Car Companies and Government Economics

In case you're in the mood to hear grown men argue and interrupt each other over economic issues, here's a video:

Peter Schiff is a very smart man and has been saying things along these lines for almost two years now. The beauty and danger of the free market capitalistic system is the lack of ceiling and limit, but that comes with no safety net.  The government has to let these companies fail so that they can re-structure and re-adjust to the current circumstances.


And why not have Ron Paul weigh in on the issue? No matter what everyone thinks, when it comes to finances and economics in our country, Ron Paul has always sounded much more knowledgeable than Obama or McCain. Worth listening to at least.


And here's Jim Rogers talking about the market and learning economic lessons from the past, and teaching the CNBC anchors some lessons along the way:


So.... let the market handle it, stop the bailouts, keep the government out of it, abolish the fed and its horrible system, go back to a gold standard?  Sounds like some difficult and unpopular decisions for the long-term success of the country.  We'll see if politicians start thinking further down the road and not just till the next election.

Thanks for the tip...

Just a friendly reminder from your neighborhood Metrorail map:
"Don't eat or drink cigarettes while riding our trains. This is offensive to other riders."


Mmmmm delicious cigarettes. Is this good enough for Failblog??

On the road... this time

While I personally don't agree that the federal government and American taxpayer should bailout the automotive industry, at least when Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, was planning this second trip to DC to beg and plead for billions of dollars, he picked a car instead of his private corporate jet. (Story: Breitbart | FoxNews)

Maybe a little humility is what the Big Three need right now. No, check that. They need a fresh start. Clean house and start over.

I think it is a good thing that the big dogs are starting to think about the way they present themselves a little bit. Flying to DC in a private jet was a bad move. This choice to drive is an improvement. And he is driving a Malibu hybrid... which sends a good message as well. Granted, even though it is a hybrid, combined fuel economy still doesn't break the 30 mpg barrier. In his caravan of vehicles, there was also a Chevy Cobalt XFE, which Wagoner frequently boasts is the most fuel efficent in its class. Once again, a good message to send, but bottom line, even the XFE gets only a combined 29 mpg (mpg estimates provided by fueleconomy.gov). Yes, he always cites the 36 hwy mpg, but that's not the whole story is it? Maybe someone should have driven alongside him in a Prius or Insight and kept track of who had to stop for gas more and whose trip cost the most. Maybe then the reality of GM's product line shortcomings would set in. But probably not. Ooooh, or even better, pull one of the secret, remaining EV1s (Who Killed the Electric Car? | 20 Facts about EV1) out of mothballs and take it for a spin. Hm, right.... 120 mile capacity.

Just in case we forgot how the last visit to Washington went:

So who knows how this will all work out. I don't think the Big Three deserve a bailout, but at least they are starting to think a little bit about how they present themselves and what the American public thinks. The Big Three CEOs even offered to cut their multi-million dollar salaries down to only $1 as a display of good faith and to try to win the public's approval and support. Once again, that is a wise PR move (Flip-flopping, a little desperate). These guys are trying to make a case for the bailout, but I think it is still an uphill battle. Not to mention, their salary isn't the the only source of revenue. Most of these guys are making even more in bonuses and benefits and such, just look at the Forbes breakdown of Wagoner's total compensation. He is getting over $6.3 million in "Bonus" and "Other" categories, so cutting his "Salary" to $1 is nothing more than a placating photo op and headline. He is still racking in the dough.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed your heavily documented road trip to DC, Mr. Wagoner. We'll see what other tricks you got up your sleeves in the upcoming weeks and months.

The Way I See It #17

The World bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough.

On occasion, some may be correct.

But do not do their work for them.

Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal.

Don't take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enough to say "yes."

-Keith Olbermann

---

I am not a huge fan of Olbermann, but I thought this quote was pretty good and pretty inspiring.

Spanking

This always makes my day.  Oh memories...

But seriously, Matty Mo... You wanna talk smack, when it comes down to it, I spanked your ass.  Bad.  End of story.

Was Ron Paul right?

Looks like we shouldn't be so surprised about what is happening if we had been listening to the right people... Seems this guy would have been a better financial advisor than anyone Obama or McCain picks.




Maybe Ron Paul wasn't so crazy after all... He sure sounds like he knows what he is talking about, much more so than Obama or McCain.

Why I love Scott Van Pelt

You can always count on Scott to make obscure, but awesome, cultural references.


That's of course from Flight of the Conchords, see below: 

Travis Jammin

Video confirming my belief that Travis Barker is one of the best drummers in all of music. He definitely makes my top five, which include, in varying order, Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band), Chris Tsagakis (RX Bandits), Darren King (Mute Math), and Brian Rosenworcel (Guster).  But man... this is a pretty tight video.

Fix Your Face

Rage on the rise

Man I wish I was there.

The rumor slipped that Rage Against the Machine was going to make a surprise appearance and perform in St. Paul, MN following the scheduled concert by Anti-Flag, but the local police pulled the plug on the concert (literally, they shut off power), leaving a very volatile situation. The audience was in a state of unrest after their anticipation and excitement was broken by the very "machine" they were hoping to "rage" against. Zack and Tom and the rest of RATM didn't disappoint, but instead came out and spoke to the crowd and led an acapella chant of "Bulls on Parade" and "Killing in the Name Of" (Local news reports here and Rolling Stone reported the incident here).



Now... lemme be clear.  I don't agree with or align myself with all of Zack and RATM's political views and stances.  I don't agree with them marching on the RNC.  But I also don't agree with the police shutting them down and prohibiting them from performing, even if it is in a concert that is meant to be a demonstration against a particular political party.  They were trying to demonstrate and protest peacefully (like anything that happens associated with RATM music is ever peaceful) and really played into Rage's hands by doing something that they could build off of.  So the result ended up being a march on the RNC instead of a peaceful (albeit loud and chaotic) concert of opposition.  

The reason I wish I was there is not because I wanted to go demonstrate and protest against the Republican party or Bush or McCain.  I just love Rage Against the Machine and their music.  And since their re-formation as a band (which Zack said involved the members putting aside their differences and disagreements to lead a movement against what they saw as wrong, because America "needs us now more than ever") I have been dying to see them in concert.  The one time I did get to see them, it was incredible and still ranks as the greatest live performance I have ever witnessed. 

Anyways.  Rage is back.  They are making some waves and stirring up fire in the bellies of some.  I just wish I could have been 3 feet away while they performed via megaphone.

