[Link]
I kind of wish it were over too, so I wouldn't have to listen to Democrats bitch about Florida anymore, and I wouldn't have to listen to bitter political hacks taking pot shots at a man who's down because it's now politically safe to do so. Although it is entertaining at some level, kind of like those assault videos on YouTube.
Democratic talking points:
#1 Bush lied us into Iraq - Bush is not a liar. It's not in his nature to lie. He's probably the most honest President we've had since Lincoln. Too honest I suppose because it's political suicide to actually say what you mean and then do it. That's infuriating to those who expect a President to do whatever the opinion polls dictate.
#2 Bush is dumb - my observation is that Bush has leadership skills and people skills and is a skilled politician. He's able to work with both sides of the aisle to get things passed and didn't veto a single bill so far. That will change. But is he an intellectual? Nope - but who would rather have leading your company as CEO? A brilliant theorist who screws up the bottom line, or a people person who makes you a ton of money?
#3 Bush #$@% and is a $%#@ and &^%$# etc. That's just Democrats. No one is quite sure what it means.
End of the day Bush is probably a very nice guy and I like him. He's not mean.. He's friendly and fun, not overly obsessed with himself. That's how he kept getting elected. There are some politicians in Washington I wouldn't loan $10 to. But I would loan money to Bush because I'd get it back. So then what produces the hatred and bitterness from the left?
1. tough loss in Florida
2. hatred of Christian evangelicals
3. hatred of traditional families who are rich and happy
4. disagreement over how to handle terrorists - diplomacy vs. offensive military solutions
5. Liberals lean towards bitterness in general because they have a lot less certainty about God, and marriage, gay vs straight, drugs, alt. lifestyles etc. That can get stressful. Ennui. They also tend to prop up the "establishment" as evil, and big business as evil, so it's tougher to live surrounded by evil people, especially when those evil folks appear to be happy and well-adjusted.
6. Liberals reflect their own weaknesses onto their opponent. They need for Bush & co. to be liars and basically evil to the core so they can feel better about themselves. It is so important for them to apply the label "liar" to Bush and make it stick, because it helps them overcome the years of shame after Clinton demonstrated what liars are really like. If they successfully apply the label to Bush, it misdirects people, and helps Democrats setup the Republican stereotypes that have helped them in recent years. Therefore Iraq wasn't just bad policy. BUSH LIED. Much more important to the overall Democratic strategy.
1.30.2007
Man Recites 22,514 digits of Pi
Have trouble remembering names? Phone numbers/ Your credit card number? Check out this amazing story of a savant who has not retreated into autism, and recited Pi at Oxford to the amazement of scholars. "It took him over five hours and he did it without a single mistake." CBS
[Link]
[Link]
1.29.2007
Technology Voting Guide
Here's a very handy guide by Declan McCullagh outlining the way House Representatives and Senators voted on technology-related bills. As for Obama, he scored "out-of-the-office" on 14 of 16 bills and left the voting to others, while Clinton voted on only 9 of 16 bills, and scored only 33% out of 100 in the tech-friendly department.
I could've used their votes to save legal Internet Poker. Poker is a skill, an awesome game, and the best way to play it, and learn it, is online! But somehow that Port Security bill really needed this anti-poker law tagged on last-minute. Way to go.
[Link to Tech Voting Map]
I could've used their votes to save legal Internet Poker. Poker is a skill, an awesome game, and the best way to play it, and learn it, is online! But somehow that Port Security bill really needed this anti-poker law tagged on last-minute. Way to go.
[Link to Tech Voting Map]
Black Man Can Jump
I think the Arizona Cardinals have found their new field goal blocker! Here Adrian Wilson [bio], the Cardinals' strong safety for the last 5 years, jumps over a 66' pole straight on with just a few steps to prepare.
Welcome to New York!
Wow! Those cruel streets of New York. The muggings, rapes, and murders. Perhaps that infamous NYC reputation is what kept Damon Mootoo from asking anyone for directions for a period of 5 days and 4 nights in a chilly Queens New York.
Mootoo was staying at his brother's house in South Jamaica, Queens, and 12 hours after his arrival decided to go out for a walk, on Wednesday, January 17.
