles so we understand what is happening. That way we'll be able to spot a bad bailout plan when we see one.
The result? Enough bad loans and WaMu - you're done!
Seriously, check out the vid. It's super enlightening as a morning econ refresher with your morning coffee.
Really - click on it and sit back. You will learn some amazing shit about banks. I didn't really know there was anything amazing about banks until I watched this, but MAN, what a scam these suits are running on us. All that money we've been borrowing?? It's all backed by deposits of other loans from other banks. LOANS. Not deposits of hard currency in circulation, but money created by banks. And it's all legal because our government was complicit in enabling the entire thing.
The bottom line is, as we all know, debt is BAD. But somewhere along the way, we were told that it was okay to have debt. In fact, it became NORMAL for Americans to owe the bank so much money it would take 30 YEARS to pay it back.
How is that normal? Think about that. Agreeing to give a quarter to half of your monthly income every month for 30 years to a bank in exchange for a house that leaks. And yet, that's what goes on every day. And it's easy to understand why. How else would any of us own anything? We'd all be renters because, let's face it, who has $200K sitting in the bank to buy a house? And if you did have $200K, you probably wouldn't dump it all on a house. That's a lot of beer money.
Check out the video. Every American should be versed on these simple principles so we understand what is happening. That way we'll be able to spot a bad bailout plan when we see one.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
HEAD OF SKATE
Now this is some funny shit right here. I like Matt Damon's comparison of Palin's selection to the plot of a Disney movie. These folks take it to the next level.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
PRICE HIKING
Are you stashing cash in the lining of your mattress yet? Won't be long now and it'll be every man, woman, and child for his or herself. The hits keep coming with collapses of major lending institutions, insurance companies, secondary mortgage market players, the stock market, and the dollar overseas. Inflation has arrived and it's going to take a big chunk out of your wallet. Have you felt it yet? Retailers have.
Prices on everything are set to go up in Q4, beginning October 1st. Manufacturers have sent letters to distributors and resellers informing them of widespread price increases. Everything you bought yesterday will cost more tomorrow. For a while, the retail sector sought absorb these increases - hoping to win the price battle, trading margin to keep volume up. But they can't sustain the loss any longer. These price increases are about to get handed off to consumers. Get ready to tighten up that belt.
It won't be obvious at first. Large grocers, for example, know the secret to phasing in the price increase. They'll eat the cost of milk - a staple with which we're all familiar - and keep it hovering around the $3 a gallon mark. This lulls consumers into a false sense of economic security. As long as milk isn't going up, our subconscious tells us, prices across the board will be fine.
And then we see the total at the check out. Our $40 purchase is now $63.50. That $75 trip is now $101.24. Everything else we're buying is more expensive. Another tactic? Impossible math. You'd have to be Rainman to calculate the unit price of anything in the stores these days. This is something that has personally bothered me for years, but why can't the store ever tell me how much just ONE of something costs? Everything is 5 for $11, or 3 for $8.88, or BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE. I have to bring a calculator shopping to figure out that, on a per unit basis, I'm getting robbed.
The reason, of course, is simple. Grocers don't want you to know how much just one costs. That would make you an informed shopper. And informed shoppers are not good for business. What they want are zombie shoppers...people pacing the aisles, unwilling or unable to calculate costs on the fly, grabbing products and filling their carts. 6 for $10? Sounds like a great deal! Until you do the math and realize that $1.66 isn't a bargain for fucking yogurt.
Get smart. Do the math. Read the fine print on those tags where they list the unit price (if you can). Be informed. Make smarter decisions. Save money.
And stuff those savings in your mattress where they'll be safe.
Prices on everything are set to go up in Q4, beginning October 1st. Manufacturers have sent letters to distributors and resellers informing them of widespread price increases. Everything you bought yesterday will cost more tomorrow. For a while, the retail sector sought absorb these increases - hoping to win the price battle, trading margin to keep volume up. But they can't sustain the loss any longer. These price increases are about to get handed off to consumers. Get ready to tighten up that belt.
It won't be obvious at first. Large grocers, for example, know the secret to phasing in the price increase. They'll eat the cost of milk - a staple with which we're all familiar - and keep it hovering around the $3 a gallon mark. This lulls consumers into a false sense of economic security. As long as milk isn't going up, our subconscious tells us, prices across the board will be fine.
And then we see the total at the check out. Our $40 purchase is now $63.50. That $75 trip is now $101.24. Everything else we're buying is more expensive. Another tactic? Impossible math. You'd have to be Rainman to calculate the unit price of anything in the stores these days. This is something that has personally bothered me for years, but why can't the store ever tell me how much just ONE of something costs? Everything is 5 for $11, or 3 for $8.88, or BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE. I have to bring a calculator shopping to figure out that, on a per unit basis, I'm getting robbed.
The reason, of course, is simple. Grocers don't want you to know how much just one costs. That would make you an informed shopper. And informed shoppers are not good for business. What they want are zombie shoppers...people pacing the aisles, unwilling or unable to calculate costs on the fly, grabbing products and filling their carts. 6 for $10? Sounds like a great deal! Until you do the math and realize that $1.66 isn't a bargain for fucking yogurt.
Get smart. Do the math. Read the fine print on those tags where they list the unit price (if you can). Be informed. Make smarter decisions. Save money.
And stuff those savings in your mattress where they'll be safe.
Friday, September 12, 2008
I WILL RISE AGAIN! (BUT NOT TODAY)
Yeah, this once-amusing blog that had oft flirted shamelessly with the subtle hilarities of human introspection has been reduced to an outlet for political propaganda.
I promise it won't be like this forever. I will rise again. I will have stories to tell about my life in corporate America. I will have heartfelt insights to share as a proud step-father. I will have keen observations to note in the realm of the defacatory arts. I will describe embarrassing moments. I will turn you onto Showtime's original programming, all of which is top-notch from Dexter to Weeds to Californication. I will tell you things that you may have heard but did not know were true: like the iPhone is pretty sweet, but the AT&T network is the absolute worst. I will wax philosophic on the role alcohol has played in advancing procreation.
But for today, more important matters are at hand. Somehow I feel obligated to share whenever someone has put into words something I wish I had the time to put into words.
Yes, it's political. So if that's going to turn you off, turn away now. Unless you're bored. Otherwise, wade a little deeper.
You know, McCain was once I guy I liked, admired, and respected. That was back when he wasn't afraid to break ranks with his crusty, white-bred party to support ideas that actually made sense. Believe it or not, the party of G-Dubs does not corner the market on brilliant ideas. That was back when he was "The Real McCain," or the "Maverick," as he so proudly calls himself these days. Fiercely independent. His own man.
But he's Rove's man these days. A man of the system. A victim, maybe. Another disappointment in a long line of disappointments, certainly.
These days he's all about fear and smear. And every time he's had an opportunity to stand up and do the right thing by denouncing these tactics as harmful to the process, calling for "reform" as he had so many times before he woke up and discovered he was viable, he's gone the way of the Rove. He's supported the fear. He's supported the smear.
There was a time I actually liked McCain. Andrew Sullivan essentially summarized for me the reasons I've moved away from him and no longer hold him in high esteem. I've posted it below for your reading pleasure. Just another career politician contributing to the problem...
*************************************
Andrew Sullivan on McCain's Integrity
10 Sep 2008 01:40 pm
For me, this surreal moment - like the entire surrealism of the past ten days - is not really about Sarah Palin or Barack Obama or pigs or fish or lipstick. It's about John McCain. The one thing I always thought I knew about him is that he is a decent and honest person.
When he knows, as every sane person must, that Obama did not in any conceivable sense mean that Sarah Palin is a pig, what did he do? Did he come out and say so and end this charade? Or did he acquiesce in and thereby enable the mindless Rovianism that is now the core feature of his campaign?
So far, he has let us all down. My guess is he will continue to do so. And that decision, for my part, ends whatever respect I once had for him. On core moral issues, where this man knew what the right thing was, and had to pick between good and evil, he chose evil.
When he knew that George W. Bush's war in Iraq was a fiasco and catastrophe, and before Donald Rumsfeld quit, McCain endorsed George W. Bush against his fellow Vietnam vet, John Kerry in 2004. By that decision, McCain lost any credibility that he can ever put country first. He put party first and his own career first ahead of what he knew was best for the country.
And when the Senate and House voted overwhelmingly to condemn and end the torture regime of Bush and Cheney in 2006, McCain again had a clear choice between good and evil, and chose evil.
