Collect Experiences. Not Things. :')
Blog Highlights
September 30, 2008
Slamdance Screenplay Contest Update
Oh well, at least both screenplays made it to the second round which represents the top 10% of the screenplays submitted.
September 28, 2008
Internet = Truth
It also makes me wonder if the encyclopedia was all that truthful either, or did they represent the leading political sentiment's version of the truth. For example, what I learned after traveling with so many Brits over the past couple of years on my "Overland Trips", is that if you ask a Brit, they will tell you, Britain won the war and America showed up - for all intents and purposes - after the war was already won. This in great contrast to what I was taught in H.S. that America won the war. Was my H.S. history teacher lying to me?
The Election Fodder For SNL
SNL might serve itself well to switch over to an all political format. They've been nailing this election.
The Palin/Biden debates are scheduled for Thursday. And based on the reverb coming off the Couric/Palin interview, I'm guessing a huge viewership will be tuning in, waiting for "a car crash". Many are speculating after the debate, Palin might decide to "spend more time with her family".
Then again, she might do well at the debate. Her speech at the Republican convention was well receive. Who knows. But since I live a miserable, pathetic, petty, little life, I'll probably tune in and watch the shindig/"possible car crash". What else do I have to do?
Wanda Sykes on Gay Marriage
Partially out of boredom and partially as a means to procrastinate, I'm spending way too much time on that stupid video web site whatchamacallit... but you gotta watch the entire clip here.... Wanda Sykes is one funny lady.
September 27, 2008
McCain's "Experience" Doesn't Count for Much
"Experience" vs. "Judgement" that is the question. Sometimes "Experience needs to step aside and let the next generation step in.
September 26, 2008
Wanda Sykes on Jay Leno: Bailout & Palin
"Broke people are going to bailout rich people."
"No, oversight? I want receipts."
"If you got a pool, open to the public."
"I want shopping carts in their neighborhoods."
"We invest all our money in weed. The price of weed never goes down."
I hope they don't take it down. Some of the best Wanda Sykes material I've heard.
September 25, 2008
Could Warren Buffett Negotiate a Better Deal for Taxpayers?
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has spent a good part of the last two days on Capitol Hill arguing that the government should not demand a stake in any Wall Street firms it bails out."
Not a bad idea...
September 22, 2008
September 21, 2008
Getting the Itch to Travel Again
More Tax Cuts for Wall Street Executives
Poll: Racial views steer some away from Obama
"More than a third of all white Democrats and independents — voters Obama can't win the White House without — agreed with at least one negative adjective about blacks, according to the survey, and they are significantly less likely to vote for Obama than those who don't have such views."
"Certainly, Republican John McCain has his own obstacles: He's an ally of an unpopular president and would be the nation's oldest first-term president. But Obama faces this: 40 percent of all white Americans hold at least a partly negative view toward blacks, and that includes many Democrats and independents."
You can read the complete article HERE.
September 19, 2008
The Contrast: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
Starkly different styles. Who's to lead? This is serious times. International financial markets like China and Saudi Arabia have drastically limited (basically stopped) their purchase of American Treasuries. Can the American Treasury fall below a triple A rating? It's not inconceivable. America has been so arrogant towards the world over the past five years, many countries hate Americans and would love to see it economic markets fail.
I'm NEVER been a doom and gloom person, never in my life, but I firmly believe the future of the U.S. economy lies clearly on the confidence of it's constituents. If the U.S. government can't maintain U.S. confidence in the U.S. financial system. It's going to be gloom and doom. And all I can say, thank you, G. W. Bush. And if you're someone who voted for him in 2000 and/or especially in 2004, you deserve the gloom and doom. Enjoy it!
BTY, what's up with McCain's left eye?
Can You Imagine..
"Coffee, tea, or porn? "I don't think so," say American Airline flight attendants."
"Leaders of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents some 19,000 workers including American Airlines flight attendants, asked American Airlines' management this week to consider adding filters to its in-flight Wi-Fi access to prevent passengers from viewing porn and other inappropriate Web sites while in flight."
