February 26, 2011
February 25, 2011
Housing Prices STILL Heading South
“As we begin 2011, the housing recovery remains vulnerable to high levels of unemployment, delinquencies and foreclosures,” [Freddie Mac Chief Executive Officer Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.] said. “Nevertheless, certain economic indicators showed improvement in late 2010. While this trend offers some encouragement, we expect national home prices to decline this year as housing will continue to take some time to recover."Most economist would agree, there are STILL too many houses on the market. Prices will continue to decline.
February 24, 2011
February 23, 2011
Bad Teacher Trailer
LOL! NSFW - And don't watch if you are offended by foul language, otherwise, it's hilarious! I'm there, front row, on opening night!
February 21, 2011
Not a Huge Fan of Unions
In my opinion, unions are good on day one (there is generally a need for them), but then overtime they deteriorate rapidly. They become corrupt, inefficient, and out-dated. And drag down the economy.
200 Years in 4 Minutes - The Joy of Data
I love this stuff. I don't know why other people don't love data!
February 20, 2011
Weekend Update
About three weeks ago, I switched gyms from a $79 per month gym that was only open during the weekend from 7 to 1 on Saturday morning to a gym that costs $32 per month and is open 7 to 7 on Saturdays and Sunday. The switch was intended to maximize my weekend gym-time at a lower cost, but what I didn't consider was the change in clientele. The previous gym's clientele was mostly corporate smattered with a few obese one-monthers. My new gym in located on a highway and attracts the Portuguese version of the "Jersey Shore". Lot's of wife-beaters, big-hair, muscles, tans, press-on-fingernails, gold jewelry, etc. As they say, you get what you pay for, innit? Maybe I'll make some new friends.
This weekend, I also finished my taxes, watched the last few episodes of "Skins" Season 4 the UK version obviously, joined twitter, drank a bottle of wine followed by some derogatory comments on conservative bogs, took a lot of naps (exhausting week at work), read some investing news, shifted some investments, research the cost of college tuition (for work), but never got around to labeled those Russian pics, maybe next weekend. I can't wait for spring. This cold weather is killing me.
This weekend, I also finished my taxes, watched the last few episodes of "Skins" Season 4 the UK version obviously, joined twitter, drank a bottle of wine followed by some derogatory comments on conservative bogs, took a lot of naps (exhausting week at work), read some investing news, shifted some investments, research the cost of college tuition (for work), but never got around to labeled those Russian pics, maybe next weekend. I can't wait for spring. This cold weather is killing me.
February 18, 2011
Katy Perry Firework - the REAL music video!!!
Students from the University of Alabama. It makes me wonder what videos would exist from my college years, if video cameras, computer editing and online video venues existed back in da day.
February 17, 2011
Karl Rove: Birtherism Is A 'White House Strategy'
So true! The White House loves the "birthers". To independent voters (i.e. the voters who will decide the next Presidential election), "Birthers" appear STUPID. Don't ever expect to see a birth certificate.
The GOP is in a bit of a quandary. Half of the party consists of the blue-blood, conservative, establishment elites, and the other half are the conservative, tea-party, back-woods, whack-jobs.
The GOP is in a bit of a quandary. Half of the party consists of the blue-blood, conservative, establishment elites, and the other half are the conservative, tea-party, back-woods, whack-jobs.
February 14, 2011
Why LADY GAGA? Why?
1) Why did LG release "Born This Way" over recycled "Express Yourself" beats? 2) Madge's crew moves "Express Yourself" to the top of her video posts. 3) Lady Gaga slams it at the Grammy's. Grab Monday morning headlines. 4) Is stealing beats, like compiling mashups? Is it okay to recycle? 5) I can't believe this wasn't very calculated. 6) Let's wait for the album.....
February 12, 2011
Poll: Barack Obama bests GOP front-runners
A recent poll shows that Obama would win today, when presented with with each of the GOP Presidential front-runners. Why? First of all there aren't any strong front runners, but who knows maybe a dark-horse will exist the forest. Second, the economy will only get better, for which Obama will take credit and benefit from. And thirdly, if Obama keeps channeling Reagan, it will only continue to help him. 1986 Redux.
According to Gallup, Obama current approval rating stands at 47. The chart below compares him other recent Presidents in their third year.
