Friday, August 29, 2008
Governor Palin
One thing about Obama's pick of Biden as VP, it meant that people would say, "oh, hey, great choice" and move on, because we already know all about Biden, good and bad. There isn't any getting to know you type media coverage needed, because he was just a serious candidate for president this past fall.
With Palin, it's different, we get to spend time learning about her. Like the fact that she named her daughters after television characters (that also happened to be witches). And the fact that she thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.
http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html
So, kudos to McCain for picking a woman, I think that's great for America. Let's see what we learn about her in the next few days, and then we'll get to decide, was this pick smart, or was it utterly ridiculous? So far, given what I've seen from McCain in this campaign, my money is on ridiculous.
Duke football
Yes, I know, nobody cares about Duke football, but I'm an Iron Duke, so I kind of care. Plus, just got this email regarding Saturday's game.
Is James Madison even a Division 1 team? And we sold out the stadium? This is sweet.Here are a few important reminders for this Saturday's football home opener versus James Madison at 7:00 pm.
We are expecting a capacity crowd. We encourage all fans to arrive at the stadium early to avoid traffic and long lines.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Iraqi politicians prefer 2010
Much was made of this fact a few weeks ago, that the Iraqi leadership wants the US out of Iraq, and wants us out in 2010. It was big news, because that timeline is pretty much what Obama has been proposing for months. It seemed to really undercut Bush/McCain on the issue, and for some reason, it has dropped out of the national news.
Now we have this story, which is that in recent negotiations, the Bush team requested a 2015 withdrawal date, while the Iraqis said, nope, we want you out by 2010. They compromised and came up with 2011.
Think about this for a second. A democratically elected government in Iraq is asking us to leave, and we say, no, let's stay longer. In fact, let's stay 5 years longer than you want. The Bushies obviously have some leverage (i.e. the Iraqis still need us) so they were able to get it pushed out to 2011. But we are basically an occupying force, and the Iraqis want us out, and we are saying, nah, we like it here, we might even build some summer cottages and stay awhile.
Does the average American get this? That we are basically paying billions of dollars a month and risking peoples lives to stay in a country that wants us out ASAP and we keep begging to stay longer?!?!
I need a drink.
Now we have this story, which is that in recent negotiations, the Bush team requested a 2015 withdrawal date, while the Iraqis said, nope, we want you out by 2010. They compromised and came up with 2011.
Think about this for a second. A democratically elected government in Iraq is asking us to leave, and we say, no, let's stay longer. In fact, let's stay 5 years longer than you want. The Bushies obviously have some leverage (i.e. the Iraqis still need us) so they were able to get it pushed out to 2011. But we are basically an occupying force, and the Iraqis want us out, and we are saying, nah, we like it here, we might even build some summer cottages and stay awhile.
Does the average American get this? That we are basically paying billions of dollars a month and risking peoples lives to stay in a country that wants us out ASAP and we keep begging to stay longer?!?!
I need a drink.
We can't do anything right
Seriously, everybody knows now that the Iraq invasion was a mistake. But hey, while we're there, can't we, like, steal all their oil or something?
China and Iraq have signed a $3 billion deal revising an earlier agreement for China's biggest oil company to help develop the Ahdab oil field, an official at the Iraq's Oil Ministry said Thursday.
Damn! Those Chinese again! We invaded this country and spent trillions getting rid of Hussein, the least Iraq can do for us in return is just give us all their oil! Bunch of ingrates. And now they're off making deals with the GOP's next big enemy! This must all be too much for Kristol and the Weekly Standard folks to bear.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/08/china_hails_3_billion_oil_deal.php
Great night in Denver
Everybody seemed to do pretty well last night, Clinton, Biden, but I was shocked at how good John Kerry was. He really hit McCain hard with some quotes and lines that I think Obama should be using more often, maybe in some TV ads.
I've seen some discussion today saying things like "well, if Kerry had been that good 4 years ago, he'd be running for re-election". Which got me thinking - there seems to be an upside, in some cases, to being a loser of a national election. Jimmy Carter, loses in 1980, becomes one of our greatest ex-presidents. GW Bush, loses in 1992, and went on to be active in a bipartisan way with Clinton post Katrina. Gore lost, became a much, much better communicator, and gets a Nobel Prize.
