Iron Man, that is, in all of two days on the market.
Clearly, previous titles haven't sold that well, might be a signal that this is the beginning of the end for plain old DVDs, I would imagine this title is selling comparatively poorly in Standard Definition.
(it's definitely a film made for High Def)
03 October 2008
I'm Surprised Michael Wilbon Even Came to Work Today . . .
Chicago Cubs superfan, Michael Wilbon, showed up on PTI (the best sportschat show on TV). He's predicting another 100 years of futility for the Chicago Cubs (I'll link the audio podcast when it's posted Monday).
I'm still not excited by the Dodgers, sure they're beating the best regular season team in the National League, and they have the hottest position player in all of the Majors with Manny Ramirez, but I stopped caring about the Dodgers (or baseball) a long time ago.
I'm still not excited by the Dodgers, sure they're beating the best regular season team in the National League, and they have the hottest position player in all of the Majors with Manny Ramirez, but I stopped caring about the Dodgers (or baseball) a long time ago.
I'll Admit It, I'm a Big James Burke Fan.
After AJ Lynch's comment regarding my Ultimate Blame post, I'd have to place ultimate blame for my original post at the feet of James Burke for putting together his Connections episodes back in the late 70s (one episode from that first series in 5 parts collected at YouTube and embedded below for your convenience, as well as elucidation).
(so he was a bit wrong about what computers would bring, how could he have known back in '78 about the internet, blogs, YouTube, or that for a lot of people their computer would function primarily as their, 'big box o' porn')
(so he was a bit wrong about what computers would bring, how could he have known back in '78 about the internet, blogs, YouTube, or that for a lot of people their computer would function primarily as their, 'big box o' porn')
The Ultimate Blame for the Mortgage Meltdown . . .
Many are in finger pointing mode at the moment with regards to our current financial crisis. I don't think the true culprit has yet been fingered, though. If you trace back the threads, and follow this back to the source, as I have done, you'll find indisputable proof that this crisis began with one group of people, a group that you'll be surprised as being responsible, but once I spell it out for you, will seem obvious in retrospect.
That group? Korean transmission makers from the late 80s, of course.
That's right, if Korean transmission makers of the late 80s had been more responsible in the kinds of transmissions they plopped into the Hyundai Excel none of this current mess would have happened.
That's because the roots of this began with the expansion of the CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) engaged in by the Clinton administration throughout the 90s. That engagement was based on follow through for campaign promises made by Clinton when he defeated Bush in '92. Clinton wouldn't have made those promises had it not been for his political grandstanding in the wake of the LA Riots of April '92. Those riots wouldn't have happened if those officers hadn't been acquitted in their criminal case for their rough treatment of Rodney King, and this is where the Korean transmission makers from the late 80s come into the picture.
The Hyundai Excel was a super cheap car, far cheaper than anything else on the market in the 80s (except the Yugo, but the Yugo was even crappier than the Excel). The Excel was a standard econobox mated to a somewhat inadequate engine, but they geared the transmission so that the car could go over 100 mph so long as you were going downhill or had a hurricane force tailwind. Had Rodney King not been speeding down the Sepulveda pass at speeds in excess of 100mph, the adrenaline levels of the cops that eventually stopped him would not have been nearly as high when he was finally confronted. Had the transmission been more responsibly geared, and he'd been travelling at 85mph instead of 100mph+, I posit that the officers would not have been as pumped or angry when they tussled with Mr. King. Instead of the international incident that followed in the wake of the videotaping of that traffic stop, it would have been just a routine case of a speeder who tried to run, and the cops would have been laughing at him for trying to outrun them in an Excel, instead of the adrenaline fueled frenzy that was caught on tape.
So, as you can see, a different transmission in the Excel King drove, a different result in that traffic stop, no beating, no riot, no riot, no campaign promise for an expanded CRA, no expansion of the CRA and threats by the Reno Justice Department to go after lenders for 'discrimination', and you wouldn't have the subprime boom encouraged by the Clinton administration and acquiesced to by Congress in the '90s.
It's all just one big chain of cause and effect, if you interrupt that chain at the beginning, the whole thing falls apart, so the ultimate blame for the current mortgage meltdown rests at the feet of Korean transmission makers of the late '80s.
That group? Korean transmission makers from the late 80s, of course.
That's right, if Korean transmission makers of the late 80s had been more responsible in the kinds of transmissions they plopped into the Hyundai Excel none of this current mess would have happened.
That's because the roots of this began with the expansion of the CRA (Community Reinvestment Act) engaged in by the Clinton administration throughout the 90s. That engagement was based on follow through for campaign promises made by Clinton when he defeated Bush in '92. Clinton wouldn't have made those promises had it not been for his political grandstanding in the wake of the LA Riots of April '92. Those riots wouldn't have happened if those officers hadn't been acquitted in their criminal case for their rough treatment of Rodney King, and this is where the Korean transmission makers from the late 80s come into the picture.
The Hyundai Excel was a super cheap car, far cheaper than anything else on the market in the 80s (except the Yugo, but the Yugo was even crappier than the Excel). The Excel was a standard econobox mated to a somewhat inadequate engine, but they geared the transmission so that the car could go over 100 mph so long as you were going downhill or had a hurricane force tailwind. Had Rodney King not been speeding down the Sepulveda pass at speeds in excess of 100mph, the adrenaline levels of the cops that eventually stopped him would not have been nearly as high when he was finally confronted. Had the transmission been more responsibly geared, and he'd been travelling at 85mph instead of 100mph+, I posit that the officers would not have been as pumped or angry when they tussled with Mr. King. Instead of the international incident that followed in the wake of the videotaping of that traffic stop, it would have been just a routine case of a speeder who tried to run, and the cops would have been laughing at him for trying to outrun them in an Excel, instead of the adrenaline fueled frenzy that was caught on tape.
So, as you can see, a different transmission in the Excel King drove, a different result in that traffic stop, no beating, no riot, no riot, no campaign promise for an expanded CRA, no expansion of the CRA and threats by the Reno Justice Department to go after lenders for 'discrimination', and you wouldn't have the subprime boom encouraged by the Clinton administration and acquiesced to by Congress in the '90s.
It's all just one big chain of cause and effect, if you interrupt that chain at the beginning, the whole thing falls apart, so the ultimate blame for the current mortgage meltdown rests at the feet of Korean transmission makers of the late '80s.
02 October 2008
The LA Times Must Have Known I Was Looking for BLOGTOBER Material . . .
Big puff piece in the LA Times profiling The Queen of YouTube, Kat Dennings.
(OK, maybe it's not a gift to me from the LAT, instead it's just pre-plubicity puffery in advance of Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist).
(OK, maybe it's not a gift to me from the LAT, instead it's just pre-plubicity puffery in advance of Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist).
The BLOGTOBER 2008 Album Reviews (02 of 23) Terrence Howard, Shine Through It
I know, I know, Terrence Howard? Realy!? Really, really?!? Sure, why not?
Terrence Howard, Shine Through It [Zune.net, Amazon]
This ain't no joke, he clearly takes this seriously and isn't just cashing in on his fame. It's a challenging album, completely out of sync with the current Soul/R&B music scene, which makes it kind of endearing. It's also more in love without itself than it deserves to be, but that's not a completely bad thing for an album or an artist.