Sunday the 21st, after spending 4 chilly nights wandering those streets lost, Mootoo finally gathered the courage to ask someone for directions. He had his brother's address written on a piece of paper in his pocket, and speaks English.
Thankfully, while walking home from church, Michael Bharath spotted the shivering man and offered assistance.
"I want to go home," Mootoo told the paper. "I'm thinking about going back to Guyana."
Hopefully he won't try walking back. [Link]
Mootoo was staying at his brother's house in South Jamaica, Queens, and 12 hours after his arrival decided to go out for a walk, on Wednesday, January 17.
Sunday the 21st, after spending 4 chilly nights wandering those streets lost, Mootoo finally gathered the courage to ask someone for directions. He had his brother's address written on a piece of paper in his pocket, and speaks English.
Thankfully, while walking home from church, Michael Bharath spotted the shivering man and offered assistance.
"I want to go home," Mootoo told the paper. "I'm thinking about going back to Guyana."
Hopefully he won't try walking back. [Link]
American Idol Auditioner shocked
This auditioner assumed every contestant would go before Simon, Paula, and Randy. [Link]
Doing the math, you figure if the Idol judges are in your town for 2 days, the maximum # of auditions they could do would be roughly 12 an hour, and I don't see Paula and Simon working more than 8 hours a day, so that's maybe 96 auditions a day, and they're there 2 days. So 10,000 people show up, minus the 192 auditions done by the star judges, leaving 9,808 auditions that need to be done by some other judges.
Nevertheless, the show has interest because it puts some very funny things on display - namely the fact that people often don't realize how lacking they really are in talent. Professional musicians and actors lose auditions all the time and life goes on, but amateurs think of things as "once in a lifetime." Because in real life, their lack of talent will never give them a shot at a music career. Real musicians practice and work hard and network and move on. When the show gets boring for me is when they choose their final 32 or whatever it is and force them to grind through week after week of pop cover songs by mostly amateur singers.
Taylor Hicks, by the way, is in my opinion the best true musician to ever sneak through the competition. He'll probably be over produced and over packaged, which may cause him to lose most of what is appealing about him in the first place - authentic passion and talent. Time will tell.
The show's format also does a poor job of attracting any singer/songwriter type, because original music is not encouraged. The producers of the show know that 98% of original music is boring, and doesn't sell, so their best bet is to feature a parade of hits. They are in business to earn a profit after all, so you can't blame them.
Doing the math, you figure if the Idol judges are in your town for 2 days, the maximum # of auditions they could do would be roughly 12 an hour, and I don't see Paula and Simon working more than 8 hours a day, so that's maybe 96 auditions a day, and they're there 2 days. So 10,000 people show up, minus the 192 auditions done by the star judges, leaving 9,808 auditions that need to be done by some other judges.
Nevertheless, the show has interest because it puts some very funny things on display - namely the fact that people often don't realize how lacking they really are in talent. Professional musicians and actors lose auditions all the time and life goes on, but amateurs think of things as "once in a lifetime." Because in real life, their lack of talent will never give them a shot at a music career. Real musicians practice and work hard and network and move on. When the show gets boring for me is when they choose their final 32 or whatever it is and force them to grind through week after week of pop cover songs by mostly amateur singers.
Taylor Hicks, by the way, is in my opinion the best true musician to ever sneak through the competition. He'll probably be over produced and over packaged, which may cause him to lose most of what is appealing about him in the first place - authentic passion and talent. Time will tell.
The show's format also does a poor job of attracting any singer/songwriter type, because original music is not encouraged. The producers of the show know that 98% of original music is boring, and doesn't sell, so their best bet is to feature a parade of hits. They are in business to earn a profit after all, so you can't blame them.
1.28.2007
An Image a Day Goes a Long Way
daily dose of imagery is a site by Sam Javanrouh, who has been archiving his photo journal, one brilliant photo a day, every day, since July 4th, 2003. His site has won many awards, and the thumbnail you see here is an image featured February 18, 2005. A gorgeous shot. Sam is Creative director at Optix digital pictures, a visual effects and animation company. Photo © Sam Javanrouh
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