QOTD

"Look, if a man in one lifetime is responsible for creating 100 real jobs, permanent jobs, then he's done more than most do-gooders have ever achieved."
- Phil Gramm - WSJ article on Jun 28, 2008

Gramm is an adviser to McCain, hence the interview.
It's like a breath of fresh air to read something, anything from someone who wants our society to be more free, not less.

QOTD2

"Why is America the richest country in the world? It's not because our people are more brilliant; it's because we have a better free-market system.

Why has Texas created 1.6 million jobs in the last 10 years whereas Michigan has lost 300,000 jobs and Ohio has lost 100,000 jobs? Because governance matters, taxes matter, regulation matters.

Our opponents in this campaign are so dogmatic in their goal of having more government because they love the power it brings to them that they're willing to let it impose costs on the working people that they say they want to help. I am not."
- Phil Gramm

Amen, brother.

We (me, 39, Jackie O) were walking out of "Wall-E", the latest Pixar fare, and some Naperville teenage hoodlums got it right, "It's like Pixar's version of big brother." Now, I don't know if these kids knew what the hell they were talking about, but they were right on.

"Wall-E" is a 3-star movie, worth seeing.
The pluses: great Pixar animation, fun, lots of action.
And the minuses: It is very girlie. The cute robot squeaking and beeping... for 90 minutes. Argh.
But the worst was the silly, clubbing anti-capitalism, anti-technology message. The premise: The Earth is doomed because we created so much garbage that we have to got in a rocket ship and leave the planet. Oh, and we're all fat because technology does everything for us. Sigh.

I've run into this a couple times now... we're creating too much garbage. So, we're running out of holes? We did this one already in the late 70's, early 80's. The media then took a temporary landfill shortage in New Jersey or New York or something and extrapolated the hell out of it.

Things are so warped now, I feel I have to type in the answer. If we were to ever run out of holes for our fucking garbage, then charge people more to do it, and they'll create less garbage. Sigh again. Let's apply this simple principal to a few other "problems":

• Energy - if energy is more scarce, then charge more money for it. And let people find more, since they'll want to charge money for their energy too.
• Smoking - if smoking employees cost more than their non-smoking counterparts, then charge them a fee. Don't test them for smoking and then not hire them. Also, please apply the previous argument to fat people and drunks as well.
  
• Helmets, seat belts - if not wearing a safety device costs society money, presumably because we have to scrap your guts or noggin or something off the pavement, then charge a little more on the insurance for that.
• Light bulbs - You got a better light bulb? Wow, great news! Sell it, and we'll see if people replace their old ones because the new ones save them money. Don't pass a law requiring people to buy stupid light bulbs.
  

And so on. Rinse and repeat.

Can I go back and re-rate "Kung Fu Panda"? I agree with Ty... it's a 5-star movie.
QOTD3

"I know you're trying to be all mystical and Kung Fu-ey, but could you tell me where we're going?"
- Po, "Kung Fu Panda"

Now, that's a truly positive movie. Check it out.
everybody was kung fu fighting... yow, bill

Labels: 3stars, movies, politics, qotd

QOTD

"I'll tell you why I'm lying here...
but god forgive me...
and God help us all...
because you don't know what you ask of me."
- man laying on the sidewalk in the video for "Just", Radiohead

The best music video: youtube.com/watch?v=jufT3v1roaU

I saw Stevie Wonder at Summerfest with 39 and friends. I'd give Stevie a strong 4/5 bill-stars. It was a very fun, positive concert.

That's the Summerfest smiley face logo over there. It seems a nice fit with the event and locale. Wisconsin and Milwaukee are just kind of sleepy, smiley fun places to go have a brew and listen to some music.

you do it to yourself... yow, bill

Labels: music, qotd

Lyric of the Day

I jumped in the river and what did I see?
Black-eyed angels swam with me
A moon full of stars and astral cars
All the figures I used to see

All my lovers were there with me
All my past and futures
And we all went to heaven in a little row boat
There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt
- "Pyramid Song", Radiohead

Just a great, great video too.
Who knows how permanent these youtube links are, but whatever...