1) Love Makes You Beautiful
Could be a lost track from the first album of that other Terence (Trent D'arby). Howard's singing has the same raspy whisper his speaking voice often displays. He uses it to good effect on this track. Even the child chorus doesn't completely sink this song under the weight of its own pretentiousness. Don't get me wrong, definitely pretentious, just not sunk by it, still listenable, despite the absurd amount of seriousness.
2) Shine Through It
The title track, more strings, more children choruses sneaking in. Rocks out a bit after the bridge. Also includes some Sgt.Pepper-ery horns and the children chorus grows up into a full men's choir, interesting touch.
3) Mr. Johnson's Lawn
Get off my lawn you damn kids! OK, his singing on this song is hilarious. He does the opposite of a falsetto, he goes into a falsely deep register and adds a growl to his voice that isn't normally there (presumably he's playing his own father, or at least a father-figure). Don't let that affectation cause you to miss the really nice arrangement built up in this song. Plus, FLUTES! Can't go wrong with jazz-flute. Jazz-flute rock! (as previously discussed, hereabouts). The song's not done, either, it goes for a full latin vibe by the end completely different from the beginnning. Not bad at all (except for his vocals, they rankle a touch, but his normal voice would have sounded out of place with this arrangment, so I get why he does it).
4) Sanctuary
It's pretty pop this time, a touch beatles-esque (by way of late period Prince and the Revolution). Dude loves his strings, that's for sure. It's a pretty song, layered, driven by a very insistent beat, this song moves forward throughout. A bit bombastic (and insipid) lyrically, but you can't have everything.
5) No.1 Fan
Clock ticking, tinkly piano, and more strings, cause that's ROCK N' ROLL!!! Yeah, this is one to skip if you are buying these songs individually. It's waaaaay too theatrical. He's bringing all his actorly skills to his interpretation of this song, and it's ridiculous (and not in a so bad it's good way).
6) Spanish Love Affair
Naturally, with that title, you start the song with a bit of Spanish sounding guitar, anything else would have been a disappointment. But where to go after the extended flamenco-esque intro? Why more flamenco, of course, overlaid with a bit of Herb Albert-like brass action. Cheesy, but it works. Queso isn't always a bad thing. If that's him on guitar, he ain't bad (says in his bio that he's self-taught on piano and guitar).
7) Plenty
Interestingly soulful track. Reminds me a bit of someone you've never heard of (Bronx Style Bob), it's a solid track.
8) I Remember When
Whistling, and harmonica, and a bit of a doo wop feel. Nice change of pace. Kind of a throwaway, but the L'il Stevie Wonder-esque harmonica saves this song.
9) It's All Game
Talking intro, always got to have at least one song with a talking intro. Another quality jazzy track, other than the talking bit at the beginning, this is a smooth instrumental. Your like or dislike for this sort of thing in general will color your judgement of this track, I happen to enjoy this stuff in the right dosage. He's got a solid group of musicians around him, that helps, a lot. Could you hear something nearly identical at any good jazz club? Sure, doesn't make it bad.
10) She Was Mine
Seriously working the strings and the whistling again. A bit of a Minnie the Moocher feel to this track (musically, not lyrically). Has an old fashioned walking bass line mated with some strings, and his raspy voice. It's all a nice combination.
11) War
Not sure what to say on this track, it's got a big sound to it, a bit Broadway-ish in its feel, and his vocals are distorted through the first half of the song (as if played through a scratchy loudspeaker). The whole thing's got a nice big feel to it, even as it meanders a bit and really doesn't make any sort of coherent point thematically, lyrically, or musically.
So that was that, not a great album by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a decidedly unexpected album and while full of pretense and artifice, doesn't seem like a pure vanity project. It's got its problems, this album, but overall it's an enjoyable listen, unlikely to be exactly like anything else in your collection, and is a great change of pace. Don't expect perfection, but if you like something a little different (even if it's swamped a bit by its own ambitions), you should give it a listen.
Terrence Howard, Shine Through It [Zune.net, Amazon]
This ain't no joke, he clearly takes this seriously and isn't just cashing in on his fame. It's a challenging album, completely out of sync with the current Soul/R&B music scene, which makes it kind of endearing. It's also more in love without itself than it deserves to be, but that's not a completely bad thing for an album or an artist.
1) Love Makes You Beautiful
Could be a lost track from the first album of that other Terence (Trent D'arby). Howard's singing has the same raspy whisper his speaking voice often displays. He uses it to good effect on this track. Even the child chorus doesn't completely sink this song under the weight of its own pretentiousness. Don't get me wrong, definitely pretentious, just not sunk by it, still listenable, despite the absurd amount of seriousness.
2) Shine Through It
The title track, more strings, more children choruses sneaking in. Rocks out a bit after the bridge. Also includes some Sgt.Pepper-ery horns and the children chorus grows up into a full men's choir, interesting touch.
3) Mr. Johnson's Lawn
Get off my lawn you damn kids! OK, his singing on this song is hilarious. He does the opposite of a falsetto, he goes into a falsely deep register and adds a growl to his voice that isn't normally there (presumably he's playing his own father, or at least a father-figure). Don't let that affectation cause you to miss the really nice arrangement built up in this song. Plus, FLUTES! Can't go wrong with jazz-flute. Jazz-flute rock! (as previously discussed, hereabouts). The song's not done, either, it goes for a full latin vibe by the end completely different from the beginnning. Not bad at all (except for his vocals, they rankle a touch, but his normal voice would have sounded out of place with this arrangment, so I get why he does it).
4) Sanctuary
It's pretty pop this time, a touch beatles-esque (by way of late period Prince and the Revolution). Dude loves his strings, that's for sure. It's a pretty song, layered, driven by a very insistent beat, this song moves forward throughout. A bit bombastic (and insipid) lyrically, but you can't have everything.
5) No.1 Fan
Clock ticking, tinkly piano, and more strings, cause that's ROCK N' ROLL!!! Yeah, this is one to skip if you are buying these songs individually. It's waaaaay too theatrical. He's bringing all his actorly skills to his interpretation of this song, and it's ridiculous (and not in a so bad it's good way).
6) Spanish Love Affair
Naturally, with that title, you start the song with a bit of Spanish sounding guitar, anything else would have been a disappointment. But where to go after the extended flamenco-esque intro? Why more flamenco, of course, overlaid with a bit of Herb Albert-like brass action. Cheesy, but it works. Queso isn't always a bad thing. If that's him on guitar, he ain't bad (says in his bio that he's self-taught on piano and guitar).
7) Plenty
Interestingly soulful track. Reminds me a bit of someone you've never heard of (Bronx Style Bob), it's a solid track.
8) I Remember When
Whistling, and harmonica, and a bit of a doo wop feel. Nice change of pace. Kind of a throwaway, but the L'il Stevie Wonder-esque harmonica saves this song.
9) It's All Game
Talking intro, always got to have at least one song with a talking intro. Another quality jazzy track, other than the talking bit at the beginning, this is a smooth instrumental. Your like or dislike for this sort of thing in general will color your judgement of this track, I happen to enjoy this stuff in the right dosage. He's got a solid group of musicians around him, that helps, a lot. Could you hear something nearly identical at any good jazz club? Sure, doesn't make it bad.
10) She Was Mine
Seriously working the strings and the whistling again. A bit of a Minnie the Moocher feel to this track (musically, not lyrically). Has an old fashioned walking bass line mated with some strings, and his raspy voice. It's all a nice combination.
