Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy

1) Rotary phones and party lines
2) Writing a check to yourself and signing the back to get cash
3) Sitting in a chair in the sky

I read about a woman who celebrated her 100 year birthday recently and began pondering all the changes her has seen in her lifetime..... commercialization of airlines, radio, TV, internet, medical advances, an agricultural to an industrial to an information society, the proliferation of the automobile.... it's mind boggling.

CowPots

THE PRODUCERS Matt Freund, above, and his brother turned manure at their farm into flowerpots.

Honestly, the article isn't all that, I just liked the pic.

How Bloggers Are Killing Newspapers

Yesterday San Francisco's CBS station ran a piece about how blogs are killing newspapers, using the example of how many blogs used the SF Chronicle's story about legalizing marijuana as a source. The SF Chronicle researched and wrote the story, but thousands of bloggers posted to it.

One way to increase traffic to the SF Chronicle (or any other newspaper's website) is not allow bloggers the ability to "copy and paste", but only allow links, innit? That would increase traffic to newspaper website's that actually do the investigating reporting. No? And increase their advertising revenue. Yes?

The video link above allows a link, but it can't be embedded. Maybe there are catching on....Maybe?

Rosie Goes Dry

Rosie O'Donnell goes dry: "I stopped drinking on Dec. 1. On Nov. 29, I was with my son, who is now 13, and I said to him, 'Park, can you get me a beer?' And he said, 'No I don't want to,' " she says. "And I said, 'Really why not?' And he says, 'Because you know what, I think you drink too much beer ... Lately I think it's too much.'... He says, 'There's a drunk club, I forget what it's called, but you have to like be really drunk to get in, I don't know if they'd let you in, but you could ask them for tips.'"

Those darn kids! They can't even get a beer anymore without mouthing off!

Mickey Rourke's Speech Independent's Spirit Awards

This is probably why the Academy went with Sean Penn for Best Actor....

Find the White Guy...

Katie Couric took note of the diverse tableau at the podium: "Nice to see a little diversity, with an African-American President, a female Speaker of the House, and there's the white guy."

Not Photoshopped

The Crevasse - Making of 3D Street Art

Commenter Wrote: Great video, but I'm greater....haha

A few more pics here

Shiller: House Prices Still Way Too High

Professor Robert Shiller stopped by TechTicker last week. Video here. Key points below.

1) House prices are still only halfway back down to fair value.
2) Prices don't usually stop at fair value.
3) Obama's plan won't turn house prices around.


Commenter Jay Points Out: The chart doesn't quite tell the whole story... demand for housing should drive the chart to well below the 100 level.

1. Baby boomers retiring don't require large houses.
2. Loans (money) to sub prime borrowers will probably decrease.
3. Jobs are becoming more scarce.
4. Real estate taxes wil probably stay the same or increase making real estate a non-investment. etc....

Top Ten Banks.... Then and Now

Top ten banks by market cap; then (October 31st, 2007) vs. now (February 20th, 2009):And this is AFTER the billions of dollars in government "investments".

(Via economic data.)

Wearing My Free-Market Economist Hat

....hearing Greenspan - a staunch defender of free markets - say:

“It may be necessary to temporarily nationalize some banks in order to facilitate a swift and orderly restructuring.”

is short of remarkable. Possibly the last, and necessary, fix to the current financial crisis (if you don't count international countries). At this point, it seems almost inevitable that the U.S. government will become stockholders of some very large banks, regardless what the Obama administrations is currently saying. Once this occurs, it should take a year or more (smile), for the economy to start growing again, but not without significant inflation.

Krugman best lays out the case for the nationalization of failed banks.

First, some major banks are dangerously close to the edge — in fact, they would have failed already if investors didn’t expect the government to rescue them if necessary.

Second, banks must be rescued. The collapse of Lehman Brothers almost destroyed the world financial system, and we can’t risk letting much bigger institutions like Citigroup or Bank of America implode.

Third, while banks must be rescued, the U.S. government can’t afford, fiscally or politically, to bestow huge gifts on bank shareholders.

And TIME, and TIME, again, taking equity positions in real estate assets and bank assets during economic depressed times, reaps healthy profits when the economy turns around. So instead of giving banks capital and forgiving homeowners of their mortgages, the government SHOULD take equity positions in return for capital and debt forgiveness. In a couple of years, taxpayers will be the benefactors when the government sells their equity positions at the top of the market. It's not that difficult of a concept.

