The Occasional Observer

2009-11-08T01:43:00.002-05:00

In case any of you haven't seen this yet, it's probably the most enjoyable smack down on the impending nationalization of our health care system. Here's the opening:

The King James version of the Bible runs more than 600 pages and is crammed with celestial regulations. Newton's Principia Mathematica distilled many of the rules of physics in a mere 974 pages.

Neither have anything on Nancy Pelosi's new fiendishly entertaining health-care opus, which tops 1,900 pages.

So curl up by a fire with a fifth of whiskey and just dive in.

But drink quickly. In the new world, your insurance choices will be tethered to decisions made by people with Orwellian titles ("1984" was only 268 pages!) like the "Health Choices Commissioner" or "Inspector General for the Health Choices Administration."

You will, of course, need to be plastered to buy Pelosi's fantastical proposition that 450,000 words of new regulations, rules, mandates, penalties, price controls, taxes and bureaucracy will have the transformative power to "provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending . . . ."

By the way, any guesses how much control the government has over you when they pay for any bad health decisions you make? Once the government foots the bill if you get sick or hurt, think they might have something to say about whether you're allowed to eat certain kinds of food, drive certain kinds of cars, etc.? Is there any decision you make in your daily life that can be completely divorced from health care cost? If not, is there anything that the government couldn't regulate once they're paying for your doctors, Rx, etc.?

T-Paw!

2009-11-06T13:16:00.002-05:00

Love the sound of this new proposal that starts focusing the GOP on spending instead of taxes. Once you control spending, you can cut the taxes. We've got to move away from the starve-the-beast model which just hasn't worked.

Race 4 '12 has the details here.

Mandatory Sex Education

2009-11-06T11:52:00.002-05:00

It seems like the Brits may require sex ed. without the option to withdraw. Will this come to the U.S. next? I personally want to pay close attention to what the school will tell my sons about sex. If I don't like it, I'll fight to withdraw them, regardless of what some bureaucrat says.

Senate blocks census US-citizenship question

2009-11-06T08:41:00.002-05:00

Predictably, the Senate Dems don't want to apportion congressional districts based only on citizens, but on the total number of people living there.

Read here

2009 Elections

2009-11-04T06:08:00.003-05:00

A great night for the GOP, with McDonnell and Christie providing the signature wins. But it wasn't just the big races that were important. In Nassau County, the GOP picked up 2 seats and regained control of the Legislature; and Mangano trails Suozzi for County Executive by a mere 0.1% of the vote (237 votes out of approx 235K cast) in a race that will involve absentee ballots and perhaps a recount. It's a shame that the Conservative Party didn't endorse Mangano, as that would most certainly have pushed him over the top--Hansen received over 9,000 votes. All in all, much to be encouraged about.

To all the newly elected GOP officials: get to work sharpening that axe. Let's get spending under control.

Blue State Exodus

2009-11-03T17:48:00.002-05:00

A very interesting article in Forbes points out that there has been an ongoing exodus of educated middle-class people from the blue stronghold cities such as Boston and New York.

Here are some good tidbits that hit close to home:

Massive public spending increases over the past decade in California, New
Jersey, Illinois and New York have gone overwhelmingly into the pockets and
pensions of public employees.

The American Association of State Highway Transportation, for example, ranked
New York 43rd in the country and New Jersey dead last in terms of quality of
roads. Some 46% of the Garden State's roads were rated in poor condition,
compared with the national average of 13%, even as the state's spending reached
new highs. The typical New Jersey driver spends almost $600 a year in auto
repairs necessitated by the poor conditions of the roads.

There are lots of implications here. I'd love to see an analysis of what this will do to the electoral map. I have a feeling it will just make the blue bluer and the red redder. What does this do to the economies of these states? What does it do to the tax burden of those who remain in the blue cities and the surrounding suburbs?

It Makes Me Want To Run For Office

2009-11-03T17:44:00.001-05:00

I was very disappointed today when I voted to see many of the candidates here in Suffolk ran unopposed. I'd run for a government position, but I actually like to work for a living.