11) War
Not sure what to say on this track, it's got a big sound to it, a bit Broadway-ish in its feel, and his vocals are distorted through the first half of the song (as if played through a scratchy loudspeaker). The whole thing's got a nice big feel to it, even as it meanders a bit and really doesn't make any sort of coherent point thematically, lyrically, or musically.
So that was that, not a great album by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a decidedly unexpected album and while full of pretense and artifice, doesn't seem like a pure vanity project. It's got its problems, this album, but overall it's an enjoyable listen, unlikely to be exactly like anything else in your collection, and is a great change of pace. Don't expect perfection, but if you like something a little different (even if it's swamped a bit by its own ambitions), you should give it a listen.
"so many questions"
This time, she has placed a mannequin on a lavatory next to two supermarket check-out counters. Four horse-shoes and bits of discarded wood dangle from wires attached to the mannequin's head. They appear to bear no relevance to the check-out counters on which the artist has arranged bowls and spoons, as well as empty jars with the remnants of food. Scattered across the floor are piles of tiles and broken pottery in a plastic bag.
Sophie O'Brien, one of three Turner Prize curators, saw deep meaning in the installation, explaining that the artist was “searching out the language of objects - things we overlook in our daily life” - and making us look at them with “fresh eyes”. She claimed that the artist had placed each found object with extreme precision.
Her colleague, Judith Nesbitt, the Tate's chief curator, added: “It's as if the narrative has been stripped away. You're left trying to make sense of the objects to each other and to ourselves.”
She applauded the artist for prompting “so many questions” from the viewer.
Times of London, regarding a new exhibit at the Tate for the artists nominated for this year's Turner Prize.
Somehow I suspect that JMW Turner might not be in accordance with the curators had it been possible to give him a voice in choosing the recipient of the prize named for him.
That whirring sound you hear coming from a certain crypt at St. Paul's Cathedral?
You guessed it, Turner, turning in his grave.
(note, while I still think Marcel Duchamp was one of the premier artists of the 20th century, and his Fountain one of the seminal works, that was then and groundbreaking, this is now, and this kind of crap has become tedious and conventional)
01 October 2008
I Feel Inadequate (BLOGTOBER 2008 Edition)
This is my eighth post today, woohoo!!
That's what I call a BLOGTOBER BLOGBURST!!!
Except, when I look at Instapundit's output for the same day, I see that he was on his 8th post by 8:06AM, that was well before I even got up this morning.
The bastard, making me look bad, every day is a day during BLOGTOBER for Prof. Glenn Reynolds. Frankly, I think he's an addict, he needs counseling, good thing his wife is a shrink.
To be fair to me, I'm pretty sure even with his dozens of post today, I'm confident I have him beat on non-quoted word count (though he has two wordy for him posts, one on Gwen Ifills, and a related one on media bias)
(and I know his wife isn't actually a 'shrink' aka psychiatrist, she's a forensic psychologist, but if I acknowledged that, the joke wouldn't work, and it's always better to sacrifice accuracy in the service of a joke than sacrifice the joke)
That's what I call a BLOGTOBER BLOGBURST!!!
Except, when I look at Instapundit's output for the same day, I see that he was on his 8th post by 8:06AM, that was well before I even got up this morning.
The bastard, making me look bad, every day is a day during BLOGTOBER for Prof. Glenn Reynolds. Frankly, I think he's an addict, he needs counseling, good thing his wife is a shrink.
To be fair to me, I'm pretty sure even with his dozens of post today, I'm confident I have him beat on non-quoted word count (though he has two wordy for him posts, one on Gwen Ifills, and a related one on media bias)
(and I know his wife isn't actually a 'shrink' aka psychiatrist, she's a forensic psychologist, but if I acknowledged that, the joke wouldn't work, and it's always better to sacrifice accuracy in the service of a joke than sacrifice the joke)
A Random Selection of Text From the New Senate 'Rescue' Bill (Pages, 176, 76, 353)
(hat tip Tammy Bruce, here's a link to the PDF of the text, hosted by the Senate Conservatives Fund)
What the Hell? Why is this 'carbon sequestration' crap taking up line after line of text within a financial system rescue package (this one small provision starts on 175, ends on page 180. If this crap is important on its own, it shouldn't be glommed on to a bill designed to stop a ongoing financial emergency. Even if you are an enviro-nut who believes that the Earth is in the Balance, there's still no excuse for gumming up this bill with this crap. Pass a clean bill, without these riders and attachments. Stuff like this seems like a tacit admission that the current crisis isn't viewed by Congress as a crisis, but instead it's just another opportunity to get favored earmarks snuck through. Grrrrrrrr, Arrgggggghhhhhhhhh (sorry, the more I think on this, the less verbal I become). On to the next random page:
Well at least this is actually about financial crap. This is the minutiuae pertaining to the establishment of an 'Oversight Panel' to be composed of two purely DEM appointees, two purely GOP appointees, and one joint appointee to a five person panel charged with watching our money as it is funneled to the various entities that our tax money will be used to prop up. The very end part, about amending the act to prohibit misrepresenting FDIC insured status suggests that previously banks could claim an asset was covered under FDIC even if it wasn't (afterall, why clarify a rule that was already in place?). That's nice to know, and may in part explain some of the Freddie/Fannie Mess (empty promises of government backed securities that weren't really government backed). Now on to the final page for perusal
UPDATE: Crap, Ace at Ace of Spades HQ has to ruin a perfectly good rant by injecting some facts into the discussion. As is taught in your basic 10th grade civics class (or should be, anyway), spending bills can only originate in the House, so to be able to vote on this immediately the Senate used a procedural trick by tacking on the newbailout 'rescue' provisions to a pre-existing pork-laden piece of thoroughly earmarked pig droppings. Doesn't make the pig-droppings any less unsavory, but it does mean that the actual rescue plan is anywhere near the totality of the 451 pages in this bill (even if that has been implied by just about every news report of the bill).
The process of coupling and amending and subverting one bill meant to serve a particular end and then transforming it into something else entirely to force Congress critters to vote for stuff they normally wouldn't want to vote on is another matter entirely. Seems like micro bills are the way to go. Each provision is its own bill with its own vote, the general bill should be part of a discussion, but each discrete unrelated chunk should be put to separate up or down votes. That'd cure a lot of this nonsense and force these folks to be a little more accountable for their actions. But that'd be a big change to the current process, and a completely separate issue than the one at hand.
(d'oh! I've got Congressional disease, I just attached an unrelated rider to one of my own posts, this nonsense is contagious!!!)
176
O:\AYO\AYO08C32.xml S.L.C.
1 ‘‘(B) is measured at the source of capture
2 and verified at the point of disposal or injec3
tion.
4 ‘‘(2) RECYCLED CARBON DIOXIDE.—The term
5 ‘qualified carbon dioxide’ includes the initial deposit
6 of captured carbon dioxide used as a tertiary
7 injectant. Such term does not include carbon dioxide
8 that is re-captured, recycled, and re-injected as part
9 of the enhanced oil and natural gas recovery process.
10 ‘‘(c) QUALIFIED FACILITY.—For purposes of this
11 section, the term ‘qualified facility’ means any industrial
12 facility—
13 ‘‘(1) which is owned by the taxpayer,
14 ‘‘(2) at which carbon capture equipment is
15 placed in service, and
16 ‘‘(3) which captures not less than 500,000 met17
ric tons of carbon dioxide during the taxable year.
