Congratulations Mr. President and God bless.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
EPISODE XLIV: A NEW HOPE
As of 12:04 EST, The President of the United States:
Congratulations Mr. President and God bless.
Congratulations Mr. President and God bless.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Obama Almost Here
Two more days to Christmas, um, I mean the swearing in of Obama. Obama has called on people to use MLK day tomorrow, the day before his election, as a national day of service. Find a project here.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Greatest Sitcom Ever
Ok, here's the pitch:
The sitcom's lead character is about the President of the United States. So it's like Spin City except it's in the White House, so Spin City meets West Wing! And get this, HE'S BLACK! Like Benson, but if Benson was the mayor! Yeah, crazy, but it gets better. Ok see the president's mother-in-law MOVES INTO THE WHITE HOUSE WITH HIM! Right! So it's cutting edge racially progressive, I mean, a black President is WAY past Different Strokes (I mean, a rich white guy adopting not one but TWO black kids? Move over Webster!), but ALSO it's a family comedy like "Everybody Loves Raymond." I'm telling you, sure fire hit!
The sitcom's lead character is about the President of the United States. So it's like Spin City except it's in the White House, so Spin City meets West Wing! And get this, HE'S BLACK! Like Benson, but if Benson was the mayor! Yeah, crazy, but it gets better. Ok see the president's mother-in-law MOVES INTO THE WHITE HOUSE WITH HIM! Right! So it's cutting edge racially progressive, I mean, a black President is WAY past Different Strokes (I mean, a rich white guy adopting not one but TWO black kids? Move over Webster!), but ALSO it's a family comedy like "Everybody Loves Raymond." I'm telling you, sure fire hit!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Reid Is WAG
As atrios notes here, Sen. H. Reid looks like he's planning to fold again in the face of stiff opposition. On the merits of seating Burris I'm a bit agnostic. On strictly legal grounds there is a case for denying him the seat and a case for the idea that such a denial would be improper (see here for a general discussion).
But on the political front, this shows just what a weak player Harry Reid is. In poker terms, Harry Reid is a WAG: Weak AGressive. In terms of poker typology, this is basically the type of player that is actively looking to give their chips away. Aggressive players generally raise with inferior holdings, always bet draws, and tend to bluff at any unraised pot post flop. They want to put their money in the middle. Weak players tend to fold when they should not if pressure is applied. They will fold straight and flush draws even when they have the pot odds to call, they will raise then fold with top pair, and generally rarely call any all in unless they have the nuts (the best possible hand). In other words, WAGs are the worst of both worlds. They aggressively build up the stakes, but then fail to fight for them by following through.
But back to Reid: politically he's a WAG. Time and time again, he will talk tough, generating press and hyping expectations of a showdown, only to fold to pressure when the other side is willing to commit to a fight. Harry Reid did a great job of leading the Minority, several times out maneuvering the inept Bill Frist with parliamentary procedure, but as a majority leader he's been weak. He needs to learn to either fight or shut his damn mouth if he ain't going to.
But on the political front, this shows just what a weak player Harry Reid is. In poker terms, Harry Reid is a WAG: Weak AGressive. In terms of poker typology, this is basically the type of player that is actively looking to give their chips away. Aggressive players generally raise with inferior holdings, always bet draws, and tend to bluff at any unraised pot post flop. They want to put their money in the middle. Weak players tend to fold when they should not if pressure is applied. They will fold straight and flush draws even when they have the pot odds to call, they will raise then fold with top pair, and generally rarely call any all in unless they have the nuts (the best possible hand). In other words, WAGs are the worst of both worlds. They aggressively build up the stakes, but then fail to fight for them by following through.
But back to Reid: politically he's a WAG. Time and time again, he will talk tough, generating press and hyping expectations of a showdown, only to fold to pressure when the other side is willing to commit to a fight. Harry Reid did a great job of leading the Minority, several times out maneuvering the inept Bill Frist with parliamentary procedure, but as a majority leader he's been weak. He needs to learn to either fight or shut his damn mouth if he ain't going to.
Celebration Time For Franken
In honor of Franken's achievement, I bring you: Al Franken in tight pants imitating Mick Jagger!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Meet The Junior Senator From Minnesota
Congratulations Senator Franken.
Today the Minnesota state canvassing board officially certified Al Franken the winner by 225 votes, a margin of 0.0077% and Al Franken has declared victory. It should be noted that Coleman has not yet conceded defeat. Coleman may well continue legal challenges (though one seeking to count certain rejected absentee ballots was denied by the Minnesota Supreme Court today).
The certification by the board makes it very difficult for Coleman to win any legal challenge. The certification is the final step by the canvassing board officials, i.e. the people charged with actually counting the votes. This decision means that legally Franken is presumed to be the nominee, and any challenge by Coleman will bear a much heavier burden of persuasion. Think of it like the NFL replay rule: the call on the field is presumed to be right unless the replay indisputably shows that it should be overturned.