(Via NY Times)

Switching to Digital TV

LOL, LOL.....GRANNY ROCKS

Chris Brown a victim too??

This is harsh, but interesting.. I have more to say later.... The hip-hop community seems to be sitting tight, without much to say either....

Screenwriter for gay-activist movie 'Milk'

I met Dustin back in 2001 when he brought a film of his "On the Bus" to the DC film festival. I guess that means I'm famous too!

No Bailout For GM & Chrysler

Years ago I read, Thomas Friedman's book "Beirut to Jerusalem". The book provided level-headed insight to the Middle-East. And once again he's making sense, let the automotive companies fail.

Sorry, friends, but this is not the American way. Bailing out the losers is not how we got rich as a country, and it is not how we’ll get out of this crisis.

G.M. has become a giant wealth- destruction machine — possibly the biggest in history — and it is time that it and Chrysler were put into bankruptcy so they can truly start over under new management with new labor agreements and new visions. When it comes to helping companies, precious public money should focus on start-ups, not bailouts.

(Via NY Times)

Recession? Five More Years!

Krugman, Winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Economics and NY Times columnist, says at least five years before this recession is over. Five more years of low growth and high unemployment. It appears even the Fed concurs (to some extent).

As Krugman points out, economically speaking, short of a World War there doesn't appear to be any monetary or fiscal mechanisms available to bring us out of this recession. Sit back and enjoy it!? What else can you do, eh? Carry on...

The closest 19th-century parallel I can find to the current slump is the recession that followed the Panic of 1873. That recession did eventually end without any government intervention, but it lasted more than five years, and another prolonged recession followed just three years later.

You can see, then, why some Fed officials are so pessimistic.

(Via NY Times)

Time to Invest?.... for China, Yes

With Cash to Spend, China Starts Investing Globally

While the U.S. is trying to jump start bank lending efforts and rid it's financial sector of toxic assets (CDS, derivatives, and sub-prime mortgages), China is using it's HUGE CASH RESERVES to buy the world.

After nine-eleven, the news media and Bush Administration repeatedly promulgated the world has changed as we known it. Have traveled internationally prior and post 9-11, I can tell you the world didn't change post 9-11, America did for a few years, but by 2005 it was almost back to it's pre 9-11 existence.

After this economic turn down, the world is going to change. Countries like China, India, and Brazil will become economic powers to contend with.

Greenspan Calls for Nationalization of Banks

Wow, that's a big one. Mr. "defender of untrammeled laissez-faire" now thinks troubled banks should be nationalized. Its seems inevitable, especially with the new bank loss estimates vs. capital.

Most recently, Greenspan's ideological journey has taken an abrupt left turn. On February 18, the Financial Times reported that the one-time libertarian devotee of Ayn Rand now thinks the government might be best advised to take over 'lemon' banks. "It may be necessary to temporarily nationalize some banks in order to facilitate a swift and orderly restructuring," he said in an interview.

This is probably the best article: The Oracle Or The Master Of Disaster? about Greenspan and the current economic crisis I've read.

I've have shunned the Huffington Post for the NY Times and even the WSJ.com. But neither would/could write an article as concise and accurate as this on Greenspan. New Media taking over? I think yes.

Also, Staunchly Conservative Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also calling for the nationalization of banks. Its seems inevitable.

Several Republicans have offered support for the concept of nationalization, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), who said nationalization should be considered during an appearance Sunday on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

"This idea of nationalizing banks is not comfortable," said Graham, a close ally of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "But I think we have gotten so many toxic assets spread throughout the banking and financial community throughout the world that we're going to have to do something that no one ever envisioned a year ago, no one likes."

(Via Huffington Post)

Testing New Stock Market Lows

Everybody seemed to expect the Nov. 20 lows would be tested this spring. And they ARE. Question now does the market stay at this level until 3Q 09, when most economist predict the first signs of improvement? I think so.

Stocks slumped to new lows as worries about the economy and the financial sector continued to keep investors on the sidelines.