18 ‘‘(d) SPECIAL RULES AND OTHER DEFINITIONS.—
19 For purposes of this section—
20 ‘‘(1) ONLY CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURED AND
21 DISPOSED OF OR USED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
22 TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.—The credit under this sec23
tion shall apply only with respect to qualified carbon
24 dioxide the capture and disposal or use of which is
25 within—
What the Hell? Why is this 'carbon sequestration' crap taking up line after line of text within a financial system rescue package (this one small provision starts on 175, ends on page 180. If this crap is important on its own, it shouldn't be glommed on to a bill designed to stop a ongoing financial emergency. Even if you are an enviro-nut who believes that the Earth is in the Balance, there's still no excuse for gumming up this bill with this crap. Pass a clean bill, without these riders and attachments. Stuff like this seems like a tacit admission that the current crisis isn't viewed by Congress as a crisis, but instead it's just another opportunity to get favored earmarks snuck through. Grrrrrrrr, Arrgggggghhhhhhhhh (sorry, the more I think on this, the less verbal I become). On to the next random page:
O:\AYO\AYO08C32.xml S.L.C.
1 (1) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
2 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Over3
sight Panel such sums as may be necessary for any
4 fiscal year, half of which shall be derived from the
5 applicable account of the House of Representatives,
6 and half of which shall be derived from the contin7
gent fund of the Senate.
8 (2) REIMBURSEMENT OF AMOUNTS.—An
9 amount equal to the expenses of the Oversight Panel
10 shall be promptly transferred by the Secretary, from
11 time to time upon the presentment of a statement
12 of such expenses by the Chairperson of the Over13
sight Panel, from funds made available to the Sec14
retary under this Act to the applicable fund of the
15 House of Representatives and the contingent fund of
16 the Senate, as appropriate, as reimbursement for
17 amounts expended from such account and fund
18 under paragraph (1).
19 SEC. 126. FDIC AUTHORITY.
20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 18(a) of the Federal De21
posit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(a)) is amended by
22 adding at the end the following new paragraph:
23 ‘‘(4) FALSE ADVERTISING, MISUSE OF FDIC
24 NAMES, AND MISREPRESENTATION TO INDICATE IN25
SURED STATUS.—
Well at least this is actually about financial crap. This is the minutiuae pertaining to the establishment of an 'Oversight Panel' to be composed of two purely DEM appointees, two purely GOP appointees, and one joint appointee to a five person panel charged with watching our money as it is funneled to the various entities that our tax money will be used to prop up. The very end part, about amending the act to prohibit misrepresenting FDIC insured status suggests that previously banks could claim an asset was covered under FDIC even if it wasn't (afterall, why clarify a rule that was already in place?). That's nice to know, and may in part explain some of the Freddie/Fannie Mess (empty promises of government backed securities that weren't really government backed). Now on to the final page for perusal
O:\AYO\AYO08C32.xml S.L.C.
1 ‘‘(b) COUNTY PAYMENT.—For each of fiscal years
2 2008 through 2011, the Secretary of the Interior shall cal3
culate for each eligible county that received a 50-percent
4 payment during the eligibility period an amount equal to
5 the product obtained by multiplying—
6 ‘‘(1) the 50-percent adjusted share for the eligi7
ble county; by
8 ‘‘(2) the full funding amount for the fiscal year.
9 ‘‘SEC. 102. PAYMENTS TO STATES AND COUNTIES.
10 ‘‘(a) PAYMENT AMOUNTS.—Except as provided in
11 section 103, the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to—
12 ‘‘(1) a State or territory of the United States
13 an amount equal to the sum of the amounts elected
14 under subsection (b) by each county within the State
15 or territory for—
16 ‘‘(A) if the county is eligible for the 25-
17 percent payment, the share of the 25-percent
18 payment; or
19 ‘‘(B) the share of the State payment of the
20 eligible county; and
21 ‘‘(2) a county an amount equal to the amount
22 elected under subsection (b) by each county for—
23 ‘‘(A) if the county is eligible for the 50-
24 percent payment, the 50-percent payment; or
OK, now my head is just swimming. I have no clue as to properly deciphering what is up with this, but as I go backwards and forwards from this page, it seems to be about BLM land, and possibly agricultural subsidies, but don't quote me on that. Either way, it's clearly not about banking, credit, foreclosures, or anything that should be in this bill. The part preceding this is all about funding roads to rural schools, cause I guess if we had more of those, none of this mortgage meltdown would have happened in the first place.
I have peered behind the curtain at the deli, and I dared to observe the sausage getting made. Now I feel sick, it's enough to turn you into a vegetarian.
Random numbers, generated at Random.org (your one stop shop for all your random needs!).
UPDATE: Crap, Ace at Ace of Spades HQ has to ruin a perfectly good rant by injecting some facts into the discussion. As is taught in your basic 10th grade civics class (or should be, anyway), spending bills can only originate in the House, so to be able to vote on this immediately the Senate used a procedural trick by tacking on the new
The process of coupling and amending and subverting one bill meant to serve a particular end and then transforming it into something else entirely to force Congress critters to vote for stuff they normally wouldn't want to vote on is another matter entirely. Seems like micro bills are the way to go. Each provision is its own bill with its own vote, the general bill should be part of a discussion, but each discrete unrelated chunk should be put to separate up or down votes. That'd cure a lot of this nonsense and force these folks to be a little more accountable for their actions. But that'd be a big change to the current process, and a completely separate issue than the one at hand.
(d'oh! I've got Congressional disease, I just attached an unrelated rider to one of my own posts, this nonsense is contagious!!!)
This IS Very Good News (Very Good Indeed, Yes?), SO Naturally the NYT Ends the Article with a Critic of the Bill . . .
The United States opened a new chapter of cooperation with India on Wednesday night as Congress gave final approval to a breakthrough agreement permitting civilian nuclear trade between the two countries for the first time in three decades
It's about time. India can be our best friend in Asia, and a bulwark for us against three potential rivals/threats. India can help us against agressive Islamist, Russia, and China, but only if we embrace India and help them thrive as the world's largest democracy.
India's far from perfect, but they have the potential to be a much better ally for us than China can (so long as China remains the strange semi-free market/very totalitarian hybrid it currently is), and a friendly India that we cooperate with will be to both our benefit.
So, of course, the NYT has to find some way to paint this as a negative given that the Bush Administration isn't allowed any foreign policy victories, here's the end of the article:
The United States-India Business Council, which promoted the deal, estimates that India may spend as much as $175 billion over the next quarter century expanding its nuclear industry to cope with rising energy demands. Companies like General Electric, Westinghouse and Bechtel will now be able to compete for contracts.
“This is one of those historic, important, tectonic shifts in relations with another country,” said Ron Somers, the council’s president. “This is a country we need to be partnering with and I would argue will be shaping the destiny of the 21st century.” Michael Krepon, co-founder of the Henry L. Stimson Center, a research organization in Washington, called the promise of big dollars and American jobs “pure fantasy” and predicted that the United States would regret further opening the nuclear door.
“There will be a reckoning for this agreement,” he said. “You can argue till you’re blue in the face that India is a special case. But what happens in one country affects what happens in others.”