Sweetwater Stories

I met these guys in Houston!  It really is a great story, a small town saved from extinction by harnessing the wind that blows freely overhead.  New jobs, new infrastructure, and best of all, an atmosphere of excitement and new life.  If they can do it in west Texas, why not elsewhere?


Now, I am not going to say the Pickens Plan is perfect, and there are some political issues that are being overlooked, in my opinion, but at least T. Boone is doing something about it.  He has come up with a plan and he is pushing to make a difference, instead of just sitting on his butt and complaining about the state of affairs.

My main contentions:

• Yes, reliance on foreign oil is bad.  Both in the amount of money we are sending overseas and the fact that most of the world's oil is controlled by countries that we don't get along with.  Being independent and self-sufficient is what this country was founded on, and losing the ability to support yourself and your citizens is what ultimately brought about the fall of Rome.  So, do we need to curb our appetite for oil?  Yes.  Does more of the oil we do consume need to come from our resources that we can control?  Yes.  Do we also need to launch a recipe of alternate sources of energy to reduce our reliance on and use of oil?  Yes.  So, I think wind and natural gas are great answers, but so are solar and nuclear. So... should we use our oil resources?  Yeah, I think so, but that's not the real answer.
• Yes, harvesting natural gas is a big deal and a big part of it.  But then we need cars that run on natural gas.  We know they exist, but just not here in this country.  Whether it is because there are lobbyists and corporations that are keeping gas-based cars on the road (see also: Who Killed the Electric Car? lest we forget...) or because GM and Ford don't think there is enough of a market or what... we need to replace gasoline and diesel cars with natural gas cars. 
• CNG needs to be widely available.  Just like there are tons of gasoline stations everywhere (far more than we actually need), there needs to be an abundant and convenient source for CNG to make these cars practical.
• CNG cars isn't the whole answer.  If we are generating clean electricity with wind and solar and nuclear (I know Pickens doesn't care as much about the environmental side as he does about the energy independence side), then that energy needs to be utilized in our vehicles, our primary source of energy consumption.  This clean electricity needs to not only go into the grid and into our houses, but into our cars via plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles.  The technology is there, it just needs to be rolled out and made practical and accessible to the public.
• Boone.  Look.  You can't keep your hands in all the same pockets you have in the past if you want this plan of yours to work.  You may be a Republican/conservative politically, but in order to get something like this to work, you have to lobby both sides of the aisle.  Really, you need to get the support of the Democrats even more than you need the support of the Republicans.  You support McCain and the Right, but they have historically opposed all the things you have in your plan.  Their solution to the energy crisis is to drill off-shore.  Sure, that might be part of the solution, but a minor answer to a major problem.  If your plan is so progressive and different, and you say that this issue should not be a partisan one, then stop being partisan.  Support both sides of the aisle, especially individuals that align with your views and are trying to make a difference.

Progressive enlightened individuals or brain-washed followers?

So, is the environmentalist / green energy / tree hugger movement really about being more educated and knowledgeable about the world and everything in it? Or is it just the illusion of being educated and in the know? Do these people really care about what they stand for (and petition and protest against) or are they just followers, trying to find something to agree with and belong to?

Penn and Teller put this to the test with one of the oldest tricks in the book:


So, do "green people" know what they are standing for, or are they just falling for anything? Is it a stance against something they believe is wrong, or are they just part of something that is "cool" or "sexy" and makes them feel better and smarter and more culturally evolved than those gas-guzzling meat heads? Is it to feel like you are making a difference with the added perk of feeling at home at summer music festivals and being able to say things like, "Dude, you have no idea..." "If you really knew, it would change your whole perspective..." and "Well, good for you. I guess ignorance is bliss, right?"

Tainted Ratings

Opening Ceremonies Pull Record US Audience

Yeahhh..... but:

Dancer Seriously Injured in Opening Ceremony Practice, China Keeps it Quiet

Ceremony Mastermind Regrets Injuries, Arrogantly Challenges Brits

Fake Fireworks and Coverage Make Ceremonies, China, and NBC Less Impressive

Chinese Patriotic Anthem Lip-synced, Fake Girl Picked for Looks

So the question is now, have the Chinese found their Ministry of Truth accomplice in NBC? Seems like there is a lot of covering up and a lot of mis-truths being broadcast.... In my eyes, the games continue to be tainted.

The Way I See It #76

The side of my non-fat caramel kick-in-the-butt this morning reads:

The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love.

The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation.

To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.

-- Anne Morriss 

Well said, Anne. As scary as the "C" word is, there is some comfort in the idea of it. The concept of commitment and decisiveness. The lack of fluidity and unpredictable change, the degradation of chaos. My only caveat would be that there is nothing wrong with commitment, in my opinion. The fear and avoidance associated with that concept (typically with men mostly) I propose is not due to an unwillingness or lack of interest in committing, but rather a desire for assurance in committing to the right thing (or person).  Maybe instead of being accused of being indecisive, we should relish the title of overly-decisive.  Weighing the factors, the pros and cons, scrutinizing and analyzing, but ultimately wanting to make sure you have come to the right answer or solution, and then (and only then?) dive in head-first.

I think Morriss' observation is full of truth if you are confident that this venture or this relationship is worth committing too.  And the journey that takes you to that realization is unpredictable and requires participation on both ends.  Perhaps culture and relationships are not frozen by fear of commitment, but rather fear of committing incorrectly.

more Beijing developments...

Outspoken Olympic gold medalist kept out of China.
Because clearly, anyone who is "outspoken" about anything, other than singing the praises of the Chinese state, needs to be silenced and will not be welcome. It is yet another example of the Chinese government clamping down control on the dissemination of information. I hope these games expose these issues, if for nothing else, to make us grateful for the freedoms we do have and be willing to fight to defend them (from our enemies, but more likely from our own government).

---

Beijing a great choice in disguise?
This interesting article takes a different look at the Olympic debate, saying that the fact that we know so little about China and their people and government, coupled with the fact that our interest in the Games largely hinges on needing "bad guys" to defeat, makes China the perfect choice to hose these games. According to the author, it is just the shot in the arm the Olympics needed to get people to watch.

---

President Bush's clarification of his stance on China and the Olympics and his reasons for attending. Ole W gets a little fired up answering this one...