"American Airlines is one of several airlines testing in-flight Internet access as a way to lure more passengers. American has been offering the service on a limited basis since Aug. 20 on some flights between New York and Los Angeles or San Francisco, and between New York and Miami."
Ghost Town
Dairy Products
I'm starting to wonder if there isn't some type of illness related to cravings for dairy products. I just can't stop eating them.... cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, ice cream, butter...I'm hoping the cravings diminish. I never really ate dairy product prior to a month ago, except for cheese. Weird.
Un-Presidential
"John McCain has made it clear this week he doesn't understand what's happening on Wall Street any better than Barack Obama does. But on Thursday, he took his populist riffing up a notch and found his scapegoat for financial panic -- Christopher Cox, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission...."
"Mr. McCain clearly wants to distance himself from the Bush Administration. But this assault on Mr. Cox is both false and deeply unfair. It's also un-Presidential...."
"In a crisis, voters want steady, calm leadership, not easy, misleading answers that will do nothing to help. Mr. McCain is sounding like a candidate searching for a political foil rather than a genuine solution."
Economic Woes
Generally Washington Post articles AREN'T, especially economic articles, but this one is.
"What we are witnessing may be the greatest destruction of financial wealth that the world has ever seen -- paper losses measured in the trillions of dollars. Corporate wealth. Oil wealth. Real estate wealth. Bank wealth. Private-equity wealth. Hedge fund wealth. Pension wealth. It's a painful reminder that, when you strip away all the complexity and trappings from the magnificent new global infrastructure, finance is still a confidence game -- and once the confidence goes, there's no telling when the selling will stop."
"....the inevitable second round of this financial crisis that, alas, still lies ahead." I totally agree with the last sentence. The first round of the financial crisis devastated Wall Street and the world's financial institutions. Now as consumer confidence wanes, household spending shirks, the cost of borrowing substantially increases, the second round of the financial crisis is heading for Main Street.
I'm loving the doom and gloom!
War Spending: No End in Sight
Bush is an idiot.
1) Iraq War - $600 billion, 4000 American Military, 100,000s Iraqis
2) Hurricane Katrina - complete mismanagement and ineptitude
3) Biggest Financial Crisis Since the Great Depression
And to anyone who voted for Bush and lost money in your 401(k) or stock investment - all I can say is you get what you voted for.
Then again on a positive note, the markets up, and my hunch and subsequent investments in MI companies (PMI and RDN) about a month and a half ago are paying off well. Thank You, Bush.
September 18, 2008
CNN Fact Checks: Verdict McCain Not Telling Truth
He's trying to lie his way into the White House. It worked for Bush. It might work for McCain too.
September 17, 2008
Where the F... is Bush!?!
During the "Great Depression" the financial institution lost the confidence of the consumer/saver/investor. Once the psychology of fear has gripped investors, then it's well you know. There doesn't seem to be a fundamental reason why a greater loss of confidence should be spreading through the market today.
Bush is the President (a good or bad president, it doesn't matter), he needs to SPEAK UP. He hasn't had a press conference since August. That's ridiculous. This is the biggest financial melt down since the "Great Depression".
Paulson and Bernanke are working their butts off. They are the true soldiers of this crisis. I doubt either of them ever anticipated what a major roll they are playing in saving the countries financial economy, when they signed on for the job.
Biden Is A Mess
This is my favorite:
In Columbia, Mo., this week, Mr. Biden urged a paraplegic state official to stand up to be recognized. “Chuck, stand up, let the people see you,” Mr. Biden shouted to State Senator Chuck Graham, before realizing, to his horror, that Mr. Graham uses a wheelchair.
“Oh, God love ya,” Mr. Biden said. “What am I talking about?”
The Truth on Taxes
"McCain would lift after-tax incomes an average of about 3 percent, or $1,400 annually, for middle-income taxpayers by 2012. But, in sharp contrast to Obama, he would cut taxes for those in the top 1% by more than $125,000, raising their after-tax income an average 9.5 percent."
The quotes are from the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. The full report is published HERE.
It's weird that McCain attributes the financial institution meltdown on Wall Street to "greed", but on the other hand, he's going to give all the handsomely paid execs a huge tax cut.