The Washington Times published Michael Krepon's Op-Ed on the subject, and I find his analysis wanting. Cooperating with India won't weaken the goal of non-proliferation, working with India won't spawn any greater nuclear competition between India, Pakistan and China than already exists. That genie is out of the bottle, and in short order, Taiwan, Japan, and a united Korea might join them in the Asian countries with big nasty bombs club before 2020 (I leave out Iran because Iran will simply not be given the chance to join that club, their government is too erratic, too supportive of terrorism, and too hell bent on the destruction of Israel for any responsible United States government to turn a blind eye to their activities). This agreement doesn't make that eventuality any more or less likely, it's simply a matter of the proliferation of technology and states exercising their right to self determination and taking actions that they feel are part of their motivated self-interest.
Asia's a dangerous neighborhood, with very large countries posing existential threats to smaller nations, that's the reason why WMD proliferation will happen over the next 12 years, not anything to do with one agreement between the United States and India. The experience of the five original nuclear powers proves the defensive effectiveness of WMD, it's a worthy goal to lessen their proliferation, and it's a high priority to keep these weapons away from non-state actors or failed states, but these weapons remain attractive for good reason, and ostracizing India in perpetuity for developing their own nuclear capacity will not serve the goal of reducing WMD, nor will it prevent the inevitable escalation of a local arms race in the region.
This Might Be a Case of the Ponce Calling the Ponce, Ponce-y . . .
From a review of a Spanish restaurant in the Times of London by AA Gill:
It would undoubtedly be poncy. Poncy little bits of ponced-up ponce, served on poncy plates in a poncified room, by oleaginous ponces to unmitigated superponces. The whole thing would unquestionably be a poncimonious cluster-ponce. (Ponce, and its derivatives, is the most commonly used word in the letters you write to me. If anybody is foolishly thinking of opening a restaurant, you could call it Once a Ponce a Thyme.)
The BLOGTOBER 2008 Album Reviews (01 of 23) Brazilian Girls, New York City
This is the first of 23 album reviews (one each weekday through the 31st) I'll be churning out over the course of BLOGTOBER 2008. It'll only be albums that I like and albums released this year. In some ways it could be a 'best of' 2008 list so far, but not exactly, rather than 'best of', more of a 'good enough to listen to repeatedly' list (which isn't always the same thing, some great albums aren't easy to re-listen to, and some albums that demand repeating aren't great). Given that I don't buy CDs any more, all the albums reviewed are available (usually in their entirety) through ZunePass, I'll link both the Zune.net and Amazon page where applicable.
Brazilian Girls New York City [Zune.net, Amazon]
As mentioned in their Wiki, none of the Brazilian Girls are from Brazil, and only one of them is female, but that doesn't change their name.
This is their 3rd album so far. Their self-titled debut is still my favorite, but this is a solid album, too. The lead singer, Sabina Sciubba is pleasingly multi-lingual and puts those talents to satisfying effect on many of the tracks on New York City.
I think the mood best described by this album as a whole is that it's the soundtrack to a film that doesn't quite yet exist. on to the tracks:
1) St. Petersburg
It's a nicely paced piece of chill-out music. Soars in spots, takes it easy in other, nicely layered, a little reminiscent of Stereolab in spots, a good way to start an album (for those still old fashioned enough to listen to albums in the order they're presented)
2) Losing Myself
A more straight-forward club dance track. Sung in both French and English, can't go too far wrong with sexily purred French under girded by a driving beat.
3) Berlin
This is a very theatrical piece (in a good way). A lost song from the film version of Cabaret, possibly, all sorts of Kurt Weill influence on this, though it's sung in French and English. Can't go wrong with placing the Tuba prominently in your song.
4) Strangeboy
Starts off with a beat that Martin Denny wouldn't mind borrowing, mated with a monotone downbeat vocal delivery. Interesting juxtaposition. Kind of exotica meets Williamsburg hipsters, the last minute is a bit of a electronic rave-up employing a fast dub beat. A lot of influences to be present in one tune, but it works.
5) Good Time
Another dance track, "We Just Wanna Have a Good Time (all the time)". Meant to be ironic, I think, it's a party song mocking party songs, but that doesn't make it any less effective as a party song. Let the world burn, just have a good time.
6) Ricardo
The movie this track is from is a bad 70s Filipino rip off of an imitation James Bond movie made in Japan during the 60s, dubbed into Spanish. Does that sound like a bad thing, or a good thing? (that you'll have to answer for yourself)
7) I Want Out
Starts off with some poly-rhythmic African-style drums, overlaid with electronic effects and ethereal vocals. Where it goes from there is straight into the German Disco, baby. German is underrated as a sexy-tongue. In the right mouth, German is a damn sexy language. Sabina has the right mouth to make German sexy-sounding.
8) L'Interprete
Begins with sensitive guitar picking, accompanied by simply sung French. Very spare, very effective, very different from the rest of the album, yet recognizably "Brazilian Girls" music. Nice change of pace.
9) Internacional
It's not that Internationale, but it's probably some sort of Marxist piece, anyway. It's a fun little beat, with Sabina purring the names of bunch of cities underneath. Of all their songs, this is the one that sounds the most 'Brazilian', if your city didn't get mentioned on the album, don't worry, she'll probably mention work it in if they play live near you (Hello, Cleveland!)
10) Nouveau Americain
An old school new wave beat begins the track, very 1980, even the staccato singing style would fit in back then. I guess no artist escapes early 80s fetishism nowadays, it's required. Fun track, anyway.
11) Mano De Dios
This track can be found in the never made Argentinian remake of Blue Velvet. Has the dreamy feel of Angelo Badalamenti's music, but with a slight South American spin to it. Good way to finish off a very solid album.
(and a word of caution, be very, very careful if you choose to do a Google Image Search for "Brazilian Girls", especially with safe search off)
Brazilian Girls New York City [Zune.net, Amazon]
As mentioned in their Wiki, none of the Brazilian Girls are from Brazil, and only one of them is female, but that doesn't change their name.
This is their 3rd album so far. Their self-titled debut is still my favorite, but this is a solid album, too. The lead singer, Sabina Sciubba is pleasingly multi-lingual and puts those talents to satisfying effect on many of the tracks on New York City.
I think the mood best described by this album as a whole is that it's the soundtrack to a film that doesn't quite yet exist. on to the tracks:
1) St. Petersburg
It's a nicely paced piece of chill-out music. Soars in spots, takes it easy in other, nicely layered, a little reminiscent of Stereolab in spots, a good way to start an album (for those still old fashioned enough to listen to albums in the order they're presented)
2) Losing Myself
A more straight-forward club dance track. Sung in both French and English, can't go too far wrong with sexily purred French under girded by a driving beat.
3) Berlin
This is a very theatrical piece (in a good way). A lost song from the film version of Cabaret, possibly, all sorts of Kurt Weill influence on this, though it's sung in French and English. Can't go wrong with placing the Tuba prominently in your song.
4) Strangeboy
Starts off with a beat that Martin Denny wouldn't mind borrowing, mated with a monotone downbeat vocal delivery. Interesting juxtaposition. Kind of exotica meets Williamsburg hipsters, the last minute is a bit of a electronic rave-up employing a fast dub beat. A lot of influences to be present in one tune, but it works.
5) Good Time
Another dance track, "We Just Wanna Have a Good Time (all the time)". Meant to be ironic, I think, it's a party song mocking party songs, but that doesn't make it any less effective as a party song. Let the world burn, just have a good time.
