You've probably all seen the Anheuser-Busch commercial from the Super Bowl showing Marines walking through an airport and getting applause. Here's an actual letter from a Marine, talking about the commercial, the way the media reports on the job he and his comrades are doing in Iraq, and the response he received when returning to the States. It's a must read. Thanks to Alpha Patriot for the heads-up.
From Little Green Footballs:
Yesterday Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) hosted a community forum in Ithaca, New York, on the future Of Social Security.An LGF operative was present in the audience and happened to be recording as Rep. Hinchey launched into a barking moonbat conspiracy rant worthy of Democratic Underground, telling the audience he believed the fake CBS memos were planted by Karl Rove to discredit Dan Rather, and divert attention from President Bush's "draft dodging."
When our operative asked Hinchey if he had evidence for these charges, he first said, "Yes, I do," but when asked a second time he admitted he did not.
Our operative pressed the issue, "Don't you think it's irresponsible to make charges like that?" Hinchey replied, "No, I don't, I think it's very important to make charges like that ... I think it's very important to combat this kind of activity in every way that you can, and I'm willing, as most people are not, to step forward in situations like this and take risks."
For more on this, including transcripts and audio of the whole exchange, courtesy the guys at LGF, click here.
Disney is auctioning off cars from two of their Disneyland rides: Space Mountain and the Skyway sky buckets. Right now, the Space Mountain car is going for $2700, and the sky bucket car is up to $4200.
Thanks to blogger John Little at Blogs Of War for pointing this out...
Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner and celebrity millionaire, writes about political bloggers:
"Whether it's been newspapers, magazines, TV or radio, the opportunities to reach an audience has been limited to a finite number of local and national gatekeepers. Just outside those gates, knocking on the door, trying to be heard for the past 100 or more years have been wanna be Woodward and Bernsteins. People with information, ideas and concepts that they know the populace would respond to have been turned away, again and again.
"Its payback time . The bloggers are here, and they are ready to knock down the gates and get their pound of flesh. The traditional media has no idea what is about to hit them.
"In every major conference, at every major speech, sitting at tables in restaurants, there is going to be a blogger or podcaster with microphone, PDA, Videophone, laptop or paper and pencil in hand. Listening. Taking notes. That information is going to be transmitted to and from a blog entry and placed in the hands of "the readers".
"Unlike celebrities who hear or see the flash of the camera, the gatekeepers don't know they are there. Blogging in plain site. Questioning everything.
"Dan Rather and Eason Jordan were just practice laps. Let me assure you that from now on, EVERYTHING said. Every video shown. Every picture presented from any traditional media source is going to be scrutinized. The level of scrutiny will make your editors blush.
"The gatekeepers are under attack. I'm not saying its right or wrong, but it is the new reality."
Here's a pretty interesting political leaning quiz from the folks at OkCupid.com. It's pretty thorough, with about 40 questions. According to this quiz, I'm a social and economic conservative, and can best be described as a Republican. Also, I "exhibit a very well-developed sense of Right and Wrong and believe in economic fairness." Guess that about says it. Interestingly, you can see your results in two ways. Here are mine...
and
Give it a whirl...
Bob Sommer, commentator for NPR's All Things Considered, recently opined on the yellow ribbon car decals and magnets saying "Support Our Troops". He says he's finally figured out what the message "Support Our Troops" really means:
That curious phrase, "support our troops," on those yellow ribbon magnets seems to accuse me of not doing my part. Then I realized that "support our troops" is a code! It requires parsing. Here's what I think it means: Those who presumably need to be admonished to support the troops are those who oppose the decisions of the administration. "Support our troops" means, then, that we should be supporting the war. I believe that most yellow-magnet bearers want support not just for the troops, but for the mission, the presence, the president. Maybe the magnets should say: "Shut up and support our troops."Seems that Sommer takes an awful lot of offense at three simple words. I'm not sure how someone who appreciates the sacrifices our soldiers and sailors make could make hte comments he does. Maybe he doesn't actually support our troops at all. It's like my Dad said, "The bit dog always barks."
Today's zero-tolerance fiasco comes from Cook County, Minnesota, where a Senior at Cook County High School turned in a creative writing assignment that played on the title of Michael Moore's "Bowling in Columbine". When all was said and done he had been suspended and the police, Child Protective Services and the County Prosecutor had all been involved.
The student's essay talked about the killings at Columbine High School in Colorado. The Cook County attorney said the writing raised the concern that (the student) might be a danger to himself or other students or teachers at the school. But the student's mother said she is outraged by the incident.
"He wrote a story for a creative writing class," she said. "There were no boundaries set. It was written last fall."