I think losing on such a big stage like that probably does a few things. It certainly must make you humble, which some of these politicians could certainly use. I think a more important fact might be that it has to be a very liberating thing to lose a big election. You've been working your whole life trying to be president, managing your image, managing your words, and with all that self-control, you still lose? Heck, why not let loose a little and see how that works? Certainly couldn't hurt now, right?
As a result we get people who (after losing) are willing to be more candid, more self-deprecating, more honest, and in some cases more willing to throw a punch, than they were before. I think that's what's going on with John Kerry now, and I hope Obama sees this too and gets him out on the trail more to help out.
I've seen some discussion today saying things like "well, if Kerry had been that good 4 years ago, he'd be running for re-election". Which got me thinking - there seems to be an upside, in some cases, to being a loser of a national election. Jimmy Carter, loses in 1980, becomes one of our greatest ex-presidents. GW Bush, loses in 1992, and went on to be active in a bipartisan way with Clinton post Katrina. Gore lost, became a much, much better communicator, and gets a Nobel Prize.
I think losing on such a big stage like that probably does a few things. It certainly must make you humble, which some of these politicians could certainly use. I think a more important fact might be that it has to be a very liberating thing to lose a big election. You've been working your whole life trying to be president, managing your image, managing your words, and with all that self-control, you still lose? Heck, why not let loose a little and see how that works? Certainly couldn't hurt now, right?
As a result we get people who (after losing) are willing to be more candid, more self-deprecating, more honest, and in some cases more willing to throw a punch, than they were before. I think that's what's going on with John Kerry now, and I hope Obama sees this too and gets him out on the trail more to help out.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Hillary done good
Well, I didn't get to see Hillary's speech last night, but I have read it, and it seems like she did a great job of trying to rally people to Obama. Even if she's been less than sincere about that in recent weeks.
I'd like to see a Hillary-now-McCain supporter on TV (there are a lot of them granting interviews in Denver) respond to this quote from Hillary:
I'd like to see a Hillary-now-McCain supporter on TV (there are a lot of them granting interviews in Denver) respond to this quote from Hillary:
I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?Fair question, which is it? Do you believe in issues or do you believe in personalities? Reminds me of a question frequently asked in Latin America, are you a nation of laws or a nation of men (um, women)?
Monday, August 25, 2008
Basketball gold medal
First of all, hurray! We won a gold medal in men's basketball that should really just belong to us, sort of like the Statue of Liberty. Countries should have to invade in order to get this away from us.
That being said, I was one of a few who was worried three years ago that what's good for America is bad for Duke. I'm still not convinced that it's otherwise. After the win, here's what one columnist said:
That being said, I was one of a few who was worried three years ago that what's good for America is bad for Duke. I'm still not convinced that it's otherwise. After the win, here's what one columnist said:
"...Krzyzewski... will be fending off monster contract offers from roughly 28 of the 30 NBA teams. If Coach K can get 12 skillionaire superstars to meld their individual brilliance into a team effort, he has a secret mojo that is priceless."
That is all fine and dandy, but HE ALREADY HAS A JOB! Leave him the *&^%$ alone!Friday, August 22, 2008
Sex at the Olympics
This is a fantastic insider account of what it's like to be an athlete in the Olympic village once the competition is over. They sound.. um... excited, to say the least.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4582421.ece
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4582421.ece
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
cats and dogs, living together
Growing up, my family always raised cattle. It was a hobby, never really relied on it for money, but still, everything I and my family knows about farming has to do with beef cattle.
So, here we are, years later, and our farm has been idle for a while. Mainly because: once I left home, my dad didn't have cheap labor anymore. He sold all the cows, got a riding lawn mower, and got really lazy. Along comes my brother-in-law, who decides he wants to raise sheep.
Now, for those of you who don't know this, it's a historical fact: cattle ranchers and sheep herders don't get along. In the old west, they used to shoot at each other. Shepherds like fences, cowboys like open range, etc, etc. So, not only is my brother-in-law brazenly acting in opposition to family tradition, but he's also dragged my dad into it. Neither of them know anything about raising sheep, they are buying books on Amazon to try and learn, and sheep keep doing dumb things that cows would never do. Stupid sheep.
Anyway, my point is this. I try to be an optimist. The only good thing we've gotten out of this is a really great sheep dog named Rosco. I'm a dog lover in general, but this guy has really won me over. Two pics coming, one of him with my nephew, and one of him taking my mom's dog Molly for a walk. He's apparently going to be 140 pounds some day, God help us...