After coming close twice this week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new bear-market low, finishing down 89.68 points, or 1.2%, at 7465.95, more than 86 points below its close on Nov. 20. It was the Dow's lowest close since Oct. 9, 2002, the trough of the previous bear market.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index slid 1.2% to 778.94, its lowest close since 752.44 on Nov. 20. Its financial sector was down 5.3%. A month of bearish options trading is weighing on bank stocks as options expiration looms Friday.

(via WSJ.com)

The Dow's miserable finish -- its worst since Oct. 9, 2002, when the last bear market hit bottom -- deepened concerns that the markets' downturn is far from over. It also provided a clear sign that investors don't see a quick end to the worst global slowdown in decades despite the unprecedented intervention in economies and markets by governments around the world.

''People just don't know where the bottom is,'' said Desmond Tjiang, Hong Kong-based chief investment officer at Fortis Investment Management, which manages $3 billion in Asian equities.

''The macro indicators are still deteriorating, the companies aren't giving any guidance and the governments don't know what they're going to do,'' Tjiang said. ''Basically nobody has any visibility or knows what's going to happen.''

(Via NY Times)

This is A New One

Max Mutchnick the creator of Will and Grace on travel, gay parenting, and patience in the Huffington Post:

"I stood shoeless in front of the metal detector. Rose was in my arms. Her mouth open just a tiny bit and her eyes as wide as they've ever been in her hundred and thirty five days of life. Behind me was my husband. He held Evan...'Step through.' ...The TSA guard said it like he was talking to a prisoner. I did as I was told. My husband followed. He held a baby in one arm and four business class tickets in the other. The guard looked at the tickets, then looked at us, then looked at the tickets...A moment of silence. Rage started to well up inside of me in anticipation of the next question this giant with a badge was going to ask me. How was this man going to insult my family? In what way would he make me explain my difference? This is what he said: 'Where did you get them?'"

Read the entire article, it's very cute, especially the part about the "Giant".

Georgia Rep. Wants to Censor Sex Ed. Classes

Back in the day, we'd watch the evening news on TV typically at 6 or 11PM. Were I grew up the Philly channels would highlight fires and NYC channels murders. Yawn. Today with YouTube one can watch whatever new they deem newsworthy (sans the corporate board room and talking head), and post and read the comments!!! Some of the comments are all so "wrong", but....you can judge for yourself.

1) That voice would peel paint. Did taxpayers buy those thirty feet of cheap pearls around her chicken neck?
2) she is a waste of tax payer money.
3) hahahahaha!!! This woman is a joke, right? I mean seriously? This witch is SO out of touch!
4) She was elected?
5) stupid, dried-up old cunt. wtf is wrong with georgia?
6) To be fair they should also stop giving churches tax exempt status.

Goodie Mob

Goodie Mob: by far my favorite band of all time. Free antique downloads!!

Are Mainstream Newspapers Going to Disappear?

Here is the result of a survey

RESULTS

1) Yes. The old newspaper industry is going to be totally replaced by New Media 64% (1812 votes)

2) No. Big Media newspapers will always be around 11% (313 votes)

3) No. New Media and Big Media newspapers will share the marketplace 24% (687 votes)

Total votes: 2812

Caveats:
1) Not a scientific survey, obviously.
2) Only people who access the web responded.

But there seems to be some truth to the results at least in my opinion. For example, as I continue to read the NY Times and become more aware of their impending financial problems, an aurora surrounds them: that the "status quo" or the "old guard" in power thought they were impervious to "new media" and kinda just ignored change.

And even though they added a lot more features to their website such comment sections and video news clips, these added features seem to feel as if the "old guard" looked as "new media" and selected bits and piece that they thought were advant-garde and incorporated them. But in reality they just have a bunch of old people, "journalist", that are now doing videos and allowing people to comment on their stories. And most of them, the old "journalist" seem to be out of touch with younger generations. If the NY Times is going to survive they should fire half their staff and switch to "new media".

"New media" is not objective, its opinionated. And it seems to be what people are looking for these days. The new generation has learned to realize the "talking head" news anchors were just a function of the corporate boardrooms. Now that the public can choose what is news or not, they don't need the "talking heads" via corporate boardroom to dictate what is newsworthy.

Similarly, people like to watch/read news that reflects their political and life views. Conservatives watch Fox News and read Townhall.com for their news. Liberals watch MSNBC and read HuffingtonPost.com or Politico.com. If you're in between, and undecided on an news story ya watch/read all of them. CNN tries to be objective, but it's BORNING.

