Wednesday, November 30, 2011

SO COOL and so goofy... must watch

It depends on what the meaning of "is" is...

Remember that line.  Clinton during question said it depended on what the meaning of "is" is.  Remember that Newt GinGrinch made constant fun of that.  GinGrinch made fun of that as he rammed Impeachment through the House of Representatives floor.  GinGrinch did this was he was cheated on his 2nd wife with his then secretary and now 3rd wife.
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Remember how funny that was.
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GinGrinch is now busy explaining that he wasn't "lobbying" for clients, he was just taking money to introduce his clients to politicians - and to expound on the wonderfulness of their positions.
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v. lob·biedlob·by·inglob·bies
v.intr.
To try to influence the thinking of legislators or other public officials for or against a specific cause: lobbying for stronger environmental safeguards; lobbied against the proliferation of nuclear arms.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

So why don't people file Chapter 11? - UPDATED

So American Airlines has filed Chapter 11, which allows them to stop funding pensions (which they agreed to), cancel routes and gate fees (which they signed up of their own fee will) and renegotiate contracts they signed, without any penalties.
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Good for them, I suppose.  The alternate might be to go under or to reduce shareholder value.
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But, given this situation, why can't underwater mortgage holders file chapter 11, and reset the mortgage balance to current value of the home?
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This isn't some "hypothetical" problem.  As long as mortgage holders are underwater (and it is thought up to 25% of them are), we haven't solved the housing problem.  House prices will continue to go down over time, which makes buying a new house a sucker's game.  And threatens anyone that has a home.
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The mortgage problem also exacerbates the employment problem, since Americans underwater on their mortgage can't  relocate to areas where employment is available (a traditionally American way to handle unemployment).  Solving the underwater issue this way allows us to resolve multiple problems.
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If corporate America can do this to remain competitive, why can't average america do this to remain competitive?  I mean besides the reason the banks (who we bailed out on the order of $870,000,000,000.00) might lose a little money.  After all, those banks overestimated the price of the home too.  In face, they were suppose to be the "experts" on value.  Didn't everyone have to get a price estimate before we got a loan?
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Updated 11/30/2011
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Eddie told me that people CAN file Chapter 11, but banks don't work to reduce principal for the peons.

So someone asked an interesting question

In discussing with a friend that I hate the phone, I was asked if I was an introvert.  Which is hilarious, except maybe not.
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When I take those personality tests, I am one of those really weird answers - so maybe the question makes sense.  Now, I generally thought my aversion to the phone was a long learned response to my parents divorce and unexpected calls.  I get a little queasy when faced with the phone, particularly if I don't know who it is.  (When I was young, I used to run out of the house when the phone rang.)
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But maybe the "introvert" question is a good one.  I don't feel like an introvert when I am with people.  In fact, I am fairly extroverted around people.
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I do worry about saying the wrong thing, or missing a non-verbal clue.  (aside - This may be surprising for those of you that know me to be a verbal wrecking ball, but it is true (less true as I drink which is why I drink less).)  But at least I can SEE what the response is.  I can pull back or plow ahead based on a lot of non-verbal signs.  AND there are normally other people around to at least hear what I say.
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On the other hand, the phone makes non-verbal clues impossible.  If someone rolls their eyes at me I can't see it (I know, I'm 50+ and if someone rolls I shouldn't give a shit, but old habits are hard to unlearn).  So I am tentative and unfocused on the phone.  I don't know if I am boring them, or they care what I say or if they are offended or what.  And it often seems what I say gets not-heard or misinterpreted via phone.  If it happens in person, I can catch it and react accordingly (hopefully dropping it - but at least I know).
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And, in my brain, I see to offend people accidentally a lot.  So I have to watch everything I say on the phone and it is exhausting.
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Just thinking aloud (online).

Stupidest "Green" Water bottle EVER

So I have been trying to use a "green" water bottle at work.  I even have one GE gave Ed, just like the one pictured, only in white.
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Problem 1 - As you fill it with water, you can't see how full it is.  This is a problem with our filtered water, because it goes a little while after to let go of the button.  I either don't get enough water, or it slops out.
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Problem 2 - See that stupid wide part above the grip area.  This is - I assume - designed to support your grip.  it is "accidentally" designed to store a little extra water... you know is there so you tip it up to finish off the water and - kabloie - it dumps all the extra water at once so that it spills on you.
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Every time it happens I promise to remember, but when I am working and thinking of other things, I forget and get soaked.
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I just threw the damn thing out.

