Sunday, September 21, 2008
Why Several People Come to this Blog
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
McCain on Health Care: Changiness We Shouldn't Believe In
by Tom Bozzo
Over at Angry Bear, I have a long post up discussing whether McCain's health care tax credits are really a tax cut (and for whom), and whether the plan makes any sense otherwise. (Hint: I'm a small-e economist for Obama.)
Labels: Health Care, John McCain
Monday, September 15, 2008
(Almost) Betting the Farm
by Tom Bozzo
In alarm-clock land, NPR seemed to be in "Don't Panic!" mode as the news of course led with the Lehman story but they didn't mention, e.g., European markets being down 4-5% as of this (Monday early AM CDT) writing. Then David Wessel of the W$J was asked if this was the wildest time ever, and he lifted my spirits by answering that he was not alive in 1929.
We ran the nightmare scenario courtesy of Nouriel Roubini here at AB over the weekend. Our own Ken has an excellent follow-up explaining why we really should be glad that his Old Firm was bailed out as in that case a broader financial 'contagion' was 99 and 44/100 percent likely; if the financial world was Smart then the Lehman failure ought to be priced in. It's the 'if they were smart' part that's worrisome in a 'how do you think we got into this fine mess' way.
Suzanne showed this morning that she's been the spouse of an economist maybe a little too long, as she asked, "Would I be doing my part to help the situation if I went shopping today?"
In alarm-clock land, NPR seemed to be in "Don't Panic!" mode as the news of course led with the Lehman story but they didn't mention, e.g., European markets being down 4-5% as of this (Monday early AM CDT) writing. Then David Wessel of the W$J was asked if this was the wildest time ever, and he lifted my spirits by answering that he was not alive in 1929.
We ran the nightmare scenario courtesy of Nouriel Roubini here at AB over the weekend. Our own Ken has an excellent follow-up explaining why we really should be glad that his Old Firm was bailed out as in that case a broader financial 'contagion' was 99 and 44/100 percent likely; if the financial world was Smart then the Lehman failure ought to be priced in. It's the 'if they were smart' part that's worrisome in a 'how do you think we got into this fine mess' way.
Labels: Crisis Management, Econoblogs, Moral Hazard
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The Apotheosis of 'Fake News'
by Tom Bozzo
Campaigns can't buy that sort of coverage. (Cf. Don Pedro at Economists for Obama.) The question is what impact does it have relative to 30-second ad buys and/or the traditional media's 'opinion differs on shape of the world' approach.
Campaigns can't buy that sort of coverage. (Cf. Don Pedro at Economists for Obama.) The question is what impact does it have relative to 30-second ad buys and/or the traditional media's 'opinion differs on shape of the world' approach.
Labels: Daily Show, John McCain
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Republican Party drops all pretense of Libertarian community
by Ken Houghton
That myth can now officially be laid to rest. As evidence, we have, first, the quintessential "Libertarian" band, boldly declaring "If you choose not to decide/You still have made a choice":
It used to be that when someone declared themself a "libertarian," you could reasonably assume that they were a Republican who did drugs.
That myth can now officially be laid to rest. As evidence, we have, first, the quintessential "Libertarian" band, boldly declaring "If you choose not to decide/You still have made a choice":
And, as the counterpoint, the 2008 Reublican National Convention delegates, most especially the lady at 3:26 who declares "a choice is not freedom of choice."
US version:
Canadian link
I await the news of Glenn Reynolds's head having exploded.
Labels: Glibertarianism, pop music, Republican Party
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Bloody Brilliant
by Ken Houghton
Labels: 2008, John McCain, Politics, Video
'Joe Biden On Fire'
Friday, September 05, 2008
Through the Looking Glass, My Friends
by Tom Bozzo
Which is to say, "stop me before I kill again":
As Brad DeLong says, the Cossacks work for the Czar. Bonus:
I can only conclude that the McCain strategy to deflect press attention away from the massive defects of the candidates policies and the candidates themselves hinges on the threat that contemplating a Republican pitching to Republicans that a Republican should be elected for opposing Republican policies would cause a massive cranial explosion.
Actual headline this morning as I started up NYTimes.com:
Which is to say, "stop me before I kill again":
As Brad DeLong says, the Cossacks work for the Czar. Bonus:
I can only conclude that the McCain strategy to deflect press attention away from the massive defects of the candidates policies and the candidates themselves hinges on the threat that contemplating a Republican pitching to Republicans that a Republican should be elected for opposing Republican policies would cause a massive cranial explosion.
Labels: IOKIYAR, John McCain
Monday, August 25, 2008
SF Giggle of the Day
by Ken Houghton
Most of the clear gaffes are gone, and it's good to see God Stalk on the final list. But this is a list of "books I read when I was younger," not "books that have been forgotten."