Haven't we seen this before?
"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"
"Your winnings, sir."
"Oh, thank you very much."
John McCain Involvement in the Keating Five
McCain has a long history of exercising poor judgement during financial crisis. Financial institutions and the greed that surrounds doesn't seem to be one of McCain's strengths.
September 16, 2008
NYC Economy
September 15, 2008
A Strange Country We Live In
NYT: "The Federal Reserve is said to have asked two investment banks to put together $70 billion in loans to help prop up A.I.G."
The U.S. Treasury spends $12 billion a month to fund the Iraq war and "surge", and for what? If the U.S. withdrew it's troops, it would have an additional $12 billion to help assist U.S. taxpayers and our failing financial institutions.
I don't believe in government bailouts, and many say Wall Street caused it, so let them suffer, but this crisis wasn't caused by Wall Street alone the lack of government regulation play a significant roll.
Its the government's job to regulate financial institutions. The last time the government grew lacked of it's regulatory duties, the "Great Depression" ensued. Obama is right this is the worst financial crisis since the "Great Depression". Greenspan concurs.
For the last five years, we've been distracted by the stupid Iraq war and "terrorism".
For the next couple of years we may pay dearly for the government's laissez-faire regulatory policies with regards to the housing mortgage market, especially if the public looses confidence in the U.S. financial institutions.
Consumer confidence is key.
Finally, Obama's Hitting Back
And like Obama said (quoting someone else famous) "If John McCain keeps lying about me, I'll have to tell the truth about him." And he did.
September 14, 2008
What a Day on Wall Street
Merrill. Gone. Lehman. As good as Gone.
What will happen to Merrill’s 60,000 employees or Lehman’s 25,000 employees, the NYT asks, remains unclear. What will happen to NYC's economy? Umm, what do you think? What is the initial human reaction to loss? Denial. Get over your denial and think about it.
Previously, in March. Bear Sterns. Gone. Since March, hedge funds returns. Gone.
Over the past couple of years NYC real estate continued to appreciate, even as real estate around the country headed south. It was a little puzzling, but now it's becoming apparent why? Unsubstantiated salaries and bonuses in the financial industry.
What's going to fuel the NYC economy, now that the financial industry has collapsed?
I'd say a lot of people from Brooklyn will be moving back to Manhattan in the near future. 100s of thousands of employee's have watched their life investments in financial firms like Bear Sterns, Lehman Brothers, and Merrill Lynch evaporate, as well as their salaries.
The Fed is the only one that can be blamed. They are the "regulator" of last resort, in theory. Yes, Wall Street is greedy, we all know that, that's why they need a regulator.
The stock market going to go down tomorrow. And I can't imaging this entire financial crisis not trickling through the rest of the economy.
This is the Lie that gets me the most
Read about it here: The "Straight Talk Express" has detoured into doublespeak.
Obama has presented his tax plan. Taxes for corporations and families earning over $250,000/yr. will increase. Anybody who reads the plan will understand this. Unfortunately, no one reads the plan.
All they hear is McCain lying about how Obama is going to raise everyone's taxes.
McCain's tax plan is to deepen W's tax cuts, including for those earning over $250,000/yr. and corporations.
Give the "people" a break for a CHANGE, not the corporations and the rich.
Wow
This blog outlines 19 new articles from around the country that has called McCain out on his lies this weekend. FINALLY the mainstream media is doing their job.
September 13, 2008
The Stupid World in Which We Live
John McCain's ads are LIES. Here's the video proof.
Four More Years of Lying. Great!
John McCain is trying to claim that black is white when he argues that his running mate, Sarah Palin, has not accepted earmarks as Governor of Alaska. While it is true that she has sought fewer earmarks than her predecessor, Governor Frank Murkowski, Alaska still leads the nation in terms of per capita spending on earmarks, according to Citizens Against Government Waste.
The Facts
According to the Anchorage Daily News, Palin sought $256 million in earmarks during her first year in office. This year, her office has sought the assistance of the Alaska Congressional delegation in landing $197 million in federal earmarks.