A Newspaper I'd Love To See

2009-11-03T09:00:00.002-05:00

I saw a headline on digg from the NYTs today that caught my eye. I was foolishly optimistic about the content: NYT: GORE'S BIG PROFITS FROM 'GLOBAL WARMING'....

I'd love to see a website where the reader's take NYTs stories and rewrite them how they should have been written without bias. But alas, it is a fool's errand to pursue.

Reminder

2009-11-01T20:08:00.002-05:00

Get to the polls this Tuesday! Nassau county elections are destined to be very close. If you haven't already made sure you're friends relatives are voting for lower taxes and a stronger economy (e.g., for Republicans), now is the time.

Vote Mangano for County Executive!

While I'm talking products,

2009-10-30T00:31:00.002-04:00

I've got to give a shout out for Nivea shaving products. If you've got sensitive skin like I do, and get shaving bumps easily, this stuff is worth its weight in gold.

Verizon Droid

2009-10-30T00:29:00.002-04:00

Looks pretty sweet. The first time I've seen a phone that's made want to stay in "the network." I have to think Android will beomce the dominant phone O/S at some point.

Might finally have something for my wish list for Santa this year...

Cash for Clunkers

2009-10-29T17:14:00.003-04:00

Well we all knew this program was going to turn out to be a massive waste of money, but I never would have anticipated the actual level of waste. Edmunds.com ran an analysis, discussed here. The results are an absolute embarrassment: only 125,000 additional vehicles sold that wouldn't otherwise have been sold, costing taxpayers an average of $24,000 per car.

That's right, 24 THOUSAND dollars per car. What an enormous waste.

One Step Closer to DC's Prediction

2009-10-28T12:08:00.001-04:00

DC, save us from Boston Dynamics before it's too late.

Sign o' the times

2009-10-27T22:57:00.000-04:00

Gotta love this headline:

'Golden Girls' star Bea Arthur leaves $300,000 in will to NY group that helps gay homeless youths

Because if you're a heterosexual homeless kid, the world is your oyster.

Funny Keystone Light commercial

2009-10-24T14:23:00.001-04:00

Grandpas Keystone Light - Watch more Funny Videos

Quote of the Day

2009-10-23T14:48:00.003-04:00

And the NYT author must've choked on it while having to write it (last sentence):

NATO defense ministers gave their broad endorsement Friday to the counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan laid out by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, increasing pressure on the Obama administration and on their own governments to commit more military and civilian resources for the mission to succeed... Although the broad acceptance by NATO defense ministers of General McChrystal’s strategic review included no decision on new troops, it was another in a series of acknowledgements that success there cannot be achieved by a narrower effort that calls only for capturing and killing Al Qaeda-linked terrorists. That counter-terrorism strategy is identified with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

When will Congress get around to regulating my digestion?

2009-10-22T19:36:00.003-04:00

I saw Chris Dodd on the news this morning bragging about proposed legislation to dictate what banks can charge for overdraft fees. Since the government seems so engaged in telling businesses how to run themselves, why shouldn't the government tell me where and when to poop? This way I could eat and drink whatever I want and not worry about consequences. Why should I be responsible when the government can be?

Obama! Obama! Obama!

The Pope Opens the Door for Anglicans

2009-10-20T19:37:00.002-04:00

The Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury jointly announced an official path for Anglican worshipers and clergy to convert to Roman Catholicism. This article points out that it could be a double-edged sword. One on hand it may bring more of the traditionally faithful Anglicans back into the Catholic fold. On the other hand, by allowing married Anglican clergy to become Catholic clergy, progressives in the Catholic church may want the same allowance for existing Catholic clergy.

Christie, predictably, faltering in NJ

2009-10-20T12:16:00.002-04:00

If you've been following the race in Jersey, you've seen Christie go from a double-digit lead earlier this year to a dead heat in the most recent polls.

