A Threadbear Life

Aimless wonderings around the web

2012-02-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

Hi-Def Earth? Why yes! Thanks NASA: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/6760135001/in/photostream

Cory Booker. Hell yes! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y4Z7tl7Vy8U

The wisdom of children: http://youtu.be/N4t3-__3MA0

Manufacturing its own truth

2011-12-23T11:48:00.004-05:00

Politifact is a grade A piece of shit for national "fact checking" (or whatever the fuck they think they are doing). I am guessing the editor wants to go to more Georgetown cocktail parties. Or perhaps he wants to appear on the grinning moron's Sunday morning talking points-off! Weigel with the takedown. http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/12/22/politifact_weirdly_unable_to_discuss_facts.html

(h/t )http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Newt Gingrich, Ahistoircal Professor of PseudoHistory

2011-12-23T11:45:00.002-05:00

There is so much wrong with this man, why does he have to denigrate Historians with garbage, bombastic, ahistorical garbage? Go read: http://budiansky.blogspot.com/2011/12/you-can-be-historian-too.html

The sheer ego to claim the mantle of a Historian, and profess to love the country as much as he does, it is mind-numbing how fucking wrong he is about basic facts. It shouldn't surprise me, but it does.

Google disturbing the peace

2011-12-23T11:42:00.002-05:00

Well, I used to keep my thoughts pleasantly unorganized in my Buzz feed. Google labs in all their wisdom decided to rock that baby to sleep and then smother it with a pillow. I know their motto is "Do no evil," but perhaps they should change that to "Do no stupid" aft all their recent missteps.

I will get around to reposting my old buzz entries here, so they don't permanently descend to the mucky depths of the memory hole.

Oh well, that means back to the blog I know no one really reads. Perhaps I will use the extra room the blog provides to ruminate on things. Perhaps...

Safety in schools is polarizing?

2010-03-04T12:53:00.004-05:00

H.R. 4247, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act would seem like a no brainer for even the dysfunctional Congress currently in session. Sadly, no. Co-sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), co-chair of the House Republican Conference, who gave the above impassioned plea for her colleagues to vote with her, the bill narrowly passed. The final tally was: Yea 262, Nay 153, Not Voting 16. The breakdown is predictable. Democrats voted 238 to 8 for the bill, while Republicans voted 145 to 24 against the bill. Not sure what the underlying reason for voting no against this bill was, but it is symptomatic of something wrong on Capitol Hill at the moment when the safety of our children in school is a polarizing political matter. It could be worry about the Tea Bag movement. It could be the new spirit of No by the Republicans, which I am not sure does this country any good in the long term.

Anyway, here's to Rep. McMorris Rodgers for a job well done. Thanks for your hard work and dedication to this important issue.

Elections and Consequences II

2010-03-03T21:51:00.004-05:00

Very interesting article by Jeffery Rosen about the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts in the aftermath of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision. The truth is the elections of 2000 and 2004 will have very long lasting effects in US domestic policy. (The international policy are much more obvious.) Is the SCOTUS under Roberts a new form of pro-business activist or is a new form of judicial restraint? Either way, Rosen points to the dangers of the narrow decisions politicizing the court and setting a social reaction into motion.

A question left unanswered is what role will populist anger play in determining how the Roberts' Court is percieved? The reason I ask is because prior conservative leaning courts were conservative in more of a libertarian strain, especially earlier in the 20th century. As Rosen aptly points out, the current court is pro-business conservative, which plays counter to the current populist rage. The Citizens decision not only went over like a lead balloon for the progressives and liberals, but also for the neo-populists. Unfortunately neither I nor the media really seem to have a firm grasp on neo-populism because like the New Left of the late 1960s and early 1970s they are organized in clusters around the country and lack a centralizing organization. (For the New Left, this organization structure was intentional, and I am not sure if it is intentional or not with the current neo-populist movement.) I see this as not only a problem for the Court, but also for the Republican Party (as they are clearly the more pro-business of the two parties), and organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce.

Go and read.

image: "U.S. Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. (LOC)" from The Library of Congress' photostream

Elections and Consequences I

2010-03-03T21:36:00.006-05:00

FDA warning letters to companies for (un)truth-in-advertising. The FDA is flexing his muscles to, you know, protect consumers and also business. Consumers is obvious, but business needs to know that in these uncertain times it is best for businesses to be trusted. As Toyota has demonstrated recently, it behooves their bottom line to be honest and upfront with their consumers. You lie, deceive, or spin too much and consumers find out you can suffer for years -- see the US automakers.

Here is the Washington Post article on it, and here is the FDA warning letters

This also reminds me of the Health Care Summit last week when Obama was addressing Eric Cantor about cost controls. I think his analogy might have been a bit imperfect, but the terseness of the message was spot on about the role of government.

image: "Old Gold Cigarette Advertisment 1954" from jackie121467l

Been a While

2010-03-03T21:20:00.004-05:00

I stopped posting to finish my dissertation (check), and then it was suggested that I don't start up again until I get a job as there is no need to give prospective employers anything to use against me. Well, after months of trying I am still coming up empty. That said, I am not sure I have been all that political since the election and inauguration of Obama, so I am going to keep it that way. Commentary will be down, but things that I find interesting will be up in my blog market. So enjoy.

image: "Funny pet welcome mat" from Adventurer Dustin Holmes

Iran and our shitty cable media

2009-06-16T10:34:00.009-04:00

I was frustrated all weekend that no cable news network, nor even the Sunday shows really examined what started on Friday in Iran. The got around to it like a barely limp dick by Monday, and still have drive by radio jocks "analyzing" the situation today. Disgraceful and shameful. They should get people who know what they are talking about it or just continue to pretend like nothing is happening.