• "Real" video: youtube.com/watch?v=cqP0WNpojFM
• And a fucking incredible live version... youtube.com/watch?v=I_6begaAXMg
  

Those Radiohead wankers do it right.
p-p-p-pyramid... yow, bill

Labels: music, qotd

Movie: "Kung Fu Panda"
Rating: 4 bill-stars (out of 5)

For the record, Ty gave "Panda" 5 stars.
Also, we saw it on Imax... extra awesome.
"Panda" is great for kids and adults. I love a positive movie, and that is the movie's strength.
"Panda" loses a star for crappy celebrity voices. Jack Black is not good as the main panda, but worse is Dustin Hoffman's weird croaky, duck-ish characterization.

Go see it!
hi-ya... yow, bill

Labels: 4stars, movies

QOTD

"I'm only rich because I know when I'm wrong."
- George Soros, WSJ June 21 2008

If I can maybe sharpen this quote a bit. Soros is rich because he recognizes when he's wrong and then acts upon it.

I don't agree with Soros politics or his dirty approach to politics, but I think he's a great answer to the question: "Well, how can such a smart guy not believe in freedom and capitalism?" It's sort of like "How can a smart guy believe in some organized religion?"

I think the nerdy answer is it's a design choice. You make a very high-level design choice... I believe in "X"... and off you go. Everything gets extrapolated from there. I know that's simplistic, but you see it all the time. The design choice for Soros: You can't trust capitalism (or people, or freedom), so you've got to do something else.

QOTD2

"I panic. The same thing applies to me as to everybody else, so I'm given to euphoria and despair. And I would say that I basically have survived by recognizing my mistakes. I very often used to get backaches due to the fact that I was wrong. Whenever you are wrong you have to fight or [take] flight. When [I] make the decision, the backache goes away. I don't always make the right decision. I sometimes cut my losses when I shouldn't."
- Soros commenting on dealing with crazy price fluctuations in an asset bubble

Panic. Then get over it. Excellent.

OK, last one... QOTD3

"You can have a muddle-through replay of the Japanese scenario, 10 years of stagnation."
- Soros on the current state of the US stock market

I am very much in agreement with this as a possibility. We're 8 years now (8 fucking years!) from the high in the S&P 500 (just over 1,500 in March 2000). This goes virtually unreported. Where will we be in 8 more years? You got me, but if it's 2016 and the S&P is around 14-15-hundred, I don't want to be scratching my head going, "Wha happen?"
run faster... yow, bill

Labels: politics, qotd

QOTD

"They're [Repubs] going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?"
- Barrack Obama, June 20, 2008

What does it mean that Barry plays the race card so heavily almost 5 months before the election?

No really, I'm asking because I don't get it.
meet the new boss... yow, bill

PS - Cub win 4-3 over the Sock yesterday on Aramis' walk-off dinger in the bottom of the 9th. Cub win! Cub win! Cub win!

Labels: politics, qotd

QOTD

"I told him next time he does that I'm going to get my blade out and cut him. I'm a gangster. You go gangster on me, I'm going to have to get you. You do that again, I'm going to cut you right on the field."
- Jerry Manuel on confronting Jose Reyes on his first day as interim manager of the NY Met

The punch line is that, ex White Sock manager, Jerry Manuel is known as a milque toast, passionless kind of a guy. Reading the article, I guess the "gangsta" thing is a running joke in the Mutt clubhouse, so Jerry was just cracking wise. It's still a funny quote.

cub win... yow, bill

Labels: qotd, sports

QOTD1

"I didn't need an apology or anything like that. What happened, happened. It was done by different people, and they're not around anymore. All they needed to do was say: 'We'd love to have you back.' "
- Pat Foley on his return as announcer of the Chicago Blackhawks

If you don't know the story... old man Wirtz fired Pat Foley, the best announce in haockey, because he was (even slightly) critical of the crappy teams the Hawks' fielded, year after year. Well, the old man is dead, and they hired John McDonough of the Cub to run the Hawks.

