Visit to the Empire State Building

Posted on September 28, 2008 | Comments Off on Visit to the Empire State Building

Empire State Building
Originally uploaded by S.D.

Lots of fun, with an added bonus: Janny works in the building. That means that we don’t have to stand on line. Instead of taking 30 to 60 minutes to get to the top, we just go right to the head of all lines.

I think that got some people annoyed at us (we heard “Hey! There’s a Line!!!” a few times) but it was worth it.  Unfortunately, it was cloudy and hazy but we could always go back. Since the sun is setting earlier as winter approaches, I think we’ll go after work one night and get some great night shots.

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing, I’m watching Mythbusters.

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Posted in Cool Stuff, Hobby, Images, Personal, Photography

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The First Presidential Debate

Posted on September 26, 2008 | Comments Off on The First Presidential Debate

I’m watching the First Presidential Debate right now. I have to say, Sen. McCain is hitting his talking points. Barely 15 minutes in, a couple of time’s he looked like he was getting P/O’ed.

So far the major difference seems to be that Sen. McCain spends more time attacking Sen. Obama rather than answering the question.

Among Sen. McCain’s talking points:

  • Sen. McCain is worried about the “Business Tax”? Is he kidding?
  • Sen. Obama is the Most “Liberal” member of the Senate? Um, no…
  • “Hand over health care to the Federal Gov’t”? But no one is suggesting that.
  • And he hitting the “Winning In Iraq” too. Bet he never mentions Afghanistan.

Ugh, listening to Sen. McCain’s BullS__t is tough. ThinkProgress.org has a live Blogging of the debate.

He’s hitting his GOP talking points right on que. CNN has a score card on either side of the screen and apparently, at this time, Sen. Obama is leading. Sen. Obama is getting a lot of good points in, answering the question and rebutting Sen. McCain.

Well, it’s over and I think Sen. Obama will continue his lead. Wonder if Sen. McCain will run that “Sen. McCain Wins the Dabate” Ad?

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.

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Sen. McCain Wins the Debate???

Posted on September 26, 2008 | Comments Off on Sen. McCain Wins the Debate???

Hmmm, As the debate has NOT happened yet, it seems a bit premature.
But it IS a Great photo…

Music I’m listening to now:
“So What” by Pink. You can see the video on VH1.

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Sen. McCain Blinks

Posted on September 26, 2008 | Comments Off on Sen. McCain Blinks

Despite no Bailout (and his commitment to skip the debate if no agreement was reached), Sen. McCain is on his way to Mississippi for the Debate. My guess is that he realized no one was going to let him attempt to get credit for any agreement that was reached. From the sound of it, he didn’t contribute much to the dialog.

I have to say, the McCain campaign is beginning to look like one hell of a train wreck.
His declaration that he would “Suspend” his campaign  (he didn’t) and get involved in the negotiations is looking like a calculated and cheap Photo Op. Even the GOP is saying “WTF?” about that move.

To make life more entertaining, Gov. Palin’s interview with Katie Couric WAS a Train Wreck. Don’t take my word for it, look at the video. What’s next, Substituting Gov. Palin with Sen. Lieberman? The campaign is seriously in the Twilight Zone.

The best part: His Website is already declaring that he won the debate…

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.

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Posted in Current Issues, Different, News, politics

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Craig Ferguson Nails it

Posted on September 25, 2008 | Comments Off on Craig Ferguson Nails it

I really have to start getting his show on our DVR. His monologue Wednesday night really nails Sen. McCain for “suspending” his campaign. In any case, the Debate will happen with or without Sen. McCain. On both sides of the aisle, they don’t want Sen. McCain interfering with negotiations so he might as well go.

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.

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Posted in Current Issues, Different, News, politics

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Sen. McCain wants to cancel Fridays Debate

Posted on September 24, 2008 | Comments Off on Sen. McCain wants to cancel Fridays Debate

Ok, this is different. The headlines makes for amusing reading:

In Sen. McCain’s statement:

“We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night’s debate until we have taken action to address this crisis… Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now.“

Nice how he worked 9/11 into it. Former Mayor Giuliani must be proud…
This is hardly a surprise Terrorist Attack; people with eyes saw the Economy tanking for months. Is it really appropriate for a Presidential Candidate to interfere with such Negotiations in the 11th hour? I think not, especially in light that the Election has not run it’s course.

In his statement, Sen. Obama said:

“It’s my belief that this is exactly the time when people need to hear from the person who in 140 days will be responsible for handling the economy.”

“It will be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once.”

“It’s more important than ever that we present ourselves to the American people.”

I think that says it best.

Suspending the campaign until the economic crisis is fixed? I really find it amusing considering that Sen. McCain’s Attendance Record is pretty bad this year. Not surprisingly, the McCain campaign wants to delay the VP Debate too. Now that is hardly a surprise since the  McCain campaign doesn’t trust Gov. Palin to spend any time taking questions.

This isn’t the actions of a responsible leader, it’s the panicked show boating of a politician. If Sen. McCain can’t handle Sen. Obama in a debate, How will he run the country as President?

Music I’m listening to know:
Nothing at the moment.

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Posted in Current Issues, Different, News, politics

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Sen. McCain takes the low road. Again.

Posted on September 23, 2008 | Comments Off on Sen. McCain takes the low road. Again.

