This is a fascinating analysis of The Godfather (the greatest movie of all time) and current world politics and power. Michael Corleone...
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Stuff White People Like
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/
Wow, this site is pretty hilarious. Since stereotypes of any sort of minority are totally verboten these days, it's always fun to make fun of ourselves as white people. Have some fun with identity politices, it's the last chance to do so.
Wow, this site is pretty hilarious. Since stereotypes of any sort of minority are totally verboten these days, it's always fun to make fun of ourselves as white people. Have some fun with identity politices, it's the last chance to do so.
Ughh!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120864685698828937.html?mod=opinion_journal_political_diary
Well, this ruined my day. The part of Obama's philosophy, and liberalism in general, is the antipathy and occasional malice towards the idea of free speech. As I've said before, no society can be truly democratic and open with any sorts of limits on free speech. The "Fairness Doctrine" is just another multiculturalist, PC, oppressive act - it perceives all arguments and positions to be equal to each other in validity and insists that they all share the same time on radio. Why not let the good arguments prosper and the poor ones suffer and be taken off the air? Why not let the people decide what they want to listen to? If free speech has to suffer, the Democrats do not mind.
Well, this ruined my day. The part of Obama's philosophy, and liberalism in general, is the antipathy and occasional malice towards the idea of free speech. As I've said before, no society can be truly democratic and open with any sorts of limits on free speech. The "Fairness Doctrine" is just another multiculturalist, PC, oppressive act - it perceives all arguments and positions to be equal to each other in validity and insists that they all share the same time on radio. Why not let the good arguments prosper and the poor ones suffer and be taken off the air? Why not let the people decide what they want to listen to? If free speech has to suffer, the Democrats do not mind.
Free Trade
There is a very good editorial by NY Times columnist Nicolaus Kristof today - link below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/opinion/24kristof.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Vote for Free Trade! It allows for maximum efficiency in all markets. The Democratic candidates need to stop pandering to the unions and vote for this agreement for both political and economic reasons. They should also reassure our neighbors that they will support NAFTA.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/opinion/24kristof.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Vote for Free Trade! It allows for maximum efficiency in all markets. The Democratic candidates need to stop pandering to the unions and vote for this agreement for both political and economic reasons. They should also reassure our neighbors that they will support NAFTA.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Top Concerts
House of Blues, New Orleans - I went to this famous place last January when I was in the Big Easy with my brother and five friends where we were building houses for victims of Hurricane Katrina. We got free tickets to the HOB and it was amazing. The high point was seeing a bunch of musicians, from all different bands, get up on stage and sign "Carnival Time" by Al Johnson. The drummer was Patrick C from My Morning Jacket (I have tickets for them in May!) - it was an amazing live jam. I later bought him a shot of Jagermister, which he appreciated, and chatted with him for a few minutes. Great night.
Matisyahu, Colby College - My senior year at Colby College, Matisyahu came to play at the small student center. I was about five yards from the stage and he was rocking for about two hours. I had never heard him before so all the songs sounded about the same, but he had so much energy and sounded so unique I loved it. My friend had a chance to meet him later on, but drank a few too many beers and forgot all about it. "Time of Your Song" soon became our favorite number and graduation rallying cry.
The Who, Madison Square Garden, NEW YORK CITY - My first concert ever was when I was a mere 16 years old. John Entwistle was still alive at this point (died of a coke overdose a few years later) and they played like they were still in their mid-20s. The highlight was when all the lights went out and the synthesizer started up into Baba O'Reilly. Loudest sound I've ever heard, but an amazing night for a wide-eyed 16 year old who loved rock and roll.
Bruce Springsteen, Meadowlands, New Jersey - The Boss in his old stomping grounds in Giants Stadium. This was right after The Rising came out and I remember just an ocean of red, white, and blue...plus jean shorts everywhere. "Lonesome Day" is my favorite song - incredibly emotional and uplifting. Bruce's politics aside, I've always admired him for his unique sound and singing style as well as his songs about everyday life - he gives respect and dignity to hard working Americans.