Oh What a Morning...

You know some days when you wake up with the world at your fingertips.  A Smile on your face.  A Song in your heart.  I love those days.  When the sun is shining and you feel you have a grip on life.  That you can handle anything. Age isn't an issue.  A smile for friend and foe.
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Today is not one of those days.

One Down - One To Go

So, while I am sad to see Rick Neuhesil leave as football coach - I really did hope he would to do well - I have no such mixed feelings with regards to Ben Howland - defensive "wiz" and Miami punching bag of a basketball coach.
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Last year the Bruin faithful (both of us!) were told it was a rebuilding year, but we were loaded in 2011 / 2012.  Someone was loaded when they said that.  We stand at 2 - 4.  Having lost to Kansas, Michigan and (wait for it) Middle Tennessee State and Loyola Marymount University.  Loyola Marymount!  LMU in Playa Del Ray?  The VOLLEYBALL school! (Yes they did have an AMAZING YEAR once, 2 decades ago when they went all the way to the elite 8!).
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Our victories have been over Pepperdine (another Volleyball school) and Chaminade (the Hawaii School - not the 60's Girl Group).
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And what kind of poster boy is this for UCLA?  John Wooden wouldn't let this unshaven, uncouth sideshow  within 200 feet of his team.  God Grief Ben.  I might understand it if you were winnuing games, but if you can't win at least put a pretty team on the court.
UCLA: Employing Missing Links since 2007

Monday, November 28, 2011

I Feel Bad for him, but happy for me...

I take no joy in the news that Rick is fired.
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I am relieved, and I think it best for the school, but Rick Neuheisel was a nice guy, good alum and good quarterback in the olden days.  To see him fail so dreadfully at UCLA was not pleasant.  I wish him only the best.
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PS - Apparently we didn't have to wait until Friday!

"Reverse Momentum" - Catchy

Yikes!
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When even your hometown paper says this you know your in trouble.  As far as I can tell, the PAC 12 Championship just means we have to wait until Friday to fire Ricky.
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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Trevor says good bye to last year's Christmas Frog

Trevor has decided that last year's Christmas Frog was ready to be retired.  It is always funny to see him just decide, and then the frog is ripped up.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

UCLA is the PAC 12 Southern Division Champs - Really!

It's hard to believe.  UCLA has stumbled into the PAC 12 Southern Division Championship.  Sure, I know you are shocked - but it is true.  You see we are in the Conference with USC - the cheating school - so they are barred from post-season play due to being lying, cheating, butt-heads AND getting caught at it.
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We were suppose to win tonight to have a shot at this.  But, Utah blew it and lost to Colorado - who we BLEW OUT, and so we win even before we play USC tonight.  And, win or lose (and believe me, I would vote for lose giving our record) we have won the Southern Division.  If we lose this, we finish at 6-6 and when we lose the PAC 12 Championship Game next week -we will be 6-7 and have to petition to go to a bowl game.
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On the good side, we will debut our new Adidas uniforms which look cute.

Kids in the Candy Store

The Candy Store in question is in Philipsberg Montana.  That is me with Mom and Nick behind me.  Eddie took this and the header picture as well.
Select for Extra Large

Who's Been a Good Girl

Clearly Dora has been a very good girl.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Imagine, if you will, the Shitstorm that would happen if a bunch of people ever boo'ed First Lady Barbara or Laura Bush

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo playerI don't blame all NASCAR fans, or all southerners.  But imagine the shitstorm that would arise if Republican first ladies were boo'ed.  They trashed Hillary and now boo Michelle Obama as she is supporting veterans.
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Idiots.
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Lynn, Ed & I Went to MOMA to see the Diego Revira Murals