Big Brother Mao

As the Beijing Olympics rapidly approach, I personally can't help but have an uneasy feeling about this whole thing. Unlike any other Olympics I can remember, something about Beijing just doesn't seem right to me. I can't put my finger on just one thing that is causing me to feel this way, because there have been so many incidents and issues. I can't list them all here, but the serious controversy surrounding the international running of the torch, protests and police crackdowns. Mostly because of outrage over Darfur, Tibet, Taiwan, and the oppressive and restrictive human rights abuses and religious persecution inside China itself. Then there is the Chinese government's censorship of the internet and surveillance of the streets. Numerous groups in America have called on President Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies (which he decided to attend), which Steven Spielberg decided not to be a part of. It just seems like a laundry list of one controversy after another surrounding China and these games.

Then I read this article in the New York Times today, which I suppose is intended to make people feel more secure about the safety of the games? Or is it intended to have the opposite effect and make people feel the games are unsafe and it's inevitable that a terrorist attack will occur? Either way, after reading most of the article outlining all the terrorist groups that are pissed off and potentially will attempt an attack, and the Chinese military response (are you sure these games are about athletic competition and not flexing military and political muscle?), I found a couple interesting sentences buried at the bottom of the second page.

The Chinese government has also been installing tens of thousands of surveillance cameras on lamp poles and in Internet cafes and bars.

Critics of the measure say the cameras can be used not only to track potential terrorists, but also anyone who opposes the nation’s one-party rule. Western companies like I.B.M., General Electric, Honeywell and United Technologies have been shipping their latest computer tools to automatically analyze video images from thousands of cameras and alert computer operators to patterns that might indicate a threat.

---

...From 2001, when Beijing was awarded the Olympics, China spent as much as $6.5 billion on security in the Beijing area alone. The bulk of the spending is for extensive video monitoring systems that will stay in place after the Games.

---

Largely separate from the Olympics, China is moving to install video monitoring systems in its 600 largest cities, and some are already far along.

Dr. Mulvenon said the sales from foreign companies raised the risk that Western equipment would be used to spy on Chinese dissidents after the Olympics.

“The longer-term implications are less positive,” he said. “Whereas the legacy of previous Olympics was sports stadiums, the legacy of the Beijing Olympics will be a high-tech police state.”

Doesn't this raise concern? Shouldn't there be more opposition and more outcry on behalf of the Chinese people, the athletes, and all the spectators? And why is the International Olympic Committee not coming under more serious scrutiny?? What's even worse is the fact that our Western companies are supporting and sponsoring this. As we all know Visa and Coca-Cola have been huge sponsors of running the torch and the games themselves. And then to hear that our technology companies are providing the means for a government to spy on its people? It seems wrong. No one around the world apparently has the balls or backbone to stand up to the Chinese. There have been a couple boycotts and protests here and there, but the big names don't raise a finger.

In my opinion, they are one of the primary culprits here. They need to be held responsible for selecting a city and country, which in my opinion, is not ready or suited to host the Olympic games. And then the IOC caved in and wouldn't take a stand against the government control and censorship.

I really hope the games go well, but I can't help but be worried and also disappointed that more wasn't done to restrict or oppose the things the Chinese government has done and stands for. But even if something does happen, I am sure the Thought Police will make sure no negative press about The Party ever reaches the international community and that all egregious acts by Big Brother Mao will be swept under the rug by the Ministry of Truth. So are we Winston or O'Brien?

Owner Swap?

Check out this article on DCist that proposes the solution to at least half of the Washington sports woes is to switch the team ownership: Trading Places: Sports Ownership Edition

The author makes a very good point, proposing this scenario of an owner swap, Snyder leaving the Redskins and taking ownership of the Nationals. I can only imagine how good ole Danny Boy would drool at the thought of no salary cap. He could throw all the money he wants at old, difficult, controversial, and worthless players and not have a league telling him he needs to stop. Now... "buying" a championship is the main reason so many people (myself included) hate teams like the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Yankees. But it is clear that the reason we hate them is because they aren't our team and we have this feeling of "That's not fair. They shouldn't be allowed to just buy a trophy like that." But a championship is something DC sports fans haven't seen in a while (sorry DC United, I wish you were a legitimate sport consideration in this city and country too, but the truth is we don't care about your MLS Cups). DC is a city of "what have you done for me lately?" and a city caught up in what's going on politically that supporting sports teams is done on special occasions, not as a way of life. But would this change if Snyder owned the Nationals and was paying big money for big names? If it comes down to the highest bidder, we all know Snyder has the bankroll to land names like A-Rod, Soriano, Sabathia, maybe even Pujols... Just think how different the concept of Washington Nationals baseball would be if you had some big time players at the plate every night?

And that's why baseball is a totally different playing field for the team owners. Now, would the opposite work in the favor of the Redskins, to whom I devote my loyalty? Well, as the author notes, Ted Lerner is pretty new to this ownership thing, so how could we know? But, considering the track record of Daniel Snyder, his over-involvement, his poor decision making, his seemingly indifferent disposal of NFL Draft picks year after year, his financial investments in NFL fossils.... I can't see how Lerner would be worse than Snyder is. Perhaps his lack of experience as an owner would be to the advantage of the Skins organization because he would be forced to keep his mouth shut and let other people do the thinking and deciding for the team's best interest. A novel idea for an NFL owner...

So, would it work? For the Nationals, potentially yes. They could go from the worst team in baseball to the best in a matter of a couple years. Would they be vilified by the rest of the MLB fan base? Probably. No one likes a team that buys a championship. Unless that team is your team. So I think the DC fans would be fine with it and would pack the Park in Southeast every night for years to come. So that would be good for DC sports in general. For the Redskins, it is possible it could be a good thing too, hinging on the question of exactly what kind of owner would Ted Lerner be and would he let the coaching staff build a championship caliber team without his interference?

A murky response

Here's a T-shirt idea in response to the Murky Coffee customer service meltdown from earlier this week. Nothing quite like being savvy of local cultural news and have a shirt to match! Thanks, Nick Cho! Priceless!

Great grammar in advertising

Yes.  That is right.  "We The Best" is the official slogan of this custom wheel dealer.  Wow.  Classy.  I am not going to sit here and make assumptions or stereotypes about your target audience for this piece of marketing, but I think by emblazoning that on the side of your van, you have said plenty.  Wow.  Good work.

"What's the deal with Richmond??"

Marc Fisher of washingtonpost.com wrote a great, mocking article about the Virginia state legislature's inability and unwillingness to pass any bill to help solve the painfully horrible Northern Virginia traffic problems (the DCist commented on this epic fail here). Fisher referenced Virginia Governor, Tim Kaine's, soundbite equating the ineptitude of the Good Ole Boys in Richmond to an episode of Seinfeld, saying "it was doing nothing taken to an art." But then Fisher goes on to spell out the incredibly important things that the General Assembly did get done during these sessions. Much much more important than investing in the reform of roads and transit in the most densely populated portion of the state. Things like tributes to high school golf teams and dedicating overpasses are the kinds of bureaucratic BS that mean nothing ever gets done.

