Archive for July 2008
The monthlies.
Oil Spoils
What is the GOP talking point? We need to give energy companies tax incentives to explore for oil. It seems quarterly profits of “$11.68 billion, the highest-ever for an American company,” is not enough. The recent extravagant run-up of prices at the pump (upwards of $4.50 for regular in California) was not because of the [...]
McCain’s Iraq Problem
John McCain is in a tough spot politically in the war on terror. With Bush announcing improvements in the security conditions in Iraq, this plays directly into Barack Obama’s hands. If conditions have improved, let’s bring the troops home. Counter to that, McCain has stated unequivocally that the U.S. should remain in Iraq for generations [...]
Driving Miss Daisy
This film actually won several Academy Awards, including the Oscar for Best Picture, but it didn’t deserve it. Simply put, Field of Dreams should have won. (Returned 07/29/08.) Rent with Netflix.
Naked In Berkeley
Berkeley is an interesting place, and I say that from experience. I lived there, albeit briefly, for 16 months while in and immediately after graduate school. If someone asked to describe life in Berkeley, I think this news snippet from this morning sums it up pretty nicely… “A nude woman running in and out of [...]
9/11 and 4.11
“After 9/11, Mr. Bush had the chance to summon the country to a great nation-building project focused on breaking our addiction to oil. Instead, he told us to go shopping. After gasoline prices hit $4.11 last week, he had the chance to summon the country to a great nation-building project focused on clean energy. Instead, [...]
McCain’s Desperate, But It May Work
McCain is obviously desperate… “‘It is safe to say that, according to press reports, Barack Obama avoided, skipped, canceled the visit because [he was not allowed to take reporters and cameras into the hospital],’ [McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds] said. ‘We’re not making a leap here.’ Asked repeatedly for the ‘reports,’ Bounds provided three examples, none [...]
Stevens
Well, it certainly has come full circle, although it is not close to being over. The well-known senior senator from Alaska — Ted Stevens — has been indicted on federal bribery charges. Long-time readers of Josh Marshall’s incomparable Talking Points Memo blog, myself included, have seen this coming for nearly two years, starting with the [...]
California Beckons
These “marked days” posts are what we refer to in the industry as fluff posts. Coming soon to a blog near you… the clip show. Today marks the first day of the seventh year of me moving to California to start my new life. It would take me exactly one less day than a full [...]
Zenith
I am in a different hotel room this evening, and I think I am on to something. The only places you see Zenith television sets these days are in hotel rooms. (I must admit I used to own one.) An interesting thing about Zenith. If they would have created the company in the last few [...]
Horseshit
This is an issue I think that all dog-owners will appreciate. And I will also state for the record that my wife and I always clean-up after our dog, and that is why it is so frustrating seeing other dogs’ droppings around the neighborhood and elsewhere, because that makes all dog-owners look bad, not just [...]
W.
The Oliver Stone biopic on our current embattled president looks promising… I just hope that Laura’s pot-dealing days at SMU are included… (via HuffPo)
Sabres-Senators 2006
If you like hockey — and you should, unless you’re a pissant from Philadelphia* — then you will truly enjoy highlights from one of the greatest hockey games in recent history, the first game of the Sabres-Senators second-round playoff series two years ago (watch the clock)… * In that case, you’d be a Flyers fan; [...]
Golden Gate Redux
I guess I am not the only one… “Nearly 75 percent of the 1,600 respondents are opposed to any suicide barrier being built [on the Golden Gate Bridge] at all.” Some semblance of sanity in an insane world. It continues, it being the world according to reyonthehill… “But of the barrier design options, the net [...]
Five Years
Talk about limping to the finish line. All I have is excuses these days. Maybe politics is in my future. That, or I should drink more often. I feel I blog better drunk, but that is probably just me. Today marks the end of the fifth year of this blog. And what do I have [...]
Slow Lane
Life in the fast lane. (Or the slow lane; one of the two anyhow.) If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen. These sayings may reflect my unfortunate inability to post this week. If I get this post published within the next seven minutes of typing t-h-i-s, I will have blogged [...]
Tom-Tom
This is not a paid advertisement, but it should be, since I am looking for sponsors. If it weren’t for the Tom-Tom portable navigation system in my car, I would not have made it to work today. And that is a fact. A big rig was overturned on the highway in front of me, and [...]
American Psycho
The beginning of this film is downright hilarious, and there are some good parts along the way, but overall, I am a little disappointed, although I am quite sure I was expecting something totally different altogether. (Returned 07/22/08.) Rent with Netflix.
The Wire: Season 4
This was the most frustrating season to date — not to watch; the show is incredible — but to follow the plot. Every potential lead is squashed. Every positive action is pushed back by a negative. Simply fascinating television. (Returned 05/20/08, 06/24/08, 07/01/08 and 07/21/08.) Rent with Netflix.
Folsom Nights
I am at a two-day conference for the purpose of improving myself in regards to dialogue. A two-drink ticket was provided, but I was able to turn that into six, or was it seven (or eight). Anyway, conversations on nights like this between colleagues are priceless… – I talked to a veteran from the hey-day [...]
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
If you don’t have that great of an idea for a story, simply chop it up and show it from different angles and points of view several times, in order to constantly infuriate the viewers. Mission succeeded. The opening scene is pretty good; you’ll know what I mean. Marisa Tomei must be looking to make [...]
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