She said she, her son and family were shocked when the sheriff's deputies knocked on their door last week and escorted him to the hospital in Duluth for observation. The school called the police, the police involved Child Protective Services (CPS). CPS got a court order to seize the child, did not inform the parents, and showed up at the door unannounced to take him away for testing and evaluation. County prosecutors then evaluated whether to charge the boy for an unspecified crime.
The county found that there was no crime, and no specific danger involved, and eventually returned the child to his parents.
The public school insanity goes on...
Howard Dean (Aaarrgghh!!), new chairman of the Democratic Party, spoke on Friday with members of the Democratic Black Caucus. Looking at the crowd he said:
"You think the Republican National Committee could get this many people of color in a single room? Only if they had the hotel staff in here."You know that if a Republican had made a "hotel staff" type comment, they would have been called racist by the leaders of the nation's Black community. When it's a Lib... never a word. You've got to love double standards.
I told you about these guys a few weeks ago. Now their season is over, and they finished with a record of 0-28. Tough season for the kids, but as I mentioned last time, the school's athletic problems go way beyond men's basketball.
Consumer Reports has rated the nation's cell phone providers, and topping the list again is Verizon. They were followed closely by T-Mobile. The same companies are ranked first and second by J.D. Power and Associates, as well. At the bottom is Cingular, which recently gobbled up AT&T Wireless.
Incidentally, Verizon is the only major cell service NOT putting its subscribers names into a cell-phone directory to be made available to marketing companies. They don't want their customers to be bombarded with junk telemarketing calls and text messages.
A wild turkey in Whittier, Iowa has died doing what he did best - chasing cars.
Scientists discover that one of Saturn's moons actually looks like the Star Wars Death Star.
German postal services are still delivering mail addressed to Hitler. Good news: he might have just won $10 million from Publishers Clearinghouse.
South Dakota man with 30+ DUI convictions arrested again.
Middle school student makes like Monty Hall, gives away many, many $100 bills in school.
If you know me or have been reading this blog for very long, you'll know I work in the television business. Like nearly all industries, more and more of our work involves computers. Ninety-nine percent of what we produce is done on computers. Everything is digital, the video we shoot and the audio we use. Yesterday, in post-production for our weekly TV show, the digital gods reinforced that it's truly their domain, and we are all at their mercy. Murphy's Law really applies, with extreme prejudice, in the digital world.
When problems arose in an analog editing suite, they were generally easy to diagnose. In our digital suites... forget about it. Digital routers, video with embedded digital audio, serial interfaces, digital-to-analog converters, analog-to-digital converters, AES/EBU, SDI, 4:1:1 and 4:2:2 compression, bitrates, firewire, RAID storage, high definition... there's too many places for problems to lurk. Yesterday, we were reminded that the digital world is different.
And now, we're preparing to move another step forward. It's called Final Cut Pro, and it's apparently the hottest thing in digital editing. The movie "Cold Mountain" was edited using it. The TV show Scrubs is put together with it. Exciting sure, but after a day like yesterday, excitement tempered with great fear. Don't upset the digital gods!
Augsburg College, a Lutheran institution in Minneapolis, is hosting a lecture event called the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. As part of the forum, a seminar is scheduled titled, "Fighting Terrorism with Empathy: a Model for Peace". Here's the actual description:
The word terrorism strikes a deep nerve among Americans today--having sparked an entire nation to the defense of its country and the subjugation of those who stand in opposition. One of these men who stand in opposition is the man who planned the September 11 attacks. In November 2004, Osama Bin Laden released a tape giving his recipe for a healthy nation. This seminar would dissect his message and use audience participation in doing so. Discussion points would include counterterrorism methods, the possibility of peace, empathy etc. The aim of this seminar would be to help understand the position of Osama Bin Laden as presented in the video and explore in what ways the origins of terrorism are to be found, not in some foreign citizen, but in the actions we take out of fear, hate and retribution.Guess it's safe to say that Augsburg College is a LIBERAL arts school, huh?
The annual Super Bowl bash went well this year. We had seven people, not too big, but an improvement on recent years. A good time was had by all, and it was a good game.
I made one of those spur of the moment impulse decisions today and picked up something new for the house. It's a digital video recorder (DVR) from my cable company. This joker's got fifty hours of record time, it can record two programs on two different channels at the same time, and it accesses the HD channels the cable comapny delivers. I don't have an HD set, but they still show as widescreen (letterboxed) channels on my TV. It's really cool.
The annual Super Bowl Party is on for this weekend, and it looks like we'll have a house full of folks. I hope the game's good, but I'm not predicting a close one. I wasn't too far off with last year's guess; let's see if I can get closer this time...
