" Whatever your opinion of Ralph Nader - you ought to see this documentary film about him.Ralph is the Unreasonable Man. "-Dal LaMagna
An Unreasonable Man is a good movie but it has the problem of making you feel that our politics began in the 1960s. Other documentaries I would recommend:
The Atomic Cafe – 80s look at the American side of the early cold war nuclear confrontation. It’s fascinating to see Nixon debating with Kruschev, and suggesting the Soviet Union may be ahead in the thrust of their rockets but we are ahead in other things such as our color television (Kennedy then went on color television and pummeled Nixon for the missile gap on behalf of the military industrial complex, though this is not in the movie).
Heir to an Execution – granddaughter Ivy Meeropol looks at the Rosenberg executions. The Greenglass family is mostly not talking to the Rosenberg family to this day. It turns out that Julius Rosenberg’s Soviet code name was “Liberal.” Nixon is seen in his own twisted way advocating a kind of restraint in pursuing communists in the U.S. (“if you’re going to shoot rats, you should shoot straight”).
The long history of the left in the United States is one of variously courting the Democratic Party, being courted by it, fighting the Democratic Party, and being demonized by it. So what Nader did in 2000 was not so surprising given this history, as well as his own. It is interesting that after the election Gore stepped away from taking on the type of projects that would cause middle America (the ironically named “red” states) to regret not voting for him in 2000. It has become clear now that Gore chose a path instead to embarrass the left for not supporting him.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Wake me up in 2012.
Take on the Republican Candidates From Boston Beatnik:
Alan Keyes = Who?
Duncan Hunter = Nuts.
Fred Thompson = Done.
Rudy Giuliani = Asshole.
Mitt Romney = More packaged than a TV Dinner.
Mike Huckabee = Creationist. (How nice for you.)
John McCain = Broke.
Ron Paul = Brilliant.
We must end the war. Watch this short video::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_zDnBe6R5g
If you want to end the war. Vote for Ron Paul.
Reply: that's great. but i will never vote republican.
Reply: Yeah, me neither, I can't trust em. Just can't.
A: It will likely all be over before Massachusetts votes in March anyway.
If you want, you can vote for Ron Paul in the fall when he drops out of the Republican Party and runs as an independent.
Looks like with Oprah behind him, Obama might win enough states that Hillary will have to put him on the ticket. So it will be Clinton/Obama in the fall (or maybe Obama/Clinton if he does so well she has to put him at the top of the ticket). Notice that she's started firing people who sling mud at Obama. That's because they are going to run together, and don't want to damage the product. And that's your next President.
The war will be over by summer. Bush will proclaim V-I Day a few weeks before the Republican convention in September. Here's how it plays out. If we are losing in Iraq, the Republicans are out. And if we are finally winning in Iraq, we don't need the Republicans to run the war anymore anyway.
I suspect what the Republicans are trying to do now is show enough weakness that the Democrats vote their heart and nominate Obama. Then they'll try to mess with the Democrats over the summer with the V-I Day thing. And in the fall, they'll try to get their candidates elected to Congress on the fear of a liberal/left Presidency. And if as is likely they come up short, they'll be back with the same fear mongering in 2010. Plus there will be some mistakes of inexperience to beat the drum on. So they fight in the Senate to block legislation for a couple of years, hope the Supreme Court shuts down the stuff they find truly outrageous, and put their money on winning back the House or Senate in 2010.
Of course, this could all be prevented if the Democrats would show some sense and nominate Richardson, who is their only qualified candidate. That would require some people to step aside who just don’t have it in them. And they'd have to put aside the pet issues, and focus on getting something done that they can run on for reelection. Also not in them.
So wake me up in 2012. Everything until then is foreordained.
Alan Keyes = Who?
Duncan Hunter = Nuts.
Fred Thompson = Done.
Rudy Giuliani = Asshole.
Mitt Romney = More packaged than a TV Dinner.
Mike Huckabee = Creationist. (How nice for you.)
John McCain = Broke.
Ron Paul = Brilliant.
We must end the war. Watch this short video::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_zDnBe6R5g
If you want to end the war. Vote for Ron Paul.
Reply: that's great. but i will never vote republican.
Reply: Yeah, me neither, I can't trust em. Just can't.