As I was pondering what was happening yesterday in Iran and how badly our cable media is covering it, I remembered Tiananmen Square. Although I was only 12 at the time I have a vivid recollection of watching events live on teevee. That national networks broke away from coverage to show us how a revolutions was crushed. Yes it was the bad communists and my father did have a friend over in Bejing at the time time, so there was a bit of control of the teevee by my dad. But I remember it was on. This revolution, however, is not. (Yes the Cedar revolution and the Velvet revolutions were not covered the same way, but they were covered from their beginnings.)

This all brings be around to this point. THE DAILY SHOW led their 22 minute broadcast with almost 7 minutes devoted to IRAN. Yes, there were jokes, but they got all of the major players and major events out there in a clear manner without any attempt at political spin. And personally I can't believe that Jason Jones is there. Crazy world.

Watch:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Irandecision 2009 - Sham, Wow

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Newt Gingrich Unedited Interview

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Irandecision 2009 - Election Results

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Newt Gingrich Unedited Interview

image: "Old broken (duh) TV" from schmilblick

Iran (updated)

2009-06-15T15:34:00.012-04:00

Go see what is happening, since our impotent teevee and national media has decided that this isn't a big story. Perhaps if their was a nuclear weapon or terrorists it might. Fucking shameful. Below are some places to find close to real time information. I will take a break from my dissertating to update the links or any major developments.

Right now we are it seems they are in the throes of a military coup currently headed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards via the thuggish Basij.

Information:

The Daily Dish (Andrew Sullivan)

The Huffington Post (Nico Pitney)

Talking Points Memo

See also Reza Aslan at The Daily Beast.

updated
The Lede, NYT

Pictures:

The Big Picture

*Yes, healthcare is a very important issue and one that I feel needs to be solved sooner rather than later. But the events in Iran could reshape the Middle East (and our relationship with it) for generations.

Picture of the Day -- 24 March 2009

2009-03-26T11:13:00.002-04:00

The signs of spring in downtown dc.

Picture of the Day -- 22 March 2009

2009-03-26T11:12:00.000-04:00

Feeling the blossoms.

Picture of the Day -- 21 March 2009

2009-03-26T11:11:00.003-04:00

Out on the bike for the first time this year. Still a bit nippy.

Picture of the Day -- 20 March 2009

2009-03-26T11:10:00.005-04:00

First spring evening of the year.

Picture of the Day -- 19 March 2009

2009-03-26T11:08:00.004-04:00

Springeskishness.

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2009-03-26T10:59:00.002-04:00

Or early on Thursday. Very busy, so I thought I would lighten the mood with this important economic travel announcement.

Prague's Franz Kafka International Named World's Most Alienating Airport

Barry found a very interesting money tree. Go look for yourself and behold the wonders of Citi.

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2009-03-18T20:29:00.003-04:00

After listening to our fair Representatives orate, pontificate, and bloviate away a good bit of the afternoon, I have to agree with Eliot Spitzer. (Yes, he did have some mighty big personal failings, but the man scared the living shit out of Wall Street when he was the NY AG. On this, and high priced prostitutes, he knows what he is talking about.) The problem ain't the bonuses, they are mere peanuts compared to the what is going out the back door of AIG to other companies to prop them up. I am not sure how it was decided that AIG would be bailed out using Fed monies and not directly our collective tax dollars from TARP (this is a big and very important distinction), but it was, and as such the transparency of the dealings has always been a bit obscured and not aired publically in Congress. Now, I am not saying what the Fed did was shady, I am sure Chairman Bernake did it for a very valid reason. That said, I think a good deal of the confusion (and anger, both justified and unjustified) about the bonuses and how we collectively are sinking money into AIG.

Read Spitzer here.

See where large chunks of money are going. Fed money in the front door, AIG sends it out the back door to...

_John

Picture of the Day -- 18 March 2009

2009-03-18T20:26:00.002-04:00

The difference a day makes...

_John

Picture of the Day -- 17 March 2009

2009-03-18T20:24:00.002-04:00

Still not much like spring round here.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 16 March 2009

2009-03-17T00:20:00.003-04:00

If it weren't for the rain making the verdant fields create a mysteriously low to the ground green aura, it would be a black, white, and gray looking world right now. The birds returning for the spring aren't really helping my mood when they sit in still leafless trees and look like this.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 15 March 2009

2009-03-17T00:19:00.001-04:00

The rain continued into Sunday. Despite the cold and rainy weather, there are small signs of spring.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 14 March 2009

2009-03-17T00:13:00.003-04:00

We don't pay for snow removal vehicles down here, we pay for salt, and lots of it. The rain later in the day will take this straight in to the Potomac. A brackish day near the storm sewer outlets.

_John

Pictures of the Day returning

2009-03-16T23:43:00.006-04:00

As I am bearing down on dissertation deadlines like a brakeless tractor trailer headed down the side of a steep fjord and have some other changes in my personal life I will try to ramp up the Pictures of the Day so that I take (and hopefully post) a new one every day . Commentary will be down to a bear minimum, but if I find the time I will photos from this past winter that will be entitled "Reflections of Winter" as part of a larger photo montage entitled "Reflections of My Life." The idea occurred to me as I walked back from the local farmers market after a rain storm this past fall and took what became one of my favorite pictures I took early during my POD winter hiatus.

_John

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2009-03-09T21:56:00.006-04:00

A/V edition again.