The traffic situation in Northern VA and the DC Metro area as a whole is atrocious. The fat cats down in Richmond can be shielded from our saturated and antiquated roads, from the excessive and ever-increasing volume our bridges and overpasses have to bear. They can take the taxpaying dollars from all across the state and pad their pockets while wasting time patting their buddies on the back and handing out medals. Is that what these people are elected for?

But sadly, as Governor Kaine knows, this was expected. The General Assembly has vigorously and continuously opposed funding any sort of change or help for the transportation in NoVa (or Hampton Roads for that matter). As my continuously-brilliant father says over and over again, it comes down to the fact that all the legislators from all the small, rural jurisdictions in Virginia don't want to pay to fix the roads up in Northern VA because it doesn't impact their constituents at all. In their eyes, those fast-talking, crazy-driving, sonsa-bitches up thar in The North have grown up and grown up and it's their own damn fault that they don't have enough roads built fast enough. Me and the residents of Dickenson County aint gonna pay for no high-falutin' Lexus drivers to have better roads.

And while that is a valid point, the rural folks and the General Assembly continue to advantageously ignore the fact that the majority of Virginia state taxpayer dollars come from Northern VA. So they just want to sit back and rake in all the money from the successful business people and government workers up in the DC area (who are paying a butt-load more in cost of living and Dickenson County, thank you very much) and then distribute it throughout the state as they see fit. Not allocating an equal percentage of funding and legislation to support their sugar-daddies in Fairfax and Arlington. No, essentially the General Assembly and all the other counties in the Commonwealth stick their hand out for cash like an ungrateful teenager (sorry dad) and then take the keys, flick off the parents, and go out on the town with their friends, spending the money on whatever the heck they want. Anything and everything but that which is most important to the people who pay them the most.


All this talking about the General Assembly makes me wonder about a couple things. Firstly, I am reminded of a news piece about the Texas state legislation's voting practices and whether taxpayers can really trust that their legislators are really voting for the bills that are getting passed. At the time a local news station featured the video below and followed up the piece by saying Virginia and Maryland legislators anonymously admit the same practice often happens in their sessions. See the video below:


Secondly, it makes me quietly wonder if the General Assembly, or the state capital for that matter, should still be located in Richmond. I mean, is it still there because of secessionist nostalgia when Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy? I mean we have to pay homage to Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee, right? Is it because of geographic location? Somewhat central in the state, on the James River (which ceased being important with the invention of the railroad), and yet far enough away from Washington, DC so them Yanks can't tell us what to do.

I propose we re-evaluate the location (and therefore local influence and experience) of the capital and General Assembly, picking the most advantageous and politically relevant location. Yes. I am proposing Fairfax become the new capital of the Virginia. 

Now... is that a joke? Somewhat. Would it be a nightmare? Probably. But, I am trying to make a point, so hear me out. Fairfax, Loudon, Arlington, Prince William, and Stafford counties (as well as Fairfax and Falls Church cities) ranked at the top of median household income in 2003. Therefore residents of Northern Virginia continue to pay more taxes and have a higher cost of living than the rest of the state, so the Assembly's funds are coming from Northern VA families. But how do legislators from Richmond, let alone rural Virginia, understand the issues and pressures felt by their most wealthy and financially-supportive constituents from so far away? Don't you think that if the General Assembly met in Fairfax County and had to drive on these roads and in this traffic every day, they would be more willing to invest in reform?

It is questions like these that have led many Virginians to question the fairness of the Assembly's representation and lawmaking. There is even a group called the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance, which strives to fight for fair taxing in Virginia and keeping the legislators accountable. Talk of this kind always rekindles the flames of Northern Virginia seceding from the Commonwealth due to tax and revenue disputes with the legislature (also see this blog post devoted to the concept. The logic isn't flawless, but it is interesting). Wikipedia has a concise description of these dissenting remarks, even if they usually only go so far as tirades and grumbling over a beer:

In nearly all recent cases of efforts at state secession, the impetus for the proposal comes partially from strong regional identities within the state, coupled with a frustration from one region that the state government, in the other region, is out of touch with and underserving the disgruntled area. Conversely, more urban regions may mull secession ideas over tax flow issues, where the urban side disproportionately subsidizes government spending on the rural side. Often these regions also hold distinct political values from each other, usually with rural/conservative areas seeking to split from urban/liberal areas or vice versa.

That seems to sum it up pretty well. The political, economic, and social climate in Northern Virginia is significantly different from the rest of the state, specifically Richmond, the seat of the Legislature. Is that cause for secession? Probably not, but the fact that there is such discussion and dissention among the residents of this Commonwealth should be noted and taken into consideration by the General Assembly. You can't turn a deaf ear and a cold shoulder to the seat of your wealth and population. You can't pull a Seinfeld and just do nothing. It is almost comical (if it weren't so infuriating) that they spent weeks and months agreeing on recognitions and awards instead of working together to affect change where it is needed most. Isn't it time for the people of Northern VA, repeatedly scorned by the lawmakers, to demand fair representation? What would the rest of the state do without our tax dollars? No, seriously. Think about it.

Seriously?

And now for an installment of "Oh come on, are you serious?"  A couple news items from today that make me feel like our culture, egged on by media coverage like this, has become way too sensitive about way too many things.  I was starting to think that obsessive political correctness was starting to fade in popularity, being replaced by people simply thinking before they spoke.  But now it seems that I may have spoken too soon.

"Men At Work" Signs Discriminate Against Women

Correctly Using "Black Hole" for an Analogy is Racist

CT Attorney General Comes Down Hard on 'Beer Pong' Game

eh... whatever.

Blindness - the movie

Oh wow. I am both excited and somewhat hesitant and scared of what this might be like.

Jose Saramago's book, Blindness, is one of the best books, both powerful and chilling, that I have read in a long time. The intentionally ironic eye-opening nature of this novel and it's social commentary on human nature is so raw and well done, in Saramago's own unique style, that I am afraid that even acclaimed director Fernando Meirelles will be unable to capture the true essence of the book.