My prediction: New England 37, Philadelphia 23.
(For the record, last year I said N.E. would beat Carolina 27-20, and the final was 32-29)
While participating in a news conference Wednesday, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback fielded an awkward question from a paralyzed 17-year-old boy.
"Hey Daunte," said J.T. Townsend. "Can I get some ice?" -- a reference to the $100,000, diamond-encrusted necklace around Culpepper's neck.
With cameras rolling, Culpepper walked over to Townsend and thrilled him by hanging the necklace around his neck. Later, Culpepper sought out Townsend and put the chain back on. At Culpepper's request, Townsend's parents wrote down his address and contact information. Culpepper promised to send him gifts and memorabilia.
A genuine moment, showing the nice side of a professional athlete. Yet, the media tried to make Culpepper look bad by saying he gave the necklace to the boy, then took it back when the cameras stopped rolling.
The true story comes from Kevin Seifert of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Here's what he witnessed first hand:
We were standing at Culpepper's side when the transaction took place. There was no animosity, no hurt feelings and no accusations of impropriety -- only thank-yous from Townsend, his parents and a doctor nearby.Unfortunately, stories from Mark Long of the Associated Press and other outlets, like the Detroit Free-Press, present a mistaken view of what happened, and give a terribly wrong impression of Culpepper.
The AP version of the story, however, in essence painted Culpepper as a spoiled athlete who "sheepishly" took away a gift from a paralyzed teenager once the cameras stopped shooting. Newspapers and Internet sites picked up the story nationally. One problem: Nothing could have been further from the truth.
Anyone who has met Culpepper knows he wears the necklace every day. He has for years. Garish as it might be -- its main ornament is a 6-inch hot pepper -- it carries sentimental and personal value. Since when is anyone -- athlete, actor, politician or average schmoe -- obligated to hand over personal possessions permanently when someone asks? Or should Culpepper have shot down the request and embarrassed Townsend on television?
If that's your story, then the next time someone asks you for your wedding ring or a sweater your grandmother knitted, you better cough it up. Or else find some real news to write about.
During a press conference in San Diego on Tuesday, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Mattis won many supporters, and inflamed bed-wetting pascifists, with the following comments:
"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."Gen. Mattis commanded troops in Iraq and Afhganistan, and is slated to be portrayed by Harrison Ford in a new movie. He knows first-hand the kind of people we face over there. The left hates these comments, but I sure like them.
Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn has been chosen to receive the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the NFL's only award recognizing a player's work in the community. A nice award for one of Atlanta sports' really good people.
Who Was Charles Ponzi and What's He Got To Do With You?
Charles K. Ponzi was born in Italy in the early 1880s, and immigrated to Canada in 1903. He would later be convicted of forgery and serve time in a Canadian prison. Shortly after his release, we was caught smuggling people across the border into the U.S. That led to two years in the Atlanta Federal Prison. Apparently a lifetime con artist, Ponzi achieved his greatest notoriety in New England in 1920.
Ponzi came up with a scam that would forever bear his name. He convinced investors to give him money, with which he would by postal reply coupons.
About Postal Reply Coupons
This is very general, but should give some background. Say someone in the U.S. sent a letter to a person in Austria, and wanted that person to write back. They couldn't send a postage-paid reply envelope, because American stamps would be no good in Austria. Instead, they would purchase and send a postage reply coupon. In theory, the coupon would hold the same value in all participating countries. After World War I, though, currency values had raised the value of these coupons in some countries over their value in others. The money required to buy one coupon in one country might buy two or more coupons in another country. That gave Ponzi an idea.
The Ponzi Scheme
Charles convinced his investors that he could take advantage of the differences in value by trade these postal reply coupons like currency, promising as much as a 50% return on invbestment money. He sold people on the idea that he was purchasing the coupons, at a discount, in depressed economies and making a profit by exchanging them here. He claimed to have a network of foreign agents gathering coupons abroad to keep up with the demand. He would use money coming from investors to pay off other investors. In actuality, none of his story was true. He would pay off the earliest investors entirely out of money paid into the scheme by newer investors, then those new investors would be paid by subsequent new investors. Of course, Ponzi was the central moneymaker in the scheme. Eventually it collapsed, like all such schemes will, and Ponzi was jailed and, later, deported.
The term "Ponzi Scheme" came to refer to any simple fraud whereby initial investors are paid exceptional dividends as interest cheques from the deposits of a growing number of new investors. "Profits" to investors are not created by the success of the underlying business venture but instead are derived fraudulently from the capital contributions of other investors. A few people invest in the scheme, then as news of the offer spreads, more investors are drawn in. Usually there is no actual investment involved, contrary to your understanding, just money being shipped in from new investors to the earlier ones.