He capitulated and enshrined torture as the policy of the United States, by allowing the CIA to use techniques as bad as and worse than the torture inflicted on him in Vietnam. He gave the war criminals in the White House retroactive immunity against the prosecution they so richly deserve. The enormity of this moral betrayal, this betrayal of his country's honor, has yet to sink in. But for my part, it now makes much more sense. He is not the man I thought he was.
And when he had the chance to engage in a real and substantive debate against the most talented politician of the next generation in a fall campaign where vital issues are at stake, what did McCain do? He began his general campaign with a series of grotesque, trivial and absurd MTV-style attacks on Obama's virtues and implied disgusting things about his opponent's patriotism.
And then, because he could see he was going to lose, ten days ago, he threw caution to the wind and with no vetting whatsoever, picked a woman who, by her decision to endure her own eight-month pregnancy of a Down Syndrome child in public, that he was going to reignite the culture war as a last stand against Obama. That's all that is happening right now: a massive bump in the enthusiasm of the Christianist base. This is pure Rove.
Yes, McCain made a decision that revealed many appalling things about him. In the end, his final concern is not national security. No one who cares about national security would pick as vice-president someone who knows nothing about it as his replacement. No one who cares about this country's safety would gamble the security of the world on a total unknown because she polled well with the Christianist base. No person who truly believed that the surge was integral to this country's national security would pick as his veep candidate a woman who, so far as we can tell anything, opposed it at the time.
McCain has demonstrated in the last two months that he does not have the character to be president of the United States. And that is why it is more important than ever to ensure that Barack Obama is the next president. The alternative is now unthinkable. And McCain - no one else - has proved it.
I promise it won't be like this forever. I will rise again. I will have stories to tell about my life in corporate America. I will have heartfelt insights to share as a proud step-father. I will have keen observations to note in the realm of the defacatory arts. I will describe embarrassing moments. I will turn you onto Showtime's original programming, all of which is top-notch from Dexter to Weeds to Californication. I will tell you things that you may have heard but did not know were true: like the iPhone is pretty sweet, but the AT&T network is the absolute worst. I will wax philosophic on the role alcohol has played in advancing procreation.
But for today, more important matters are at hand. Somehow I feel obligated to share whenever someone has put into words something I wish I had the time to put into words.
Yes, it's political. So if that's going to turn you off, turn away now. Unless you're bored. Otherwise, wade a little deeper.
You know, McCain was once I guy I liked, admired, and respected. That was back when he wasn't afraid to break ranks with his crusty, white-bred party to support ideas that actually made sense. Believe it or not, the party of G-Dubs does not corner the market on brilliant ideas. That was back when he was "The Real McCain," or the "Maverick," as he so proudly calls himself these days. Fiercely independent. His own man.
But he's Rove's man these days. A man of the system. A victim, maybe. Another disappointment in a long line of disappointments, certainly.
These days he's all about fear and smear. And every time he's had an opportunity to stand up and do the right thing by denouncing these tactics as harmful to the process, calling for "reform" as he had so many times before he woke up and discovered he was viable, he's gone the way of the Rove. He's supported the fear. He's supported the smear.
There was a time I actually liked McCain. Andrew Sullivan essentially summarized for me the reasons I've moved away from him and no longer hold him in high esteem. I've posted it below for your reading pleasure. Just another career politician contributing to the problem...
*************************************
Andrew Sullivan on McCain's Integrity
10 Sep 2008 01:40 pm
For me, this surreal moment - like the entire surrealism of the past ten days - is not really about Sarah Palin or Barack Obama or pigs or fish or lipstick. It's about John McCain. The one thing I always thought I knew about him is that he is a decent and honest person.
When he knows, as every sane person must, that Obama did not in any conceivable sense mean that Sarah Palin is a pig, what did he do? Did he come out and say so and end this charade? Or did he acquiesce in and thereby enable the mindless Rovianism that is now the core feature of his campaign?
So far, he has let us all down. My guess is he will continue to do so. And that decision, for my part, ends whatever respect I once had for him. On core moral issues, where this man knew what the right thing was, and had to pick between good and evil, he chose evil.
When he knew that George W. Bush's war in Iraq was a fiasco and catastrophe, and before Donald Rumsfeld quit, McCain endorsed George W. Bush against his fellow Vietnam vet, John Kerry in 2004. By that decision, McCain lost any credibility that he can ever put country first. He put party first and his own career first ahead of what he knew was best for the country.
And when the Senate and House voted overwhelmingly to condemn and end the torture regime of Bush and Cheney in 2006, McCain again had a clear choice between good and evil, and chose evil.
He capitulated and enshrined torture as the policy of the United States, by allowing the CIA to use techniques as bad as and worse than the torture inflicted on him in Vietnam. He gave the war criminals in the White House retroactive immunity against the prosecution they so richly deserve. The enormity of this moral betrayal, this betrayal of his country's honor, has yet to sink in. But for my part, it now makes much more sense. He is not the man I thought he was.
And when he had the chance to engage in a real and substantive debate against the most talented politician of the next generation in a fall campaign where vital issues are at stake, what did McCain do? He began his general campaign with a series of grotesque, trivial and absurd MTV-style attacks on Obama's virtues and implied disgusting things about his opponent's patriotism.
And then, because he could see he was going to lose, ten days ago, he threw caution to the wind and with no vetting whatsoever, picked a woman who, by her decision to endure her own eight-month pregnancy of a Down Syndrome child in public, that he was going to reignite the culture war as a last stand against Obama. That's all that is happening right now: a massive bump in the enthusiasm of the Christianist base. This is pure Rove.
Yes, McCain made a decision that revealed many appalling things about him. In the end, his final concern is not national security. No one who cares about national security would pick as vice-president someone who knows nothing about it as his replacement. No one who cares about this country's safety would gamble the security of the world on a total unknown because she polled well with the Christianist base. No person who truly believed that the surge was integral to this country's national security would pick as his veep candidate a woman who, so far as we can tell anything, opposed it at the time.
McCain has demonstrated in the last two months that he does not have the character to be president of the United States. And that is why it is more important than ever to ensure that Barack Obama is the next president. The alternative is now unthinkable. And McCain - no one else - has proved it.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A MAVERICK ON THE HORN
This is another gem for your files. Nothing like a political throwdown to get America's creative juices flowing. Check out the phone call McCain made to Sarah Palin when he asked her to be his running mate.
Good stuff!
Good stuff!
Thursday, September 04, 2008
PALIN-DRONING
This Daily Show snippet is another classic. Calling out the hypocrites and their double standards by using their own words. Genius.
Seriously - this heretofore little-known woman, who I am certain is a fantastic person, is one slip in the shower away from being leader of the free world. One playful "boo!" away from the Oval Office. One more irregularly shaped mole away from an impromptu inauguration. And does anyone even know or care what she stands for? Has anyone seen her resume (or lack thereof?). That McCain would put us all in jeopardy with such an irresponsible selection when so many vastly more qualified running mates speaks volumes about the decision, which is an overt play to woo disenfranchised Hillary supporters away from their deeply held convictions and toward a vote of spite. Hell hath no fury...
Yeah...I saw the speech, and forgive me, but moved I was not. I disliked Hillary...but at least Hillary understood global warming, the science of evolution, and the function of a Vice President. In case you're unfamiliar, Sarah Palin has recently been unclear on all three, to put it nicely. Go ahead and YouTube it. Good stuff!
Look - we all have friends on both sides here. Smart people on both sides. But this isn't the Bears versus the Packers. It's a 4 year commitment to the policies and ideologies of a handful of people. Is there no compromise we can come to in this? Maybe Obama and McCain could just agree right now to take turns and swap being leader of the free world every month. At this point, I'd settle for that. I'm okay sharing. I can give a little to get a little. How about you?
After eight ruinous years, I am becoming genuinely afraid that the very rich, the very religious, and the very racist will unite to ensure we remain in a perpetual state of decline. At least then I suppose I'll be able to apply for my dream job: drilling in the arctic. Ice road trucking anyone?
Seriously - this heretofore little-known woman, who I am certain is a fantastic person, is one slip in the shower away from being leader of the free world. One playful "boo!" away from the Oval Office. One more irregularly shaped mole away from an impromptu inauguration. And does anyone even know or care what she stands for? Has anyone seen her resume (or lack thereof?). That McCain would put us all in jeopardy with such an irresponsible selection when so many vastly more qualified running mates speaks volumes about the decision, which is an overt play to woo disenfranchised Hillary supporters away from their deeply held convictions and toward a vote of spite. Hell hath no fury...