So, Lynn was in town on Saturday (she stayed with us after a week of training down in Brooklyn).  We decided to go see the MOMA show of the Diego Revira Murals.
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He did 8 murals for the Museum of Modern Art in 1931.  Actually, only 5 were ready by the show, the other 3 of New York were done later.  And the"Frozen Assets" was my favorite.  It was a great show.  Very cool.
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It also had a bunch of sketch work pages (done in pencil and watercolors) from his time in Moscow and New York.  Very very cool.
This was "Electric Power".
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Also, some photos of the Rockefeller Center murals he did, that were covered and torn down because they were offensive to John Rockefeller.  After the show, we walked down to 30 Rock to see the murals that were commissioned instead.  Fine and cool, but not AS cool as Diego's were.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Contrary to what you may believe, I totally am OK with Gun Ownership ... Normally

Really, I kind of get Guns in this country.  It's a thing, we have them.  I have shot skeet, I know people hunt.  It's kind of American thing.  No worries.
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However there is a blind 48 year old in New Jersey who has 14 hand-guns AND shot himself in 2008 is going to court to keep his guns.  He didn't used to be blind - he has diabetes.  But come on! A blind guy - who already shot himself once - with 14 handguns!  That is just silly.
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Chart of the Day

From Washington Post's Chris Cillizza
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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Sign # 47.b that the World is going to hell in a handbasket


Yes, that's not nerdy.
UCLA has a Quidditch Team.
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Yes, as in Harry Potter flying broomstick Quidditch Team.  I, as these youngsters say, shit you not..
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Apparently it is a highly rated Quidditch Team.  At the National Finals (!) we made it out of bracket play and then beat Southern Cal (USC - booo!) and Michigan State before losing to eventual champ Middlebury in the Quarterfinals.
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I say this not proudly, nor embarrassedly.  Simply uncomprehending - which just says I am old.

Brooms.  Those are brooms they are "flying"

Republicans Agreed to Raise Tax Revenue by (drum roll please...) lowering tax rates.

SuperCommittee To The Rescue (from the AP).
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Lower everyone's rates - and reduce deductions for the middle.  Oh ya, and tax health care benefits.
Republicans on the congressional debt-reduction supercommittee have proposed a tax overhaul that they claim would raise about $290 billion in additional taxes over the next decade. The plan limits tax breaks as a way to pay for lower tax rates and some deficit reduction. Details of the plan, as proposed by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.:
— All marginal income tax rates would be lowered by 20 percent, meaning the top rate would go from 35 percent to 28 percent and the bottom rate would go from 10 percent to 8 percent.
— The top tax rate on capital gains would remain 15 percent.
— The top tax rate on dividends would remain 15 percent.
— The estate tax would stay at 35 percent, with the first $10 million of a married couple’s estate exempt.
— The tax benefits from itemizing deductions and excluding employer-provided health insurance from taxable income would be limited to 2 percent of taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.
— A new measure of inflation would be used to adjust the tax brackets each year, resulting in more people jumping into higher tax brackets as their wages increase.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

How the First Amendment got hijacked



This originally appeared on Robert Reich's blog.
Egypt? Libya? Nope - North Carolina. Over-react much?
A funny thing happened to the First Amendment on its way to the public forum. According to the Supreme Court, money is now speech and corporations are now people. But when real people without money assemble to express their dissatisfaction with the political consequences of this, they’re treated as public nuisances and evicted.
First things first. The Supreme Court’s rulings that money is speech and corporations are people have now opened the floodgates to unlimited (and often secret) political contributions from millionaires and billionaires. Consider the Koch brothers (worth $25 billion each), who are bankrolling the Tea Party and already running millions of dollars worth of ads against Democrats.

Immortals: A Fine Movie (but not as good or as bad as I wanted)