The New F***ing Citibank - watch more funny videos

Yeah, I thought this was funny, which means that it will probably come back to bite me on the ass at some point soon. (Note: I do not have any money in a Citibank or invested in their stock.)

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

Interesting analysis of how the f-ed journalism can learn something from Stewart's actions.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Market Psychology - Jim Cramer

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor

Rap Battle
Joke of the Day

Cramer just before the feud with Jon Stewart and well on his way to being shown as the laughing stock he is. Maybe Chris Matthews was watching so he can stop inviting Cramer back until he finds his credibility again. Hey Chris, here's an idea, I am from the Philly are, can I go on your show? Who knows, my guess might be better. Apparently Cramer will be on The Daily Show this Thursday, so set your Tivos.

Bad, bad banks. What does it all mean. In fact, what the hell are they talking about? Why aren't they lending? This American Life clues you in again in a language you can understand.

_John

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2009-03-04T22:20:00.011-05:00

When life gives you lemons, ex-Countrywide executives serves you piss. Not that I would ever begrudge anyone to earn money legally, but there is some sort of ethical vacuum that these guys operate in. Seriously, if I did this I don't know that I would ever sleep again.

Soulless people in operating with little to no oversight in nearly unregulated markets, what could go wrong? Really? This is getting to the point of redefining absurd.

Go read, and try not to punch your computer screen or hit your head to hard on your desk. And one last thing, where are these stories while the bubbles are inflating? Why do we get them on the other side? That seems to be more the province of historians, not the press.

_John

image: "LEMON ART" from Irene2727

Picture of the Day -- 02 March 2009

2009-03-02T22:38:00.004-05:00

Like the spring growth rising above a fresh snow fall, the pictures of the day are nearing return after their darkness induced hiatus.

_John

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2009-02-11T21:59:00.009-05:00

Oh I lost track of days and was planning on a big one this week. Perhaps I will post again between now and next Wednesday with some of the politics tied up in this. But for now, Wall Street are giant crybabies.

What does yesterday's day in the market really mean. I'll let Barry and Steve lay it out for you.

The money quote from Steven is:

These guys won’t be happy until the government agrees to relieve them of every last one of their lousy loans and investments at inflated prices, recapitalize every major bank and brokerage and insurance company on sweetheart terms and restore them to the glory days, so they can once again earn inflated profits and obscene pay packages by screwing over their customers and their shareholders.

For the Wall Street wise guys, bailout politics is just another game to be played, another market to be manipulated, another set of risks to be arbitraged.

_John

ps. I will get on top of the Peanuts very soon.

chart: via Merrill Lynch

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2009-02-04T21:18:00.003-05:00

Dear Media,

Make it stop. We are not morons, but apparently you are. I think I was right about my opinion of David Gregory running MTP. In fact, I might have been generous. His roundtable this past Sunday had the focus of the economy/TARP/the Stimulus Bill. A pretty important topic right now, and one that really does deserve to have serious people talking about the issues. Unfortunately, MTP doesn't feel that way. What we got was make up, well brushed hair, big smiles, and guests with mild gravitas and big smiles. The horrifically unbalanced dumbtable included Steve Forbes (R-Wall St.), Mark Zandi (politically confused), Erin Burnett (Cheerleader-Wall St.).

Please go read how HP reviewed MTP this weekend. And it is a wonder why the public follows all news like we used to entertainment news – as cats follow shiny objects. Please understand that I do not fault Burnett for this, I fault David Gregory and all the people who do the booking for MTP. She seems nice enough, is very easy on the eyes, has a firm grasp of the English language, and has some sources in Wall St, which can prove to be useful when reporting something. She, however, added nothing to my understanding of any of the topics that were being discussed.

How do you get serious discussion and balance? Hmmm, I can think of two Nobel Laureates and one world renown scholar who appear on my teevee every now and again. Paul Krugman and Joseph Stigliz cover the Laureates, and Nassim Nicholas Taleb as the scholar. Taleb would be a fantasitc get, since he actually predicted the economic meltdown in Davos a few years back. He saw it coming and was laughed at by economic titans. I bet he could explain things in a way that we would all understand. I also think all three would run fucking rings around the Forbes-Burnett-Zandi trifecta. Oh fuck it, we are idiots because we keep watching your shitty programs. Serve us up some more, please!? Wonder which turds they are polishing up for this Sunday...

_John

P.S. Jim Cramer has Burnett's back. You already know what I think about Cramer. Boo-Yah to you douchebag!

(h/t Corvel)

The Best Super Bowl Prediction

2009-02-01T15:07:00.002-05:00

Because this year, I really don't care who wins. I just hope that the commercials are good.

_John

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2009-01-28T19:08:00.007-05:00

Ahhh, it's back. A short one this week as I slowly get back into the swing of things.

CNBC has a new slogan:
"If you watch us you should get out of the market now."? Nope.
"Cheerleaders and hollow moral moral outrage"? Try again.
iam.cnbc.com? You better believe it!

The real Jim Cramer from late 2006. I don't understand how a man who admittedly gamed the system to earn millions (if not billions) of dollars with his hedge fund can get angry at the Fed or Treasury now. (I am in no position to say what he did to earn money was legal or illegal. I imagine from his wink and nod attitude that it was decidedly in the gray area of the law. The (mostly Republican) idea of the free market probably constrained any and all attempts to pass legislation covering the new high powered mathematical tools and systems that were brought to bear on Wall St. in the 1980s through early 2000s. Democrats were also too ballless to bother passing anything. Clinton and Summers I am looking at your very business friendly "third way.") Anyway Cramer got rich because of an outdated regulatory system and the Bush administration deciding that the free market didn't need any oversight. If you are the real man of the people that you are trying to be today, maybe you could help by shining light on the gray areas, naming name, and calling out your buddies. Douchebag.