Yeah...I saw the speech, and forgive me, but moved I was not. I disliked Hillary...but at least Hillary understood global warming, the science of evolution, and the function of a Vice President. In case you're unfamiliar, Sarah Palin has recently been unclear on all three, to put it nicely. Go ahead and YouTube it. Good stuff!
Look - we all have friends on both sides here. Smart people on both sides. But this isn't the Bears versus the Packers. It's a 4 year commitment to the policies and ideologies of a handful of people. Is there no compromise we can come to in this? Maybe Obama and McCain could just agree right now to take turns and swap being leader of the free world every month. At this point, I'd settle for that. I'm okay sharing. I can give a little to get a little. How about you?
After eight ruinous years, I am becoming genuinely afraid that the very rich, the very religious, and the very racist will unite to ensure we remain in a perpetual state of decline. At least then I suppose I'll be able to apply for my dream job: drilling in the arctic. Ice road trucking anyone?
Monday, August 25, 2008
THAT'S A FACT, JACK!
BELOW: Political Analyst Jack Cafferty's commentary on the second coming of Bush. This shit is spot on. The fact that McCain is anywhere close to Obama in the polls is evidence of a country seemingly content with mediocrity. Why do we expect so little from our elected officials?
Or maybe my suspicions about polls are bearing out. How hard would it be for a handful of people to manipulate poll results toward influencing public opinion? Not too hard, I suspect. Decisions are made behind closed doors all day every day for the purpose of mass deception and coercion. And not just in Dick Cheney's office. Information is power. I don't believe the hype. I refuse to believe we would sooner perpetuate our nation's recent failures when we have an historical opportunity to turn the corner. Or is that simply the price of prejudice?
What say you, Jack?
***********For your files:
Russia invades Georgia and President Bush goes on vacation. Our president has spent one-third of his entire two terms in office either at Camp David, Maryland, or at Crawford, Texas, on vacation.
His time away from the Oval Office included the month leading up to 9/11, when there were signs Osama bin Laden was planning to attack America, and the time Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city of New Orleans.
Sen. John McCain takes weekends off and limits his campaign events to one a day. He made an exception for the religious forum on Saturday at Saddleback Church in Southern California.
I think he made a big mistake. When he was invited last spring to attend a discussion of the role of faith in his life with Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, McCain didn't bother to show up. Now I know why.
It occurs to me that John McCain is as intellectually shallow as our current president. When asked what his Christian faith means to him, his answer was a one-liner. "It means I'm saved and forgiven." Great scholars have wrestled with the meaning of faith for centuries. McCain then retold a story we've all heard a hundred times about a guard in Vietnam drawing a cross in the sand.
Asked about his greatest moral failure, he cited his first marriage, which ended in divorce. While saying it was his greatest moral failing, he offered nothing in the way of explanation. Why not?
Throughout the evening, McCain chose to recite portions of his stump speech as answers to the questions he was being asked. Why? He has lived 71 years. Surely he has some thoughts on what it all means that go beyond canned answers culled from the same speech he delivers every day.
He was asked "if evil exists." His response was to repeat for the umpteenth time that Osama bin Laden is a bad man and he will pursue him to "the gates of hell." That was it.
He was asked to define rich. After trying to dodge the question -- his wife is worth a reported $100 million -- he finally said he thought an income of $5 million was rich.
One after another, McCain's answers were shallow, simplistic, and trite. He showed the same intellectual curiosity that George Bush has -- virtually none.
Where are John McCain's writings exploring the vexing moral issues of our time? Where are his position papers setting forth his careful consideration of foreign policy, the welfare state, education, America's moral responsibility in the world, etc., etc., etc.?
John McCain graduated 894th in a class of 899 at the Naval Academy at Annapolis. His father and grandfather were four star admirals in the Navy. Some have suggested that might have played a role in McCain being admitted. His academic record was awful. And it shows over and over again whenever McCain is called upon to think on his feet.
He no longer allows reporters unfettered access to him aboard the "Straight Talk Express" for a reason. He simply makes too many mistakes. Unless he's reciting talking points or reading from notes or a TelePrompTer, John McCain is lost. He can drop bon mots at a bowling alley or diner -- short glib responses that get a chuckle, but beyond that McCain gets in over his head very quickly.
I am sick and tired of the president of the United States embarrassing me. The world we live in is too complex to entrust it to someone else whose idea of intellectual curiosity and grasp of foreign policy issues is to tell us he can look into Vladimir Putin's eyes and see into his soul.
George Bush's record as a student, military man, businessman and leader of the free world is one of constant failure. And the part that troubles me most is he seems content with himself.
He will leave office with the country $10 trillion in debt, fighting two wars, our international reputation in shambles, our government cloaked in secrecy and suspicion that his entire presidency has been a litany of broken laws and promises, our citizens' faith in our own country ripped to shreds. Yet Bush goes bumbling along, grinning and spewing moronic one-liners, as though nobody understands what a colossal failure he has been.
I fear to the depth of my being that John McCain is just like him.
Or maybe my suspicions about polls are bearing out. How hard would it be for a handful of people to manipulate poll results toward influencing public opinion? Not too hard, I suspect. Decisions are made behind closed doors all day every day for the purpose of mass deception and coercion. And not just in Dick Cheney's office. Information is power. I don't believe the hype. I refuse to believe we would sooner perpetuate our nation's recent failures when we have an historical opportunity to turn the corner. Or is that simply the price of prejudice?
What say you, Jack?
***********For your files:
Russia invades Georgia and President Bush goes on vacation. Our president has spent one-third of his entire two terms in office either at Camp David, Maryland, or at Crawford, Texas, on vacation.
His time away from the Oval Office included the month leading up to 9/11, when there were signs Osama bin Laden was planning to attack America, and the time Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city of New Orleans.
Sen. John McCain takes weekends off and limits his campaign events to one a day. He made an exception for the religious forum on Saturday at Saddleback Church in Southern California.
I think he made a big mistake. When he was invited last spring to attend a discussion of the role of faith in his life with Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, McCain didn't bother to show up. Now I know why.
It occurs to me that John McCain is as intellectually shallow as our current president. When asked what his Christian faith means to him, his answer was a one-liner. "It means I'm saved and forgiven." Great scholars have wrestled with the meaning of faith for centuries. McCain then retold a story we've all heard a hundred times about a guard in Vietnam drawing a cross in the sand.
Asked about his greatest moral failure, he cited his first marriage, which ended in divorce. While saying it was his greatest moral failing, he offered nothing in the way of explanation. Why not?
Throughout the evening, McCain chose to recite portions of his stump speech as answers to the questions he was being asked. Why? He has lived 71 years. Surely he has some thoughts on what it all means that go beyond canned answers culled from the same speech he delivers every day.
He was asked "if evil exists." His response was to repeat for the umpteenth time that Osama bin Laden is a bad man and he will pursue him to "the gates of hell." That was it.
He was asked to define rich. After trying to dodge the question -- his wife is worth a reported $100 million -- he finally said he thought an income of $5 million was rich.
One after another, McCain's answers were shallow, simplistic, and trite. He showed the same intellectual curiosity that George Bush has -- virtually none.
Where are John McCain's writings exploring the vexing moral issues of our time? Where are his position papers setting forth his careful consideration of foreign policy, the welfare state, education, America's moral responsibility in the world, etc., etc., etc.?
John McCain graduated 894th in a class of 899 at the Naval Academy at Annapolis. His father and grandfather were four star admirals in the Navy. Some have suggested that might have played a role in McCain being admitted. His academic record was awful. And it shows over and over again whenever McCain is called upon to think on his feet.
He no longer allows reporters unfettered access to him aboard the "Straight Talk Express" for a reason. He simply makes too many mistakes. Unless he's reciting talking points or reading from notes or a TelePrompTer, John McCain is lost. He can drop bon mots at a bowling alley or diner -- short glib responses that get a chuckle, but beyond that McCain gets in over his head very quickly.
I am sick and tired of the president of the United States embarrassing me. The world we live in is too complex to entrust it to someone else whose idea of intellectual curiosity and grasp of foreign policy issues is to tell us he can look into Vladimir Putin's eyes and see into his soul.
George Bush's record as a student, military man, businessman and leader of the free world is one of constant failure. And the part that troubles me most is he seems content with himself.