This isn't that surprising, really, and follows the pattern of the last few statewide Jersey elections. Jersey voters seem tired of the corrupt single-party rule that their state has endured for years now. But when the Dems zero on the GOP challenger, and make known their actual positions (or at least, distorted images of those actual positions), they are able to scare the liberal electorate into retaining the status quo.

This year, with their big budget ad blitz, they've managed to successfully portray Christie as, first and foremost, white, male and fat. Secondly, as someone who uses his authority and insider status for his own benefit (cross reference with white/male/fat). Finally, as a heartless conservative, who wants to strip people of their medical coverage, force women to go without mammograms, and poor children to beg for food.

Christie either doesn't have the budget or the political team to respond effectively. His add about his mom having breast cancer came across as really defensive, and almost ceding the point to Corzine.

Yet there is one glimmer of hope, at the end of the day. Even now, in the most recent polling, Corzine is only attracting about 40% of the vote. He's essentially tied with Christie, with the third party candidate, Daggett, polling around 14%. What that tells you is that almost 55% of the electorate wants the incumbent out.

If Christie were smart, he'd stop engaging with Corzine, and simply go after Daggett supporters. Doing so allows him a backhand slap at Corzine, while going after voters who are already clearly disaffected with the governor:

"According to the most recent polls, 64% of New Jersey voters want a new governor in Trenton. But if you want change, Chris Christie is your only real choice. While Chris Daggett would represent an improvement over Jon Corzine, he only garners 14% in the polls--not enough to come close to winning, but enough to return Corzine as governor. If you want change, a vote for Chris Christie is the only way to avoid more of the same: the same Democrat corruption; the same Democrat tax hikes; the same growing Democrat deficits; the same weak Democrat economy."

Sister-of-the-Beast

2009-10-18T22:54:00.002-04:00

My (liberal) sister sent me a link to an Op-Ed in the NYT by Bono in this message:

good article - take a read and let me know what you think - he even says something positive about W!

OPINION | October 18, 2009
Op-Ed Guest Columnist: Rebranding America

I thought I'd share my response:

It's the usual trash in the NYT. It's pure rhetoric and propaganda for what yet another celebrity with a turgid ego picks as his cause. I know Bono is actually well-meaning but it's still nonsense. If you buy into all he is saying, your accepting some very questionable underlying assumptions.

If America is so great that we alone have the power, resources and (possibly) the will to carry out his three great challenges, then why do we care what the Europeans think? Europe's not so great. Many countries there have horrible problems. For example, France has and has had an awful level of unemployment for quite some time. They have a very big problem with Muslim upheaval. Also look at recent elections in Europe. Sarkozy and Merkel are much further right than their predecessors. We cared what the U.N. thought for a long while, and unfortunately most Americans still do. Look where that got us. Graft & corruption. Sending money meant for humanitarian use to Kim Jong Il.

Let's look at Bono's three challenges. Terrorism is first. He mentions W for the AIDS program, but no for his tremendous contribution in the fight against terrorism. Under his command, we took out most of Al Qaida's leadership. The contribution is statistically supported by the precipitous decline in attacks in Western countries. Obama has said some nice stuff but hasn't actually accomplished anything here.

Second is poverty. Again, no real accomplishments from Obama. Why not give the peace prize to Bill Gates? He's done way more - major funding for medicine to fight non-profitable diseases in the third world, like malaria.

And the third is climate change - perhaps the biggest example of demagoguery in history. It was first global warming. Then when the facts didn't fit the propaganda - the antarctic ice cap is getting bigger - the diatribe changed to climate change. What isn't considered climate change? Plus, it's not just one unsubstantiated assumption, it's several. One - the climate is changing in a dangerous way. Two - humans are the cause - it's not a natural cycle (we have data from an infinitessimal period in geological terms). Three - there's something we can and should do to stop or reverse it. Four - it's worth doing these things at any cost. I'll have to find an article I read about this last point. It was written by an economist who points out that the money some people are proposing to spend to fix climate change could help the world's people cope with it, plus feed everyone and treat many diseases not currently being treated.