So Eddie and I went with a friend to see Immortals last night.  I really wanted to see, and a friend from work (Kelly) really wanted to see it - and I made Eddie go cuz I wanted him to meet Kelly - a nice guy.
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Anyway, the movie was fine.  Lots of beefcake (you know, if you're into that), plenty of over-the-top Spartacus type blood and guts (which doesn't bug me like real blood and guts) and it moved apace.
This is Thesius, Henry Cavill (the next Superman).  This is him resting.
His body was crazy stupid.  I don't think anyone on the set every ate food. 
The visuals (outside of the beefcake) were AMAZING.  I really love the aesthetics of the Director, who has mainly done commercials in the past, but he also did The Fall (which I loved) and The Cell (which I couldn't see).
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Here is the problem with the movie in a nutshell, (delivered in 2 pictures).
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1. This is Kellan Lutz (who played Poseidon).  He is a handsome fellow, and whoever the wildly gay costumer was knows it.  (I say wildly gay because all the guys had costumes that showed off their torsos and all the girls had - like sheets on., he so could not be bothered with dressing girls - kind of like Oliver on Project Runway).
Kellan in Battle mode, and relaxing.  FYI - never saw him without a hat.
2. Here is Kellan Lutz outside of battled.  What is with the Bug Hat?  Turns out it is two of those spiral sea-shells, but when he walked around in this outfit, he looked like he had a golden Princess Leia wig on.
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Kellan in the  Princess Leia mode.
So I am either, go full out for the goofiness - or tone it down.  Just when I was about to laugh my ass off, some other semi-serious thing happened.
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And the accents!!!  Good for Tarrsen to pick an international cast.  But have them all pick an accent and stick with it.  Zeus spoke British English.  Thesius spoke more lightly accented, lilting British Accent. Poseidon spoke American English.  Stephen Dorf (looking buff as hell) spoke Californian so heavy I expected a "Dude, come on!" at any minute.  And the Virgin Oracle spoek with a soft Indian (dot not feather) accent.  It was disconserting in the beginning.  But as Ed said, if that was your biggest problem with reality and the movie...

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

And The Answer is... Stupid

More than once I have wondered if Rick Perry is a Liar or Stupid.  His latest plan to overhaul Washington lines right up with Stupid, not Liar.
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In a "speech" to the Tea Party that appears to be a more a rambling, incoherent set of pandering ideas designed to give cranky old Iowans a chubby, Rick Perry lines up a lot of changes that he would implement - that he is unable to act upon.
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There are "suggestions" like cutting Congresses pay in half - which he has no control over.
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Then there are changes "he would implement" that are un-constitutional.  Not that this bugged the Tea Party members he spoke to.  Their deference to the Constitution ends when it suits them.
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He would "end lifetime appointments for Federal judges".  Although this is what the Constitution calls for.
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He would "require a 2/3 vote for any tax increase" - which is unconstitutional again, but possible.  He could veto any tax increase - and it would take a 2/3 majority to overwrite it.  Of course, Barack Obama hasn't implemented ANY tax increases, but - you know- the truth is an inconvenience.
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And he would halt any federal regulations - all those Chinese manufactures that use toxic chemicals in toys and foods - hooray!
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Perhaps he is confused and thinks he is running for Grand Poobah instead of President.
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So, to me, asked and answered.  Stupid.

Two Words you don't often see in a row together "Pet Hippo"

Even worse when those 2 words are followed by "..Kills Owner".  (story)
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NOT Humphrey.  I couldn't find
a Humphrey Pic, so random hippo.
Marius Els, a farmer in South Africa, was found dead with bite wounds from his pet hippo, Humphrey. Els had spoken in the past about his relationship with Humphrey, whom he had found as a 5-month-old orphan. “Humphrey's like a son to me, he's just like a human,” Els said. “There's a relationship between me and Humphrey and that's what some people don't understand.” He was photographed earlier this year riding Humphrey’s back. The animal, however, had scared some people before, once chasing a man and his grandson into a tree and frequently breaking into a local golf course and chasing golfers. Els’s body was found in the same river from which Humphrey had been rescued.

I Can't Wait to make This Guy mascot of the Month


 So.. Early Mascot change.
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Jake Woods will totally be Mascot of the Month in December.  But I decided to roll him out early because I am so freaking impressed.  Seriously, I love this guy.
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I saw this story watching the Big 10 Network as Wisconsin played Minnesota.  You can watch it yourself at http://www.ncaa.com/buick  but then you have select [videos], go down to the 3rd on the right and select Jake Wood.  Trust me, it is worth it.  This guy is the embodiment of a good guy.
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He was an Offensive Lineman at Wisconsin.  He graduated in 2005 and went into the Marines.  He got out in 2009 after a couple of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  And then he saw the Earthquake and Hurricane hit Haiti. And he decided to hep,.
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But not just help, he figured that he, and other ex-vets, had unique skills that could be rapidly deployed to disaster sites.  So he went to Haiti, but while there he organized other Vets, Medical Vets and later other Medical personnel to volunteer.  And "Team Rubicon" was born.
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After the Tornado that hit Joplin MO, they went in as search and rescue, with the full cooperation of the authorities.
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It is easy to want to do something, but to figure it out and make it happen.  That isn't easy.
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Amazing.  He's not just Mascot of the Month (and a 1/2), but kind of a Hero.
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The Team Rubicon Site.  Select to Go There