Sure, we all "know" that in general the book is better than the movie version. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to lead us to read more and watch less. But I feel that when certain film adaptations come along, particularly when it is a book we have always loved, they bring with them an increased level of trepidation and doubt. I would love to see this movie, because, as I cannot say enough, I absolutely loved this book. But will the movie live up to the awesome power and composition of the book? Almost assuredly not. So... why should I wipe away the images and emotions and raw feelings generated by my imagination while reading this book, that would be otherwise forever associated with that world, and replace them with what could turn out to be a well-attempted, but vapidly poor collection of images and feigned emotion? Can film ever come close to paying homage to the original literary work?

This is why I have reigned back in my initial burst of excitement at seeing this trailer. I am worried it will be a disappointment. It won't be as good as the book. And the frightening, intricate mural that Saramago painted in my long term memory will be wiped away and painted over with a county-fair-air-brushed summary. A poor excuse for a representation of the original work. Of course there have been other films that have awoken similar fears, such as Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, even Into the Wild. Of those, I guess LOTR was the only adaptation that I thought was done well enough to justify its production.

The underlying question to me about our culture in general is, if we know that the film isn't going to be as good as the original piece of literature, why do we continue to go see the movies instead of reading the books? Is it because we are too busy and don't want to sit still for hours or days to read a book when we could just sit in a dark theater with hundreds of strangers and see the "whole" story (or at least the good parts) in a matter of hours? It is because we want to be visually stimulated, as in being force-fed the reality of the story, instead of mentally stimulated such that our imagination is the one painting the vivid pictures for us? Do we just want to see our favorite actors and actresses (each bringing with them a veritable train of subconscious character associations from previous films we have watched) slide into a new costume and claim the face of a character we previously pictured as looking very different? Or are we on some level convinced that our own perception and the images we generate while reading could not possibly be as good as those manufactured and created by a film producer with the help of special effects? After all, he is a professional... right?

I don't know. I guess I need to leave it at that, but as you can tell, I am really worried about this movie. A feeling that has suppressed my excitement about seeing this amazing story on the big screen. I have felt the same way about other film adaptations in the past and I just hope this one can live up to the greatness of the novel.

That's right. Suisham is sick nasty. All you NFL jokers best realize and respect. Elam's got nothing.

Beckham in his prime

Instead of going to bed at a reasonable hour last night, I was drawn in by a replay of the classic 2001 World Cup Qualifying match between England and Greece. To set the stage, the die hard British fans were hungry for some football glory. After losing to the West Germans in a shootout in the semis of World Cup 1990, they failed to qualify in '94, got to the second round in '98, and had a couple poor Euro Cup performances sprinkled in between.  The loyal fans demanded better.

So here, in 2001, with the fickle Brits reluctantly putting their faith in David Beckham as captain, the English faced potentially not qualifying for the World Cup once again.  With Germany, Finland, Greece, and Albania in their qualifying group, England arrived at this last game having done well (5-1-1) but still facing potential elimination dependent on the outcome of the Germany v. Finland game that was being played simultaneously.  If England won, or if both games resulted in a draw, they would ensure top spot in their group and have a direct entrance into the World Cup Finals without needing a playoff game.

Even though the announcers and some of the fans were monitoring the Germany v. Finland game, most of the players didn't know that their score was remaining 0-0.  But they had the more pressing issue of being down 1-0 to Greece at halftime.  How would they pull it together?  They couldn't fail to qualify again.  They had to find a way.

The answer came from their epic leader, number 7.  He had been playing hard in the first half, but from the whistle in the 46th minute, Beckham went nuts.  He was all over the field, stealing the ball, playing in crosses, through balls, making runs (it was refreshing to see him actually playing soccer instead of just jogging around the pitch waiting for a free kick to take or flash bulb to smile for) and his whole team followed his example.  The English side came out like gangbusters in the second half and cranked up the offensive pressure on Greece, getting chance after chance, but just couldn't break through.  

But Beckham wouldn't be denied.  He wouldn't let his country down again.  Finding the substitute Sheringham's head on a free kick, England drew even in the 68th minute.  But that didn't last long.  Greece struck back a minute later, with the help of some poor defending, sucking all the excitement out of Old Trafford.  The rest of the match played out full of tension and anxiety.  The Brits couldn't seem to slow the clock down or find the way through as the Greek keeper continued to have a stellar performance.  So this is what it comes down to, England down 2-1 after 90 minutes played.  Four minutes of stoppage time added on.  The fans, the whole country, praying for a miracle.  And the chance comes in the 93rd minute, a direct free kick from 30 yards out.  Beckham steps up, takes the hopes of millions on his shoulders, shakes his head at the fans who had already filed out of the stadium, and with his right foot brilliantly seals his fate and legacy in the annals of English footballers.  

When his team, his manager, and his country needed him to step up and earn the title of captain and leader, Beckham answered the call and slotted a sick free kick into the old onion bag.  This game, in my opinion, is who David Beckham was as a soccer player at his best.  Very unlike what we saw at Real Madrid or now at the L.A. Galaxy.  He was a leader, he worked hard on the field, he earned the respect of his coaches and teammates, and ultimately, he produced results when it came down to it.  Say what you want about his photo shoots, frosted sunglasses, rail-thin high-maintenance wife, Hollywood lifestyle, or global reputation.  As a soccer player, at one point in his career, he deserved every ounce of hype that he got.  He was money and everyone knew it.

That is what made it totally worth it to stay up late last night and watch the replay of that match and see him at his best once again.  It had been awhile, but it was enthralling.  Here are some clips from that match.  Doesn't do justice to the drama of it, but still great.

This is Congress' energy policy?

Congressman Ted Poe explains Congress' plan to solve the energy crisis, by forcing the American people to buy florescent light bulbs instead of incandescent.  Since when was it the federal government's job or right to tell its people (government of the people, by the people, and for the people, right?) what light bulbs to buy?  

And is this really a solution to an energy deficiency?  In light of the gas prices and the strain on our economy, the American people are looking to the government and asking them to "Do something!"  Pressure on OPEC, pressure on the corporate oil conglomerates making massive profits, sanctions and penalties for the speculators driving the price up, investigation and justice for price gouging, working to pursue alternative energy options and alternative modes of transportation.  But forcing the American people to buy florescent light bulbs instead of incandescent?  Come on.  

Do these light bulbs reduce energy consumption?  Sure they do.  Does that mean that people are choosing to purchase them instead of regular light bulbs?  Yes it does.  Does that give the Government the right to mandate purchasing of only those bulbs?  No, it does not.  As Congressman Poe goes to great length to point out, these are very different bulbs than Edison's invention and they have inherent dangers and logistical nightmares that aren't thought of by people buying them to save energy.  Ultimately, whether the energy advantage of these bulbs outweighs the potential risk and danger they could cause, Congress cannot mandate their use in our country.  They are over-stepping the boundaries of their role in the management and future development of our country.