A: It will likely all be over before Massachusetts votes in March anyway.
If you want, you can vote for Ron Paul in the fall when he drops out of the Republican Party and runs as an independent.
Looks like with Oprah behind him, Obama might win enough states that Hillary will have to put him on the ticket. So it will be Clinton/Obama in the fall (or maybe Obama/Clinton if he does so well she has to put him at the top of the ticket). Notice that she's started firing people who sling mud at Obama. That's because they are going to run together, and don't want to damage the product. And that's your next President.
The war will be over by summer. Bush will proclaim V-I Day a few weeks before the Republican convention in September. Here's how it plays out. If we are losing in Iraq, the Republicans are out. And if we are finally winning in Iraq, we don't need the Republicans to run the war anymore anyway.
I suspect what the Republicans are trying to do now is show enough weakness that the Democrats vote their heart and nominate Obama. Then they'll try to mess with the Democrats over the summer with the V-I Day thing. And in the fall, they'll try to get their candidates elected to Congress on the fear of a liberal/left Presidency. And if as is likely they come up short, they'll be back with the same fear mongering in 2010. Plus there will be some mistakes of inexperience to beat the drum on. So they fight in the Senate to block legislation for a couple of years, hope the Supreme Court shuts down the stuff they find truly outrageous, and put their money on winning back the House or Senate in 2010.
Of course, this could all be prevented if the Democrats would show some sense and nominate Richardson, who is their only qualified candidate. That would require some people to step aside who just don’t have it in them. And they'd have to put aside the pet issues, and focus on getting something done that they can run on for reelection. Also not in them.
So wake me up in 2012. Everything until then is foreordained.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Is the United States Bankrupt?
So the US owes around $9,000,000,000,000. The US population is 300,000,000. That works out to $30,000 per person. If you borrowed that from a bank at 6% interest (home mortgage), that works about to about $1,800 per year, or $150 per month. Of course, the interest on the debt gets paid by income taxes, which do fall heavier on the rich because of the graduated tax rates.
For example, the US collected around 1,000,000,000,000 in income tax in 2006 and paid out 211,000,000,000 in interest. That is about 21 cents for every $1 of income tax. So, if someone paid $5,000 in federal income taxes that year, his share of the interest was $1050 or $87 per month. If someone else paid $50,000 in federal income taxes that year, her share of the interest was $10,500 or $875 per month.
For example, the US collected around 1,000,000,000,000 in income tax in 2006 and paid out 211,000,000,000 in interest. That is about 21 cents for every $1 of income tax. So, if someone paid $5,000 in federal income taxes that year, his share of the interest was $1050 or $87 per month. If someone else paid $50,000 in federal income taxes that year, her share of the interest was $10,500 or $875 per month.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Corny crimes against humanity
I found the WSJ article quoting a UN official (later officially disavowed) describing the use of food crops to make biofuels as a crime against humanity. Of course, in this way of thinking:
(1) A lawn or a flowerbed that could be raising vegetables is a crime against humanity.
(2) Harvard Yard and Cambridge Common are crimes against humanity.
(3) Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks are crimes against humanity.
(4) A Christmas tree is a crime against humanity.
(5) Giving your sweetie a single rose is a crime against humanity.
For that matter, belonging to a CSA that grows less productive organic vegetables is a crime against humanity and so is living in a house in the suburbs.
On the other hand, driving up the cost of corn should make crops grown in developing countries more economically viable, which has been a big complaint against US and European agricultural subsidies in recent years (growing more food on a subsidized basis is also a crime against humanity in the eyes of some at the UN, by the way.) And taking all those calories out of the food supply might help do something about the obesity problem in the US. And we don’t have to fight terrorists to get our ethanol (or we might, I think Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols were from corn country).
(1) A lawn or a flowerbed that could be raising vegetables is a crime against humanity.
(2) Harvard Yard and Cambridge Common are crimes against humanity.
(3) Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks are crimes against humanity.
(4) A Christmas tree is a crime against humanity.
(5) Giving your sweetie a single rose is a crime against humanity.
For that matter, belonging to a CSA that grows less productive organic vegetables is a crime against humanity and so is living in a house in the suburbs.