Monday, November 14, 2011

Please do the needful

When working with Indians, they have some expressions I really like.  I think they are very polite ways of requesting things.
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Please do the needful.  This means that it isn't the person's job, but someone can / should do it.  So they have forwarded it on.  Instead of the casual America English, "Can you please pick this up."  Or the snarky, "I think you might have missed this".   You get a polite request without judgement.
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Please revert.  This means I need you to follow up and let me know what the outcome is.  Again the casual American for this is more clumsy on email, "Can you take a look at this, and let me know what the outcome is."  or "Please investigate and keep me in the loop".  Or the vaguely authoritarian, "Please update me when you have resolved this."  Instead you get the simple message that is value free.\
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They aren't American English, but they are easily recognizable.  In fact, Please Revert, is beginning to find its way into business American English because it is so value free.

Worse and Worse

2nd Mile is the youth group the (alleged) rapist set up .  And, while it does very good work, it also supplied a fresh supplied of boys to the Rapist.
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The Judge is a volunteer there, and while I am sure she did what she though was right, she was incorrect.  A Judge should excuse herself from setting bail for a co-board member, just so questions like this aren't raised.
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What kind of questions?  Well one like, "If suggested bail was 500,000 + and ankle monitor, why did you let an (alleged) child rapist off with bail of 100,000 and no monitoring?  And isn't it because you and he are board members together on a charity?"

Sunday Night Didn't End on a High Note, but Here's to a good week

So poor Eddie had a Sunday travel day that sucked.  He was suppose to come home around 3PM from The Mini-Apple to New York.  But I got a text around 3 from the Minneapolis airport that he was delayed an hour.
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I went to dinner with Lynn (who is in Brooklyn for training).  As I left, I got a text that it was another 2 hours he was to be delayed.  So he would be delayed now longer than the flight (and don't even factor in getting to the airport in time for security).
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So I trek off to the deepest darkest Brooklyn Baby Zone.  I have dinner with Lynn and a co-worker.  Actually we had to leave one restaurant where they informed us they didn't have what we ordered, one item a t a time until Lynn had ENUF!  But the second place was yummy.

And then I try to get home.  I took the A/C TO Brooklyn, but it wasn't running on the way back, so I hiked over to the 2/3.  Only to find out the 2/3 was also closed for Sunday night.  My choice was the F shuttle Bus to the F (running on the E line) or the 4/5 to Grand Central and then the shuttle home.
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So I hiked throughout Downtown Brooklyn to get to the 4/5 "passageway" (a long stinky underground sewer that connects 2 or more subway tunnels).  Get through it, thanking my good fortune for being constantly stuffed up due to allergies) and wait for the train, which takes a while on a Sunday night - only to almost miss it because I was on the wrong direction track (I do admit to getting turned around in sewers - and the signs that said "New Lots" and "Flatbush" make no sense to me.  In Manhattan it is either "Uptown / Downtown" which makes sense of "Brooklyn / Bronx" also makes sense.).  But I did race to the train and made it home with only a quick transfer at Union Square.
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Meanwhile, somewhere in the Mid-west, Ed waited until late to board his plane so as not to go crazy during the mad dash - only to have no overhead space.  So they checked his bag to Newark.  NOT gate-check (which means you wait on the jetway), but Check Check. AS in go down, wait until the baggage bopys stop smoking and hope your bag shows up.
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Here's to a better week.  It is starting off cold, ugly and overcast - so I got that going for me.  And, in walking Trevor I saw a Bum Fight and a homeless guy being hauled into an ambulance.
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Ah... Life in the cultural capital of the world.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