The interesting thing about the story in the Trib was McDonough said that he made re-hiring Pat Foley a pre-condition of his taking his Hawks gig. Good for you, dude!

QOTD2

"Pat's voice is synonymous with Blackhawks hockey, and it resonates with every one of our fans. Now he's back where he rightfully belongs. This is a proud day for the Blackhawks.''
- Hawk President John McDonough

As Pat Foley would say, "He shoots, he scores!"
huzzah... yow, bill

PS - Oh, and huzzah to the Chicago Wolves for hiring Foley for a couple years, and then letting him leave.
PPS - Oh, almost missed this classic QOTD3:

"I gave this franchise many of the best years of my life, and now I'm ready to give them many of my worst."
- Pat Foley on being re-hired by the Chicago Blackhawks

Labels: qotd, sports

QOTD

"Even our dogs and cats have learned that elections matter. This election matters more than ever because America needs change more than ever."
- Al Gore, endorsing O'Bama and referring to the Chinese dog food poisoning thing

Lord knows I ain't no beauty queen, but Al Gore looks odd.
If Al Gore had some kind of weird breakdown or whatever in the future, would anyone be surprised?
He reminds me of the messiah/breakdown guy in "Network". Oh, what's his name? Ah, Howard Beale!
( "Network" on IMDB )

I can't find the quote, but McCain cracked about not even knowing how to turn his computer on.
Dude. That was cute about a decade ago... maybe more.
Now, it's pathetic.

On the pathetic theme,

• These are the two poorest and least qualified candidates for Prez since... um... Ford and Carter? What do you think?
• O'Bama put out a flier to remove the cap on Social Security (re. FICA) taxes. I don't think anyone cares, but what the hell. Social security taxes are capped (at like $125,00 or something... meaning that you don't pay taxes on income over that amount) because social security benefits are capped. The idea was that each of us was contributing to our own retirement, not creating a massive social welfare pool of dough. Sigh. Yes, I know you don't care.

Golly. Freedom.
If I were a candidate, I'd push the individual freedom button time and time again.

• You own your retirement... privatization of social security.
• You can choose your kid's school... school choice/vouchers.
• You decide where your money goes... low taxes.

You make these decisions and live with the consequences, within the context of a reasonable safety net and regulatory environment.

It seems pretty obvious, but it's so far off the radar, it's not even an issue.
ronald wilson reagan... yow, bill

PS - An interesting phenomenon around St Ethelreda on the south side of Chicago. There are a ton of preschools that people operate of all shapes and sizes. St Eth has preschool as well. The deal is that people choose a preschool for their kids and pay for it with their own dough or (I think) money from the feds. School choice at work for younger kids... some day, hopefully, for elementary and high school as well.

Labels: politics, qotd

QOTD

"We urge the United States government to reject the global warming agreement that was written in Kyoto, Japan in December, 1997, and any other similar proposals. The proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment, hinder the advance of science and technology, and damage the health and welfare of mankind.

There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth."

- 31,000 scientists have signed this petition ( www.petitionproject.org ) questioning global warming

Here are two important links related to global warming, or the lack thereof:

1. www.petitionproject.org - the petition above, our QOTD
   
2. www.kusi.com/weather/colemanscorner - John Coleman's writings/speeches refuting global warming. My favorite one is: www.kusi.com/weather/colemanscorner/19842304.html
   

I think these two links say it better than I can. There's so much that can be added: fake polar bears, fake hockey stick graph, temperatures are decreasing now, solar activity, green hedge funds, Al Gore's bank account, CGI glacier melting, increasing taxes to solve global warming, still no nukes, and on and on.

Nutty Al Gore is pitching in to the cause of dispelling global warming by getting nuttier and nuttier.