Reagan's rating stood at 40 in his third year.
But then again a lot of things can happen between now and 2012. Another 9/11? Another financial crisis?
According to Gallup, Obama current approval rating stands at 47. The chart below compares him other recent Presidents in their third year.
Reagan's rating stood at 40 in his third year. But then again a lot of things can happen between now and 2012. Another 9/11? Another financial crisis?
February 07, 2011
NFL on FOX: O'Reilly interviews Obama
Excellent interview. A win-win interview for each of them. Obama was on message: 1) Obamacare precludes insurance companies for denying pre-existing conditions, and 2) Obamacare should lowed individual healthcare cost by requiring everybody to purchase insurance. Expect this mantra from Obama over and over again throughout 2012.
February 06, 2011
February 05, 2011
Movies Update
As I've mentioned before, on my walk back to my apartment from my office in Stamford, I pass two cineplexes and one arthouse theatre. So, I've been catching a lot of movies in the theatre and less on DVD these days. I have the time and money, plus it convenient, so why not?
In order of my preference:
“Toy Story 3” - Absolutely excellent. Who could have guessed 3D animation could illicit so much emotion from its characters? Suspense, tears, drama, excitement, warm hearted!!
"The King's Speech" - Very good. It received a bunch of Oscar nomination and will most likely win an Oscar for best picture. Very British ("royalty vs. common man" struggle), but endearing. If you like "The Queen" you'll like this.
"Black Swan" - Not a bad movie. It dramatizes the extreme pursuit of an artist's quest. Aronofsky, the director, once structured his stories very independently ("Requiem for a Dream", "The Fountain") , but he has since dropped that independence for a more conventional story telling style ("The Wrestler" and "Black Swam"). Natalie Portman should win an Oscar for best actress. If I were to criticize the movie, it was a bit to straight forward.
“127 Hours” - I was hesitant to see this movie. Who wants to see someone cut off their arm? But Danny Boyle rocks, one of the best directors working today, so why not give it a go. And yes, during the first half of the movie there's a lot of anticipation and it's very, VERY uncomfortable. But there's also a lot of visual preparation and time that transpires before the critical moment arrives. When the critical moment does arrives, the film turns into a horror movie But you can't close my eyes. Curiosity will kept them open. It was riveting. From there, Danny Boyle does great job closing the movie. When I left the theater, I didn't know how to feel about the movie. It took a day before I decided I liked it.
"True Grit" - The first half of the movie was BORING! The second half improved somewhat. Overall, the movie was just okay, but not as great as the Coen Brother's "Big Lebowski", "Fargo" and "No Country for Old Men". And I'm not an expert in frontier culture, but the movie did seem portrays the western frontier a bit more realistically than the John Wayne version, except for the precocious female lead. Hollywood and America has matured.
"The Fighter" - When I left the theater, I my thought were didn't the family know any African-American people. Why was everybody white? Do people today live like that today? That is, only know and befriend people of their own race? I guess so. It seems so odd to me. The movie was okay. Christian Bale should win an Oscar for best supporting actor. And the mother and sisters in the movie should win an award for most annoying.
“Inception” - Great editing and visuals. The visuals dominate the first two-thirds of the movie. The emotion kicks in during the final third. The lead character, Leonardo DeCaprio, overcomes his achilles heel, learns something, gets what he needs, not what he wanted and becomes a better person. A tradition Hollywood film with a lot of fast edits.
“The Kids Are All Right” - Excellent, low budget, independent film. And it received an Oscar nomination for best picture which is a huge boon for LGBT families.
"The Social Network" - Critics have raved about this movie. Why? I don't know. It's two hours of dramatic boredom. Not a single laugh during the entire two hours. The true life story is much more phenomenal. A twenty-something's turns ambition and ingenuity into a company thats now worth billions of dollars! The drama in the movie seems to be forced in order to turn this incredible story into a movie.
“The Town” - Ben Affleck seem to have found his groove as screenplay writer and director ( recall "Gone, Baby, Gone"). But he still needs to learn not to cast himself in his own movies. The movie is worth watching, very entertaining.