He will leave office with the country $10 trillion in debt, fighting two wars, our international reputation in shambles, our government cloaked in secrecy and suspicion that his entire presidency has been a litany of broken laws and promises, our citizens' faith in our own country ripped to shreds. Yet Bush goes bumbling along, grinning and spewing moronic one-liners, as though nobody understands what a colossal failure he has been.
I fear to the depth of my being that John McCain is just like him.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
THE OLD FARTFUL DODGER
Classic McCain. Here's a snippet from one of the Republican primary debates. Listen to the question, then try and track with McCain's answer. In case you forget what the question is, it's on the screen the entire time. I nearly had tears in my eyes as this guy talks about everything there is to talk about except the question. Then I realize it's because he either didn't hear it correctly, or forgot what it was 10 seconds into his answer. Good stuff here! Apparently there's a fine line between "experience" and "dementia."
Thursday, August 14, 2008
OLYMPIC DREAMS
Wish I had the time and energy to go off on the state of the world right now. Heaven knows there's plenty of shit that needs going off on. Unfortunately, I sold my soul to the man (for now) and owe all of my time to the folks writing me a check every two weeks. Freelance life is starting to look awfully good to me right about now.
If I were a freelance writer, you'd hire me - wouldn't you? But would you pay $75/hour. Sorry, that's my rate. I'm worth it. You know I am.
Anyhow - here's a great link for your amusement.
It's a look at some ways to make the Olympics more interesting. Very creative. Looking forward to 2012 already (isn't that the end of the world?)
If I were a freelance writer, you'd hire me - wouldn't you? But would you pay $75/hour. Sorry, that's my rate. I'm worth it. You know I am.
Anyhow - here's a great link for your amusement.
It's a look at some ways to make the Olympics more interesting. Very creative. Looking forward to 2012 already (isn't that the end of the world?)
TALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
Some of the pictures HERE are fucking hilarious. Gotta check 'em out. The controls to the slideshow are in the upper right hand corner of your browser window.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
POP GOES THE BRAIN CELL
Not sure I like the implications of this experiment in modern technology. Hello speakerphone!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
HOMEBODY BLUES
Man - I haven't been anywhere. I'm a total loser. This is what happens when you have a fear of flying. But I've been getting a lot better. Even made it all the way to Hawaii for my wedding!
Thanks to Prenta for sharing this fun site. Go check it out. They let you check off all of the states and countries you've visited and map it out for you.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
INDEPENDENCE DAY EXAMINATION
As we get set to celebrate another fine year of independence from the Redcoats, I thought it appropriate that I administer a POP QUIZ. Don't worry, I took it first to make sure it was something you could handle. It's not that hard. It's a citizenship test and all Americans should be able to pass it. Can you?
Take the test right now!
For your reference, I scored 95%, missing just one question (#19). I hope you beat me, but doubt you will. I am very, very smart...and you are, well, sometimes you get your shoes on the right feet.
That's right...I'm trash talking. Now go take the test and find out whether you're worthy of calling yourself an American. Sorry, there's no version en espanol. English is the official language here, after all. For now, anyhow. That will be changing soon at the rate Mexico is spilling into the southwest - a large part of which, incidentally, had actually been part of Mexico at one point. So perhaps we shouldn't call it illegal immigration, but rather The Formerly Mexico Reclamation Project.
So what did you get? On the test. You didn't take it yet? Go now and find out if you bleed red, white, and blue. And no, I don't mind if you marvel at my greatness. That's what gets me out of bed most mornings.
Take the test right now!
For your reference, I scored 95%, missing just one question (#19). I hope you beat me, but doubt you will. I am very, very smart...and you are, well, sometimes you get your shoes on the right feet.
That's right...I'm trash talking. Now go take the test and find out whether you're worthy of calling yourself an American. Sorry, there's no version en espanol. English is the official language here, after all. For now, anyhow. That will be changing soon at the rate Mexico is spilling into the southwest - a large part of which, incidentally, had actually been part of Mexico at one point. So perhaps we shouldn't call it illegal immigration, but rather The Formerly Mexico Reclamation Project.
So what did you get? On the test. You didn't take it yet? Go now and find out if you bleed red, white, and blue. And no, I don't mind if you marvel at my greatness. That's what gets me out of bed most mornings.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
BURRO TREND'S ASS OF THE YEAR
Here's a look at life in the not so distant future if the price of oil continues to climb. We'll be shopping for transportation at AssMax and picking up spare stirrups at the DonkeyZone.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
WHERE THE HELL IS MATT?
Matt's back. In case you missed his first round the globe dance explosion, here's the latest. This dude is hilarious, and his feat fun to watch.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
NOW WAY, JOSE!
Here's an ID card confiscated by police during a traffic stop. You have to admire the resourcefulness of some folks...just not in this case. Wow.I showed this image to my favorite 8 year old to get his thoughts.
He said, "Why is that lady there?"
"What do you mean?" I said.
"That lady," he said, and pointed at the woman in the photo. She's not supposed to be there."
"What does that tell you?" I asked.
"It's not real," he said confidently.
Smart kid. Smarter than Jose, anyway.
Friday, June 20, 2008
TRAILER PARKING
Oh shit...get ready for Will Farrell's next classic. Check out that restricted trailer. Good stuff.
LINKS AND PLUGS
My buddy Gene at Graphic-promotions.com sent me this cool snapshot of online resources. It's like a master bookmark page organized by category with site logos for easy reference. I can see the older set really taking advantage of something like this.
On a side note, if your company is ever in the market for promotional items from custom apparel to desk items to corporate gifts, you simply MUST check out Graphic Promotions. Tell them you heard about it here and you'll get the AYNtK discount. Okay, so there's no discount for dropping the name of your favorite typing monkey. But they'll treat you like a VIP regardless. Seriously, check out all the cool stuff you can order up!
On a side note, if your company is ever in the market for promotional items from custom apparel to desk items to corporate gifts, you simply MUST check out Graphic Promotions. Tell them you heard about it here and you'll get the AYNtK discount. Okay, so there's no discount for dropping the name of your favorite typing monkey. But they'll treat you like a VIP regardless. Seriously, check out all the cool stuff you can order up!
FAVORITE TOWER, SEARS
Was sent this by a few of my Chicago peeps and it's a scream. Anyone who grew up in or around the Second City will appreciate this fine piece of Chicagocana.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
SHALL WE OVERCOME?
Oh my. Here's a pin someone found at the Republican state convention in Texas. The mere fact that someone turned this into a pin indicates the O-Bomb has his work cut out for him.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
GIVE ME A BREAK!
A tax break, of course!
One of the Republican talking points I've been hearing a lot lately is this idea that Obama wants to raise taxes. I personally find it hard to believe that we'd be WORSE off financially if we leave Iraq with Obama versus sticking around another century or two with McCain. The war has been a huge hole in Uncle Sam's pocket. How is McCain planning to cut taxes AND keep fighting this red herring of a war?
Turns out he's not, really. Pay attention to this, folks. According to the tax experts, 90% of Americans will pay less taxes under Obama's plan than McCain's.
The party of big taxes actually figures to save you some coin over the alternative - to say nothing of the lives we'll be saving when we start bringing the troops back. I mean - shit - didn't Bush declare our mission accomplished back in 03 or something like that? Give me a break.
One of the Republican talking points I've been hearing a lot lately is this idea that Obama wants to raise taxes. I personally find it hard to believe that we'd be WORSE off financially if we leave Iraq with Obama versus sticking around another century or two with McCain. The war has been a huge hole in Uncle Sam's pocket. How is McCain planning to cut taxes AND keep fighting this red herring of a war?
Turns out he's not, really. Pay attention to this, folks. According to the tax experts, 90% of Americans will pay less taxes under Obama's plan than McCain's.
The party of big taxes actually figures to save you some coin over the alternative - to say nothing of the lives we'll be saving when we start bringing the troops back. I mean - shit - didn't Bush declare our mission accomplished back in 03 or something like that? Give me a break.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
THE LEGEND OF THE DISAPPOINTING SEQUEL
G and I walked down to Webster Place last evening to take in the 8pm showing of the hit movie "Sex and the City" only to have fate, and hundreds of women with the same plan, intervene and spoil what was sure to be an otherwise thrilling evening.
THE MOVIE WAS SOLD OUT. Yes, a Wednesday night movie.