RIP George

George Carlin just passed away yesterday. Now, I know there are a lot of people out there that won't be too sad about that. They might actually be happy to have his fowl language and abrasive demeanor off the stage and airwaves. But me, I am going to miss him. I am going to miss his honesty and fearless desire to "say it like it is." And yes, he did use very colorful language, but you got used to it and saw it as his way to express his anger and frustration about politics, religion, and people in general. And as a person who often gets frustrated and pissed off when I see things that don't make sense or aren't done well, I enjoy comedians like Carlin and his pupils Carlos Mencia and Lewis Black, cause they put into words all the things that piss me off.

The great thing about any artist, though, is that their art will continue to live on after they have died, making them immortal. But in an ironic twist, one of his most recent routines is a bit was titled "Life is Worth Losing." I checked it out this morning as a somewhat morbid, but in my mind appropriate, tribute to George. Check it out here.

Bringing the world together by dancing...

Basically this is the coolest thing ever. I want to be jealous that he got to do this, but honestly, I can't. It makes me smile and makes me too happy to be jealous. I just can't help but feel good inside while watching this.

Simply awesome...

Edelweiss....

As much as I love the Euro Cup 2008 coverage, with Switzerland and Austria as the co-host nations, the games being played in Salzburg sure do make me miss that city.  What a great place.

This ESPN Travel Guide to Salzburg really brings back memories of some of my favorite places around town.

oh no....

As if Congressional productivity wasn't already incredibly low.... now they have found out about Twitter.  It is kinda comical to think about legislators tweeting from the floor... but don't they have better things to do?  Goodness.  What's next?  Getting a Facebook account so you can change your status every three minutes to things like "Frank Wolf is wishing these tree-huggers would get off their soapbox already... sheesh"  Sometimes it is best if our government policy-makers stay in the dark on some of these new, popular technological advances.

Rapid Commercialization... and Cheerleaders

This is a fun little ad that is very well done, I am assuming with stop motion photography. Very cool. But it is also kinda ironic seeing as this is a commercial that talks about over-commercialization ruining the beauty of nature, as you search for a quiet, peaceful getaway.  Or at least that is what I got out of it.  But still, very cool, I think.

This round goes to the Old Dominion

Finally, there is some resolution to the historic feud between Maryland and Virginia drivers.  Which one is worse?  Virginia drivers think that Maryland drivers are insane and dive dangerously.  Maryland drivers make identical claims about their Virginia brethren.  So who is right?

D.C. Council member Jim Graham lays it out there for us: Maryland Drivers = The Devil Incarnate

As a Virginia driver, I could have told you that years ago... but now we have an objective perspective.

There won't be any Poland Spring left...

As I always say, I am a self-professed sucker for great marketing. If a commercial or marketing campaign is targeted at me or does a great job communicating or pitching a product to me, I feel obligated to respond and give that company my business. Sure it might sound like I am being a sheep and am totally gullible for commercials, but really it is a conscious decision to reward the hard work of the marketing team behind that commercial. Since my brain thinks along those lines anyways, I really like it when someone does a great job.

The Refill Not Landfill ad / action campaign is no exception. You may have seen the commercials (can't find one online, but will add later if I do). Simple, but powerful, showing a brief activity where someone is drinking bottled water, and then the background fades out to show just the bottle, with the bottom line being the fact that the bottle will stay in a landfill long after the basketball game is over. It is a whole new perspective on drinking responsibly. This isn't about cutting yourself off after a few beers so you can drive home safely, it is about taking into account the impact of our desire for convenience and avoidance of perfectly good, potable tap water.

First of all, I think we are spoiled. When individual sized bottled water first came on the market, people mocked it because they couldn't imagine someone actually paying for water when we have plenty of water available pretty much everywhere. I mean come on... compared to a lot of countries in the world, our tap water is incredible. It is clean, drinkable, and it even has minerals and nutrients that are good for us. Are we really that spoiled that we don't like the taste of it? It is water, people. Now, remember back to when I would visit my grandmother's house and also when I worked at a summer camp in rural PA, both of which got their water from a well, I can see how the taste of that water would take some getting used to. But ultimately, that is exactly what I did, I got used to it. It is water... I mean, what do you want? Something completely devoid of taste? Is that really refreshing? We should stop being such high maintenance elitists and drink the water that we have.

And speaking of which, if we increase our reliance on Aquafina (aka Pepsi) and Dasani (aka Coke) for our water, our amazing water filtration and refining system that provides clean water to your kitchen will fall into disrepair and neglect. Then when bottled water prices skyrocket, we will be left without recourse (like our dependence on oil).

And I know that there are some steps being taken to change the impact of these plastic bottles on the environment and our landfills. Poland Spring, for instance, is marketing their eco-friendly bottles that require less plastic. Clearly they aren't going to encourage you to drink water from a re-usable bottle instead of theirs, but they are trying.

Now that I work at a company deeply involved in the green, renewable energy industry, ever since I got here I have been trying to find ways that we can be more responsible in our own facility to mimic our actions out in the world. These ads really hit home for me and seemed to be a simple way to make a difference. In spite of the availability of soda at work, it really is great to see that most people choose a bottled water over a Coke. But that means hundreds of bottles a week are going into the trash, or hopefully recycling. And yes, we do recycle, and yes, that is great. But it still requires tons of energy to produce these bottles and then to recycle them. Is it really that hard to bring a Nalgene to work instead?

So, starting today, I am drinking from my Nalgene. Every bottle-full of water means two fewer plastic water bottles that go in the trash or recycling. I know I can't make a huge difference by myself, but I decided it is time I do what I can.

---

Additional Links:
For more info on the Refill Not Landfill campaign, visit their website: http://www.refillnotlandfill.org/

---

Check out this interesting article (from Fox News of all places) about the impact of America's obsession with bottled water: Green Alternatives to Bottled Water

---

As seen at Nationals Park and Windpower 2008, plastic cups made out of 100% biodegradable corn are now available and in use.

sick + nasty

at least John Mayer got something right. Martin Sexton is amazing. Best recognize...

Putting it in perspective

Looking at the price at the pump is one thing. But as painful as that can be, it is all about context. These graphics show what the nationwide impact of gas prices are, showing prices, average income for the areas, and then the percentage of income spent on gas. It is eye-opening to see that while we are all getting hit with high gas prices, some people are struggling to keep the wheels turning more than others.