Starbucks is a dying business. I fear they will be regional, not national soon. Great innovator, but it is a terrible time to sell subpar expensive coffee. I will never forgive you for switching out the gingerbread latte for the disgusting gingercrisp latte this winter. It's not the same and you know it. Much shame.

_John

image: "cone conference" from ninjapoodles

It was a very good day

2009-01-20T18:04:00.003-05:00

Still hopeful (and thawing out).

_John

In the very near future

2009-01-10T16:41:00.004-05:00

Lest you think my cellphone camera has broken, it has not and I have taken about 150 pictures since I let PODs drift into the winter darkness. When I finish culling the pictures and take a break from dissertating, I will start posting them. A new theme is emerging, but I will let your imagination run wild in the meantime.

_John

Bush Top 10 moments

2009-01-10T16:40:00.000-05:00

Number 4 cracks me up every time.

_John

Let's start 2009 off right

2009-01-02T12:13:00.000-05:00

_John

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2008-12-24T12:46:00.003-05:00

We are going to be paying to clean up this mess. I am glad that Bush issued executive orders that will prevent these environmental fuck ups. Opps, no he didn't. He recently did the opposite. I think I am now going to document the Fuck Yous that Bush gives to the country on the way out.

By the way, is this what clean coal looks like?

Tom Friedman wrote a good op-ed on our shitty infrastructure. The whole thing is worth a read.

Is the Chicago School of Economics dead now? Please?

I know corporate boardrooms are full of yes men and rife with greed where no one ever gets fired. But those overseeing the banking system aren't much better. Chris Cox is in a major shit storm of his own doing, and this royal asshat, who was caught up in the S&L crisis in the 1980s, need to be fired and then put in the stocks on the National Mall so I can throw rotten fruit at him. How these people can look at themselves in the mirror most days is beyond me. Denial ain't just a rive in Egypt.

_John

The Audacity of Audacity

2008-12-09T21:01:00.006-05:00

The don of Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevic got arrested this morning and released from jail this afternoon. Is he going to resign? Hell No! Is the going to get impeached? You betcha. Is he going to name Obama's successor? Who knows.

Here is what we know. He loves the word Fuck, avoids ethics at all costs, is arrogant as all get out, and amazingly enough pledged to rein in the excesses of campaign finance with soon-to-be-introduced reforms that would “rock the system in Springfield.”

Oh yeah, and he has balls of steel, which should serve him well in the BIG HOUSE.

I really don't think Obama has many connections to Blago. Why? When he announced in Springfield that he was running for Pres, no Blago on the stage. After he wrapped up the nomination and held a rally in Springfield, not Blago on stage. DNC where every Democrat seemed to speak, no Blago. The Grant Park rally after winning the presendency, no Blago. Maybe he was tipped off, or maybe he just knew Blago was dirty. Whichever it is we do know that he didn't ever owe Blago anything because Blago would have definitely called in his chips when Obama won. From what was published today it doesn't seem like Obama owes him a thing.

More NBC news

2008-12-09T16:38:00.002-05:00

How the fuck did this happen?

No, I don't mean someone giving Jimmy Fallon a show, though that is a perfectly legitimate question. How did he land The Roots? ?uestlove? God? Anyone? I might have to TiVo just to watch The Roots most nights. Wonder who is going to fill in when they go on the road? It can be a large step down from them Jimmy...just thought I would let you know.

_John

National Boring Company

2008-12-09T13:21:00.006-05:00

And the Network yawned.

First David Gregory gets appointed to moderate Meet the Press and now the announcement that Jay Leno is going to host a five night a week show in the 10 o'clock time slot that is sorta kinda like The Tonight Show. Here are my thoughts if you really care.

On Gregory:

I think NBC news wants to stay FAR away from anyone who has a sniff of partisanship, which Mike Murphy or anyone from the MSNBC roster has in oodles -- not that that is in and of itself a bad thing. Gregory is a safe, if completely uninspiring, choice. His show on MSNBC is/was forgettable, and I don't ever see him rocking the boat with any of his guests. In fact I don't see him putting a new spin on MTP at all. My bet is that he will just use the Russert model with little innovation or distinction. I give him 5 years.

I was hoping that they would return to the old version of MTP with a moderator (say Gregory) and a few reporters/press who get to question a the guest(s). You could have press from the right and left asking tough questions with (gasp!) follow up questions. For God's sake the fucking roundtables need to be executed from MTP post haste because theirs are exceptionally dreadful. They are mind numbing and provide little to no information. If I wanted the convential wisdom from the Washington establishment I would just shut down my brain and read David Broder. (And yes that is me taking a giant swipe at the old windbag of conventional beltway sages who's time passed decades ago.)