QOTD2

"...the death count in Myanmar from the cyclone that hit there yesterday has been rising from 15,000 to way on up there to much higher numbers now being speculated... we’re seeing consequences that scientists have long predicted might be associated with continued global warming."
- Al Gore, attributing the cyclone in Myanmar to global warming

Nobody buys that BS, Al. There is, however, little publicity for how crazy this statement is.
And of course, the media is the nuttiest. It's the lowest of all professions. CNN is my favorite because they have the volume turned up all the way... "PLANET IN PERIL!!!!" Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

It will be interesting to see how far down the rabbit hole this thing goes.
crank up the ac... yow, bill

PS - CNN's Anderson Cooper consoling some critter in peril:

Labels: globalwarming, qotd

QOTD

"Beer Cheaper Than Gas"
- Sign outside a bar on 95th in Chicago

QOTD2

"This is the coolest puck in the world"
- Ty on his Chicago Wolves championship puck... best $5 I ever spent. He he!

QOTD3

"The Blackhawks haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1961, but Chicago does have a hockey champion."
- ESPN story on Chicago Wolves Calder Cup championship

I dislike smarmy ESPN.
I heart the Chicago Wolves.

Have a great day!
yow, bill

Labels: qotd, sports

QOTD

"When will I be getting my hat back?"
- Ty, after throwing his hat on the ice at last night's Wolves game

Ty and I saw the Chicago Wolves win the 2008 Calder Cup last night. Woot! Jason Krog (what a great name) had a hat trick and Ty got to throw his hat onto the ice. It's just minor league hockey, but it was fun to see someone win some championship. Plus, they had confetti all over the ice and everything. What a great time!

There's something special about these Wolves game... same for minor league baseball teams like the Kane County Cougars and Joliet Jackhammers.
It's hard to put my finger on it:

• You're not watching a bunch of rich guys run around in short pants.
  
• The people in attendance are real families, not part of some corporate gig.
• It's not marketing-polished. The Wolves have bad 80's music blaring half the time and they're always throwing crappy t-shirts into the stands or something. Ty loves it.
• It's not as crowded.

Like I said, I don't know. It is just a lot of fun.
shoot the puck... yow, bill

PS - Why doesn't blogger work sometime. The FTP part. Sigh.

Labels: qotd, sports

QOTD

"I think that if there was a magic wand, and say, okay, drop price, I'd do that. But there is no magic wand to wave right now."
- W talking about rising oil prices on May 12, 2008

Hey W. I got a magic wand for ya. You want to reduce oil/gas prices... how's this for a starter?

1. Nukes - Create tax incentives and lower regulatory barriers for new nuclear plants in the US
   
2. New drilling - Drill for new oil in Anwar and off the coast.
3. New refineries - Build new oil refineries.
4. Invent, conserve - Create tax incentives (not fucking mandates) for alternative energy and conservation... small cars, new construction, solar, whatever.
5. Standardize gas - Standardize all the flavors of gas, so that we (re. Illinois) don't have 8 zillion kinds of gas that companies have to produce. If the feds can tell you to drive 55, why not regulate all the tooty-fruity flavors of gas that state governments currently demand?
   

This is mistake number 1 or 1a of W's presidency: energy independence. Iraq intelligence and poor marketing of the Iraq war is the other.

So, close your eyes and imagine... after the 9/11 attack, W says 1) we're gonna blow these f'ers up, and 2) we're going to become energy independent as a national security imperative. We'd still have $30 a barrel oil, and we wouldn't have our national security (re. our asses) hanging out there at the whim of Saudi Arabia or any other country.

I mean, gol dang, some problems are really tough to solve... health care, rising cost of education. These are items that have fundamental reasons (primarily supply and demand) for their prices rising faster than inflation. The rise in oil prices seems, in large part, self-inflicted and so easily avoidable.

Oh well. My understanding is that neither McCain nor Barry has any of this stuff on their plate.
fill er up... yow, bill

Labels: politics, qotd

News QOTD:

"Fukuda said Japan would use a broad range of strategies to reduce its emissions, including investment in new technologies, stiff construction standards to create energy efficient buildings, an array of tax incentives and a public awareness campaign."
- AP/Yahoo news item entitled: "Japan to cut CO2 by 60-80 percent"

Please follow along. It's a template, so I hope you're not getting bored by now.