What a Wretched Week-End and Fucked Time to Be Alone

Ed is on a long planned trip to his family for the week-end.  It was a great trip and I am thrilled for him, he had fun.
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But what a wretched week-end it has been.  Week-end football, an escape, has been a constant reminder that people can be vile disgusting creatures.
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You see the Penn State College Football team spent the week-end trying to come to gripes with their hero being fallible.  No ones likes to admit that.  Much less that this man, so looked up to, could condone, if only by silence, the rape of a 10 year old child in his locker room.  And the continued access to the locker room by the rapist.  In the name of what? Friendship?  Camaraderie? Utter devaluation of life of children?
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Make no mistake, JoPa wasn't the worst.  He was merely aggressively ignorant, preferring to stay that way.  And I get it.  I get not wanting to follow up on someone close to you doing something so vile.  (The heavy and ugly overtones pertain to my father, long since dead.  Nothing recent and ugly.  Only old and ugly.)

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Well, as for jumping to online life... The fact that the rapist screwed a little boy has allowed the cranks on the internet to begin to scream that this is what faggots do,you see.  If the people that hate me would only take an ounce of that hatred towards fags, and turn it towards the man who screwed kids, I would be happy.  But there have already been pages and pages written about how this means gays shouldn't get married.  I am too tired to even point out that the (alleged) perpetrator was legally married to a woman.  This (alleged) piece of shit shouldn't be held up as a validation of anything, except perhaps chemical castration.

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So in an attempt to distract myself, I decided to go see a play with friends.  It was a vane and worthless attempt.   Long story short (too late), the friends couldn't go and I went by myself.  To see a well acted, well written story of the birth of an attractive, charming, sociopath.  One who destroyed people  because, well you know, he was charming and cute and could.
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Not the thing to see to put one in the mood of flowers and puppies.
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I am taking the phone off the hook, putting on my headphones and hunkering down until Ed comes home and Monday arrives.  The internet, college football, TV and theater ruined for me for a while.  And that is fucked.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Eddie is in Minnesota at the Game

Eddie is with his brothers at the Wisconsin / Minnesota game.  His team is not being nice to his nephew's team.
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It seems the Sean is taking it in stride though.  I hope Ed isn't being too mean.

Where's Waldo

Here is the thing with Trevor. He will wake up one morning growling for no reason.
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This morning he was looking out the window and growling. Which means, normally, big ass boat on the river. But there were no boats this morning.
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And so you get to play Where's Waldo, while you say, "It's OK Trev. It's OK."
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But Trevor doesn't believe you until you can point out what is different.
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So I look and look and look and finally spot it. That is a new crane in the upper left of the picutre. I have to hold Trevor up, point at the crane and say, in my best 7 Friggin' AM voice, "Look Buddy. It's just a crane; it's okay if it moves."
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Crap, this means a new buildingis going up and there will be a few weeks until he is used to seeing guys working on the outside of the building.
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Stupid OCD dog.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Remembrance Day

So whether you call it Remembrance Day, Veterans' Day or Poppy Day, it is a day to take a moment and remember those who fought for the good of all of us.  Not just the dead, but those that fought and came back as well.
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Thank you.

Beyond Nincompoopery....


Beyond Nincompoopery… Republicans on the “Super Committee” has offered up $300 Billion in New Tax Revenue.  How will they get this “new” revenue?  By making the Bush Tax Cuts permanent and further lowering tax rates on the most wealthy to 28%.
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What are they smoking – and where can I get some equivalently good shit? 
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Taxes rates under Clinton were higher and we had a surplus.  Tax Rates under Bush the Younger went down and we have a deficit.  Republicans want to lower tax rates again and reduce the deficit.  Unless "reduce the deficit" means - make it bigger, this is stupid.
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With this logic... then UCLA is on the way to becoming a National Football Powerhouse, by losing games.  Then... Idaho Senator Craig and Nevada Senator Ensign were showing their commitment to monogamy by having sex with men in restrooms and with female contributors (respectively).  Then... Joe Pa proved his commitment towards clean college football by letting a child rapist shower with underprivileged youth.
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In related news House Speaker Barbie-Tans-A-Lot says up is down, unless Obama agrees, in which that is an asinine position. Mitt Romney can’t commit that black is or is not white - but he should get back to us soon. And Rick Perry says the whole thing is a circus not worthy of Huey, Dewy or.. you know.. that other nephew of Donald’s… umm.. Piglet?