On Leno:

Please NBC. This was a purely defensive move. You green light shitty programs that no one wants to watch (like the much hyped My Own Worst Enemy or Knight Rider...seriously Knight Rider?), and you were pissing your pants that Leno might take his star power to ABC. So you gut your 10 o'clock slot for the weekdays. In essence then you totally giving up on edgy programing then because you really can't air anything adult before 10. So you put too many eggs in your basket with 1990s Must See TV and ran it into the ground. You let a few shows run just too long, like Fraiser, and you kept shocking e.r. with defibrillation paddles for an extra 5 season trying to resuscitate a show that should have slipped into death due to natural causes. You expanded from one Law & Order to three -- all of which I still watch on an irregular basis, and though some of the actors have been unwatchable the current casts are actually really good again, but just stop the "Ripped from the headlines" bullshit and pay your writers to come up with original stories. I do give you kudos for show patience with some shows in the recent past, such as The Office, and currently with Life. I do wonder how my two favorite shows of this year eluded your gasp: The Emmy award winning Mad Men (on AMC), the somewhat violent Sons of Anarchy (F/X), and another one I am trying to catch up on is Breaking Bad (again AMC, and again winner of an Emmy). All three of these shows are 10 o'clock shows, as is e.r. Are you going to stop developing adult approriate shows and just ceded that audience to ABC, CBS, and cable networks? If so you are sadly playing your hand on the wrong side of history.

Young people don't regularly watch late night teevee. I am sure you will hold the baby boomers, especially the tailing end of it, and that generation right before Gen X. But Gen X and onward are not drawn to the late night shows like previous generations because we never really lived during a time of nearly infinite channel choices. Our choices after the nightly news were not Johnny Carson, NightLine, or whatever else used to be called late night programming. There is no mystique around that time slot for us and I bet a lot of the younger viewers are like me in that when we watch, it is because we want to see which entertainer is on to be interviewed or perform and not to enjoy the pleasure of spending an hour with the host and his witty repartee. Yes, I still watch Letterman on occasion -- I was never wild about Leno -- and do check out Conan and the Late Late show once in a while, but that is rare and usually on TiVo.

NBC made the boring and easy choices. Their slow slide in their viewership will continue unabated, and I let out a giant yawn in their honor.

_John

PS. NBC's sports department are still morons. Losing the NFL all those years ago only to overpay to get the Sunday night game? You have the NHL, but treat it like a red-headed stepchild. If you didn't want it than you didn't have to pay for it -- I know it came relatively cheap (Gary Bettman I am looking at you), but come on how about a little exposure and marketing? The NHL was near third place as a sport in terms of ratings before lock out. (The lock out was good and bad for the sport, but I will get into that later.) You are the sports channel of the Olympics and golf (and maybe NASCAR, I can't remember and don't care about four left turns), and other random "sports" that I don't watch most weekends of the year on your desert of a sports broadcasting. How is all of this working out for you? Seriously you can't be happy about that. No MLB, lost the NBA, and your only college football is Notre Dame. Notre Dame football got you to pay how much to watch them get destroyed every week?

After writing all of this I have to ask: Who the hell is making decisions at that network? Seriously, have you made any good financial decisions recently with your programming? Seriously.

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2008-11-25T22:54:00.005-05:00

It's back...

Oh whatever happened to the Wall Street cheerleaders on my cable business teevee?

Oh yeah, I forgot it is either rainbows and unicorns or doom and gloom. They hurt my head. Although I bet Rupert is ruing the day he decided to start Fox Business channel right before the market went south.

It could be worse: We could have a totalitarian one-party state that is starting to piss itself because of the tumbling price of oil. Ahhhh...the petro dollar roller coaster. The problems of putting all your eggs in one basket, sorta like our housing bubble, but much much worse.

_John

Post-election break

2008-11-23T21:58:00.008-05:00

I needed a break after the election and was planning on just a series of light weeks with PODs, but my health and daylights savings time were against me. Currently I have some kind of undiagnosed sinus problem that is causing intense sinus pressure in my head and also in my inner ears. It has the fun side effect of being completely physically draining and I believe if I had absolutely nothing to do that I could easily sleep for 18+ hours a day. Alas I have a full plate with work and my dissertation, so what little energy I have in reserve each day is spent on other things than the blog. (In case you are wondering I have a appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist after Thanksgiving because my doctor has finally run out of things to try. We also figured out that I might have been suffering from whatever I have since early last spring, since what I believed was allergies all spring, summer, and fall may have been what I am still suffering from. Yeah, fun stuff.)

Where have the PODs gone? Very good question. To wit I would respond, Where has the sunlight gone? I have darkness when I get out of work, so it makes it hard to take a daily picture. Until the sunlight returns I will be posting "Random pictures of the week." Though I will probably start with "Random pictures from November" to play catch up for my down time.

In case any of you were wondering one of my pictures has been chosen as a finalist for a internet mapping company's dc map. Kind of cool. Here is the picture. I have a little extra personal love for Ben, so despite the fact that I think I have better dc pics, it is kind of flattering. I will let you know when I lose. Again behold the power of the cellphone camera!

_John

image: "Mr. Beagle" from Macorig Paolo

Picture of the Day -- 05 November 2008

2008-11-05T23:15:00.003-05:00

Another grayish day with spots of sun.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 04 November 2008

2008-11-05T23:12:00.002-05:00

Election day in del ray. The New York Times was at the same voting location today too.

_John

Unyielding Hope.

2008-11-05T01:43:00.002-05:00

Know Hope.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

...

...And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

...

...And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

_President-elect Barak Obama

For Your Election Night Drinking Games

2008-11-04T18:00:00.000-05:00

Hope. And Sláinte!

_John

Rock the Vote with Will.i.am.

2008-11-04T17:00:00.000-05:00

Yes We Can.

Hope.

_John

Rock the Vote with Wilco

2008-11-04T16:00:00.000-05:00

Wilco.

Hope.

_John

Rock the Vote with The Boss

2008-11-04T15:00:00.000-05:00

The Boss

Hope.

_John

Rock the Vote with Jay-Z

2008-11-04T14:00:00.000-05:00

Jay-Z.

Hope.