1. So boom... the title of the article proclaims that Japan is cutting CO2 by 80%. Wow. That's really something.
   
2. This is followed by some government nabob saying how important everything is and he's saving the planet and some such.
3. Then, you slip in "um, well, no, Japan isn't even meeting their crappy Kyoto targets at all"... right now. But that's all just temporary.
   
4. Then, the obligatory... well, the bad, bad United States isn't signed up to this.
5. Finally, the last paragraph, which is our QOTD. All Japan has to do is invent some new stuff, change the tax code and advertise. Well, shit. And here I thought that cutting emissions by 80% might actually be quite the ball-buster. My bad. Count me in.
   

Life is stranger than fiction. Speaking of which...

Book: "Traveler" by Ron McLarty
Bill-stars: 4 bill-stars

Summary: It's a very familiar plot about 4 buddies growing up (in New England). I really liked his writing style. Most of the text is dedicated to character development more than plot or scenery. The narrator is very self-deprecating and funny. He's a 40-something actor and bartender with a 40-something girlfriend, so that was funny (and familiar).

The book's title refers to a bullet lodged in someone, that can't be removed or is difficult to remove, and then travels into an artery or whatever. I don't know. He he.

The plot bounces back and forth from their youth to present day chapter by chapter. The ending was probably the weakest part, but I enjoyed the book and gobbled it in a weekend.

I think I read the author's other book "The Memory of Running". I guess McLarty is an actor by trade ( www.imdb.com/name/nm0572261 ) and IMDB lists that he's writing a movie script for "Memory of Running". McLarty's style reminds me of Richard (?) Russo. Nice. Oh just found it... here's McLarty's web site: www.ronmclarty.com.

I feel like I'm entering a nice, cool reading jag (he he again), and it is good.
peace... yow, bill

Labels: 4stars, books, politics, qotd

Movie-related QOTD:

"My affection for the dress hasn't changed. But what they did was so short-sighted. It's just unethical and disappointing that they would allow the dress to be worn again."
- Sarah Jessica Parker, on finding out that her SATC-premier dress had already been worn by someone else

I love that. "Unethical". He he.

OK, "Sex and the City"... 4 bill-stars.
I hope no one is reading this.

The first half was what I expected... terrible translation of a fun TV show into a plodding movie. You know, they trot each peripheral character from 6 years of TV show out for 20 seconds, say something witty and then move on.

The second half rebounded and was very reminiscent of the TV show. It focused on the 4 girls and their friendship. The plot twists kept me interested, and I guessed wrong a couple of times.

And yes, I was the only guy in the theater... right 39?
manly man... yow, bill

Labels: 4stars, movies, qotd

"Now You See Him" is by Eli Gottlieb.
The guy has a web site: http://www.eligottlieb.com
I give this book 3 bill-stars.


The main thing that I liked was the guy's writing style. It was a quick, easy, and fun read.

I didn't like a lot of the subject matter. Smart people whining about their parents and upbringing and angst and this and that. I know it's a real issue for many people, but it's so hard to write about it in a way that isn't whiny and boring. Plus, I'm not a big "plot gotcha" guy... I just like reading about regular characters doing things.

Worth the read.
yow, bill

Labels: 3stars, books

I'm glad that Obama's not like all the rest of the politicians out there who would do or say anything for power and money.
So, I humbly present a three-fer... the Barry Obama cha-cha-cha.

QOTD1

"As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me... I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community."
- Obama on sticking by Rev. Wright (Mar 18, 2008)

QOTD2

"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday... they certainly don't portray accurately my values and beliefs. And if Reverend Wright thinks that is political posturing, as he put it, then he doesn't know me very well. And based on his remarks yesterday, I may not know him as well as I thought, either."
- Obama on launching Rev. Wright (Apr 29, 2008)

QOTD3

"This is not a decision I come to lightly ... and it is one I make with some sadness... I suspect we'll find another church home for our family."
Obama on launching his church, re. community (May 30, 2008)

You gotta love it.
yow, bill

Labels: politics, qotd