6) Ricardo
The movie this track is from is a bad 70s Filipino rip off of an imitation James Bond movie made in Japan during the 60s, dubbed into Spanish. Does that sound like a bad thing, or a good thing? (that you'll have to answer for yourself)
7) I Want Out
Starts off with some poly-rhythmic African-style drums, overlaid with electronic effects and ethereal vocals. Where it goes from there is straight into the German Disco, baby. German is underrated as a sexy-tongue. In the right mouth, German is a damn sexy language. Sabina has the right mouth to make German sexy-sounding.
8) L'Interprete
Begins with sensitive guitar picking, accompanied by simply sung French. Very spare, very effective, very different from the rest of the album, yet recognizably "Brazilian Girls" music. Nice change of pace.
9) Internacional
It's not that Internationale, but it's probably some sort of Marxist piece, anyway. It's a fun little beat, with Sabina purring the names of bunch of cities underneath. Of all their songs, this is the one that sounds the most 'Brazilian', if your city didn't get mentioned on the album, don't worry, she'll probably mention work it in if they play live near you (Hello, Cleveland!)
10) Nouveau Americain
An old school new wave beat begins the track, very 1980, even the staccato singing style would fit in back then. I guess no artist escapes early 80s fetishism nowadays, it's required. Fun track, anyway.
11) Mano De Dios
This track can be found in the never made Argentinian remake of Blue Velvet. Has the dreamy feel of Angelo Badalamenti's music, but with a slight South American spin to it. Good way to finish off a very solid album.
(and a word of caution, be very, very careful if you choose to do a Google Image Search for "Brazilian Girls", especially with safe search off)
Lakers Chat, Part Infinity, Insanely Optimistic BLOGTOBER Edition
Is it NBA time already? Almost, the Lakers play two exhibition games this week, and are in day 2 of training camp. Bynum claims to feel fine, a lot rests on his repaired knee and Kobe's torn pinkie ligament.
They should be better than last year, but even being better than the runners-up might not be enough to get them back to the Finals cause other teams in the Western Conference have also improved.
John Hollinger at ESPN isn't sold on them, but he does think they are the 2nd best team in the West (to Utah). I think they should come out strong, they only have 4 games away from Staples in their first 15, so a fast start is expected, and is a must. Wouldn't be surprised to see them make it to 15-0 by the end of November, and who knows, 30-0 through December 31st isn't outside the realm of possibility for this team if everything clicks in place (18-12 is just as possible if they get injuries, or just don't figure out how to handle their new line-ups).
So, I'm going to err on the side of optimism and say that this Lakers team won't lose a game in 2008, and will have an NBA record season starting 30 game win streak (obliterating the old 15-0 mark shared by 48-49 Washington Capitols and the 93-94 Houston Rockets) going into their Jan 2nd match-up against Utah at Staples (where they will sadly, suffer their first defeat, missing out on the all time best 33 win streak mark set by the 71-72 Lakers, but they'll rebound to set a 40-1 mark in their first 41 games to break the half season record shared by those same Lakers and the Jackson coached 95-96 Chicago Bulls).
That's a prediction you can take to the bank, and I'll back that prediction with the same level of certainty and same kind of guarantee that the federal government did with Fannie and Freddie.
They should be better than last year, but even being better than the runners-up might not be enough to get them back to the Finals cause other teams in the Western Conference have also improved.
John Hollinger at ESPN isn't sold on them, but he does think they are the 2nd best team in the West (to Utah). I think they should come out strong, they only have 4 games away from Staples in their first 15, so a fast start is expected, and is a must. Wouldn't be surprised to see them make it to 15-0 by the end of November, and who knows, 30-0 through December 31st isn't outside the realm of possibility for this team if everything clicks in place (18-12 is just as possible if they get injuries, or just don't figure out how to handle their new line-ups).
So, I'm going to err on the side of optimism and say that this Lakers team won't lose a game in 2008, and will have an NBA record season starting 30 game win streak (obliterating the old 15-0 mark shared by 48-49 Washington Capitols and the 93-94 Houston Rockets) going into their Jan 2nd match-up against Utah at Staples (where they will sadly, suffer their first defeat, missing out on the all time best 33 win streak mark set by the 71-72 Lakers, but they'll rebound to set a 40-1 mark in their first 41 games to break the half season record shared by those same Lakers and the Jackson coached 95-96 Chicago Bulls).
That's a prediction you can take to the bank, and I'll back that prediction with the same level of certainty and same kind of guarantee that the federal government did with Fannie and Freddie.
Random 13 Songs, BLOGTOBER EDITION
Blogtober is upon us, so time to blog up a storm, here's one of the old stand bys, the Random song list. I like lists 13 in number, so this'll be a random 13 taken from my current collection on my PC.
1) Desafinado by Si Zentner from Ultra-Lounge, Vol.14: Bossa Novaville
I'm not apologizing, I like this stuff, so sue me. Nothing special, has the requisite beat, lots of horns, and an easy going sway to it.
2) I Don't Want to Die (In the Hospital) by Conor Oberst from Conor Oberst
Now that's a change of pace. It's a bit rockabilly, it's a bit pro-euthanasia, it's an interesting little ditty. Got a rockin' piano, can't go too wrong with rockin' piano.
3) Dub is Free by Burning Spear from Living Dub, Vol.6
No rockin' piano in this, but it does have the requisite beat, different set of requisitions where dub is concerned when compared to lounge-y Bossa Nova, though. Burning Spear keeps churning this stuff out, for more than 40 years, and it still sounds good. Also, this has plenty of horns, too. There's a spareness to his style of dub that is a solid beat stripped bare, mostly unadorned, with the echo turned up to 11. Not a bad formula if you ask me.
4) Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo) by Black Kids from Partie Traumatic
One of those current songs that doesn't sound so current to me. A bit of Cure here, a bit of Malcolm McLaren there, a dash of Spandau Ballet, mix in a blender, and you've got this. It's a bouncy good time, though, I'm not complaining that it's seriously new-wave-y, just saying that it IS seriously new-wave-y.
5) We Fight For Diamonds by Cut Copy frmo In Ghost Colours
Just a snippet of a song, barely more than a minute long. More mood piece than song. It's an interesting mood, though. Don't ask me to describe that mood, though, it's ineffable, with a touch of inscrutable, and a hint of opaque.
6) Change Is Hard by She & Him from Volume One
This is darn pretty. It's just a nice little countrified ditty. Zoey Deschanel has a great voice for this kind of material and delivers it well. Just enough, not too much in any aspect. Simple is hard to pull off, She & Him keep it simple, brilliantly.
7) If I Didn't Love You by Squeeze from Argybargy
I guess if all the current wave of new wave obsessed kiddies sound like they should have cut their albums in 1979 or 1983, does this sound like it should be on college radio today? Yes, it does, it wouldn't sound at all out of place with all the current stuff out there. Not one of their great songs, but tain't bad, neither. Interesting use of repetition, takes a repeated word a few beats beyond what's comfortable or usual. Nice gimmick, wouldn't want too many songs to use it, just right here, though.
8) Grits by James Brown from Star Time
Early James, very bluesy, very very bluesy, so bluesy that you might be a bit surprised that this is James Brown. It's James Brown working the Hammond B-3 instead of his voice, and he works it for all it's worth. Don't think of him as an instrumentalist, but he had chops there, too.
9) The Aircrash Bureau by Gary Numan from Telekon
Now this does sound dated, and is purely of its time and place. Still like it though, still find it on my hard drive. It's so mannered and particular, it's both very spare and very rococo, if that's possible to be both at the same time.