Today the Minnesota state canvassing board officially certified Al Franken the winner by 225 votes, a margin of 0.0077% and Al Franken has declared victory. It should be noted that Coleman has not yet conceded defeat. Coleman may well continue legal challenges (though one seeking to count certain rejected absentee ballots was denied by the Minnesota Supreme Court today).
The certification by the board makes it very difficult for Coleman to win any legal challenge. The certification is the final step by the canvassing board officials, i.e. the people charged with actually counting the votes. This decision means that legally Franken is presumed to be the nominee, and any challenge by Coleman will bear a much heavier burden of persuasion. Think of it like the NFL replay rule: the call on the field is presumed to be right unless the replay indisputably shows that it should be overturned.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Chaos In Gaza
As no doubt you are aware by now, Israel decided to celebrate the New Year with 6 days of bombings in the Gaza strip (although to be fair to the Israelis, it's not THEIR new year). The Israeli defense forces only target Hamas targets, but when you're dropping bombs in a densely populated city (imagine an intensive bombing campaign in Philadelphia which has about the same population density as the Gaza strip) a few children die. It's the thought that counts though right?
On a more serious note, Ezra Klein makes a very good point here.
It's true, Israel never intends to kill civilians. And it's true that terrorists intentionally target civilians. As Ezra says, "If Hamas lay down all its weapons, Israel would lift its blockade. If Israel lay down all its weapons, Hamas would kill as many Israelis as it could." But in practical terms Israel is far more successful at doing by accident what Hamas has been trying to do on purpose.
On a more serious note, Ezra Klein makes a very good point here.
To make it more concrete, in July, the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem reported that 123 Israeli minors had been killed by Palestinians since the second intifada began in 2000, compared with 951 Palestinian minors killed by Israeli security forces. Israel's supporters emphasize that the children were not killed purposefully, but were collateral damage of targeted operations. By contrast, Palestinian suicide bombers have targeted children directly. Israelis define their struggle in contrast to the intentions of Hamas. Palestinians define their struggle in terms of the actions of the Israelis.
It's true, Israel never intends to kill civilians. And it's true that terrorists intentionally target civilians. As Ezra says, "If Hamas lay down all its weapons, Israel would lift its blockade. If Israel lay down all its weapons, Hamas would kill as many Israelis as it could." But in practical terms Israel is far more successful at doing by accident what Hamas has been trying to do on purpose.
Official College Football Day
New Year's Day is more or less the official college football watching holiday. It used to be that all the major bowls were held today, but with the proliferation of bowl games and the coming of the BCS that's no longer true. Still there are several bowl games today, including the only two I'll probably watch this year unless I watch the "BCS National Championship Game" which is not until January EIGHTH(?)(!).
Anyway, Carolina lost in embarrassing fashion this morning to Iowa. Thankfully Clemson lost to Nebraska, so it wasn't a total waste.
Anyway, Carolina lost in embarrassing fashion this morning to Iowa. Thankfully Clemson lost to Nebraska, so it wasn't a total waste.
Happy New Year
Welcome 2009!!!
Not my usual New Year. Watched television with my sister and brother in law. Ryan Seacrest or Carson Daily may be the definition of Morton's Fork.
Note that I was going to say it was a Hobson's choice, but while looking it up I learned I have been engaging in a popular misuse. A Hobson's choice is the ILLUSION of choice (i.e. take it or leave it). It isn't a choice between two equally poor options.
2009 in this post is being played by my friend's baby Noah, new to the world this year.
Not my usual New Year. Watched television with my sister and brother in law. Ryan Seacrest or Carson Daily may be the definition of Morton's Fork.
Note that I was going to say it was a Hobson's choice, but while looking it up I learned I have been engaging in a popular misuse. A Hobson's choice is the ILLUSION of choice (i.e. take it or leave it). It isn't a choice between two equally poor options.
2009 in this post is being played by my friend's baby Noah, new to the world this year.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Nobody Could Have Known! Ratings Agency Edition
A blog post by a banking industry insider is generating a good deal of buzz in the blagosphere.
It's a pretty interesting read, but I want to pull out one little quote from the bit that Matt Y excerpted and take issue with it. Namely this:
That's just not true. For example, you can hear audio from a Spring 2006 Banking Committee where Sens. Shelby (R-AL) and Jack Reid (D-RI) offering to give SEC Chair Chris Cox basically whatever he wants in terms of enforcement power to oversee credit rating agencies. Cox's response? More or less "no thanks." It's in this podcast at 49:43 (trying to track down the transcript...).
This quote from House Report 109-546 - CREDIT RATING AGENCY DUOPOLY RELIEF ACT OF 2006:
The problem wasn't that the regulators were UNAWARE of the conflict of interest that drove an artificial inflation of the ratings of CDOs, the political appointees up to and including SEC Chairman Chris Cox simply didn't want to regulate them.