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann vs. Rush Limbaugh

I almost never listen to what Keith Olbermann had to say (rant). He's basically the left's version of Rush Limbaugh. He basically preaches to the dogmatic left wingnuts.

But I did find this clip humorous. It's similar to McCain's ineptitude, during the campaign, when referencing Google or emails. If someone doesn't understand computers they should just keep their mouth shut. Limbaugh clearly demonstrated his age and clueless view of change and computers. Sad.

The Power of Statistics, Computing Power and Data

Nate Silver, our stats geek hero for his freakishly accurate calling of the 2008 election, has turned his superpowers on this Sunday's Oscars. His picks:

Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger......................85.8%
Supporting Actress
Taraji P. Henson.................51.0%
Lead Actor
Mickey Rourke...................71.1%
Lead Actress
Kate Winslet.......................67.6%
Best Director
Danny Boyle,
Slumdog Millionaire...........99.7%
Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire..........99.0%

I completely agree with these predictions, except for Supporting Actress. My prediction would be: Penelope Cruz.

Nate Silvers analysis exemplifies the power of data and computing statistics. It makes the human mind appear inferior.

And lastly, even though I generally keep up with the Oscar race. I never watch a minute of the ceremony. It's always incredible boring and a complete waste of time.

Is SNL Improving?

Has the "Obama Effect" Come to Runway Castings?

Dang runway models are getting more work because of Obama. About time.

“Oh, it’s totally about Obama,” said Marcus Lloyd, a 22-year-old African American model from Dallas. “I remember my agent was like, ‘If Obama does become president, there’s going to be a lot more work for you guys.”’

(Via NY Times)

To Love Oneself Is The Beginning Of A Lifelong Romance - Oscar Wilde

What's happening to TV these days? The clip is from the cable show Nip/Tuck. Possibly, NSFW.

It seems the Internet is pushing the envelop for TV show too (yes, I attribute everything to the internet). But think about it? Years past everything on Network TV met government standards and pass through the boardroom of conservative corporations.

Today, with the internet, information is passed from person to person. No government standards. No conservative, morally-hypocritical Chairman of the Board's approval.

The world is changing FAST.

Ricky Gervais on his Atheism

unpaid baby sitter.... worked it out in an hour....haha

Where Dreams Become Heart Attacks

12 Bird True Love Roast

Contains 12 different kinds of bird: large turkey filled with goose, chicken, pheasant, aylesbury and barbary duck, poussin and guinea fowl, partridge, pigeon squab, quail and mallard duck. Breast meat from 48 different birds + 8 types of stuffing.

There's also a recipe for a Sloppy Joe on a Krispy Cream Donut! Gotta love food!!

(Via This is Why You're Fat)

Late Show - Where's Joaquin Phoenix?

There truly is no off position for the genius switch and Letterman proves it.

hahahah.. then he put the gum under the damn desk.. hahaha...sorry you could be here tonight. Joaquin smiles.

New Found Time Consumptive

On Hulu.com : Watch 2 - 3 minute clips from movies I've already seen. No need to rent the DVD or watch the entire movie again. Only the best clips are posted.

New Moisturizer From Neutrogena

What I'm...

Listening to...
"Arular" by M.I.A.
"Slumdog Millionaire" Soundtrack
"Songs for the New Industrial State" by Doug Randle (1)
"Tha Carter III" by Lil Wayne
"The Scene of the Crime" by Bettye LaVette
"Kevin Michael" by Kevin Micheal

Reading...
"Mississippi Sissy" by Kevin Sessums (2)
"Independent Feature Film Production" by Gregory Goodell
Filmmaker Magazine
Script Magazine

Watching...
"Eagle Eye" by D.J. Caruso
"Scary Movie" by Keenen Ivory Wayans
"Miracle at St. Anna" by Spike Lee
"W." by Oliver Stone (3)
"Frozen River" by Courtney Hunt (4)

Eating....
Vegetable Soup, Beets, Veggie Burger, Lettuce, Green Tea, Spaghetti and Store Purchased Tomato Sauce, Cranberry and Walnut Bread

Doing...
Procrastinating.