10) Make Me Smile (Come up and See Me) by Steve Harley from Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack
I ain't gonna lie, I love this movie, and I love this soundtrack. When it came out I fully expected it to be a huge hit and usher in a massive revival of glam rock. Didn't turn out that way right away, but glam has enjoyed a bit of a revival in the UK, and you do see the likes of Mika, Pop Levi and Scissor Sisters churning out sounds that would sound not out of place on this soundtrack.
11) The Work, Pt.1 by Prince from The Rainbow Children
Speaking of James Brown . . . Prince at his Jamesian funkiest, working his falsetto, and the band working it out. Great song, not an essential Prince groove by any means, but a strong groove this is. There's some sneakily fantastic guitar work on this song, along with some fantastic drumming. If Prince ever lets his tracks hit Rockband or Guitar Hero, this should be one of the songs, it'd be a fun little challenge.
12) Let's Talk About Girls by The Chocolate Watchband from Nuggets Vol.1
60s Garage at its Stone-iest. I like a lot of the sounds churned out by the wannabe Stones that ran around back in the late 60s. The Chocolate Watchband were one of the better West Coast Stones-like bands from the late 60s.
13) Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling) by Lone Justice from Lone Justice
Damn, Maria McKee was a fine little teen singer back then. She's still a fine singer, no longer a teen, obviously, but as good as she's ever been. This is from their first album, the Tom Petty produced one, Silvio Dante from the Sopranos co-penned this song.
1) Desafinado by Si Zentner from Ultra-Lounge, Vol.14: Bossa Novaville
I'm not apologizing, I like this stuff, so sue me. Nothing special, has the requisite beat, lots of horns, and an easy going sway to it.
2) I Don't Want to Die (In the Hospital) by Conor Oberst from Conor Oberst
Now that's a change of pace. It's a bit rockabilly, it's a bit pro-euthanasia, it's an interesting little ditty. Got a rockin' piano, can't go too wrong with rockin' piano.
3) Dub is Free by Burning Spear from Living Dub, Vol.6
No rockin' piano in this, but it does have the requisite beat, different set of requisitions where dub is concerned when compared to lounge-y Bossa Nova, though. Burning Spear keeps churning this stuff out, for more than 40 years, and it still sounds good. Also, this has plenty of horns, too. There's a spareness to his style of dub that is a solid beat stripped bare, mostly unadorned, with the echo turned up to 11. Not a bad formula if you ask me.
4) Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo) by Black Kids from Partie Traumatic
One of those current songs that doesn't sound so current to me. A bit of Cure here, a bit of Malcolm McLaren there, a dash of Spandau Ballet, mix in a blender, and you've got this. It's a bouncy good time, though, I'm not complaining that it's seriously new-wave-y, just saying that it IS seriously new-wave-y.
5) We Fight For Diamonds by Cut Copy frmo In Ghost Colours
Just a snippet of a song, barely more than a minute long. More mood piece than song. It's an interesting mood, though. Don't ask me to describe that mood, though, it's ineffable, with a touch of inscrutable, and a hint of opaque.
6) Change Is Hard by She & Him from Volume One
This is darn pretty. It's just a nice little countrified ditty. Zoey Deschanel has a great voice for this kind of material and delivers it well. Just enough, not too much in any aspect. Simple is hard to pull off, She & Him keep it simple, brilliantly.
7) If I Didn't Love You by Squeeze from Argybargy
I guess if all the current wave of new wave obsessed kiddies sound like they should have cut their albums in 1979 or 1983, does this sound like it should be on college radio today? Yes, it does, it wouldn't sound at all out of place with all the current stuff out there. Not one of their great songs, but tain't bad, neither. Interesting use of repetition, takes a repeated word a few beats beyond what's comfortable or usual. Nice gimmick, wouldn't want too many songs to use it, just right here, though.
8) Grits by James Brown from Star Time
Early James, very bluesy, very very bluesy, so bluesy that you might be a bit surprised that this is James Brown. It's James Brown working the Hammond B-3 instead of his voice, and he works it for all it's worth. Don't think of him as an instrumentalist, but he had chops there, too.
9) The Aircrash Bureau by Gary Numan from Telekon
Now this does sound dated, and is purely of its time and place. Still like it though, still find it on my hard drive. It's so mannered and particular, it's both very spare and very rococo, if that's possible to be both at the same time.
10) Make Me Smile (Come up and See Me) by Steve Harley from Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack
I ain't gonna lie, I love this movie, and I love this soundtrack. When it came out I fully expected it to be a huge hit and usher in a massive revival of glam rock. Didn't turn out that way right away, but glam has enjoyed a bit of a revival in the UK, and you do see the likes of Mika, Pop Levi and Scissor Sisters churning out sounds that would sound not out of place on this soundtrack.
11) The Work, Pt.1 by Prince from The Rainbow Children
Speaking of James Brown . . . Prince at his Jamesian funkiest, working his falsetto, and the band working it out. Great song, not an essential Prince groove by any means, but a strong groove this is. There's some sneakily fantastic guitar work on this song, along with some fantastic drumming. If Prince ever lets his tracks hit Rockband or Guitar Hero, this should be one of the songs, it'd be a fun little challenge.
12) Let's Talk About Girls by The Chocolate Watchband from Nuggets Vol.1
60s Garage at its Stone-iest. I like a lot of the sounds churned out by the wannabe Stones that ran around back in the late 60s. The Chocolate Watchband were one of the better West Coast Stones-like bands from the late 60s.
13) Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling) by Lone Justice from Lone Justice
Damn, Maria McKee was a fine little teen singer back then. She's still a fine singer, no longer a teen, obviously, but as good as she's ever been. This is from their first album, the Tom Petty produced one, Silvio Dante from the Sopranos co-penned this song.
A Modest Proposal Upon Rescuing Loan Takers and Makers From Their Unfortunate Circumstances
Why find ourselves in a situation where due credit (and credit that is due) are a major issue in both our financial streams and political spheres. The remedy rejected by the House of Representatives recently, and presently being modified by the Senate, places the weight of the government on the side of the issuers, and seeks to relieve the financial stress currently roiling the markets by gently purging institutions of their bad loans while collecting these odious debts in the hopes that time will disinfect these diseased and distressed titles and instruments.
Critics of this complain that this purgation does nothing to change the fundamental nature at the bottom of this crisis, and would only create a situation where we end up with either of one of two extremes, we will either be financially blocked and constipated when the dust settles, or there will be a diarrhea like runniness within the banking system.
I think there's a better remedy, a more democratic remedy, a socially more cohesive strategy that marries the best of the market and the best of what government can accomplish when it coerces folks into following their better principles.
Firstly, you get what you reward, that's a basic law of behavior that goes beyond just human behavior and has been observed in animals as diverse as pigeons, rats, and even dogs (cats are another matter, trying to modify the behavior of cats is simply a recipe for frustration and disaster, hence the phrase, 'like herding a bunch of cats'). With that in mind, any rescue package should not only reward those that screwed up, instead it should democratize the transfer of wealth to everyone, those that played the game the right way, and those that thought they could pull a fast one. How to do this? Easy, relieve all bank loans, debts, mortgages, etc. by 1/3 immediately, and retroactively back to January 2006. All college loans, all mortgages, all car loans, all legitimate debts owed by legitimate citizens to legitimate financial institutions will have their terms automatically transformed by the stroke of a Presidential pen and see 1/3 of the tab picked up by the Federal Government. For loans that have already been paid in full, those customers will get a rebate for 1/3 of the amount, for those that are late a few payments, the 1/3 applied to their payments stretching back to Jan 06 ought to be enough to set them back on the right track. Those that got in over their heads will be relieved, and those that did things the right way will get a nice little windfall that they can sock away for a rainy day, or help stimulate the economy and spend, spend, spend, like is the duty of all good consumers. Let's for a moment ignore those already in foreclosure, for them I have an innovative scheme which should help preserve their attainment of the American Dream and keep them in the ranks of homeowners.