"Winter's Bones" - A difficult movie to watch at times. It portrays the meth epidemic in rural America very realistically. Not a movie for everyone, especially not for the weak at heart. And yes, poor people are depressing, get used to it.
Another movie I've seen but had no chance of a Oscar Nomination for best picture (or an audience for that matter)...
"Blue Valentine" - Michelle Williams and Ryan Goslings are great actors. They've acted in many great independent films however, this film was soooo depressing. Why make such a depressing film? Why watch such a depressing film?
In order of my preference:
“Toy Story 3” - Absolutely excellent. Who could have guessed 3D animation could illicit so much emotion from its characters? Suspense, tears, drama, excitement, warm hearted!!
"The King's Speech" - Very good. It received a bunch of Oscar nomination and will most likely win an Oscar for best picture. Very British ("royalty vs. common man" struggle), but endearing. If you like "The Queen" you'll like this.
"Black Swan" - Not a bad movie. It dramatizes the extreme pursuit of an artist's quest. Aronofsky, the director, once structured his stories very independently ("Requiem for a Dream", "The Fountain") , but he has since dropped that independence for a more conventional story telling style ("The Wrestler" and "Black Swam"). Natalie Portman should win an Oscar for best actress. If I were to criticize the movie, it was a bit to straight forward.
“127 Hours” - I was hesitant to see this movie. Who wants to see someone cut off their arm? But Danny Boyle rocks, one of the best directors working today, so why not give it a go. And yes, during the first half of the movie there's a lot of anticipation and it's very, VERY uncomfortable. But there's also a lot of visual preparation and time that transpires before the critical moment arrives. When the critical moment does arrives, the film turns into a horror movie But you can't close my eyes. Curiosity will kept them open. It was riveting. From there, Danny Boyle does great job closing the movie. When I left the theater, I didn't know how to feel about the movie. It took a day before I decided I liked it.
"True Grit" - The first half of the movie was BORING! The second half improved somewhat. Overall, the movie was just okay, but not as great as the Coen Brother's "Big Lebowski", "Fargo" and "No Country for Old Men". And I'm not an expert in frontier culture, but the movie did seem portrays the western frontier a bit more realistically than the John Wayne version, except for the precocious female lead. Hollywood and America has matured.
"The Fighter" - When I left the theater, I my thought were didn't the family know any African-American people. Why was everybody white? Do people today live like that today? That is, only know and befriend people of their own race? I guess so. It seems so odd to me. The movie was okay. Christian Bale should win an Oscar for best supporting actor. And the mother and sisters in the movie should win an award for most annoying.
“Inception” - Great editing and visuals. The visuals dominate the first two-thirds of the movie. The emotion kicks in during the final third. The lead character, Leonardo DeCaprio, overcomes his achilles heel, learns something, gets what he needs, not what he wanted and becomes a better person. A tradition Hollywood film with a lot of fast edits.
“The Kids Are All Right” - Excellent, low budget, independent film. And it received an Oscar nomination for best picture which is a huge boon for LGBT families.
"The Social Network" - Critics have raved about this movie. Why? I don't know. It's two hours of dramatic boredom. Not a single laugh during the entire two hours. The true life story is much more phenomenal. A twenty-something's turns ambition and ingenuity into a company thats now worth billions of dollars! The drama in the movie seems to be forced in order to turn this incredible story into a movie.
“The Town” - Ben Affleck seem to have found his groove as screenplay writer and director ( recall "Gone, Baby, Gone"). But he still needs to learn not to cast himself in his own movies. The movie is worth watching, very entertaining.
"Winter's Bones" - A difficult movie to watch at times. It portrays the meth epidemic in rural America very realistically. Not a movie for everyone, especially not for the weak at heart. And yes, poor people are depressing, get used to it.
Another movie I've seen but had no chance of a Oscar Nomination for best picture (or an audience for that matter)...
"Blue Valentine" - Michelle Williams and Ryan Goslings are great actors. They've acted in many great independent films however, this film was soooo depressing. Why make such a depressing film? Why watch such a depressing film?
February 04, 2011
Bullying at School? Blame the Father
Busy fathers, pay attention: a new study finds that if your kids think you’re not spending enough time with them, they’re more likely to exhibit bullying behavior at school.
February 02, 2011
February 01, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)