We couldn't believe it. Not only that, but the box office was turning away droves of movie-goers at the door. All women. Not most, mind you - ALL. I was the ONLY man there, and had I not been wearing my wedding band, I would have felt like my wife's little gay friend.
But these are the things we do for love. Speaking of which, G returned the favor by agreeing to sit through Indiana Jones and the Legend of the Crystal Skull with me instead. We'd walked all that way - there was no sense in walking back just yet. Although in hindsight, we both wished we would have.
SPOILER ALERT - AS IN, THIS MOVIE WILL SPOIL YOUR EVENING
So - sequels tend to suck. We all know this. But I was holding out hope that the much-anticipated return of Indiana Jones would prove worth waiting for. Boy, was it not. It wasn't even worth waiting THROUGH. In all seriousness, we both considered walking out about half way through the movie. It was THAT absurdly poor. I haven't disliked a film this much since Armageddon. Remember that wildly ludicrous and predictable piece of crap?
Before I insult anyone who's already seen and LIKED the movie, I should qualify this review by admitting that my wife and I are movie snobs. We like silly things like plot. We like compelling storytelling devices. We like witty dialogue. We like well-developed characters.
We loathe the predictable.
We loathe the contrived.
We loathe the convenient.
This movie was a nauseating amalgam of all three.
We actually groaned in disgust about a dozen times from the mind-blowingly ridiculous plot. Whoever penned the screenplay for this outlandish waste of time should have their hands permanently wrapped in mittens so they can do us no more damage. Sadly, that may mean saying goodbye to George Lucas, whose name was co-credited with the story. Good riddance, captain fantasmic. Your best days are clearly behind you.
At times it felt like Spielberg and Lucas were in an epic battle to decide who could insult the intelligence of the audience more - deftly outdoing one another, obnoxiously impossible stunt after unimaginatively contrived circumstance. Killer ants. Aliens. A nuclear explosion. Deadly waterfalls. It was brutal.
Look - I get it. There's supposed to be a willingful suspension of disbelief where the audience understands that these things are unlikely or implausible, and is willing to accept the story despite its incongruencies with the world as we know it. But this was beyond ridiculous. It may as well have been in Narnia. Why even pretend this movie took place in this world? Raiders of the Lost Ark was a masterpiece for the very reason this one was a piece of shit: No matter how impossible things seemed in the original, there was always a part of you that thought, "well, maybe." You wanted to believe that Dr. Jones was able to escape death in creative ways, so you let things go. The storyline was simple - there was an ark, and an amazing race to find it.
But the writers here push us WAY outside the realm of what's even remotely possible. At no time was I thinking, "well, maybe." I was thinking, "Are you fucking kidding me? That's just plain insulting." But we suffered through it, nonetheless, because we'd paid $21 to see it. Not exactly the experience I had been hoping for. Some people think movies like this one are made for kids, but this was a violent, PG-13 rated movie that missed the mark there, too. Although it must have been okay for SOME people - at least two people clapped at the end of our showing. Although G thought they may have been clapping because it was finally over. I know I was relieved.
The movie let out at the same time as Sex and the City - which we gathered was a far better film from the parade of exuberant, chatty women laughing it up on the way out. G covered her ears to avoid hearing anything about the story, and I covered my face to hide the shame of having just stumbled out of a bloody shitstorm.
By the way, let me drop the 411 for all you single men out there. It's no secret - Sex and the City is a chick flick, but I didn't think I'd be the ONLY guy there to see it. If you are a single man in the city, you may want to hang around the cineplex for the next week or two. Just throwing that out there. And if you do decide to take in the movie itself, you'll likely enjoy it more than you think you will...the writers for that show are actually a gifted, insightful bunch. It's a shame they couldn't have tried their hand at IJ.
Need more? This link here really nails it.
THE MOVIE WAS SOLD OUT. Yes, a Wednesday night movie.
We couldn't believe it. Not only that, but the box office was turning away droves of movie-goers at the door. All women. Not most, mind you - ALL. I was the ONLY man there, and had I not been wearing my wedding band, I would have felt like my wife's little gay friend.
But these are the things we do for love. Speaking of which, G returned the favor by agreeing to sit through Indiana Jones and the Legend of the Crystal Skull with me instead. We'd walked all that way - there was no sense in walking back just yet. Although in hindsight, we both wished we would have.
SPOILER ALERT - AS IN, THIS MOVIE WILL SPOIL YOUR EVENING
So - sequels tend to suck. We all know this. But I was holding out hope that the much-anticipated return of Indiana Jones would prove worth waiting for. Boy, was it not. It wasn't even worth waiting THROUGH. In all seriousness, we both considered walking out about half way through the movie. It was THAT absurdly poor. I haven't disliked a film this much since Armageddon. Remember that wildly ludicrous and predictable piece of crap?
Before I insult anyone who's already seen and LIKED the movie, I should qualify this review by admitting that my wife and I are movie snobs. We like silly things like plot. We like compelling storytelling devices. We like witty dialogue. We like well-developed characters.
We loathe the predictable.
We loathe the contrived.
We loathe the convenient.
This movie was a nauseating amalgam of all three.
We actually groaned in disgust about a dozen times from the mind-blowingly ridiculous plot. Whoever penned the screenplay for this outlandish waste of time should have their hands permanently wrapped in mittens so they can do us no more damage. Sadly, that may mean saying goodbye to George Lucas, whose name was co-credited with the story. Good riddance, captain fantasmic. Your best days are clearly behind you.
At times it felt like Spielberg and Lucas were in an epic battle to decide who could insult the intelligence of the audience more - deftly outdoing one another, obnoxiously impossible stunt after unimaginatively contrived circumstance. Killer ants. Aliens. A nuclear explosion. Deadly waterfalls. It was brutal.
Look - I get it. There's supposed to be a willingful suspension of disbelief where the audience understands that these things are unlikely or implausible, and is willing to accept the story despite its incongruencies with the world as we know it. But this was beyond ridiculous. It may as well have been in Narnia. Why even pretend this movie took place in this world? Raiders of the Lost Ark was a masterpiece for the very reason this one was a piece of shit: No matter how impossible things seemed in the original, there was always a part of you that thought, "well, maybe." You wanted to believe that Dr. Jones was able to escape death in creative ways, so you let things go. The storyline was simple - there was an ark, and an amazing race to find it.
But the writers here push us WAY outside the realm of what's even remotely possible. At no time was I thinking, "well, maybe." I was thinking, "Are you fucking kidding me? That's just plain insulting." But we suffered through it, nonetheless, because we'd paid $21 to see it. Not exactly the experience I had been hoping for. Some people think movies like this one are made for kids, but this was a violent, PG-13 rated movie that missed the mark there, too. Although it must have been okay for SOME people - at least two people clapped at the end of our showing. Although G thought they may have been clapping because it was finally over. I know I was relieved.
The movie let out at the same time as Sex and the City - which we gathered was a far better film from the parade of exuberant, chatty women laughing it up on the way out. G covered her ears to avoid hearing anything about the story, and I covered my face to hide the shame of having just stumbled out of a bloody shitstorm.
By the way, let me drop the 411 for all you single men out there. It's no secret - Sex and the City is a chick flick, but I didn't think I'd be the ONLY guy there to see it. If you are a single man in the city, you may want to hang around the cineplex for the next week or two. Just throwing that out there. And if you do decide to take in the movie itself, you'll likely enjoy it more than you think you will...the writers for that show are actually a gifted, insightful bunch. It's a shame they couldn't have tried their hand at IJ.
Need more? This link here really nails it.
Friday, May 23, 2008
LIMBO LOWER NOW
How low can she go?
Hillary Clinton dismissed calls again today to drop out of the race, and shocked the world by bringing up the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy in defense of her decision!
"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said.
So let's understand this, shall we? Mathematically out of contention, Hillary is now saying that she is going to remain in the race just on the off chance Obama happens to get shot and killed. I mean holy mother of all things disturbing is that not one of the most fucked up rationales for ANYTHING that you've ever heard?
I can't beat you, but I am going to keep up the fight just in case you are killed. Wow. That's got to make Obama wonder just a little bit, don't ya think?
Time for the superdelegates to step forward and end this thing already. They are her last hope. She needs an overwhelming number of superdelegates to buck the trend and vote against the will of the people in order to wrest the nomination away. Something that's not likely to happen. Why don't these superdelegates go public right now so we can move on already? The drama isn't good for anyone. Pick a side already.