If you're parenting children today, and you scold your kid for lying, you are doing a grave disservice to your child's future. It's becoming clearer and clearer that the ability to lie, in order to promote one's self interest, is essential in our society and world in which we live.
My Addition Has To Stop
September 12, 2008
Planned Parenthood Action Fund - Sexual Abuse
Finally voters and the "Media" are calling McCain on his LIES. And honestly, I don' think they are McCain's lies, his CAMPAIGN lies. McCain is a handled man - Karl Rove and Stephen - has taken over the campaign. Lying and pretending it's not a lie, is the same thing the George W. Bush's White House for the last 4 years. It's a weird thing. It's like the kindergarten sex education ad, above. This like this aren't true, but McCain personally insist they are true. (see the view taping) below.
Finally the Corporate Media has called him out on his lying. Both articles are excellent ( NYT and MSN). They basically outline that there is absolutely no truth to the McCain T.V. ads about Obama .
It appears the McCain Campaign ad has been trying to create a distraction regarding Sarah Palin. She was selected as the VP candidate over two weeks ago and granted only one interview to the Media. The Media seems to be hopping mad with the McCain campaign over this.
Maybe Barack has a handle things well. Maybe he actually knows what he's doing, by letting the Media do their job by calling McCain on his lies. The McCain lies seem to be implode on themselves.
Next is how long will the Sarah Palin bubble last? When asked why people find her so compelling, people say, especially women, she reminds them of themselves. Then asked if they think of themselves a VP material. They stare blankly.
Damn, Those Bitches!!!
I've never heard of the "View" until about a year and a half ago when I started going to the gym. I typically go post morning rush around 10AM, because I'm a bum and I can do that.
Well today, I was at the gym finishing my six mile run (yes, I can fit in my college graduation suit) and saw the "View" come on, saw that John McCain was the guest, and honestly, I didn't expect any of those women to ask him anything questions of substance. I thought it was going to be their typical banter, so I changed the station.
Now watching the clips, I was totally wrong. This was probably one of the most honest interviews I've seen.
1) Woopie asks McCain if she should be worried about slavery being reinstitute in America, after McCain said the constitution should be interpreted as the fore wanted it to be. Damn, you go girl.
2) The other, red headed, lady commented to McCain that he doesn't seem like a Maverick anymore. She acknowledged that the old John McCain was a maverick, but the new John McCains seems to in lock step with the Repulican Party. McCain looks really annoyed, when she says this.
3) And lastly John McCain out and out LIES to their faces. He says Sarah Palin cut all pork barrel spending while Governor. "When the truth of the matter is that Alaska has more federal money per capita than any other state in the Union". The Corporate Media is all over this one now. It seems like McCain's blatant lies will be the political topic of the weekend.
The Republican Machine is Rolling
Nothing in the McCain/Palin Ads are truthful, but they stick in voter's conscience- just look at the polls. If the election were held today. McCain would win.
If Obama looses it's his OWN fault. He has a long winded whinny answer for everything. I'm at the point, I don't want to listen to him. Be aggressive, show voters you ARE a tough leader, not a wimp. (Like it really matters what I say! Right? At least, I feel good about venting my frustration, as just another computer potato quarterback.) Otherwise, it's looking like McCain 2008 and Hillary 2012.
Belittling Palin?
A McCain-Palin TV ad accuses Obama of being "disrespectful" of Palin, but it distorts quotes to make the case.
School Funding Misleads
An Obama ad plays fast and loose with McCain's voting record on education and proposals as a presidential candidate.
McCain-Palin Distorts Our Finding
Those attacks on Palin that we debunked didn't come from Obama.
Off Base on Sex Ed
A McCain campaign ad claims Obama's "one accomplishment" was a bill to teach sex ed to kindergarten kids. Don't believe it.
The SAD PART about all this is that John McCain isn't going to be elected. It's Karl Rove and his lieutenants. At the beginning of the summer went McCain's campaign was failing. Rove and his gang took over. McCain and Palin are just the stooges.