Bob Dylan, Bridgeport, CT - Led off by Amos Lee (who may have been the best singer of the night) who was followed by Elvis Costello (bit of a disappoint) after which Bob and his band came on. Bob sang one song from almost every album...and even though it took him a few songs to warm up his voice, he did pretty well for an old guy. His band absolutely rocked, as one drunken fan later stated in the parking lot ("Did Bob Dylan's band rock? And did Bob absolutely suck?"). My favorite song of the night was "You're A Big Girl Now" from "Blood On The Tracks", which I'm convinced is the best album. Bob is really one of the most influential cultural forces that history has ever seen and it was an honor to see him live.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
High School Drop Out Rate
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/opinion/22herbert.html?hp
The link above is an opinion article by Bob Herbert in the New York Times today regarding education in America and the high school drop out rate. Bob has chosen a very important topic that he believes the presidential candidates should address - there I agree. The way in which they should address it probably shows our differences.
Human capital and education is the most important factor in the long term growth of a nation. A rising high school drop out rate severely jeopardizes our country's ability to be successful in the long run. However, Bob insinuates that the government should address this issue, most likely through expensive programs and more money towards the educational budget. I disagree. I think there is very little the government can do in this area. The incentives to get an education are already clearly apparent. The "income inequality" gap in this country is overwhelmingly explained by educational differences. People with a high school diploma make far more money than those without. A college degree ups it even more. Graduate school? You're basically set.
I know that it is difficult for many people to afford college, but high school education is free. Bob mentioned that every 26 seconds one person drops out of high school. This is just purely irrational economic behavior, but more importantly, a personal choice driven by cultural surroundings. In many demographic areas of this country, education is not encouraged and being smart is not "being cool." Gangster rap glorifying the life of drugs and violence, rural culture that regards education as unimportant, whatever the message, it's a bad one. The cultural messages must change in order for this to improve - it's something that government just cannot do, but something the individual people must.
The link above is an opinion article by Bob Herbert in the New York Times today regarding education in America and the high school drop out rate. Bob has chosen a very important topic that he believes the presidential candidates should address - there I agree. The way in which they should address it probably shows our differences.
Human capital and education is the most important factor in the long term growth of a nation. A rising high school drop out rate severely jeopardizes our country's ability to be successful in the long run. However, Bob insinuates that the government should address this issue, most likely through expensive programs and more money towards the educational budget. I disagree. I think there is very little the government can do in this area. The incentives to get an education are already clearly apparent. The "income inequality" gap in this country is overwhelmingly explained by educational differences. People with a high school diploma make far more money than those without. A college degree ups it even more. Graduate school? You're basically set.
I know that it is difficult for many people to afford college, but high school education is free. Bob mentioned that every 26 seconds one person drops out of high school. This is just purely irrational economic behavior, but more importantly, a personal choice driven by cultural surroundings. In many demographic areas of this country, education is not encouraged and being smart is not "being cool." Gangster rap glorifying the life of drugs and violence, rural culture that regards education as unimportant, whatever the message, it's a bad one. The cultural messages must change in order for this to improve - it's something that government just cannot do, but something the individual people must.
Happy Earth Day
Happy Earth Day to everyone! As a person who loves nature and the outdoors, I'd like to urge my fellow men and women to make a few sacrifices today to save energy, conserve resources, and appreciate the beauty of planet earth. I'm confident that the United States, as the greatest country of this earth, can make strides towards cleaning up our environment, conserving land for its natural wildlife, and do everything possible to maintain a healthy respect to the land we live on.
That being said, I'd like to enter a post from the Heartland Institute that makes some sense to me. Conservation and capitalism go hand in hand - they are not incompatible at all. With the right tax/financial incentives and a culture that appreciates and rewards responsible behavior, we can make this work. Larger government and totalitarian laws are not the answer. Neither is Al Gore.