And let's not forget the influence of my friend Ed, who claims to be a "Super Duper Delegate." Apparently his vote counts the same as 100 superdelegates. And then there's the mega mega super duper delegate, the ultra mega mega super duper delegate, and the grandpappy of them all, Carlos Delegado. Whatever happened to voting anyhow? This whole democratic republic thing is complicated!
Hillary Clinton dismissed calls again today to drop out of the race, and shocked the world by bringing up the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy in defense of her decision!
"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said.
So let's understand this, shall we? Mathematically out of contention, Hillary is now saying that she is going to remain in the race just on the off chance Obama happens to get shot and killed. I mean holy mother of all things disturbing is that not one of the most fucked up rationales for ANYTHING that you've ever heard?
I can't beat you, but I am going to keep up the fight just in case you are killed. Wow. That's got to make Obama wonder just a little bit, don't ya think?
Time for the superdelegates to step forward and end this thing already. They are her last hope. She needs an overwhelming number of superdelegates to buck the trend and vote against the will of the people in order to wrest the nomination away. Something that's not likely to happen. Why don't these superdelegates go public right now so we can move on already? The drama isn't good for anyone. Pick a side already.
And let's not forget the influence of my friend Ed, who claims to be a "Super Duper Delegate." Apparently his vote counts the same as 100 superdelegates. And then there's the mega mega super duper delegate, the ultra mega mega super duper delegate, and the grandpappy of them all, Carlos Delegado. Whatever happened to voting anyhow? This whole democratic republic thing is complicated!
SAY CHEESE!
I'm sure you're familiar with Google Street View by now. If not, it's time to wake up for work...you're late! And smile when you do, because Google Street View may be cruising with a camera near you.
Basically, those ambitious Google folks decided that mapping the entire world wasn't good enough - they wanted to show pictures of what it looks like wherever you go. So they've been driving around with special cameras photographing the streets and adjacent facades of communities all over the country. In fact, you may be able to see YOUR house right now!
Needless to say, some people aren't too thrilled about the idea of giving the world instant access to images of private residences - even if the images are captured from public streets. At issue is the level of detail afforded by these pics. You can see and identify actual people in many of them.
Check out some of these scenes captured by the Google cam. We always thought it would be the government spying on us. Turns out our our Big Brother is Google nation.
Basically, those ambitious Google folks decided that mapping the entire world wasn't good enough - they wanted to show pictures of what it looks like wherever you go. So they've been driving around with special cameras photographing the streets and adjacent facades of communities all over the country. In fact, you may be able to see YOUR house right now!
Needless to say, some people aren't too thrilled about the idea of giving the world instant access to images of private residences - even if the images are captured from public streets. At issue is the level of detail afforded by these pics. You can see and identify actual people in many of them.
Check out some of these scenes captured by the Google cam. We always thought it would be the government spying on us. Turns out our our Big Brother is Google nation.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
TECHNOLOGY. ENTERTAINMENT. DESIGN.
If you've never seen TED, I encourage you to do so. It's one of my favorite sites and a place you will find great hope for humanity. TED is this think-tank conference that's held every year in Monterrey CA where the best and the brightest from around the world get together and share ideas. Architects. Scientists. Inventors. Musicians. Doctors. Entrepreneurs. I've been watching these short, entertaining speeches for a year now and can't get enough. There's something here for everyone.
Want to get a look at the future? See TED.
Want to get a look at the future? See TED.
OILAHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Is anyone else LOVING these high gas prices? Fuck yeah. I hope they keep rising. Yes, seriously. Because we need to get pissed as a people. We need to open our eyes and understand what's going on in the world - and nothing gets people to open their eyes more than making them open their wallets more.
There have been voices for years telling people to drive smarter. DECADES. There have been calls for car manufacturers to develop more fuel efficient cars. There have been demands of government to explore renewable and alternative sources of energy to subsidize our national addiction to oil. But does anything ever really change? Hasn't had to...until now.
As long as there was cheap gas, all these voices were drowned out by the revving of our nation's complicit economic engine. Lawmakers continued accepting tossed salads from the oil lobbies. Carmakers ignored the worldwide trend toward fuel efficiency, promoting size and power over miles per gallon. Consumers insisted on buying Hummers and other behemoths that get 12 miles to the gallon so they could feel more powerful on the road. In today's world, it's not a comfort thing or a safety thing - it's an ego thing. And the sooner we get over ourselves, the better off we'll be.
Because today people are pissed off.
Finally.
And the American carmakers are concerned because foreign carmakers are way ahead of them in the fuel efficiency fight. And politicians are taking note that their jobs may be at stake if they don't start forcing industry to invest in alternative energy. And people are only now realizing that when they bought that massive suburban palace 45 miles from where they work, they were tethering their future economic well-being to the price of oil.
I sit in traffic on 90/94 every day to go a lousy three miles. It's a crawl, but still faster than negotiating surface streets. And while I'm idling forward at the speed of a man recovering from hip replacement surgery, I can't help but look around and think of all the poor souls who are driving far longer distances than 3 lousy miles. And they do it twice. Every day. I pass a good three or four neighborhoods to get home everyday, but most of the people I share that same road with will keep going until the city ends, then pass three or four entire suburbs before finally getting off and heading home. Meanwhile, I've had a good jog, a warm shower, and the burgers on the grill are almost done.
These high prices are a wake up call to America. Do not hit the snooze bar. Some analysts are on record as saying $12 a gallon is "inevitable." Reread that if it didn't sink in. We keep expecting the price will go down at some point - but why would it? World demand for oil is increasing as foreign economies require more to fuel their growth. And we've shown little ability to lay off the black sauce - no matter how high prices climb. Some say we can't - we built our urban and suburban communities on the availability of oil. We spread out.
We need to contract. We need to come together. Love thy neighbor again. Live closer to work. Learn to share again. Give up some of that precious space. Buy my condo - it's probably a little smaller than the master bathroom in your current house, but it's close to the beach and you might be able to walk to work.
Weaning ourselves off of oil is going to require making sacrifices. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be necessary. I just hope you didn't hear that here first.
There have been voices for years telling people to drive smarter. DECADES. There have been calls for car manufacturers to develop more fuel efficient cars. There have been demands of government to explore renewable and alternative sources of energy to subsidize our national addiction to oil. But does anything ever really change? Hasn't had to...until now.
As long as there was cheap gas, all these voices were drowned out by the revving of our nation's complicit economic engine. Lawmakers continued accepting tossed salads from the oil lobbies. Carmakers ignored the worldwide trend toward fuel efficiency, promoting size and power over miles per gallon. Consumers insisted on buying Hummers and other behemoths that get 12 miles to the gallon so they could feel more powerful on the road. In today's world, it's not a comfort thing or a safety thing - it's an ego thing. And the sooner we get over ourselves, the better off we'll be.
Because today people are pissed off.
Finally.
And the American carmakers are concerned because foreign carmakers are way ahead of them in the fuel efficiency fight. And politicians are taking note that their jobs may be at stake if they don't start forcing industry to invest in alternative energy. And people are only now realizing that when they bought that massive suburban palace 45 miles from where they work, they were tethering their future economic well-being to the price of oil.
I sit in traffic on 90/94 every day to go a lousy three miles. It's a crawl, but still faster than negotiating surface streets. And while I'm idling forward at the speed of a man recovering from hip replacement surgery, I can't help but look around and think of all the poor souls who are driving far longer distances than 3 lousy miles. And they do it twice. Every day. I pass a good three or four neighborhoods to get home everyday, but most of the people I share that same road with will keep going until the city ends, then pass three or four entire suburbs before finally getting off and heading home. Meanwhile, I've had a good jog, a warm shower, and the burgers on the grill are almost done.
These high prices are a wake up call to America. Do not hit the snooze bar. Some analysts are on record as saying $12 a gallon is "inevitable." Reread that if it didn't sink in. We keep expecting the price will go down at some point - but why would it? World demand for oil is increasing as foreign economies require more to fuel their growth. And we've shown little ability to lay off the black sauce - no matter how high prices climb. Some say we can't - we built our urban and suburban communities on the availability of oil. We spread out.
We need to contract. We need to come together. Love thy neighbor again. Live closer to work. Learn to share again. Give up some of that precious space. Buy my condo - it's probably a little smaller than the master bathroom in your current house, but it's close to the beach and you might be able to walk to work.