Impact of Gas Prices

---

AWEA Windpower 2008

Attending the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) Windpower 2008 conference last week was an eye-opening and exciting experience. The industry is growing so quickly and there are so many different aspects and facets of what makes wind energy grow and operate. It was really cool and exciting to talk about our product with these industry professionals from many different walks of life and explain how we can improve and maximize their production. It was a long week and the months leading up to the show were stressful and crazy, but ultimately we had a great show and definitely raised interest.

AWEA put together a video recap of the show that is pretty cool, so check it out.

Learn something new every day...

Fact: I love Old Spice deodorant.

Also fact: I love Old Spice's website and commercials.

Newly realized fact, thanks to Old Spice's incredible website: I now know what my chest and body hair profile is compared to the global hairchetypology database. Who knew?

Whether it is accurate or not, it is awesome. And that's what I'm all about.

Sexism has nothing to do with it...

A couple interesting articles on Hillary Clinton's manipulative playing of the "gender card" instead of being a true leader that Americans would vote for, regardless of sex.

Feminist Movement Takes A Step Back by Camille Paglia

Thatcher Would Be Ashamed by Peggy Noonan

"Might as well call themselves Slutbucks"

And now the uber-conservative Christians have gotten in the middle of it.  It was only a matter of time.  Considering the original logo was changed to something more "PC" (or in this case is it "CC"?) because they knew people would get upset.

Christians to Boycott Floozy-branded Starbucks

 Whatever.  I am sick of talking about this.  I just think it is sad and makes me upset sometimes.  As Starbucks founder Howard Schultz explains in his book, there was a perfectly good reason and thought process behind the logo selection, including the fact that the company name itself is a nautical reference (maybe if you ever read Moby-Dick, one of the greatest pieces of American literature, you would know that) very appropriate for Seattle, where it was founded.  Whatever, I am not going to defend their logo.  I just wish they were allowed to stay true to their original identity and the reasoning behind it, or at the very least have the occasional throw-back reference to their founding, without getting flack from the panties-in-a-wad crowd.

Luke, I am your father...

God, I hate the Patriots.  Thanks for getting our hopes up Matt Walsh and then producing nothing.  Maybe Goodell could posthumously strip the Pats of their Super Bowls... and ban Moss and Brady to Elba.  Yes... it is all coming together now.

Regardless, I don't think this Pats fan is going to find anyone around the league that disagrees with his assessment.  Hatred of the Pats overshadowed many other stories last year, including Michael Vick.  Who's in the doghouse now??

The Patriots are Darth Vader

So, if the Patriots are Darth Vader, then who is Padmé who hooks up with the young, immature, and recklessly angry Anakin?  Walsh?  Man-genius?  Bill Simmons?  Maybe his analogy wasn't as well thought out as it seems...

Summer Movie Preview

As always, there are a lot of new summer movies this year. And as the trend seems to be going, the summer is for the over-the-top, fun and exciting, kick-ass action and comedy movies, while late fall and winter is time for the more emotional and dramatic movies (trying to stay as fresh in the minds of Oscar voters as possible). And while I get frustrated with Hollywood's endless sequels and re-makes (I think last summer had at least 10 sequels/series/remakes) there are still some movies I am excited to see.

So here is my list of must-see summer movies in order of release (clearly not a preview of all movies, just the ones I am looking forward to):

Iron Man | Release Date: May 2
Yes, I know, it has already been released and been in theaters and has done well. Partially because I think people love the Iron Man character, partially because they hear Robert Downey Jr. does a great job playing Stark, but in my opinion, mostly because people (like me) were looking forward to this and wanted a blockbuster action movie. Still haven't seen it, but really want to. So... anyone wanna go?

---

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | Release Date: May 16
As I have said before, as much as I loved C.S. Lewis' books, I was disappointed by the first Narnia movie. I know some people loved it, and that is their opinion, but I was disappointed. Regardless, Prince Caspian was a great book... dare I say my favorite of the series, so I think I'm gonna try to see it. Right now, I feel like it falls in the wait-for-Netflix category, except for the large epic nature of it, which means you have to see it on the big screen.

---

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | Release Date: May 22
Despite the questions and controversy, despite the uneasy feeling in my stomach telling me that they shouldn't have done this re-make, I still want to see this movie and hope that it isn't embarrassingly horrible. Harrison Ford is old... and Indiana Jones may be asking too much of his frail self. If this film falls flat on its face, I think Spielberg should take the blame for trying to resurrect a popular character and series almost two decades later with an aging actor. It just doesn't sound like a recipe for success, but I have to see for myself.

---

Honorable Mention Mid-Summer Comedies
Kung Fu Panda and You Don't Mess With The Zohan | Release Date: June 6

They are both coming out on the same day. They both have a ridiculous premise. As much as I love Jack Black (and attempt to remain a loyal supporter of all his movies... except for The Holiday. I mean, come on Jack) and want desperately for Adam Sandler to make another great comedy (it's been ten years since The Waterboy, with only Big Daddy and Anger Management worth mentioning afterwards)... I don't see the need to pay for a theater ticket to see either of these this summer. Am I curious? Some. Will I rent these? Maybe. If I am bored. And in the mood for mindless comedy. That I might regret afterwards. Then yes.

---

The Incredible Hulk | Release Date: June 13
I'm interested to see Edward Norton's try at this. Yes I think it is stupid that they are making ANOTHER Hulk movie so soon after the last one, and no, unlike the original plan, this is not a sequel. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a big, action-packed thriller, this time possibly including a deeper psychological and emotional aspect, this is a good one. Not the top of my list for the summer, but one that I would like to see on the big screen instead of rent.

---

The Love Guru | Release Date: June 20
Probably not worth it, but this comes out during a summer movie lull. So who knows. Maybe I will watch it. More likely, it will be rented later. Kinda like Adam Sandler, I am pulling for Mike Myers on this one. I am really hoping he can come up with a funny comedy to match his Austin Powers greatness. Or maybe I should just go back and watch Austin Powers.