(1) This album cracks me up, especially the song "Coloured Plastics".
(2) I'm halfway through this book, but it's so bad. I don't think I'll finish it.
(3) I watched about 20 minutes, turned it off and returned it to Netflix.
(4) This is really tough to watch, but a lot of symbolism and a welcome alternative from Hollywood shlock. It still in one's mind.

Ending the Denial Stage?

Equity Market.

We are finally ending the DENIAL stage. By the end of this month, most people will finally open their year end brokerage statements. They will go from from DENIAL to ANGER. I can’t see the markets rallying too hard in the ANGER stage of this recession, but will keep an open mind.

The BARGAINING stage is to follow and it should be interesting.

This bear market likely has a way to go, so be patient still. If you must guess, keep positions small and your opinions to a minimum.

(Via Howard Lindzon)

Or alternatively, "Greed is Good" (at least for some).

Greed is good when fear rules the roost and fear is good when greed rules the roost. Now is the time for greed.

(Via avc.com)

Age Bias and Recessions

While I maintain that the current downturn will end up being the worst since the Depression, it is worth reminding yourself what your personal recession data set is. Because there are immense availability/recency biases in play here, and they don't get driven home very well.

The following table shows ages, recession dates, and peak unemployment. In short, the average current employee has no working memory of a severe recession. Someone aged 45 today was 19 during the 1982 recession, so likely not even in the workforce. And they were 10 in 1973.

Ageism is clearly at play during this recession and appears to be ingrained in our economy and job market. Seniority is probably frowned upon (unless productivity is attached to it) more than it is rewarded. And probably rightfully so, because most 25 year-olds can do the same information and technology job as a 40 year-old these days for less pay. It seems that in our "information age", a life-time of continuing education is a requisite to stay a ahead of the ever advancing information and technology curve, and remain employable.

(Via Infectious Greed)

It's a crazy world!

What News Anchors Do During Commercial Breaks

A lot of work just for some viral coverage, innit?

Downsizing of America

Here is a new fact of life: America’s economy is getting a little smaller. This “shrinkage” is likely to be a secular — as opposed to a cyclical — sets of changes.

Out goes the conspicuous consumption of the 1990s and 2000s . . . Lean and green is in; Grotesque and self-indulgent are out. Downsize that McMansion! Replace the SUV with something fuel efficient! Save instead of consume!

This is much more than a philosophical view — its what all of the economic data over the past year has been practically screaming.

In terms of actual data, here is what the new, leaner American economy looks like: THIS

This Picture is Just Wrong

A 'N Sync boy with A Legend? Is Justin Timberlake the industry weasel, or what? Who can name a single song he's ever sung? But he's always appearing with the industry greats. I don't get it. Then again I don't get music much, except the stuff I like.

But hey, at least I got my Omega 3 today. I ate a half a can of sardines mixed with mustard and onions.

SNL on Michael Phelps

VERY FUNNY.

Some Handy Advice

Some Handy Advice From An Insightful Person, Somewhere

Pre-Grammy Fab

I saw this post on theybf.com and this feeling of so much talent being in one room, standing next to each other, and rehearsing together just....I don't know, kinda overwhelmed me.

The folks over at ONTD caught Lil Wayne, M.I.A., Jay-Z, T.I., and Kanye rehearsing a Grammy performance for “Swagga Like Us”. Apparently it was supposed to be a “surprise”. Oh wells…cat’s out the bag now. By the way, tomorrow night is M.I.A.’s due date. Hope she doesn’t go into labor on stage…

But not even for this performance can entice me to watch the Grammies . Not in the age of YouTube. Why waste two and a half hours of your life watching a boring awards show, when you can limited the wasted life window to 5 minutes the next day?

Six Years in Iraq

....and this is the NY Times' tag line for the Weekend Magazine.

Six years of war have left Iraq a democracy and Iran the regional power.

Why waste time reading the article? Both statements will be false in 3 to 4 years.

First, take the statement "Iraq a democracy". Okay Iraq did have a "peaceful" democratic election last week. A democratic Iraq became the Bush Administration's objective of the War (after finding no WMD and finding no links between 9-11, Al-Qaeda and Iraq). So is Iraq a "democracy"? I think not.