Weaning ourselves off of oil is going to require making sacrifices. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be necessary. I just hope you didn't hear that here first.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
SWEET FADE AWAY
I am LOVING the media coverage of the Democratic Primary tonight. Apparently, Clinton is claiming to have received more total votes than Obama. Sounds like an episode of Mythbusters may be in order. Last I checked, two of the states she's trying to count in her total, Michigan and Florida, were disfuckingqualified well before the first vote was ever cast. But she's going to go ahead and count those votes anyhow - even though Obama wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan! Nice. Further she's decided not to count the states that held Caucuses instead of elections because Caucuses don't give people an opportunity to actually cast a vote. And maybe also because Obama won HUGE in the states where they held Caucuses!
What irks me to no end is how any otherwise intelligent, rational person would be able to, at least with a straight face, get up in front of thousands of people and make a claim so transparently contrived and inaccurate! How does she do it? With conviction! Meanwhile, she's thanking the Kentucky Fried Working Class voters for another big victory. She's been campaigning there all week...I'm actually surprised she didn't do better. The headlines on all the news channels report "Hillary wins big in Kentucky." That's not news in a state full of old, white, working class people. We just saw her lean on that same base in West Virginia.
Here's some news: "Obama blows off Kentucky and still gets 30% of the vote." Amazing, really.
Here's a question for you. Do you suppose there are more people who won't vote for HIllary because she is a woman than people who won't vote for Barack because he is black? This keeps me up at night. Do the two cancel each other out? How can you poll something like that? Would anyone actually admit to NOT voting for someone because of their ethnicity or gender? We know it's happening - but how much of it is really going on? We also know people are voting FOR Hillary because she is a woman and FOR Barack because he is black. Do these votes cancel out? And why do only a third of Clinton supporters say they'll vote for Obama if he wins the nomination? Who are the other two thirds and what's their issue with the O Bomb? Would they really abandon the ticket out of spite and sentence America to another 4 years of Republican misdirection? Pull your heads out of your asses and get with the program. We're bringing change, people. And he's got a sweet fade away jumper.
What irks me to no end is how any otherwise intelligent, rational person would be able to, at least with a straight face, get up in front of thousands of people and make a claim so transparently contrived and inaccurate! How does she do it? With conviction! Meanwhile, she's thanking the Kentucky Fried Working Class voters for another big victory. She's been campaigning there all week...I'm actually surprised she didn't do better. The headlines on all the news channels report "Hillary wins big in Kentucky." That's not news in a state full of old, white, working class people. We just saw her lean on that same base in West Virginia.
Here's some news: "Obama blows off Kentucky and still gets 30% of the vote." Amazing, really.
Here's a question for you. Do you suppose there are more people who won't vote for HIllary because she is a woman than people who won't vote for Barack because he is black? This keeps me up at night. Do the two cancel each other out? How can you poll something like that? Would anyone actually admit to NOT voting for someone because of their ethnicity or gender? We know it's happening - but how much of it is really going on? We also know people are voting FOR Hillary because she is a woman and FOR Barack because he is black. Do these votes cancel out? And why do only a third of Clinton supporters say they'll vote for Obama if he wins the nomination? Who are the other two thirds and what's their issue with the O Bomb? Would they really abandon the ticket out of spite and sentence America to another 4 years of Republican misdirection? Pull your heads out of your asses and get with the program. We're bringing change, people. And he's got a sweet fade away jumper.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
OVER THE HILL
Hillary Clinton proved herself Mountain Mama of West Virginia with a landslide 2-to-1 victory over Barack Obama Tuesday night. To pull of this crushing victory, Clinton relied heavily upon her base of poor, undereducated white racists.
Again and again, state after state, Clinton has proved her appeal to this important segment - a large group of democratic voters many believe will not support for Obama when he is crowned the party's nominee, no matter how white his mother was.
Indeed, Clinton's strategy in recent weeks has been to stress the importance of capturing the broken hearts and polluted minds of poor, undereducated white racist voters - going so far as to say Obama cannot become president without their blessing.
The numbers actually support her.
In contest after contest, poor undereducated white racists overwhelmingly support Clinton. Better educated people of all races, meanwhile, have been gradually gravitating toward Obama.
Obama's campaign admits his appeal to downtrodden whites with ties to the Klan is not where they would like it to be, but says he will continue reaching out despite their generations-old bias against people of color.
The Clinton campaign also issued a statement saying that their victory in West Virginia was not the work of poor, undereducated white racists, but rather thanks to her two other key constituent groups, older Americans and blue-collar workers.
But according to a well-known democratic strategist who wished to remain anonymous, "That's just another way of saying the same thing. In West Virginia, 98% of older Americans and working-class people happen to be poor, undereducated white racists."
So there you have it.
Again and again, state after state, Clinton has proved her appeal to this important segment - a large group of democratic voters many believe will not support for Obama when he is crowned the party's nominee, no matter how white his mother was.
Indeed, Clinton's strategy in recent weeks has been to stress the importance of capturing the broken hearts and polluted minds of poor, undereducated white racist voters - going so far as to say Obama cannot become president without their blessing.
The numbers actually support her.
In contest after contest, poor undereducated white racists overwhelmingly support Clinton. Better educated people of all races, meanwhile, have been gradually gravitating toward Obama.
Obama's campaign admits his appeal to downtrodden whites with ties to the Klan is not where they would like it to be, but says he will continue reaching out despite their generations-old bias against people of color.
The Clinton campaign also issued a statement saying that their victory in West Virginia was not the work of poor, undereducated white racists, but rather thanks to her two other key constituent groups, older Americans and blue-collar workers.
But according to a well-known democratic strategist who wished to remain anonymous, "That's just another way of saying the same thing. In West Virginia, 98% of older Americans and working-class people happen to be poor, undereducated white racists."
So there you have it.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
MOW BETTA BLUES
Mow, mow, mow your lawn...gently down the stream.Now that's dedication, friends. Or OCD.
Friday, May 09, 2008
OIL IS A NON-PROFIT VENTURE
According to big oil, no one is making a dime off those astronomical prices, so I guess we should all quit our bitching...
Thursday, May 08, 2008
INTERNATIONAL ESTATES
Location, location, location. Have a look see at what your money will get for you in the U.S. real estate market versus other places in the world. It's no wonder homes here aren't selling - look what you can get if you think outside the country!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
HILLARY MEANS CHANGE!
And cash. If this guy gets a contactless reader he'll be processing credit card transactions at the speed of latte.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
BIG NEWS!
Case in point: Our media has fucked up priorities. This is a screen cap from TODAY. This is why the Reverend Wright story gets so much play - the media has nothing else to report! They're now covering wildlife emergencies. At least they found something to focus on besides the controversial ramblings of a man with an opinion. Last I checked we're allowed to have those. And Obama has stated he does not agree with many of Wright's opinions. So let's fucking move on already. Do we really need 24/7 OpEd coverage on cable news debating the authenticity of his denouncement? Who's setting the editorial agenda over there every morning?
Here's what you need to know. Obama has sealed up the nomination. It's virtually impossible for Clinton to mount any kind of an argument for the nomination when he leads her in votes, pledged delegates, states, and coolness. There are dozens of superdelegates lined up to pledge their support to Obama - it's just a matter of time before the casket closes on Hill & Bill.
In the mean time, the media is forced to manufacture controversy. This is not a good thing. It keeps us from focusing on the important differences between what Obama is offering America and John McSame's tired talking points. McSame was recently asked on a Sunday morning talk program about universal health care coverage and why it wouldn't work here. He revealed his ignorance on the topic with the rhetorical retort: "Well, look at Canada." Actually, John, looking at Canada would be an argument in FAVOR of universal health care...not against it, because it WORKS QUITE WELL IN CANADA. In fact, it works quite well in EVERY country that has it!
But the Republican talking points memorandum on Universal Health Care is to make the presumptive argument that it's not working in other countries by saying "Look at [other country]." Very clever. But thanks to Michael Moore's brilliant documentary on the state of health care in this country, we're onto the lie.
Why can't the mainstream media spend more time uncovering the truth behind some of these political falsehoods instead of peppering our attention with manufactured controversies and breaking news stories about pelicans stuck in trees?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
IF THE MEDIA IS THE MESSAGE...
...WE NEED TO KILL THE MESSENGER. Here's further proof that the 4th estate is complicit in our slow and steady collapse. They decide what is "news" and what to bury. The result is a blind, ignorant American population overdosing on a steady infusion of celebrity gossip and melodrama.