What This Has To Do With You
Read that last sentence again: "...just money being shipped in from new investors to the earlier ones." This is the reason such an idea doesn't work. Eventually, you'll have more people owed money than you have money coming in to pay them. When that happens, the scheme fails. And it always happens.
If you have taken time to read about Social Security, and to understand how it actually operates, you already know where I'm going. You see, the money that's paid out in Social Security benefits to retireees today comes from the Social Security tax paid by American workers today. The beliefis that recipients are getting their money back from their 30 or 40 years in the workplace. Sorry, but it just ain't so. The money we pay into Social Security this year goes to retirees in Social Security payments this year.
Paying off earlier investors from the deposits of new investors... this plan works only as long as there are more working Americans than there are retirees drawing benefits. Eventually, with advances in health care and longer lifespans, those numebrs do reverse. That's the situation we're going to be facing in the very near future. There will be millions of Baby Boomers reaching retirement age. They'll start to draw that money they "invested" in Social Security. There will be more retirees than workers in this country. Before long, the government will be paying out more to them than they will be collecting each week from you and me. What happens then?
Like all Ponzi Schemes (and don't kid yourself, this IS a government-run Ponzi), the plan will collapse. Either the investors (us) will realize our money isn't going to be around and we will demand change, or the game will continue until one month retirees receive Social Secutriy checks for only a portion of their benefits. Or maybe they receive no check at all.
Don't believe me? Do the research. Do the math. Look into it and see the truth for yourself. There are changes being proposed that would make the future of today's workers a little bit safer. Older generations scoff at the idea that Social Security will not be around for us "youngsters". How many of them, though, believe the money they get every month is actually what they put in? They don't realize that the money they paid into Social Security was gone almost as soon as they paid it .
Now, they're getting our money.
Certainly one of President Bush's best speeches. He was very assertive, very clear and concise. I thought he did a fantastic job of setting the agenda for the next four years.
The first half of the speech was domestic issues, including Social Security reform. He clearly laid out his reason for promoting reform. It was a shame to hear some of the Libs groaning and muttering while he spelled out the future being predicted for Social Security. The system is in trouble, and of this there can be no denial.
Thirteen years from now, in 2018, Social Security will be paying out more than it takes in. And every year afterward will bring a new shortfall, bigger than the year before.For example, in the year 2027, the government will somehow have to come up with an extra $200 billion to keep the system afloat, and by 2033, the annual shortfall would be more than $300 billion. By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt. If steps are not taken to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be drastically higher taxes, massive new borrowing, or sudden and severe cuts in Social Security benefits or other government programs.
The Dems would argue that President Bush is exaggerating the situation in 2042 by calling the program "bankrupt." They would tell you that there would still be 70 cents in the pot for every dollar promised to retirees. If you only had 70 percent of the money you needed to pay your bills, you couldn't get very far before you had to declare bankruptcy. I think the term fits.
An impressive maneuver on the President's part was naming off several prominent Democrats and proposals they had made to reform Social Security.
Private retirement savings accounts are such a great deal for younger Americans. They would earn better returns than Social Security, plus the government would be unable to touch them. Also, the money could be passed on to one's heirs.
Other fine points: working to make the tax code fair, easy to understand, and pro-growth; implementation of new immigration policy; and support for faith-based community groups and initiatives.
The second half of the speech covered international matters and the war on terror. He said we're going to stay in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East until we finish the job. He promised support for those who stand up for freedom in the Middle East. Moreover, he all but called out Iraq...
Today, Iran remains the world's primary state sponsor of terror, pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve. We are working with European allies to make clear to the Iranian regime that it must give up its uranium enrichment program and any plutonium reprocessing, and end its support for terror. And to the Iranian people, I say tonight: As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you.Republicans across the House chamber held up fingers with blue ink on them, in symbolic support of the eight million Iraqis who voted in that nation's election last Sunday. The most touching moment, and one that brought a tear to so many eyes, was the introduction of the parents of a soldier killed in Fallujah.
The President pledged to continue encouraging the spread of freedom around the globe.
If you missed the speech, or would like to read what was said, here's a complete transcript of the speech...As Franklin Roosevelt once reminded Americans, "Each age is a dream that is dying, or one that is coming to birth." And we live in the country where the biggest dreams are born.
The abolition of slavery was only a dream until it was fulfilled. The liberation of Europe from fascism was only a dream until it was achieved. The fall of imperial communism was only a dream until, one day, it was accomplished.
Our generation has dreams of its own, and we also go forward with confidence. The road of providence is uneven and unpredictable, yet we know where it leads: It leads to freedom.