From Heartland:
Contrary to the slogans of demonstrators throughout the world, the nations that have the best track records on environmental protection and improvement are those with the highest amount of free-market capitalism.
Make no mistake, the anti-capitalism demonstrators often add environmentalism to their claimed objectives solely because it attracts many gullible young persons and appears to legitimize their activities, which often have little or nothing to do with the environment.
Nations with the freest economic systems are the ones whose citizens can afford the luxury of protecting their environments. Conversely, persons living in command-and-control economies barely surviving on life’s necessities of food, clothing, and shelter use their natural resources to the absolute limit. They have no other choice in providing for themselves and their families…
…Beware the individual, group, or organization that relentlessly attacks the free enterprise system, bashes big business, and bashes corporations. Too often their real agenda is power–power to remake the economic and social systems to suit their own command-and-control goals, not to serve the public good as they so loudly proclaim.
Free enterprise capitalism provides the economic lifeblood for many of the world’s poor. The late senator Paul Tsongas said in his speech at the 1992 Democratic Convention, “You cannot redistribute wealth you never created. You can’t be pro-jobs and anti-business at the same time. You cannot love employment and hate employers.”
The extremes of big government socialism and communism have been tried and found wanting in many nations, but their principles still dominate the thinking in world environmental conferences and are widely taught in many major U.S. universities.
For three-quarters of a century the Soviet Union was touted as the model of what a planned economy could do for its people. To the embarrassment of many economics professors, it imploded. It could never afford environmental protection or improvement.
Environmentalists who sincerely desire to advance their cause must disassociate themselves from anti-capitalists and destroyers of the social orders of communities, nations, and the world.
Nothing highlights this problem more than the Heidelberg Statement, which was signed in the spring of 199[2] by 250 prominent scientists, including 27 Nobel Prize winners. It noted, “We are worried at the emergence of an irrational ideology which is opposed to scientific and industrial progress and impedes economic and social development. The greatest evils which stalk our Earth are ignorance and oppression, not science, technology, and industry. We do forewarn the authorities in charge of our planet’s destiny against decisions which are supported by pseudo-scientific arguments or false and non-relevant data.”
That being said, I'd like to enter a post from the Heartland Institute that makes some sense to me. Conservation and capitalism go hand in hand - they are not incompatible at all. With the right tax/financial incentives and a culture that appreciates and rewards responsible behavior, we can make this work. Larger government and totalitarian laws are not the answer. Neither is Al Gore.
From Heartland:
Contrary to the slogans of demonstrators throughout the world, the nations that have the best track records on environmental protection and improvement are those with the highest amount of free-market capitalism.
Make no mistake, the anti-capitalism demonstrators often add environmentalism to their claimed objectives solely because it attracts many gullible young persons and appears to legitimize their activities, which often have little or nothing to do with the environment.
Nations with the freest economic systems are the ones whose citizens can afford the luxury of protecting their environments. Conversely, persons living in command-and-control economies barely surviving on life’s necessities of food, clothing, and shelter use their natural resources to the absolute limit. They have no other choice in providing for themselves and their families…
…Beware the individual, group, or organization that relentlessly attacks the free enterprise system, bashes big business, and bashes corporations. Too often their real agenda is power–power to remake the economic and social systems to suit their own command-and-control goals, not to serve the public good as they so loudly proclaim.
Free enterprise capitalism provides the economic lifeblood for many of the world’s poor. The late senator Paul Tsongas said in his speech at the 1992 Democratic Convention, “You cannot redistribute wealth you never created. You can’t be pro-jobs and anti-business at the same time. You cannot love employment and hate employers.”
The extremes of big government socialism and communism have been tried and found wanting in many nations, but their principles still dominate the thinking in world environmental conferences and are widely taught in many major U.S. universities.