It's a pretty interesting read, but I want to pull out one little quote from the bit that Matt Y excerpted and take issue with it. Namely this:
There were a lot of contributors to the catastrophe, but one indispensable one is that the ratings agencies monetized their sterling reputations in an extraordinary fashion, and nobody in regulatory apparatus of government saw that this was happening, and what it might portend.
That's just not true. For example, you can hear audio from a Spring 2006 Banking Committee where Sens. Shelby (R-AL) and Jack Reid (D-RI) offering to give SEC Chair Chris Cox basically whatever he wants in terms of enforcement power to oversee credit rating agencies. Cox's response? More or less "no thanks." It's in this podcast at 49:43 (trying to track down the transcript...).
This quote from House Report 109-546 - CREDIT RATING AGENCY DUOPOLY RELIEF ACT OF 2006:
We have, finally, very strong apprehensions that this bill could allow history to repeat itself. In the wake of the savings and loan crisis, Congress put in place requirements that the capital held in portfolio by financial institutions must be of investment grade as determined by an NRSRO. We put this requirement in place because we found that a number of those institutions that failed did not maintain high-quality investments in their portfolios. This bill's failure to ensure that the ratings issued by NRSROs continue to be credible and reliable could one day create another regrettable situation whereby taxpayers would again need to finance a bailout.
The problem wasn't that the regulators were UNAWARE of the conflict of interest that drove an artificial inflation of the ratings of CDOs, the political appointees up to and including SEC Chairman Chris Cox simply didn't want to regulate them.
A Feel Good Story For Christmas Day
With tales of factories shutting down, banks getting bailed out, and giant ponzi schemes that made billions for corporate criminals, it's easy to forget that not all corporations are run by douchebags. Happy Holidays.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Brit Hume: White And Balanced
Brit Hume is leaving "Special Report." I guess this is good news. Still I couldn't help but find this "tribute" to him pretty damning.
First of all, if you have the current President, the current Vice President and former president Bush Sr. record nice things for you in your "goodbye" tribute, that MAY be an indication that you have done something horribly horribly wrong. Pretty much that alone should bar you from being called a "journalist." PR flack or Republican mouth-piece would probably be more accurate. I mean, you have quite possibly the most reviled politician of all time saying what a great guy you are. That's not an endorsement you should really seek as a journalist.
Also, couldn't help but notice something very similar among all the people they interview that work on Special Report. See if you can spot it (hint: it rhymes with wright whale):
First of all, if you have the current President, the current Vice President and former president Bush Sr. record nice things for you in your "goodbye" tribute, that MAY be an indication that you have done something horribly horribly wrong. Pretty much that alone should bar you from being called a "journalist." PR flack or Republican mouth-piece would probably be more accurate. I mean, you have quite possibly the most reviled politician of all time saying what a great guy you are. That's not an endorsement you should really seek as a journalist.
Also, couldn't help but notice something very similar among all the people they interview that work on Special Report. See if you can spot it (hint: it rhymes with wright whale):
Bat Girl Demands Equal Pay
Fantastic:
Now if only there was a way to tie the Chamber of Commerce to a ticking time bomb and get them to agree to stop lobbying Congress to block it.
Now if only there was a way to tie the Chamber of Commerce to a ticking time bomb and get them to agree to stop lobbying Congress to block it.
Twas The Night Before Christmas
Santa tracking has begun. Best part of the article comes about halfway down the page:
That's pretty cool.
Via Kos.
NORAD's holiday tradition can by traced to 1955, when a Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears, Roebuck & Co. ad telling children of a phone number to talk to Santa. The number was one digit off, and the first child to get through reached the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD's predecessor.
Col. Harry W. Shoup answered.
Shoup's daughter, Terri Van Keuren, said her dad, now 91, was surprised to hear that the little voice on the other end thought he was Santa.
"Dad thought, `What the heck? This must be some kind of code,'" said Van Keuren, 59.
Shoup, described by his daughter as "just a nut about Christmas," didn't want to break the boy's heart, so he sounded a booming "Ho, ho, ho!" and pretended to be Santa Claus.
That's pretty cool.
Via Kos.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Pope: Being Gay Is Like Clear Cutting Rainforests
The Pope has announced in his end-of-year address that "If tropical forests deserve our protection, humankind... deserves it no less." And by "protecting humankind" he means FROM THE GAY.
I'm not entirely clear how treating people in same sex relationships with respect and giving them benefit of protection of law leads to the destruction of the human race. Certainly consensual same sex relationships seems less destructive to humanity than concealment and complicity of systematic child abuse. Then again, I don't have a papal level of knowledge of the word of God, so I guess he must be right.
I'm not entirely clear how treating people in same sex relationships with respect and giving them benefit of protection of law leads to the destruction of the human race. Certainly consensual same sex relationships seems less destructive to humanity than concealment and complicity of systematic child abuse. Then again, I don't have a papal level of knowledge of the word of God, so I guess he must be right.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
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