_John

Rock the Vote with Wilco

2008-11-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

Wilco.

Hope.

_John

Midday dance off

2008-11-04T12:35:00.000-05:00

_John

Vote -- Pennsylvania

2008-11-04T12:07:00.001-05:00

What you need and your rights.

Hope.

_John

Rock the Vote

2008-11-04T11:48:00.001-05:00

MC Yogi.

Hope.

_John

Rock the Vote with Wilco

2008-11-04T11:18:00.004-05:00

Wilco.

Hope.

_John

Vote -- Virginia

2008-11-04T11:13:00.004-05:00

Chris Rock. Know the Rules and Your Rights.

_John

Vote

2008-11-04T11:06:00.003-05:00

Rise to the Moment.

Hope.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 03 November 2008

2008-11-03T23:02:00.002-05:00

Preparations for Nov. 4 2008.

_John

RIP Madelyn Dunham

2008-11-03T20:07:00.005-05:00

It is with a heavy heart that Obama and his family finishes his campaign as his grandmother ("Toot") passed away after her long battle with cancer. Here is what he said about his grandmother today on the trail. Though she couldn't make it to the finish line, she was the driving force beyond Barak, and I hope she reached her final resting place in peace knowing hope.

_John

image: Obama for America.

Day Zero. Hope

2008-11-03T20:04:00.011-05:00

This is Hope. (And the only political closing message that I have ever heard that drew a strong emotional response every time I have watched it.)

Today. Dare to HOPE. Believe in HOPE. Choose HOPE. And Vote.

_John

One Day -- Night Edition

2008-11-03T19:59:00.003-05:00

Bueller? Bueller?

Still in need of convincing? Try on this essay by (little "c") conservative Andrew Sullivan. It is both intellectually and emotionally engaging. Go read.

_John

One Day -- Evening Edition

2008-11-03T16:51:00.000-05:00

Hope.

_John

One Day -- on Voting and Making it Count

2008-11-03T12:08:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow be prepared for long lines, and be prepared to stay and have your vote counted. Also be prepared for any possible voter intimidation issues. Here are a few things to be ready for.

[Not sure if the YouTube poster got permission to post from Bill Moyers' Journal, so here is the link to the video on the show's site. Note to PBS, EMBED please.]

From the Campaigns:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10172008/watch3.html

[I would have posted a similar message from any of the other campaigns, but I could not find them or they don't exist. I will update if this page if they come out this afternoon.]

For your election polling place please visit www.canivote.org or call your local election board.

If you are planning on taking your camera to your polling place, please be aware of state and local laws. And if you shoot any good footage, please send it along to Video You Vote.

_John

Two Days -- Late Night Edition

2008-11-02T23:47:00.002-05:00

Hope.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 02 November 2008

2008-11-02T23:43:00.005-05:00

Rock Creek on the way home from a Villagers tie. (This one, beyond my own personal injuries, was a good one.)

_John

Two Days -- California Evening Edition (UPDATED)

2008-11-02T23:40:00.002-05:00

Vote No on 8. We are still a young country, but we should be well beyond our past of legislating discrimination.

Update: Obama in his own words.

MTV Shows

_John

Two days

2008-11-02T20:40:00.002-05:00

Hope in action. Powerful, real, important. Please read it to understand fully what is going on away from what the teevee is covering.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 01 November 2008

2008-11-01T19:46:00.002-04:00

Fall walk.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 31 October 2008

2008-11-01T19:29:00.006-04:00

Twilight before all hallows eve.

_John

Three Days --Midday reminder

2008-11-01T15:16:00.002-04:00

Hope.

Not Hope.

_John

Three Days -- Early Voting edition

2008-11-01T11:10:00.008-04:00

Hours of Hope.

_John

image: Joe Raedle/Getty.

Four Days

2008-10-31T21:28:00.001-04:00

Hope.

_John

FIve Days night edition

2008-10-30T23:21:00.001-04:00

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Opie and Richie Cunningham return to ask you to vote. So vote.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 30 October 2008

2008-10-30T23:18:00.006-04:00

The long shadows of fall.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 29 October 2008

2008-10-30T23:17:00.003-04:00

Morning before Game 5 finally continues.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 28 October 2008

2008-10-30T23:16:00.000-04:00

Gunmetal gray skies moving in.

_John

Five Days

2008-10-30T12:27:00.000-04:00

Hope.

_John

PHUCK YEAH!

2008-10-30T00:31:00.003-04:00

WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS. HOW SWEET IT IS!

_John

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2008-10-28T21:08:00.002-04:00

See more Natalie Portman videos at Funny or Die

The Greenspan files:
here, here, and below

And there was a rate cut yesterday and the Dow is still like a wild roller coaster ride, I am not sure what it all really means at this point because the PHILLIES WON THE WORLD SERIES.

_John

One Week

2008-10-28T21:07:00.001-04:00

See more Judd Apatow videos at Funny or Die

HOPE.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 27 October 2008

2008-10-28T01:05:00.000-04:00

Ugly rainy day in dc land.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 26 October 2008

2008-10-28T00:41:00.002-04:00

A great bagel place on the east side on Third between 23rd and 24th -- Pick A Bagel. The sign was just too funny not to take a picture of it.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 25 October 2008

2008-10-28T00:33:00.004-04:00

Rainy evening on the east side of Manhattan.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 24 October 2008

2008-10-24T22:49:00.003-04:00

Gray fall day on the Potomac.

[I will be away for the weekend, so I will post again when I return.]