For three-quarters of a century the Soviet Union was touted as the model of what a planned economy could do for its people. To the embarrassment of many economics professors, it imploded. It could never afford environmental protection or improvement.
Environmentalists who sincerely desire to advance their cause must disassociate themselves from anti-capitalists and destroyers of the social orders of communities, nations, and the world.
Nothing highlights this problem more than the Heidelberg Statement, which was signed in the spring of 199[2] by 250 prominent scientists, including 27 Nobel Prize winners. It noted, “We are worried at the emergence of an irrational ideology which is opposed to scientific and industrial progress and impedes economic and social development. The greatest evils which stalk our Earth are ignorance and oppression, not science, technology, and industry. We do forewarn the authorities in charge of our planet’s destiny against decisions which are supported by pseudo-scientific arguments or false and non-relevant data.”
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Carbon Tax
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-oped0417chapmanapr17,1,349864.column
Great article. A carbon tax makes both conservatives and liberals happy. Curiously, no politician has brought it up as a policy idea. What a surprise.
Less carbon emissions? Check
Lower income taxes? Check
Less dependence on foreign (Saudi) oil? Check
Less global warming? Check
Great article. A carbon tax makes both conservatives and liberals happy. Curiously, no politician has brought it up as a policy idea. What a surprise.
Less carbon emissions? Check
Lower income taxes? Check
Less dependence on foreign (Saudi) oil? Check
Less global warming? Check
America Alone
I just bought the soft cover version of America Alone with a new introduction, which is definitely worth the read. I also find it hilarious that Mark actually put on the cover "Soon to be banned in Canada." You'd think the "Human Rights Commissions" that are currently trying him would just give up, since they are trying the author of a bestselling book for his opinions, but they have no common sense or respect for the public opinion. Freedom of speech is an alien concept to too many liberal institutions - it's a shame.
My copy was autographed by Mark at my request - he accidentally made it out to himself, with the quote, "In the words of General Stark (and the New Hampshire license plate), Live Free or Die!" That's great stuff.
Please check it out! Here's the link...
http://www.amazon.com/America-Alone-End-World-Know/dp/1596985275/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208454188&sr=8-1
My copy was autographed by Mark at my request - he accidentally made it out to himself, with the quote, "In the words of General Stark (and the New Hampshire license plate), Live Free or Die!" That's great stuff.
Please check it out! Here's the link...
http://www.amazon.com/America-Alone-End-World-Know/dp/1596985275/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208454188&sr=8-1
Go Giants
I also wanted to say........GO GIANTS! It was one of the best Super Bowls of all time and I was proud to watch it with my family, cheering every second. Currently I have on my coffee table a Giants shrine: two hats, two SI covers, a New York Post, and a framed photo of Amani Toomer's 2nd quarter catch on the sidelines. Unbelievable season, unbelievable story, Go Eli, Go Plax, Go Strahan, Go Osi, and Go Tuck! Last thought: Jay Alford's final sack on Tom Brady was picture perfect. He came charging through the line like a crazed rhinocerous.
San Diego Surf Trip
To any readers out there, I'm sorry for the lack of posts in the last couple months. I just got back from a surf trip to San Diego and I'm ready to start posting again, so please keep reading.
San Diego Surf - the waves were not good, but here's where I went and what I'd recommend. This is my third surf trip out there, so I'm getting a bit more knowledgeable:
Pipes and Suckouts in Cardiff - good reef breaks that can get pretty fast on a good W swell. Suckouts is especially challenging since its a very steep face that walls up quickly out of nowhere. It was pretty crowded here, but there are a few peaks to both sides.
La Jolla/Scripps - this is a great beach break that's easy for anyone to learn on, as well as a superb place to hang out on the shore. Just paddle out and grab any wave you can - nothing challenging, just a solid spot.
Del Mar Rivermouth - the waves were very mushy when I was here, but on a good NW swell it becomes a long, powerful right tube.
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