Sarah Palin Holds Forth on Bush Doctrine, Pakistan
She sounds like a PTA mom who was drilled by a fleet of McCain's advisors for a week in order to say something marginally intelligent, but God does she appear NERVOUS.
After each question one expects her to ask: how was that? did I get that one right?
September 11, 2008
Internship In NYC
Quote from Obama on Letterman Show
Obama found his "swiftboat"/"willy horton". Why doesn't he run with it? It seem perfectly logical to define Sarah Palin as the "lipstick" to John McCain's policies. Hell, Sarah Palin defined herself as lipstick on a dog.
Lipstick on the Pig?
Sarah Palin has become the "lipstick" (a favorite phase of Dick Cheney), a distraction. A much needed distraction from "Unfair tax policy." "Foreign policy failures." "War on the middle class." "Irresponsible energy policy." "Corporate welfare." etc etc etc.
McCain's selection and management (she has yet to speak to reporters directly) of Palin has partially worked. Voters are no longer focused on the issues.
I don't think this was a "gaf" by Obama.
September 09, 2008
You Don't Call That Maverick
FINALLY, Obama comes out fighting! He needs more ads like this. And other ad highlighting how McCain stall his "Change" mantra. Up until the convention, McCain was all about "experience", after the convention McCain's all about "Change". The mantra Obama has been touting.
I've come to the conclusion that if Barack doesn't win this fall, he doesn't deserve to win. This election is all his if he wants it, he just needs to get down and dirty. Enough of the wishy washy, nice guy crap.
At least this ad calls McCain a liar, I'm glad people are calling people out about being liars!
September 07, 2008
Even O'Reilly Started Drinking the Obama Koolaid
"After going mano a mano with Obama on television, I am also persuaded that he is a sincere guy, that he wants the best for all Americans. He's an ideologue, but not a blind one. He understands that his story is incredible, and I have come to believe he is grateful to the American system for allowing it to happen."
"Like most politicians, Obama has used guile and good luck to accumulate his power. He can be ruthless, kind, unfair and generous. In short, he's a real person trying to achieve an unreal position, that of the most powerful person in the world."
Yes, Bill O'Reilly wrote all that.
The writing in on the internet, O'Reilly knows if Obama wins, his ratings will plummet as will his advertising revenue. O'Reilly maybe ignorant, but he's not dumb. It seems like he's hedging his bet.
For the first time this spring MSNBC News surpassed Fox News viewership. Eight years of Obama would destroy O'Reilly's ratings. He needs to start sucking up to Obama now. Or else... And he has....Read the rest of the article HERE.
September 06, 2008
He's A Maverick Alright
But what "change" is he talking about? McCain's advisors - Phil Graham and Joe Lieberman - are just as ancient as McCain. What are they going to change? Beside he's been in Washington for 30 years. Why didn't he change things then?
Then again, the "change" campaign slogan seems to be working for Obama. So why shouldn't McCain give it a try?
This campaign season is getting really weirder and weirder.
Two Americas
The "Hillbilly" vs. the "Exotic"
A few things from The Huffington Post :
"If you are biracial and born in a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs darn near 2 years and 3 major speeches to "get to know you." If you're white and from a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs 36 minutes and 38 seconds worth of an acceptance speech to know you're "one of us."
If you give your wife a dap on stage, it's actually a "terrorist fist jab." If your daughter licks her palm so that she can slick down your youngest child's hair on national TV it's an "adorable moment."
But in actuality the kid is a hillbilly. Why she spitting on her hand wiping it on her brother's head? And the other kid, she sister, is pregnant at age 17. And we've all seen that story a thousand time on Maury Povich, underage white-trash pregnancies (see video below).
A few things from Minority Thing :
"If you grow up in Hawaii you’re “exotic.” "Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you’re the quintessential “American story.”
"If you name you kid Barack you’re “unpatriotic.” Name your kid Track, you’re “colorful.”
Black teen pregnancies? A “crisis” in black America. White teen pregnancies? A “blessed event.”
"If you're 18, white, and get a 16 year old girl pregnant "life happens." If you're 18, black, and impregnate a 16 year old girl, you're a "registered sex offender. "
In reality, if you're 16 years old and pregnant, because no one taught you about sex education, you're bordering on white-trash.