If this is Feminist SF - The Blog's idea of "obscure" works, then I promise to pay attention to them again when I stop yawning.
The penultimate list included a Nebula winner (Scarborough), a work that received an embarassment of awards in and out of genre (The Sparrow), a John W. Campbell Memorial Award winner (Slonczewski), and enough works that are very recent and well-known (Kushner x 2, Bull, Valente, Huff, etc.) that my friend Constance (who edited a work that is appropriate for the list and knows the history of the field) could legitimately note:
Very few of these are anything close to obscure. I still don’t get this.
Though, I am really pleased to find Katharine Kerr’s Polar City Blues on this list. Yet, it wasn’t published by a small, no-name press either.
How do you figure writers like Tanya Huff etc. are obscure and unknown? When their books are all on the shelves of all the chains still in operation?
Most of the clear gaffes are gone, and it's good to see God Stalk on the final list. But this is a list of "books I read when I was younger," not "books that have been forgotten."
If this is Feminist SF - The Blog's idea of "obscure" works, then I promise to pay attention to them again when I stop yawning.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
We Own This on VHS, I think
by Ken Houghton
So I have no idea what to make of this, spotted in Wal-Mart in La Salle yesterday:
Yes, the title as shown is Benjamin and the Green Knight.
Rosie owns, and is very fond of, this which—save for the name of the title character—appears to be the same film.
I suspect "Hey, it's Franklin/Comin' over to play" won't make as much sense if you think the character's name is Benjamin.
The theme song to the show—at least as broadcast in the United States—was written and is sung by my favorite Christian Canadian.
So I have no idea what to make of this, spotted in Wal-Mart in La Salle yesterday:
Yes, the title as shown is Benjamin and the Green Knight.
Rosie owns, and is very fond of, this which—save for the name of the title character—appears to be the same film.
I suspect "Hey, it's Franklin/Comin' over to play" won't make as much sense if you think the character's name is Benjamin.
Labels: just life, Kids, My home not native land
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
ESPN Continues to Lie for the sake of...whom?
by Ken Houghton
As Joan Collins once observed, "A lie is a very poor way to say hello."
Long-time readers will know this is not the first time ESPN has told this lie. I'll say again what I said then:
Found the video on YouTube. No embedding, and not recommended for the faint of heart. This is a family blog.
ESPN's continued efforts to lie about this do it no favors.
Although ESPN is officially a, er, Sports Center that uses video, they appear not to be able to see themselves, judging by a paragraph in this piece:
Moore, then a forward with the Colorado Avalanche, suffered severe neck and head injuries in the March 8, 2004 incident, when Bertuzzi sucker punched him from behind, knocking him unconscious to the ice. Moore has not played professional hockey since.
As Joan Collins once observed, "A lie is a very poor way to say hello."
Long-time readers will know this is not the first time ESPN has told this lie. I'll say again what I said then:
Found the video on YouTube. No embedding, and not recommended for the faint of heart. This is a family blog.
ESPN's continued efforts to lie about this do it no favors.
Labels: abject horror, hockey, Journamalism
Saturday, August 16, 2008
An Encouraging Sign
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
"I Was So Pleased to be Informed of This / That I ran twenty red lights in his honor"
by Ken Houghton
"[N]ot...every violation of the law, is a crime." - Michael Mukasey, making it clear to the world that a Columbia education isn't worth jack.
Labels: Democracy, LGandM, the rule of law
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Just a Song Before I Go...
by Ken Houghton
It's a sad day when I'm thrilled about the Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) Hugo winner (and the winner HIMSELF showed up [7:52p]), and at worst indifferent to the idea that "semiprozine" will go away after next year.
I Spend Four Days in Canada and the World Changes
by Ken Houghton
In short, he's supposed to do for Scatterplot what I'm doing for AB.
I believe this only leaves Kim here. Or have I missed something with you as well?
Lego and family pictures should resume eventually.
Drek has invaded Scatterplot, starting with the claim that he can write posts "generally beneath the dignity of sociology."
In short, he's supposed to do for Scatterplot what I'm doing for AB.
I believe this only leaves Kim here. Or have I missed something with you as well?
Lego and family pictures should resume eventually.
Labels: blogging, Meta, Scatterplot, Social Science, Total Drek
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
So Much for Plausible Deniability
by Ken Houghton
As Armadillocon nears, and I head for the cold, a final reminder of where life really is. Everything I know about food I learned at the County Line, which apparently served me well:
You are 72% REAL Texan!!
You're way more Texan than average. You're parents were probably from here too. We're glad to have you. You probably go to the border for Christmas shopping and are well versed in BBQ, Mexican Food and .. well thats pretty much it.
How Texan Are You?
Labels: Eat Our Brains, just life, Meta