That is the first part of my improved form of fully democratized financial rescue. I have no idea what the price tag on such a scheme would be, but then, even Sec. Paulson had no idea really whether the final price tag on his proposal would be $700B or $250B or $1.5T, he just threw out a number that was both sufficiently large to be frightening, but sufficiently small to seem manageable without swamping the entire federal budget. I'm not going to bother running the numbers on my scheme, the numbers are irrelevant, what matters is the perception of fairness, and the utter lack of favoritism displayed by my proposal. No other proposal plays as fair with your money as mine does. No other proposal seeks to 'reward' everyone, not just those that made the mistakes.
Oh yeah, about those foreclosed homes that are going to sit on the market depressing existing home prices and sucking the incentive for builders to continue to build new homes. That's a big problem, one not being directly addressed by any of the existing schemes, but my scheme tackles this problem head on with an innovative and unique strategy that is so simple, yet so brilliant, that you will both wonder why nobody else conceived of it at the same time marvelling at the rightness of it all and realizing that only a lateral thinker like myself could have ideated such a wondrous solution.
Now that I've raised your expectations here's that part of the scheme in a nutshell:
So that's the plan, two simple parts, none of the money goes directly to Wall Street without also directly benefiting someone who has taken out a loan in the past few years. Nobody is asked to give up on home ownership, even those that really weren't stable enough financially to afford it, and as a secondary benefit, this scheme will bring various people into intimate contact with a variety of people they never before would have been so engaged.
Seems like the perfect plan, what could go wrong?
Critics of this complain that this purgation does nothing to change the fundamental nature at the bottom of this crisis, and would only create a situation where we end up with either of one of two extremes, we will either be financially blocked and constipated when the dust settles, or there will be a diarrhea like runniness within the banking system.
I think there's a better remedy, a more democratic remedy, a socially more cohesive strategy that marries the best of the market and the best of what government can accomplish when it coerces folks into following their better principles.
Firstly, you get what you reward, that's a basic law of behavior that goes beyond just human behavior and has been observed in animals as diverse as pigeons, rats, and even dogs (cats are another matter, trying to modify the behavior of cats is simply a recipe for frustration and disaster, hence the phrase, 'like herding a bunch of cats'). With that in mind, any rescue package should not only reward those that screwed up, instead it should democratize the transfer of wealth to everyone, those that played the game the right way, and those that thought they could pull a fast one. How to do this? Easy, relieve all bank loans, debts, mortgages, etc. by 1/3 immediately, and retroactively back to January 2006. All college loans, all mortgages, all car loans, all legitimate debts owed by legitimate citizens to legitimate financial institutions will have their terms automatically transformed by the stroke of a Presidential pen and see 1/3 of the tab picked up by the Federal Government. For loans that have already been paid in full, those customers will get a rebate for 1/3 of the amount, for those that are late a few payments, the 1/3 applied to their payments stretching back to Jan 06 ought to be enough to set them back on the right track. Those that got in over their heads will be relieved, and those that did things the right way will get a nice little windfall that they can sock away for a rainy day, or help stimulate the economy and spend, spend, spend, like is the duty of all good consumers. Let's for a moment ignore those already in foreclosure, for them I have an innovative scheme which should help preserve their attainment of the American Dream and keep them in the ranks of homeowners.
That is the first part of my improved form of fully democratized financial rescue. I have no idea what the price tag on such a scheme would be, but then, even Sec. Paulson had no idea really whether the final price tag on his proposal would be $700B or $250B or $1.5T, he just threw out a number that was both sufficiently large to be frightening, but sufficiently small to seem manageable without swamping the entire federal budget. I'm not going to bother running the numbers on my scheme, the numbers are irrelevant, what matters is the perception of fairness, and the utter lack of favoritism displayed by my proposal. No other proposal plays as fair with your money as mine does. No other proposal seeks to 'reward' everyone, not just those that made the mistakes.
Oh yeah, about those foreclosed homes that are going to sit on the market depressing existing home prices and sucking the incentive for builders to continue to build new homes. That's a big problem, one not being directly addressed by any of the existing schemes, but my scheme tackles this problem head on with an innovative and unique strategy that is so simple, yet so brilliant, that you will both wonder why nobody else conceived of it at the same time marvelling at the rightness of it all and realizing that only a lateral thinker like myself could have ideated such a wondrous solution.
Now that I've raised your expectations here's that part of the scheme in a nutshell:
Foreclosure relief will not come in the form of tax money, or bankruptcy protection, but instead, using the wisdom and size of the federal government as a gentle cudgel with which to modify people's choices, we'll make sure that nobody loses the dream of home ownership, even as they lose their homes. All those foreclosed assets will be snapped up by the US Government at bargain basement prices, and the new loans will be long term fixed mortgages for half the value of the original loans which should make payments easier. The other innovation will be that any homeowner who still can't afford their current home will be assigned either a home of lesser value which they can afford, or a government mandated tenant which will provide them a steady income stream with which they can then make up the difference of their budgetary shortfall so that they can maintain the payments on the home they are in.
I know 'government mandated tenant' sounds scary, but it's really nothing to be too worried about. If Obama's elected and he goes through with his civilian corps expansion, all those 'volunteers' are going to need to go where they are needed most, and are going to need a place to stay when they are far from home. The spare bedroom of a family taking the Foreclosure Bailout will be perfect. Well educated, well mannered young adults will invade these enclaves of distressed homes and serve as models of better behavior for the families that find themselves in trouble. Furthermore, this mixing of socio-economic strata will bring our country together, knitting even tighter the fabric that makes up our land. If McCain is elected, we are likely to see some expansion of the Armed Forces, and to offset the cost of that, fresh recruits, NCOs and even single officers could be likewise housed in the homes of Foreclosure Bailout recipients. I know what you're thinking, 'Dude, I never thought I'd see the 3rd Amendment get trampled on, that's pretty awesome!'. You'd be wrong to think that, the 3rd Amendment wouldn't be violated in this case, since accepting the bailout is purely voluntary, so this would not be the involuntary quartering of troops in peace time, but merely a mutually beneficial financial arrangement between the State, and a person receiving aid from the State.
I suspect that these government backed rent stipends will be so desired that even non bailout recipients will be clamoring to get a hold of one of these folks to house in their abodes, but the recipients will be first in line, and only if the number of available rooms is used before the number of people available are housed will other citizens be given an opportunity to take part in this profitable scheme.
So that's the plan, two simple parts, none of the money goes directly to Wall Street without also directly benefiting someone who has taken out a loan in the past few years. Nobody is asked to give up on home ownership, even those that really weren't stable enough financially to afford it, and as a secondary benefit, this scheme will bring various people into intimate contact with a variety of people they never before would have been so engaged.
Seems like the perfect plan, what could go wrong?
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