Anyone really surprised? From the NY Times:

MEDIA, Pa. — Senator John McCain intensified his political attacks against Senator Barack Obama late today as he charged that his Democratic rival was frozen in the face of the financial turmoil gripping the country.

“The truth is, we don’t have time to wait for Senator Obama to recover from his paralysis in the face of this crisis,’’ Mr. McCain told a roaring crowd at a rally outside the flag-draped Delaware County Courthouse here. Mr. McCain added, shouting, that “one week after this crisis began, Senator Obama has still not offered a plan of any kind’’ and that “Senator Obama has been M.I.A., my friends. That means missing in action.’’

Mr. McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, was reacting to what had been billed as a major speech by Mr. Obama on Monday afternoon in Green Bay, Wisc. Mr. Obama, who has said that he does not want his specific preferences to politicize the ongoing Congressional and White House negotiations over a bailout for the financial markets, did not offer any significant new proposals for the plan, although he urged both parties to reach an agreement quickly.

I Highlighted that particular text. Follow that carefully: Sen. Obama said that he does not want his specific preferences to politicize the ongoing Congressional and White House negotiations over a bailout for the financial markets.

So basically, of the two presidential candidates, Sen. McCain wants to politicize any solution to his advantage rather than put “Country First”. Did I mention Sen. McCain seems to be willing to say anything to get elected? I seem to recall Sen. McCain’s solution involving a “9/11 Type Commision”. I suppose that’s his idea “offering a plan”.

Of Course, IMO, he’s just offering 4 more Years of GOP/GW Bush style politics. I think the Nation has had more than enough of that.

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.

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Great start to the week

Posted on September 22, 2008 | Comments Off on Great start to the week

Just perfect. Stocks finish Down 372 and Crude Oil Prices Up More Than $16. An example of why I hate Monday’s. This will be Yet Another bad week. On the Plus side: We did convert from Oil to Gas heat.

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Posted in Asides, Current Issues, Different, News

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IMO: It’s just a bad idea

Posted on September 22, 2008 | Comments Off on IMO: It’s just a bad idea

"Trust Me!"A little follow up to the “Bail Out” : Apparently, the Democratic Members of the House and Senate read the proposed Legislation (it’s not very long 3 Pages?).  Senator Dodd has proposed a version WITHOUT Section 8 (Seriously, it’s Section 8. Coincidence or do they just know it’s Crazy??).

Sec. 8. Review.

Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

As I mentioned before, I have really a big problem with this part.

Here is how I bet the Administration attempts to frame it: “The Democrats are UN-American and Hate the Ecomony!!!” or “WE have a plan. the Democrats have NOTHING!“. What do you think?

In any case, I bet the Administration will attempt to ram this down Congress throats.  Call me skeptical but whenever this Administrations cries about a “Dire Imminent Emergency!“,  I grab my wallet with both hands and wonder. The Economy is in trouble and does need help. The problem is, this Administration ALWAYS takes the “My Way Or the Highway” approach to “negotiating”.

I *really* hope Congress does NOT roll over on this.

Slight update: The NY Times has an informative article on this topic.
Another update: Here is Sen. Dodd’s bill on Politico. Sen. Dodd’s version reads:

SEC. 8. LIMITS ON REVIEW.
(a) IN GENERAL.-Any determination of the Secretary with regard to any particular troubled asset pursuant to this Act shall be final, and shall not be set aside unless such determination is found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or not in accordance with the law.

(b) EXCEPTION. -Notwithstanding subsection (a), the terms of a residential mortgage loan that is part of any purchase by the Secretary under this Act shall remain subject to all claims and defenses that would otherwise apply notwithstanding the exercise of authority by the Secretary or the Corporation under this Act.

Which is quite different from the version the Administration wants.

Music I’m listening to now:
“Mad World“, sung by Gary Jules from the “Donnie Darko soundtrack“ album. You can see the video here.

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Posted in Current Issues, News, politics

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Wow, Sen. McCain’s Campaign lies in multiple languages.

Posted on September 22, 2008 | Comments Off on Wow, Sen. McCain’s Campaign lies in multiple languages.

It’s just Shocking, I know. From the New York Times Blog the entry labeled “What’s Spanish for ‘Lies’?“:

Block immigration reform? The Democrats?

Mr. Obama opposing a path to citizenship?

Welcome to the night-is-day, down-is-up, world of the McCain campaign.

The NY Time Blog has the original video and a translation. I think the above video from “America’s Voice” says it all.  Being Hispanic, I sincerely hope the Hispanic Community doesn’t fall for this. Honestly, I used to have a lot of respect for Sen. McCain but I’m really approaching the point where I think he’ll approve and say anything to get elected as President.

Was Sen. McCain really the victim of dirty politics in the 2000 campaign? It would seem he learned the lessons well. He seems more than able to have his campaign use any dirty political trick, including a ‘Push Poll’ targeting Jewish voters. You might remember one particular ‘Push Poll’ from the 2000 campaign. Specifically:

South Carolina voters were asked. “Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?” They had no interest in the actual percentages in the poll, the goal was to spread misinformation about McCain. The claim was particularly vicious, since McCain was campaigning with his adopted Bangladeshi daughter. The sight of the little dark skinned girl made the seed planted earlier grow and John McCain lost South Carolina, effectively ending his run for the presidency.

BTW: In Spanish, ‘lies’ is ‘mentiras’. I imagine the McCain campaign is fully aware of this.

Music I’m listening to now:
Nothing at the moment.

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