Inevitably, Iraq will become like Lebanon and Palestine. The U.S. highly suggested (told) Lebanon and Palestine (because of their proximity to Israel) to pursue democratic governments, in order to get U.S. aid. Both countries said fine. They went through the motions of having a democratic elections and elected Hezbollah (in Lebanon) and Hamas (in Palestine), terrorist groups (per the U.S government) into political office. Then U.S. government then returns and says wo-wo that's NOT the kind a democracies we were talking about. You MUST establish "democratic" governments, but you also must ELECT the people we WANT you to elect to positions of political power.

This undoubtedly will also happen in Iraq. The "insurgents" will put down their guns and start running for political office. And the people of Iraq will elect them to power, because they hate what America has done to their country. This will be Bush's "democracy".

As for "Iran the regional power", the only reason they are presently a regional power is their country's cash reserves have sky rocketed along with the price of oil over the past couple of years. They have huge cash reserves. With oil prices back down to below $50 a barrel, they will only be a regional power until they deplete their cash reserves. The country has virtually no underlying economy. Once the cash reserves are gone, with $50 a barrel prices it should only take a couple of years, then a new centralist government will be installed.

While I haven't read the NY Times article (it would be a waste of time), because while the tag line might be true today, in 3 to 4 years it will not be.

Hollywood Officially Ran Out of Ideas

Candyland to become a movie!!

Yes, Candy Land. There’s no word yet on the plot (as if that matters), but Universal has already hired on-the-rise filmmakers Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder) and Kevin Lima (Enchanted) to write and direct, respectively.

Diversity And Black History Month

I'm stealing this post from a blog that I read daily: Ephphatha. I thought it was very fitting for Black History Month.

Basically, there are four levels of diversity in the workplace:

Compliance: This means your employer does enough to keep from getting sued.

Cosmetic: Collard greens in the cafeteria during Black History Month and Pinatas in the lobby during Hispanic Culture Month.

Cultural: This means your company is actively pursuing a diverse workforce, with set goals and management accountability

Comprehensive: The Holy Grail of diversity: your company is diverse from the rootie to the tootie, from the corner office to the cleaning people. And it shows in the bottom line.

More about the Four C's of Diversity

Tax Cuts & Double the National Debt

Said Obama: "We are not going to get relief by turning back to the same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin. We can't embrace the losing formula that says only tax cuts will work for every problem, or failing schools, and crumbling bridges and roads and levees. I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV. If you're headed for a cliff you have to change direction. That's what the American people called for in November and that's what we intend to deliver."

It's time to get the economy cranking again and start paying for delusional prosperity (i.e. national debt) of the past 30 years.

I can't believe McCain made this comment about the stimulus package.

“We want to stimulate the economy, not mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren by the kind of fiscally profligate spending embodied in this legislation,” said Senator John McCain of Arizona,

He's the one who voted for well over a trillion dollars (and still counting) to fund the Iraq War. Who mortgaging America's children and grandchildren?

Congressman goes NUTS on SEC

Calling it like it is!!!

Usually CNN has airs the most boring News, but this is good.

It's AMAZING. Why can't the S.E.C. provide specifics?!

Love Ackerman's NY accent.

Tax Evader

What was Obama thinking? The red rimmed round glasses should have tipped him off: no personal shame and moral abyss.

I also find it somewhat humorous the MSM (main stream media) has been "mocking" Obama. Saying "ha ha, you said you were going to reform Washington. You sucker!! There is no way you're going to reform the crooks in Washington. Don't be so naive."

Obama has set some lofty standards for himself. Standards most of Washington and MSM view as "storybook". Obama could have made a fortune by becoming a corporate lawyer after graduating from Harvard Law, instead of becoming a community organizer. He has set an amazing personal example that it seems to be sending Washington and the "talking head" in MSM into a tail spin.

Tax Cuts

Mr. Obama, while expressing willingness to compromise, also issued a warning to some Republican critics who have said they will press for major changes to the stimulus bill, including the removal of many spending programs in favor of wider tax cuts.

“I’ve heard criticisms of this plan that echo the very same failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis, the notion that tax cuts alone will solve all our problems, that we can ignore the fundamental challenges like energy independence and the high cost of health care and still expect our economy and our country to thrive,” he said.

“I reject that theory,” Mr. Obama continued, “and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change. So I urge members of Congress to act without delay.”