_John

Picture of the Day -- 23 October 2008

2008-10-24T00:31:00.004-04:00

Fall evening over del ray.

_John

It's the Economy Stipid Wednesday

2008-10-23T10:52:00.008-04:00

Brought to you on Thursday morning.

The Dow, like a roller coaster that just won't stop, over th past month has made my stomach a bit queasy, so this week I bring you a depressing chart or two.

And if that one wasn't special enough, here is one that you can play with and give yourself some vertigo.

Oh and don't pull out that credit card because I am betting the interest rates are about to go through the roof. Why? Take a gander at this chart:

Here is an article from earlier this week that spells out the madness of the US love of putting life on credit.

Don't worry things could be worse: You could be a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, who have started the season with a grotesque 0-3-3 record. At least for them, the Phils are in the World Series and the Eagles still have a chance this season.

_John

image: "NO BARFING" from richardmasoner

Picture of the Day -- 22 October 2008

2008-10-23T00:39:00.004-04:00

Game 1. Phils lead the Rays 1-0. [Would have taken a better picture, but cellphone was dead until I got home after work to charge it.]

_John

Picture of the Day -- 21 October 2008

2008-10-21T23:34:00.004-04:00

Train of clouds.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 20 October 2008

2008-10-21T23:31:00.005-04:00

Fall early evening.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 19 October 2008

2008-10-19T23:24:00.006-04:00

Fall leaves in Rock Creek. Villagers win! Villagers win!

_John

Picture of the Day -- 18 October 2008

2008-10-19T23:23:00.003-04:00

Weekend sky in del ray. It finally feels like fall now.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 17 October 2008

2008-10-19T23:21:00.003-04:00

Metro Friday, or I don't think it is wise to Exit at this moment.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 16 October 2008

2008-10-19T23:20:00.002-04:00

Morning sky.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 15 October 2008

2008-10-19T23:19:00.002-04:00

The beginning of fall colors in del ray.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 14 October 2008

2008-10-19T23:17:00.002-04:00

[Sorry for the laziness of my posting. I have been spending what little free time I have getting my technology straightened out with my fixed mac. Well that, and I have been a touch under the weather this week.]

Fall evening.

_John

World Series bound

2008-10-16T12:50:00.015-04:00

And it is off to the World Series for the Phils for the first time in 15 years. I do remember that team, but I sure as hell don't remember the Wheeze Kids of 1983, who lost to the O's, or the 1980 team that won it all. That is not to say I don't know who they are or that the image of the Tugger striking out Willie Wilson of the Royals for the first ever World Series championship for the Phils isn't also burned into my retinas. I remember them in the way that Philly sports fans remember their winning teams, like the 1983 Sixers with the Doc, Moses, and Mo Cheeks, or the Stanley Cups that came to the city of Brotherly Love in 1974 and 1975. Heck, we even remember Jaws losing in the Super Bowl in 1980 – the Birds are the only major sports franchise in the city without a city without winning it all. (Yes, they won the 1948, 1949, and 1960 NFL championships, but come on the last of these was a few years before the merger the first Super Bowl. I count them like I count the Phantoms, Wings, and Soul championships. They are what they are, but they aren't the championship of a major modern sports teams.)

So it is with this team that we faithful of Philly sports will hang our hat on this year to bring an end to our 25 year championship drought. Oh we have tried in the years intervening: The Flyers in 1984-85, 1986-87, and again in 1996-97; the Phils in 1993, the Sixers in 2001, and most recently the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. Most of these teams were underdogs and ended up completely over matched, but in Philly we wouldn't have it any other way. A city of dynasties we are not. A town of legions of fans who know more and care more about sports than any city I have ever spent time in. We boo because we give a care, maybe too much some times. And we prefer an honest effort and emotion over elite skill set. Which brings me to this years team and last night's win. The quote speaks volumes, and probably means more in Philly than it would in any other city.

"You know what? It hasn't hit me yet," [Jimmy] Rollins said. "We still have a lot of work to do. We've got to find a way to win four more games. That's our goal. Our goal is to win the World Series. The goal was not just to win the National League. The goal was not just to get to the World Series. We qualified. That's all we did. So we've still got work to do.

"But when it's all said and done, and my career's over, and hopefully we win the World Series, then that legend of the Phillies in 2008 will be a great story. But until then, we've still got four games to win."

Read all of Jayson Stark's article here. (By the way his coverage, despite not picking the Phils to beat the Dodgers, has been excellent. I would expect nothing less from a man who cut his teeth following the Phils for many years for the Philly Inq.) Oh, and how sweet it is that all of the cheerleading for the Dodgers by Fox Sports, especially Joe Buck and Idiot Tim McCarver, went for naught. I know that it would have been ratings gold for them to have Manny and Joe Torre return to Fenway. But the fact of the matter is the Sox aren't going to win their series, so why not try to turn the story in the the bad luck Phils versus the up and comer Rays. Fox and its announcers just couldn't bring themselves to do it. Their dream died hard, but mine lives on.

_John

image: from Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Presidential Debate #3

2008-10-16T12:43:00.004-04:00

What did I miss? Seriously, I checked over only a few times during commercial break and pitching changes as my beloved Phils phucked the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine last night. It's off to the World (cough, US/Canada) Series for the first time in 15 years. More on that in a minute.

And yes Virginia that is an actual unphotoshopped image right after the debate ended.

_John

image: from Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

2008-10-15T19:38:00.011-04:00

Why did the credit markets freeze? That is a good question and it goes to a major root of our current fiscal mess.