---

The Dark Knight | Release Date: July 18
Finally. July 18th. The wait is over. By far, the newest Batman movie is the one I am looking forward to the most this summer. Ever since seeing the super short, super teaser last year with the eerie, chilling laugh of the Joker, I have been counting the days. Yes that was before I knew Heath Ledger was playing the Joker, yes that was before he died. No, I am not going to watch this movie as some sort of act of sympathy because of Heath's death. I have always respected him as an actor and was looking forward to this movie after seeing sneak peeks of his performance in the trailers. And yes it is sad, but honestly if his death did stem from the passion and heart he put into this performance, then it sounds like he died doing what he loved and I want to see him at his best. And yes, initially, before seeing Batman Begins, I was very skeptical about Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader... but now, I like it and I am stoked to see him again, this time darker and more menacing than before. This one is a definite must for the big screen. If possible, the biggest screen, IMAX. Can't wait.

---

Step Brothers | Release Date: July 25
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly team up again for what could be a funny and silly comedy. Probably not worth seeing on the big screen, but from the trailer I saw, it does look funny. And I am sure it is stuffed with one-liners like all their other movies. Verdict: wait for Netflix or a rainy day in late summer.

---

The X Files: I Want To Believe | Release Date: July 25
An unexpected sequel. I just found out recently that there is a new X Files movie coming out later in the summer. Now, it has been a long time since I was really into The X Files, but I loved the first movie and used to follow the TV show... when I was allowed to watch it. So, I am really excited about this and definitely want to see it on the big screen. Flying mostly under the radar, but still could be really awesome!

---

And really, that's it. At least as far as I know. There may be a couple other ones that sneak out this summer that I might want to see, but really, after the X Files sequel, the rest of the summer kinda runs out of steam.

So to rank them by priority and importance, not by release date:

1. The Dark Knight
2. The X Files
3. Iron Man
4. The Incredible Hulk
5. Indiana Jones
6. Chronicles of Narnia
7. The comedies.... I guess Step Brothers, Love Guru, Zohan, and then Panda

Should be a good summer...

rainy day lyrics

Made an on-the-go playlist that ended up being very close to the one I came up with last week. Some lyrics that stuck out in the car as the rain drenched our clothes and spirits...

God forbid you call their bluff.
Like the nightmares ain't enough.
Remember when we used to think that we were tough?
God forbid you call their bluff.

First they make you out to be the only pirate on the sea.
Then they say Danko would have sounded just like me.
"Is that the man you want to be?"

You'll be loved like you never have known
The memories of me
Will seem more like bad dreams
Just a series of blur, like I never occurred

You may feel alone when you're falling asleep
And everytime tears roll down your cheeks
But I know your heart belongs to someone you've yet to meet
Someday you will be loved

And I hold you close in the back of my mind
Feels so good but damn it makes me hurt
And I'm too scared to know how I feel about you now
Las cienega just smiled... "see ya around"

And I hold you close in the back of my mind
And raise my glass 'cause either way I'm dead
Neither of you really help me to sleep anymore
One breaks my body and the other breaks my soul
La cienega just smiles as it waves goodbye

I'm waiting for someone who just wont show
And every night it feels like there's no tomorrow
Not that you will ever know,

Where ever you are I hope you're happy now
I'm caught in a dream and I cant get out
I'm caught in a dream
I'm caught in an endless dream

Well it's life informing art, informing life again
Like every stupid kid that thinks that they're the first in pain
The first to rip themselves apart
The first to try and live without a heart

I got a choke chain
Made out of nightrain
To keep your memory down
Quicksand from the main man
To drown everything out
We were out on a joyride
Fucked up from insides
Always at a dead stall
From sticking pins into miniature men
Who can't feel it at all

And the picture frames are facing down
And the ringing from this empty sound
Is deafening and keeping you from sleep.
And breathing is a foreign task
And thinking's just too much to ask
And you're measuring your minutes by a clock that's blinking eights.

Goodness knows its been a wonderful run
The autumn lakes where the children were swans
Your mother's convictions and your father's predictions dont seem so insane
They laugh they say your treasures are fake but dont throw it away

You've been framed with a beautiful name
You've been saved, but you've lost your head
With halos and friends, the trinity saves, but three is a crowd

far far away

Throw it all away
Let's lose ourselves
'Cause there's no one left for us to blame
It's a shame we're all dying
And do you think you deserve your freedom

How could you send us so far away from home
When you know damn well that this is all
I would still lay down my life for you
And do you think you deserve your freedom

No I don't think you do
There's no justice in the world
There's no justice in the world
And there never was

straw + camel's back

So, we're talking forever and you almost feel better
but, better's no excuse for tonight
you see, it's never bad enough to just leave or give up
but, its never good enough to feel right

Now I'm lying on the table with everything you said
it will all catch up eventually
well, it caught up and honestly
the weight of my decisions were impossible to hold
but they were never yours...

Well I, know you know... everything

in the news

This is disgusting, sad, and makes me really angry: Teen girls from cult were impregnated
And they were up in arms about their rights being violated and how they had the right to practice their religion and their traditions.  Well, I am sorry, but horny 50 year old men creating a religious cult just so they can fulfill their fetish to have sex with young girls is not ok.  I don't care what the religion is, someone needs to step in and protect these girls from this abuse, not to mention the fact that they got pregnant and supposedly carried their babies to the full term...

Bad idea: More Accessible Viagra

I think in general, the idea of Viagra is a bad one, but making it freely and readily available... I don't see that ending well.  Granted, I am not in the position of some of these men (or their wives for that matter) so I can't really speak to it or identify.  But... I think at some point you have to think about why there are so many people having trouble.  Is it psychological or maybe emotional?  Maybe they just aren't as turned on by their wives as they used to be but want to pass the buck and blame something or someone else.  Having a disorder to point to and a pill that fixes it seems to be the easiest way.  I don't know.  If it is increasing intimacy and enriching the relationship of older couples, then I guess that is great.  I just wonder if we really can or need to fix everything by popping a pill and over-medicating.  Maybe there is a reason for the problem and a pill isn't going to fix that.

That darn global warming... We are surely doomed: Record snowfall in Alaska | Rough winter in Michigan | Famous meteorologist getting cut off for his views

Now, I am not going to go off on a tirade about global warming or Al Gore making millions of dollars and receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for what could turn out to be brainwashing propaganda, fear-mongering, and lies.  In my opinion, the jury is still out on this whole issue.  There is too much conflicting evidence, too many scientists and meteorologists on both sides to know which is right.  And since Gore's movie came out and made such a huge splash (aka the public sat and gobbled up what they were spoon-fed) more and more scientists have come out against global warming and climate change.  It is hard to know what to think when very respected experts in the field say that global warming is false, or claim we are about to go into a severe cooling trend, some calling it the "greatest scam in history."  I am just skeptical and don't like that one person takes his opinion and presents it as fact, when the experts aren't in agreement...