What don't the Republicans understand, if they keep offering tax cuts with out reducing spending, the federal debt is just going to continue to grow. The Republican have offered tax cuts or the past 20 plus years and look where we are today. I'm not one for huge government spending, but FDR massive New Deal followed by WWII offered America a long stretch of prosperity from the mid 40's through out 70's. During the 80's and 90's we lived off the federal debt. Maybe it's time again for a huge investment in human capital and our infrastructure. Investments now provide future returns and hopefully pay down some of the federal debt. Who know, it might and it might not, but it's worth a try, give the failures of the past couple of years.

Oh, the Recession

Except for Weapons and Porn.

Stimulus Package & My Delusions

Why the Republicans in Congress and refuse to support the stimulus package is beyond me. Aren't they only hurting themselves?

As Obama said earlier today on "Good Morning America", the economic shambles is something he "inherited 13 days ago".

The Republicans have controlled the White House for 20 years and Congress for 16 years out of the last 28 years.

The Republicans keep calling for TAX CUTS. Tax cuts are a no brainer. We all like tax cuts, but look at the RESULTS of tax cuts. Reagan's tax cuts. W. Bush's tax cuts:


A HUGE INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL DEBT; because they refused to cut spending, especially military spending.

I'm also all for small government, as promised by Reagan and Bush W. but where is it? The government and federal debt over the past 28 years (since 1980) had grown TREMENDOUSLY.

Someone will have to pay it. Future generations? Or the current generation?

And what irks me most about America's current situation: is that as a youth I bought into Reagan's economic philosophy of "small government, lower taxes, market oriented, less government regulation", and now it seems like it was "hyperbole".

Moreover, the Republicans refuse to vote for $800 billion to help stimulate the stalled economy, but they had no problem voting for a trillion dollar war over the last 5 years. The war did absolutely nothing for the U.S. except add a trillion dollars to the national debt and shifted tax revenue to the military industrial complex. Isn't creating jobs and stimulating the economy more important than killing foreigners? Or am I crazy?

What is the Republican party thinking? Are they trying to alienate more people? Do they hate the country that much, that they are trying to bankrupt it? What's their deal?

Because We Are Aliens, and That's How We Roll...

Best Super Bowl Ad? (And I don't mean the Telaflora Ad.) Who needs TV when there's Hulu.com.

But definitely not the best Super Bowl according to Fox Sports. Perhaps the part about the brain deteriorating to mush crossed the line.

The Wal-Mart Virus

Creepy.

US Army Soldiers Music Video in Iraq

The don't ask; don't tell?

Gay Penguins Given A Wedding

A PAIR of GAY penguins are so loved-up they have been given a WEDDING service.

The besotted male birds turned out to be such a great parenting pair their keepers thought they deserved a reward and let them marry.

They were once given the cold shoulder at the wildlife park in China for stealing heterosexual couples' eggs to nest as their own.

But after being allowed to try out with eggs rejected by their mothers the couple have become the zoo's best penguin parents.

Drastically Imbalanced Coverage

Via Think Progress comes this graph showing who the cable news programs are going for commentary on Barack Obama's stimulus package. This is why I hate the news. It tries to be "objective" but it can, because it needs ratings, the only way to get rating is controversy.

In total, from 6 AM on Monday to 4 PM on Wednesday, the networks have hosted Republican lawmakers 51 times and Democratic lawmakers only 24 times. Surprisingly, Fox News came the closest to offering balance, hosting 8 Republicans and 6 Democrats. CNN had only one Democrat compared to 7 Republicans.

The drastically imbalanced coverage isn’t the first time that the news networks have effectively supported attacks on the recovery plans. As ThinkProgress reported on Monday, the cable networks, the Sunday shows and the network newscasts promoted a controversial CBO non-report 81 times before the actual CBO analysis of the stimulus plan was released.

Just Five Red States Left?

The pendulum has swung, but without a doubt it will swing back the other direction in a couple of years. Democracy UGH!

Gallup is in the midst of releasing a series of data from the more than 350,000 interviews that it conducted over the course of its daily tracking in 2008. The first data they've released, on partisan affiliation, contains some sobering news for Republicans:

That's right: just five states, collectively containing about 2 percent of the American population, have statistically significant pluralities of adults identifying themselves as Republicans. These are the "Mormon Belt" states of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, plus Nebraska, plus Alaska. By contrast, 35 states are plurality Democratic, and 10 states are too close to call.