This American Life recently had another stupendous show this month on what lead to the credit freeze. "Another Frightening Show About the Economy" is broken down into three parts. The first part deals with paper. Paper? Yes the commercial paper market. The second part deals explains what the fuck Credit Default Swaps (CDS) are, how we got them, and why the broke the buck. "Break the buck" you say, and I say, yes, so go listen to it. Part three is about why CDSs aren't regulated. You will better understand what is going on right now that any other explanation I have heard or seen on teevee. They explain everything in terms that non-economists can understand, but not in the childish and occasionally insulting way that has recently appeared on my idiot box.

More on CDSs. Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi and The National Review's Byron York argued over a few things in a New York magazine online discussion. Taibbi, though I don't always agree with him (or his politics), never suffers fools lightly and on economic issues he takes York out to the woodshed. (Disclaimer: I don't know if everything Taibbi is true, but I know York is off his fucking rocker.)

B.Y.: [O]n the financial meltdown in particular, if you're suggesting that that is a Republican creation, or even more specifically a McCain creation, I think you're on pretty shaky ground.

M.T.: You don't think the unregulated CDS market was a major factor in the current crisis? Were you watching when AIG almost went under? Were you watching the Lehman collapse?

B.Y.: I think that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were also major factors. And I believe that many of the problems in the mortgage area can be attributed to the confluence of Democratic and Republican priorities: the Democrats' desire to give mortgages to people, particularly minorities, who could not afford them, and the Republicans' desire to achieve an "ownership society," in part by giving mortgages to people who could not afford them. Again, I believe that if you are suggesting that the financial crisis is a Republican creation, or even more specifically a McCain creation, I think you're on pretty shaky ground.

M.T.: Oh, come on. Tell me you're not ashamed to put this gigantic international financial Krakatoa at the feet of a bunch of poor black people who missed their mortgage payments. The CDS market, this market for credit default swaps that was created in 2000 by Phil Gramm's Commodities Future Modernization Act, this is now a $62 trillion market, up from $900 billion in 2000. That's like five times the size of the holdings in the NYSE. And it's all speculation by Wall Street traders. It's a classic bubble/Ponzi scheme. The effort of people like you to pin this whole thing on minorities, when in fact this whole thing has been caused by greedy traders dealing in unregulated markets, is despicable.

Interesting new focus on Brooksley E. Born, head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), who screamed in the wilderness in the late 1990s about regulating the derivatives market. Seems she was right and luminaries such as Greenspan, Rubin, and Summers were, how do say this with some tact, looking left for oncoming traffic in London.

The Beige Book was awful reading today. The WSJ, however, found the few bright spots.

Things could be worse, you could own a house in Detroit.

_John

image: "Paper rolls at the Seattle Times plant" from buddyspotz

Picture of the Day -- 13 October 2008

2008-10-13T23:19:00.002-04:00

Though it did feel like fall today, it is really starting to look that way.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 12 October 2008

2008-10-13T14:18:00.003-04:00

Through Rock Creek after a the game. Villagers tie?!?

_John

Picture of the Day -- 11 October 2008

2008-10-13T14:15:00.003-04:00

Quiet Saturday morning on the Potomac.

_John

Picture of the Day -- 10 October 2008

2008-10-13T14:13:00.007-04:00

Dupont Circle and my way to a concert at the 9:30 Club. (More on that later.)

_John

A Threadbear Life

Aimless wonderings around the web

Manufacturing its own truth

Newt Gingrich, Ahistoircal Professor of PseudoHistory

Google disturbing the peace

Safety in schools is polarizing?

Elections and Consequences II

Elections and Consequences I

Been a While

Iran and our shitty cable media

Iran (**updated**)

Picture of the Day -- 24 March 2009

Picture of the Day -- 22 March 2009

Picture of the Day -- 21 March 2009

Picture of the Day -- 20 March 2009

Picture of the Day -- 19 March 2009

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

Picture of the Day -- 18 March 2009

Picture of the Day -- 17 March 2009

Picture of the Day -- 16 March 2009

Picture of the Day -- 15 March 2009

Picture of the Day -- 14 March 2009

Pictures of the Day returning

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

Picture of the Day -- 02 March 2009

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

The Best Super Bowl Prediction

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

It was a very good day

In the very near future

Bush Top 10 moments

Let's start 2009 off right

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

The Audacity of Audacity

More NBC news

National Boring Company

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

Post-election break

Picture of the Day -- 05 November 2008

Picture of the Day -- 04 November 2008

Unyielding Hope.

For Your Election Night Drinking Games

Rock the Vote with Will.i.am.

Rock the Vote with Wilco

Rock the Vote with The Boss

Rock the Vote with Jay-Z

Rock the Vote with Wilco

Midday dance off

Vote -- Pennsylvania

Rock the Vote

Rock the Vote with Wilco

Vote -- Virginia

Vote

Picture of the Day -- 03 November 2008

RIP Madelyn Dunham

Day Zero. Hope

One Day -- Night Edition

One Day -- Evening Edition

One Day -- on Voting and Making it Count

Two Days -- Late Night Edition

Picture of the Day -- 02 November 2008

Two Days -- California Evening Edition (UPDATED)

Two days

Picture of the Day -- 01 November 2008

Picture of the Day -- 31 October 2008

Three Days --Midday reminder

Three Days -- Early Voting edition

Four Days

FIve Days night edition

Picture of the Day -- 30 October 2008

Picture of the Day -- 29 October 2008

Picture of the Day -- 28 October 2008

Five Days

PHUCK YEAH!

It's the Economy Stupid Wednesday

One Week

Picture of the Day -- 27 October 2008

Iran (updated)