The saddest part of this is most people, even smart people like you never even consider any of what I've written. Whether you believe what I've said or not, it's food for thought.

First Look: Fredo's '84-'87 Pop hits

2009-10-18T11:58:00.003-04:00

There's so many, I can't claim I'm not missing my own top 5. But here's my first blush. Looking for more nominations to edit/revise and perfect the list.

10. Don't You Want Me - Human League
9. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
8. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
7. Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
6. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
5. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
4. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
3. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
2. Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer
1. No One Is to Blame - Howard Jones

What say you, 80's music fans?

2009-10-17T21:30:00.008-04:00

So, for some reason, I was sitting down, reviewing a list of mid 80's Billboard hits, and I decided to start compiling my own list of "best pop/synth pop hits" of the period. Not that I was primarily a pop music fan at the time, but I like to spend my weekends on these kinds of important tasks.

So I come across one of my favorite 80's songs (one that I even liked at the time even though the artist didn't have a double-bass drum set on stage), Howard Jones' "No One Is To Blame". I start listening closely to the lyrics, and I had one of those "reassement" moments.

Jones looks like an alternative new-wavish type guy (not that I know him personally), so I figured he was a liberal/moral equivocator. And in the past, I always had the impression that the song was preaching about the primacy of fate, and the evil of "judgmentalism". But listening to it today, I decided to pay close attention to the lyrics. And read the printed lyrics.

"No one. No one. No one ever is to blame."

Ever? Never? Never ever?

It sounds more like something I might say satirizing liberals than what a real liberal would admit to. So I started reevaluating the context of the song.

I always thought it was about two star-crossed would-be lovers who liked each other but couldn't get together for whatever reason. But I started to think of the song as being about two people who were attracted to each other, but were already committed in other relationships, and it made more sense to me.

That's why "you can read the menu but you just can't eat," and "You can dip your foot in the pool, but you can't have a swim."

But for the person who would go for it anyway and break their commitments, he offers the second verse.

Jones: "Some break the rules,"

But why would they do it? Because they're fixated on what they're not getting, and feel like they could, or maybe even deserve, to have (Jones: "...and live to count the cost").

That's the seductive allure of breaking the rules--if you do it, and hey, it will only just be this once--it seems like happiness could be yours. Alas, that is rarely, if ever the case. Usually it's just the beginning of the slippery slope to more malfeansance and, eventually, self-hatred.

Jones: "The insecurity is the thing that won't get lost."

I don't know if any of you care about this song or have ever thought about it, but is it possible that, rather than excusing all decisions as fate, Jones is lampooning people for being self-indulgent?

Is this real?

2009-10-15T13:22:00.000-04:00

9 years old. Are you kidding me?

R.I.P. Captain Lou

2009-10-15T08:59:00.003-04:00

Captain Lou Albano died today at the age of 76. It brings back lots of childhood memories of nearly killing each other trying to emulate WWF moves.

Fall is here

2009-10-14T10:08:00.014-04:00

and the cool air hitting my face is beckoning me upland. The winged creatures feel a similar call, and they begin their Southward journey just as I want to head North. I like to look skyward, and watch these graceful creatures soar in formation, headed to Florida. I shout at them: "Wee Nancies." Never run from the cold.

The coming of Fall is, for me, the siren song of the woods. I can no more resist it than if Angela Lansbury waved the Queen of Diamonds in my face and told me, "go hunt deer." I will go to the cabin with a rifle, a crate of bourbon, sixteen pounds of hoofed-animal flesh and an ice truck worth of beer, and begin again the quest to shoot at other hoofed animals.

It is a tradition that begins early in life:

But it is a tradition that only comes to its full fruition when experience and a mature temperment allow the mind and spirit to process all of the unique sensations that the hunter imbibes: that peculiar mix of exhaustion, bitter cold, peace, adrenalin, raw natural beauty, and indigestion. Yes, only with years of observing and nurturing these experiences can one come to truly appreciate the beauty that is the hunt:

ht: Beetz for photography prowess