Some Days They Really Don't Make Any Sense

So, most days the Empire State Building is lit up in homage to something.  A couple of days ago it was for "make believe".  For the next 3 nights it is Red, White & Blue for Veterans' Day.
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Last night, it was these garish colors.  I saw they as I went to get some water and they all but hurt my eyes.
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Last time it looked kind of like this, the Giants and the Jets were both in the playoff,s and each got 1/2 the building.  And so I thought, what could these ugly colors be?
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The official site said it was ESB Private Lighting.  That would be Empire State Building showing off what it can do.  To ill effect, I think.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Eh.. what? okay. .Next.


Herman Cain, the unlikely leader in the polls, got the night's first question. "Italy is on the brink of financial disaster," said Maria Bartiromo. "It is the world's seventh largest economy. As president, what will you do to make sure that their problems do not take down the U.S. Financial system?"
His answer was 176 words. None of those words were "Italy," "Europe," or "banks." Here's what we did get: "Just like a dollar must be a dollar when we wake up in the morning, just like 60 minutes is in an hour, a dollar must be a dollar." And: "This administration has done nothing but put stuff in the caboose, and it's not moving this economy." These lines sound slightly garbled, as if Cain was struggling to answer an unexpected question. In fact, they're both lines that Cain has used many times before, in response to questions that had nothing to do with Italy or Europe.

VERY Cool Show opening in a few weeks...

This show is opening at MOMA.  I am copying the words here.  It sounds GREAT.  AND it will show the plans for what John Rockefeller didn't approve for 30 Rock (for a good interpretation of this event - watch "The Cradle Will Rock" with John Cuzack as Rockefeller).
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Diego Rivera was the subject of MoMA’s second monographic exhibition (the first was Henri Matisse), which set new attendance records in its five-week run from December 22, 1931, to January 27, 1932. MoMA brought Rivera to New York six weeks before the exhibition’s opening and gave him studio space within the Museum, a strategy intended to solve the problem of how to present the work of this famous muralist when murals were by definition made and fixed on site. Working around the clock with two assistants, Rivera produced five “portable murals”—large blocks of frescoed plaster, slaked lime, and wood that feature bold images drawn from Mexican subject matter and address themes of revolution and class inequity. After the opening, to great publicity, Rivera added three more murals, now taking on New York subjects through monumental images of the urban working class and the social stratification of the city during the Great Depression. All eight were on display for the rest of the show’s run. The first of these panels, Agrarian Leader Zapata, is an icon in the Museum’s collection.
This exhibition will bring together key works made for Rivera’s 1931 exhibition, presenting them at MoMA for the first time in nearly 80 years. Along with mural panels, the show will include full-scale drawings, smaller working drawings, archival materials related to the commission and production of these works, and designs for Rivera’s famous Rockefeller Center mural, which he also produced while he was working at the Museum. Focused specifically on works created during the artist’s stay in New York, this exhibition will draw a succinct portrait of Rivera as a highly cosmopolitan figure who moved between Russia, Mexico, and the United States, and will offer a fresh look at the intersection of art making and radical politics in the 1930s. MoMA will be the exhibition’s sole venue

Simply a Load of Crapola - and the Truth

So, I will copy Joan Walsh's simple explanation under the fold.  But here is the crux... (and here, a link)
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 If the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 effectively caused the Wall Street meltdown of 2007 by forcing banks to make bad home loans to improvident poor people (and we all know exactly who I mean), how come it took 30 years for the housing bubble to burst?
Full Story

Good Grief Folks... They Are Penguins

Okay look.  Nobody likes penguins more than me.  And nobody likes gays more than me (I said likes gays, not has liked more gays - get your mind out of the gutter).  Look, here is a picture of me chatting up the penguins in South Africa.

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But, "Save the gay penguins".  Really!
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They aren't going to electroshock these 2, or force them to attend Marcus Bachmann's Training Academy for Boys Who Like Boys.  They are just trying to mate these 2 to increase a threatened population.  Afterwards, they are willing to let them go back to cuddling with each other.  I mean if it wasn't so hard to - you know - collect the necessary fluids, they would probably invitro them.
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And, so .. ease up kids.  No one is forcing them drive a minivan and reject Lady Gaga - it is simply a matter of saving a species.