On the other hand, driving up the cost of corn should make crops grown in developing countries more economically viable, which has been a big complaint against US and European agricultural subsidies in recent years (growing more food on a subsidized basis is also a crime against humanity in the eyes of some at the UN, by the way.) And taking all those calories out of the food supply might help do something about the obesity problem in the US. And we don’t have to fight terrorists to get our ethanol (or we might, I think Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols were from corn country).
Friday, November 16, 2007
Things to do in Fall River
From one of our WestPort correspondents:
If you are going to the Narrows, Fall River is an interesting place. I have worked and lived in Fall River. My dad was born there.
If you are looking for a place to eat, I recommend sampling one of the Portuguese restaurants, which are actually Azorean by way of America. If you could eat shellfish, I would recommend Shrimp Mozambique – perhaps you could push that on a dining companion. Their steak is served in a really delicious garlicky gravy-like sauce and normally served with a roasted red pepper, egg, and plenty of fries for sopping (or rice). You are hard pressed to find vegetables in these restaurants. I don’t know why these people don’t get scurvy or something. You can’t go wrong with Flan for dessert.
All the restaurants have variations of the same dishes and everyone knows which place serves each dish in their favorite way. I have taken part in numerous arguments over who has the best Shrimp Mozambique -- I liked O’Gils. Also, you can get true rose wine – not that crappy White Zinfandel that has replaced it in the rest of America. Many of the bars/restaurants have a very “grandpa hanging out at the lodge” feel. And, I bet you can still get a draft for a dollar or two at most of them.
The restaurants have bars with separate entrances because only the guys go into them. You rarely see women in them. We quite a ruckus in these places. Many of these places have dancing in the evening on the restaurant side. I’ve bartended them. They do some old-fashioned Portuguese dances and it’s pretty fun to watch.
The local folk are great. Loud and brash blue collar families who never leave the city. They live in 3-deckers with their extended families. Girls live with their parents until they get married. When they get married, their husbands literally hand over their paychecks to them – the wives give them an allowance. When the husband dies, the wife wears black for the rest of her life. They have these Catholic feast days where there are parades led by people carrying statues of the Virgin Mary and old women bringing up the rear crawling on their HANDS AND KNEES. Crazy folks.
If you are going to the Narrows, Fall River is an interesting place. I have worked and lived in Fall River. My dad was born there.
If you are looking for a place to eat, I recommend sampling one of the Portuguese restaurants, which are actually Azorean by way of America. If you could eat shellfish, I would recommend Shrimp Mozambique – perhaps you could push that on a dining companion. Their steak is served in a really delicious garlicky gravy-like sauce and normally served with a roasted red pepper, egg, and plenty of fries for sopping (or rice). You are hard pressed to find vegetables in these restaurants. I don’t know why these people don’t get scurvy or something. You can’t go wrong with Flan for dessert.
All the restaurants have variations of the same dishes and everyone knows which place serves each dish in their favorite way. I have taken part in numerous arguments over who has the best Shrimp Mozambique -- I liked O’Gils. Also, you can get true rose wine – not that crappy White Zinfandel that has replaced it in the rest of America. Many of the bars/restaurants have a very “grandpa hanging out at the lodge” feel. And, I bet you can still get a draft for a dollar or two at most of them.
The restaurants have bars with separate entrances because only the guys go into them. You rarely see women in them. We quite a ruckus in these places. Many of these places have dancing in the evening on the restaurant side. I’ve bartended them. They do some old-fashioned Portuguese dances and it’s pretty fun to watch.
The local folk are great. Loud and brash blue collar families who never leave the city. They live in 3-deckers with their extended families. Girls live with their parents until they get married. When they get married, their husbands literally hand over their paychecks to them – the wives give them an allowance. When the husband dies, the wife wears black for the rest of her life. They have these Catholic feast days where there are parades led by people carrying statues of the Virgin Mary and old women bringing up the rear crawling on their HANDS AND KNEES. Crazy folks.
VI Day in Iraq
“Remember VE Day and VJ Day at the end of Wolrd War II. We’re about to see VI Day in Iraq. – Oliver North on Hannity and Colmes.
Reply: A recent poll found that 46% of Ohioans think we are on the right course in Iraq. How could that many people be so wrong?