According to Media Matters:
"Since The New York Times reported on the hidden ties between media military analysts and the Pentagon on April 20, the three major broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, and NBC -- have still not mentioned the report at all, according to a Media Matters for America search* of the Nexis news database. Times reporter David Barstow wrote that "the Bush administration has used its control over access and information in an effort to transform" these military analysts, many of whom have clients with an interest in obtaining Pentagon contracts, "into a kind of media Trojan horse -- an instrument intended to shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks." As Media Matters noted, the three networks also reportedly declined to participate in a segment on the April 24 edition of PBS' NewsHour regarding the Times story; Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC also refused to appear in the PBS segment.
"By contrast, during their April 28 evening newscasts, all three broadcast networks reported on the Vanity Fair photo of Miley Cyrus, star of Disney Channel's Hannah Montana: ABC devoted about two and a half minutes to that story, while CBS and NBC each devoted about two minutes to it."
Just wanted to bring that to the attention of a wider audience.
According to Media Matters:
"Since The New York Times reported on the hidden ties between media military analysts and the Pentagon on April 20, the three major broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, and NBC -- have still not mentioned the report at all, according to a Media Matters for America search* of the Nexis news database. Times reporter David Barstow wrote that "the Bush administration has used its control over access and information in an effort to transform" these military analysts, many of whom have clients with an interest in obtaining Pentagon contracts, "into a kind of media Trojan horse -- an instrument intended to shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks." As Media Matters noted, the three networks also reportedly declined to participate in a segment on the April 24 edition of PBS' NewsHour regarding the Times story; Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC also refused to appear in the PBS segment.
"By contrast, during their April 28 evening newscasts, all three broadcast networks reported on the Vanity Fair photo of Miley Cyrus, star of Disney Channel's Hannah Montana: ABC devoted about two and a half minutes to that story, while CBS and NBC each devoted about two minutes to it."
Just wanted to bring that to the attention of a wider audience.
AROUND THE BLOCK
Here's a great timewaster. See how long you can avoid the blue blocks and black walls. Apparently 18 seconds is pretty amazing. I managed to get to 18.422 once after about a dozen or so tries. There's definitely a learning curve once you recognize the pattern.
Monday, April 28, 2008
TWO WOLVES
Thanks to Greg for passing along this insightful bit of folk wisdom:
TWO WOLVES
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'
The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'
TWO WOLVES
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'
The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
WHO TALL ARE YOU?
Love the concept here. And they put it on a mirror so you are sure to remember that, while you may be the same height as your favorite celebrity, you remain far less attractive. Go ahead...have a closer look!
TALK ABOUT THE PASSION
So I watched the Passion of the Christ this morning. Yes, this morning.
I get those Blockbuster.com DVD movies in the mail and it was kicking around, so I threw it in and gave it a go.
I have to say - good movie, but probably not the best way to get started in the morning. Wow. And definitely not with a glass of tomato juice. The savage brutality was hard to stomach. It was almost as bad as that cheerleader ambush video they've been glorifying on the nightly news.
Actually, toward the end of the gruesome flick I started recognizing a lot of parallels between the Passion of the Christ and the Crashing of the Spears. Britney, that is. Here we have this pop princess, widely revered as a cultural demi-god, held under a microscope, taunted and provoked by a bloodthirsty mob of paparazzi, collapsing under the pressure repeatedly and to the great satisfaction of the ignorant, unforgiving masses. And the relentless, bloodthirsty mob isn't content to see her suffer. No - they won't be content until the icon has been sacrificed to the great kingdom of Hollywood. And that day is coming.
But I digress. What I really wanted to say was, I recommend the film, but not at 8am. And not while you're eating.
I get those Blockbuster.com DVD movies in the mail and it was kicking around, so I threw it in and gave it a go.
I have to say - good movie, but probably not the best way to get started in the morning. Wow. And definitely not with a glass of tomato juice. The savage brutality was hard to stomach. It was almost as bad as that cheerleader ambush video they've been glorifying on the nightly news.
Actually, toward the end of the gruesome flick I started recognizing a lot of parallels between the Passion of the Christ and the Crashing of the Spears. Britney, that is. Here we have this pop princess, widely revered as a cultural demi-god, held under a microscope, taunted and provoked by a bloodthirsty mob of paparazzi, collapsing under the pressure repeatedly and to the great satisfaction of the ignorant, unforgiving masses. And the relentless, bloodthirsty mob isn't content to see her suffer. No - they won't be content until the icon has been sacrificed to the great kingdom of Hollywood. And that day is coming.
But I digress. What I really wanted to say was, I recommend the film, but not at 8am. And not while you're eating.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
IN A WORD...
Here's another one of those silly pass-around e-mails where you get to know your friends. The catch to this one? You can only respond with one word. Since I don't have any friends (no offense, friends), I am posting my one word answers here. It's just more efficient.
1. Where is your cell phone? here
2. Your significant other? there
3. Your hair? everywhere
4. Your mother? baking
5. Your father? working
6. Your favorite thing? pooping
7. Your dream last night? forgettable
8. Your favorite drink? caffeinated
9. Your dream/goal? comfort
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your ex? who?
12. Your fear? Neoconservatism
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? comfortable
14. Where were you last night? couch
15. What you're not? spontaneous
16. Muffins? mom's
17. One of your wish list items? time
18. Where you grew up? Chicago
19. The last thing you did? reeks
20. What are you wearing? grin
21. Your TV? busy
22. Your pets? shedding
23. Your computer? On
24. Your life? fun
25. Your mood? good
26. Missing someone? nope
27. Your car? empty
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29. Favorite Store? Borders
30. Your summer? busy
31. Like someone? pie
32. Your favorite color? changes
33. When is the last time you laughed? mirror
34. Last time you cried? same
35. Who will/would re-post this? whoever
1. Where is your cell phone? here
2. Your significant other? there
3. Your hair? everywhere
4. Your mother? baking
5. Your father? working
6. Your favorite thing? pooping
7. Your dream last night? forgettable
8. Your favorite drink? caffeinated
9. Your dream/goal? comfort
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your ex? who?
12. Your fear? Neoconservatism
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? comfortable
14. Where were you last night? couch
15. What you're not? spontaneous
16. Muffins? mom's
17. One of your wish list items? time
18. Where you grew up? Chicago
19. The last thing you did? reeks
20. What are you wearing? grin
21. Your TV? busy
22. Your pets? shedding
23. Your computer? On
24. Your life? fun
25. Your mood? good
26. Missing someone? nope
27. Your car? empty
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29. Favorite Store? Borders
30. Your summer? busy
31. Like someone? pie
32. Your favorite color? changes
33. When is the last time you laughed? mirror
34. Last time you cried? same
35. Who will/would re-post this? whoever
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS
The ultimate peep show. Now that's a hot, sticky mess just waiting to happen.
Happy Easter, my peeps.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
WHEN WILL COMMON SENSE PREVAIL?
I mean COME ON, people. This guy oozes leadership. He's rational. He's practical. He's optimistic. He's a thinker. He's a doer. Let's not fuck this up.
I personally can't imagine a better face for the country right now. Can you? Besides Tom Brokaw, of course. Honestly. Who's going to better lead us out of the fucking mess we're in? Collapsing economy. Racial and socioeconomic division. Crumbling infrastructure. Falling dollar. Overextended military. Growing trade deficit. Growing national debt. Wage stagnation. Gasoline nearing $4/gallon. See what one little war will do for a thriving democracy?
Make no mistake about it - America is on the decline.
More frightening than all of this are recent polls showing Obama behind McCain in a potential head-to-head. How is that even possible? Haven't we had enough of the old, institutional white guys protecting old, institutional white guys? Can we get a little new blood in charge instead of John McSame?
This guy's campaign was on life support 6 months ago. Republicans don't even like him...and he's polling ahead of one of the most exciting Presidential candidates this country has ever seen. I just don't understand America sometimes. Who are we, and what are we so afraid of? It's no wonder Canada reported its highest immigration figures ever this year. A lot of people joke about moving, but I'm starting to seriously consider it. Although, I'm thinking Norway. Happiest folks on the planet, reportedly.
Anyhow, this country is seriously fucked up beyond repair if we don't seize this opportunity and wrest control of the wheel from the fear-mongering warlords and petroleum whores. This shouldn't even be close, and the fact that it is forces me to question what is REALLY going on here.
Just think about it.
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