FW: ROUND II ANNOUNCEMENT
Congratulations!
If you are receiving this email, your script has moved on to the second round of the screenplay and shorts competition in this years 2008 Slamdance screenplay competition. The post will be on the website with your name and title at the end of day today.
If you have entered more than one screenplay, please view the website using this link for the specific title that has moved on. You will also find the third round announcement date (Sept. 30 2008) using the link.
Thank you for submitting to this years competition.
Best,
Joy
NOTE: There appears to be about 300 screenplays that have moved on to Round II, including both of mine, "Thou Shall Not" and "Growing Up Catholic". But I don't know what this means. I know last year approximately 2200 screenplays were submitted. If Round II represents the top 15%, I'd be very happy. At least, that means I'm on the right track. As far as advancing further, I don't have high expectations, my screenplays are very low-budget, independent and quirky, and not very conventional. Nevertheless, I'm glad to have made it this far.
Obese America
September 04, 2008
The McCain Campaign Seems Lost
It diminished the argument that Obama doesn’t have the requisite experience to be President, and it puts McCain's judgment in question. Why would McCain select someone who lacks nation security experience to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. She’s the governor of Alaska (there are more people in Brooklyn than there is in Alaska) and virtually never traveled out of the U.S.
McCain started to incorporate Obama’s more successful campaign themes of “Change” and to “End Partisan Rancor” into his own campaign. These were central themes of his acceptance speech. But how is he promising change? His policies are very Republican, the same as George W. Bush’s. What changes is he talking about? Similarly, his campaign started the divisive negative campaigning with the Britney Spears- Paris Hilton ads. So how is he going to “End Partisan Rancor”? His campaign is the primary cause of it.
Also his entire photo bio slideshow at the RNC was about how he USED to be a “Marvarick”, which was a little weird. There was very little about how he’s GOING TO BE “Marvarick”. Like many old people he seems to be living in the past. And he really needs to slow down on the POW crap. It's getting a little old.
I do agree, the selection of Palin did seem to spark the Republican’s party “social conservative” base, but this election (unlike the 2004 election) is not about “social values”, this election is about the ECONOMY, first, and NATIONAL SECURITY, second.
Obama is up in all the electoral polls:
1) 310 vs. 228
2) 301 vs. 237
3) 327 vs. 206
Nevertheless, McCain should see a bit of a jump after the RNC in the next couple of days. Remember it takes 270 electoral votes to win.
I also think McCain will “win” most of the upcoming debates. McCain has a “black & white” answer to everything. It makes him appear decisive. Obama is more of a thinker and ponder. This makes him appear wishy washy.
Obama has the abysmal economy and facts on his side, however.
Piper Palin Give Her Brother, Trig, an Alaskan Spit Shine.
A Classic! This just proves the Palins are real people (and they don't have a clue about the economy and national security). They make their own moonshine in the basement.
September 03, 2008
Reckless Judgment Threatens AMERICA
The news media and American people need to cut McCain a break. He was known as a maverick, in his younger years. He doesn't have that many days left on earth. He's old. Some people need to live out their youthful image throughout their twilight years. It makes them feel useful and needed. Be nice.
What Does Cheney Think?
Military Donations Favor Obama
Why would military personnel give more to Obama than McCain? It doesn't make sense. McCain is a POW, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and supports the Iraq War. He wants it to continue indefinitely.
September 01, 2008
What?
McCain wants to be a "Maverick", but he's starting to look like a bad decision maker. Maybe experience doesn't matter. Why would he knowing want to put this 17 year old girl through all this scrutiny?
On the other hand, Obama has been trying to stay out of this entire mess and taking the high road. But there's part of me that wants Obama to appear a little ruthless and take advantage of this scandal. I know he wants to be all about be all nice and emphasize humility. But I'm almost had enough of him being nice.
Or maybe as Americans we're not used to have a President that is nice and demonstrates humility. Except maybe Carter, and look at what a mess he was. The major difference is that Obama isn't a peanut farmer and he's a thousand time smarter.