A: We are winning at the moment and we are starting to withdraw troops. That’s the right course, just needs to move along faster.
Here’s what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky had to say today: "We ought to get the troops the funding they need to finish the mission without restrictions and without a surrender date."
Remember the old baseball rule. If the team is ahead or tied when the pitcher is changed, the new pitcher gets stuck with the loss. Likewise, if the old pitcher goes out ahead, the old pitcher gets the win and the new pitcher just gets a save. So all this jockeying is just over who gets the credit or has to take the blame. So Pubs can say “We were winning, we wanted to keep pitching, they pulled the funds and put in their own pitcher, then our enemies went ahead. They lost us the war.” Or, if the Pubs draw down troops on their own schedule before the 2008 election they get to campaign on “We won the war” (won past tense).
You wait. I’m guessing V-I day will be declared some time next spring or summer, after the primaries, before the conventions.
Reply: To add to the baseball analogy - When there is a pitching change, the outgoing pitcher is responsible for any men left on base.
A: No, I don’t think the men left on base count for who gets the win and who gets the loss. Maybe men left on base affect the pitcher’s ERA. Men left on base can affect whether a pitcher gets credited with a save. For the Dems they are spinning towards either (A) not our loss, we were behind when we took over or (B) our win, we were losing but turned it around. They could also spin towards (C) our save, we were ahead but vulnerable and pulled out the win, but that doesn’t seem to be in their playbook. I’m personally sticking with, the other side scored some runs but the game is won, let’s come home.
Reply: It's football season, for chrissake. The Pubs fumbled. Let's hope the Dems recover.
A: It’s not enough to recover the fumble, you also have to move the ball down the field.
Reply: True, but you can't move down the field unless you have the ball.
Reply: A recent poll found that 46% of Ohioans think we are on the right course in Iraq. How could that many people be so wrong?
A: We are winning at the moment and we are starting to withdraw troops. That’s the right course, just needs to move along faster.
Here’s what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky had to say today: "We ought to get the troops the funding they need to finish the mission without restrictions and without a surrender date."
Remember the old baseball rule. If the team is ahead or tied when the pitcher is changed, the new pitcher gets stuck with the loss. Likewise, if the old pitcher goes out ahead, the old pitcher gets the win and the new pitcher just gets a save. So all this jockeying is just over who gets the credit or has to take the blame. So Pubs can say “We were winning, we wanted to keep pitching, they pulled the funds and put in their own pitcher, then our enemies went ahead. They lost us the war.” Or, if the Pubs draw down troops on their own schedule before the 2008 election they get to campaign on “We won the war” (won past tense).
You wait. I’m guessing V-I day will be declared some time next spring or summer, after the primaries, before the conventions.
Reply: To add to the baseball analogy - When there is a pitching change, the outgoing pitcher is responsible for any men left on base.
A: No, I don’t think the men left on base count for who gets the win and who gets the loss. Maybe men left on base affect the pitcher’s ERA. Men left on base can affect whether a pitcher gets credited with a save. For the Dems they are spinning towards either (A) not our loss, we were behind when we took over or (B) our win, we were losing but turned it around. They could also spin towards (C) our save, we were ahead but vulnerable and pulled out the win, but that doesn’t seem to be in their playbook. I’m personally sticking with, the other side scored some runs but the game is won, let’s come home.
Reply: It's football season, for chrissake. The Pubs fumbled. Let's hope the Dems recover.
A: It’s not enough to recover the fumble, you also have to move the ball down the field.
Reply: True, but you can't move down the field unless you have the ball.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Johnny Carson named Hollywood hick
Lest you think my hick theory (head Iowan in charge) is all wet, native Iowan Johnny Carson has been named Greatest TV Icon, with native Iowan Walter Cronkite at #5 (top newsman in the list).
http://www.tvland.com/originals/50greatesttvicons/toplist1to50.jhtml
Q: Who is Marcia Cross (#100)?
Reply: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcia_Cross Desperate Housewives. Important to note she was born in 1962, a very good year.
http://www.tvland.com/originals/50greatesttvicons/toplist1to50.jhtml
Q: Who is Marcia Cross (#100)?
Reply: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcia_Cross Desperate Housewives. Important to note she was born in 1962, a very good year.
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