So, here we are, years later, and our farm has been idle for a while. Mainly because: once I left home, my dad didn't have cheap labor anymore. He sold all the cows, got a riding lawn mower, and got really lazy. Along comes my brother-in-law, who decides he wants to raise sheep.
Now, for those of you who don't know this, it's a historical fact: cattle ranchers and sheep herders don't get along. In the old west, they used to shoot at each other. Shepherds like fences, cowboys like open range, etc, etc. So, not only is my brother-in-law brazenly acting in opposition to family tradition, but he's also dragged my dad into it. Neither of them know anything about raising sheep, they are buying books on Amazon to try and learn, and sheep keep doing dumb things that cows would never do. Stupid sheep.
Anyway, my point is this. I try to be an optimist. The only good thing we've gotten out of this is a really great sheep dog named Rosco. I'm a dog lover in general, but this guy has really won me over. Two pics coming, one of him with my nephew, and one of him taking my mom's dog Molly for a walk. He's apparently going to be 140 pounds some day, God help us...
weird things I like...
I love quotes by famous people that basically make me say "I wish I had said that". Here are a couple for today.
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."
--Mark Twain
--Michael Phelps
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Financing
Things will get worse before they get better:
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSSP21695020080819
i.e. wait a few more months before buying that new house. Prices are going down, and mortgages will get easier. Try 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSSP21695020080819
i.e. wait a few more months before buying that new house. Prices are going down, and mortgages will get easier. Try 2009.
Informed readers
Interesting article about informed readers. Atlantic readers rate the highest.
http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=1356
Another interesting tidbit, people who listen to Rush are a) better informed and b) better educated than people who watch John Stewart. Maybe that's because John gets more viewers who are still in college, and thus don't count as grads yet, but still. Very interesting.
http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=1356
Another interesting tidbit, people who listen to Rush are a) better informed and b) better educated than people who watch John Stewart. Maybe that's because John gets more viewers who are still in college, and thus don't count as grads yet, but still. Very interesting.
McCain wasn't tortured...
.. if you believe Bush/Cheney's definition of the word. All the things John McCain endured in prison camp are techniques that this administration uses against detainees. Oh, and John McCain, by supporting the Military Commissions act, in effect says that you should respect him because he endured torture for his country, but that it's ok for us to torture detainees. Huh?
The various ways in which Republican logic breaks down with even the smallest amount of scrutiny is really just beyond what a rational individual can tolerate. Trust us with the budget, although we've doubled the national debt in 8 years. Trust us on national security, although we are clearly incompetent at finding guys like Bin Laden and rebuilding Afghanistan.
No rational person should be able to buy into all this, which means that Republican messages have to be about emotion, and not reason. Symbolism helps too. Things like patriotism, winning wars, freedom, etc are all things that everybody likes, but that everybody defines differently. So there's no downside to wrapping yourself in those and hoping that it works in terms of getting people to vote for you.
Interestingly, Obama does the same thing, with words like hope and change. But he also provides enough depth to his policy discussions so that there's something in his message for everybody.
The various ways in which Republican logic breaks down with even the smallest amount of scrutiny is really just beyond what a rational individual can tolerate. Trust us with the budget, although we've doubled the national debt in 8 years. Trust us on national security, although we are clearly incompetent at finding guys like Bin Laden and rebuilding Afghanistan.
No rational person should be able to buy into all this, which means that Republican messages have to be about emotion, and not reason. Symbolism helps too. Things like patriotism, winning wars, freedom, etc are all things that everybody likes, but that everybody defines differently. So there's no downside to wrapping yourself in those and hoping that it works in terms of getting people to vote for you.
Interestingly, Obama does the same thing, with words like hope and change. But he also provides enough depth to his policy discussions so that there's something in his message for everybody.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Bikinis are not torture
Ah, I'm back from the beach, sporting a nice tan. Let me tell you, California beach towns (from Santa Barbara south) are really monuments to immodesty. The number of men and women I saw strutting around in almost nothing, in places like grocery stores, was almost silly. Almost.
Gotta love Laguna Beach!
And if that's not enough, here's another reason why California rocks. It's the only state to threaten people who participate in torture with legal action.
http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0814-15.htm
Gotta love Laguna Beach!
And if that's not enough, here's another reason why California rocks. It's the only state to threaten people who participate in torture with legal action.
http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0814-15.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