Amazing to Watch Someone Grow since I have been in New York

So, one of the amazing AMAZING things in New York has been the theater.  I have loved it!
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In particular, I have got to review a ton of new work - some great, some good, some terrible (I'm looking at you every talking vagina I have had to listen to!).  But one of the truly wonderful and remarkable things has been to see the growth of individuals.
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I first saw Charles Socarides in a little off-Broadway show so small he doesn't even have it on his resume.  The show was good, but he blew me away.  Here was a near kid giving life to a role that wasn't really all that convincingly written, making me care about the troubles of a privileged rich kid racked with guilt.  But I bought every second of it.
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Last night I saw him in Sons of the Prophet at the Roundabout, with major talents (Joanna Gleason and Santonio Fontana!), and he was amazing.  He has a supporting role, but he is a critical catalyst in multiple scenes.
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And he nailed it.
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No surprise to me, but thrilling none the less.  It helped, of course, that Santonio Fontana, the lead, and he had this amazing rapport and chemistry.  They worked great together, even when they worked in opposition.
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Whatever, I am blathering.  Go see it.  Go see Santonio and Joanna and be amazed by the rest of the cast as well.  Particular Charles - all growed up and acting his ass off :-).
Charles (on right) isn't nearly as stiff on stage as this smile would suggest :-) 
Santonio and Charles in Sons of the Prophet

Oops

Someone said with enough cameras in the hands of enough people, someone will get a picture of a UFO.
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Not yet, but someone did get a picture of the exact moment a campaign collapsed.
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To quote Rick Perry, "Oops."
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Wednesday, November 09, 2011

I Like the "Right To Rent" Idea


So I think the whole "Right to Rent" concept is a simple and workable idea to resolve our current issues (and hence will never get approval from Congress).
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Here is the idea as expressed by me in round terms.
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1. If you are underwater on your home, but up to date on payments - you can turn it over to the bank with no hit to your credit.
2. You can stay in the home for at least a year for a fair rent decided by a 3rd party based on local rents.  That rent goes to the Bank.
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Sure they banks lose some of the investments, but that is happening anyway, but in slow motion.  And this slow motion foreclosure is not long term drag on the economy, but is effecting everyone else's equity AND is slwoing down the economy.
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The only "gift" the homeowner gets is.. no hit to his credit.  It doesn't reward people with lower loan balances or anything.  In fact, it only "rewards" home owners that are current on their mortgage.
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And sure, the banks take a  hit, but so does the owner.  His paid equity is gone.  Both the owner and the bank bet on the equity and the price of the house going up.  If the house didn't appreciate, they both lose.  But this way, they both come out acceptable.  The owner gets to stay in his house for a while, the bank gets a reasonable rate or return AND the bank has an asset that isn't an abandoned house.  The entire neighborhood gets the benefit of occupied homes.

This is who is leaking Herman Cain details....

I think many (most) people are missing the point about Herman Cain.
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Let's think about this logically.  He can't win.  He doesn't have a operation in place, he has no experience and no money.  He cannot win - and he knows it.  Because he is NOT stupid.
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So, what is in it for him.  Selling books and increasing ratings for his radio show. And for those purposes, these allegations only help him.  They raise his visibility and make him a victim of the "Liberal Left Wing", which helps him sell books.
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So what if the "democratic machine" or "liberal media" or "high tech lynching" is a lie, and a proven lie at that?  He doesn't care.  Because there are 25% of the people who believe him.  And he just needs to make those people - who think Herman Cain is being persecuted, buy his book.  He is after money, not the Presidency, because that really is the American Dream.
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I think these details were leaked by Herman Cain himself.  What better way to raise awareness, while giving you a nice out from the drudgery of a campaign?  It even gives him a whole set of chapters in his next book.
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Also, think about it.  We will won't elect a candidate named Herman with the memory of Herman Munster in our collective heads.

Somebody (web site) woke Up on the Wrong side of the Bed

These blurbs from Salon show a cranky side this morning.  You think the good (you know for the lefties) election news would make them happy. Apparently not.