Basically, unless I'm missing something, it seems apparent that while Caroline Kennedy might not be a terrible choice for Senator, she's certainly less than ideal in a state with a number of big names (with big qualifications) who also want the seat. I just don't see any way that the governor's best choice is to appoint her.
Unless, of course, being a Kennedy somehow gives her special leverage over the governor. While this is certainly possible, I'm not sure I really see it ... though it is difficult to imagine someone saying "no" to the Kennedys without there being any ramifications.
So I don't know. Thoughts?
December 19, 2008
Seven Pounds
Curious about movies coming out and how good they are, I decided to check out some reviews this morning. One that stood out (I'm not even done) was Will Smith's Seven Pounds, which all-in-all got average reviews. One review that was not average, however, was A.O. Scott's review in The New York Times:
"Frankly, though, I don’t see how any review could really spoil what may be among the most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made. I would tell you to go out and see it for yourself, but you might take that as a recommendation rather than a plea for corroboration."
UPDATE: On the other hand, The Wrestler got astoundingly good reviews. (Yahoo, RT)
"Frankly, though, I don’t see how any review could really spoil what may be among the most transcendently, eye-poppingly, call-your-friend-ranting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-just-to-go-over-it-one-more-time crazily awful motion pictures ever made. I would tell you to go out and see it for yourself, but you might take that as a recommendation rather than a plea for corroboration."
UPDATE: On the other hand, The Wrestler got astoundingly good reviews. (Yahoo, RT)
Bristol's in the news
Her future mother-in-law got nailed with six felony drug charges by an undercover operation. Also, apparently, Bristol is due tomorrow.
December 18, 2008
I Still Hate Sean Hannity
Yesterday on Radio Show (paraphrase):
And now we hear that Rahm Emanuel is on the tapes having 21 phone calls with Governor Blagojevich! And they won't tell us what's on the tapes. But we know Rahmbo is a bitter partisan Clinton-era official, and since they won't tell us what's on the tapes, it's seems pretty clear that he was willing to play with the governor's scheme.
Today on Radio Show (paraphrase):
And now we hear that there's hardly anything incriminating at all on the tapes, and that the usually-bitter Rahmbo was calm and straightforward! And this is just more Clinton-era politics, folks. First the scandal breaks and they make it seem as huge and incriminating as possible, and then when things aren't so bad, nobody pays attention. The Clintons did it to us before, and now their acolytes are at it again!
(almost without a pause to think)
And now there's one more question. We need to know what Obama knew and when he knew it. He has not gone on record about this whole thing and we the American people cannot stand for what he and liberal friends are trying to do to corrupt Washington.
*******************
All smartassery aside, I really don't know how you live with yourself, even if you take the angle that you're playing a character on the radio. This is obscene.
And now we hear that Rahm Emanuel is on the tapes having 21 phone calls with Governor Blagojevich! And they won't tell us what's on the tapes. But we know Rahmbo is a bitter partisan Clinton-era official, and since they won't tell us what's on the tapes, it's seems pretty clear that he was willing to play with the governor's scheme.
Today on Radio Show (paraphrase):
And now we hear that there's hardly anything incriminating at all on the tapes, and that the usually-bitter Rahmbo was calm and straightforward! And this is just more Clinton-era politics, folks. First the scandal breaks and they make it seem as huge and incriminating as possible, and then when things aren't so bad, nobody pays attention. The Clintons did it to us before, and now their acolytes are at it again!
(almost without a pause to think)
And now there's one more question. We need to know what Obama knew and when he knew it. He has not gone on record about this whole thing and we the American people cannot stand for what he and liberal friends are trying to do to corrupt Washington.
*******************
All smartassery aside, I really don't know how you live with yourself, even if you take the angle that you're playing a character on the radio. This is obscene.
December 17, 2008
Law and Adultery
A prominent South Korean actress has been found guilty of adultery and sentenced to a suspended six-month jail sentence, apparently meaning she won't have to actually serve the time.
This reminds me of an argument I don't often get to have. I have no problem with adultery being illegal.
Now let me say first that I don't think it should be treated as a criminal matter at all and the idea of serving jail time for adultery is ludicrous. Nonetheless, marriage is a binding legal contract and, like all contracts, the involved parties should be liable if the contract is broken.
Now, I have no idea how this plays out in court. It could very well be that cheating spouses get shafted in divorce proceedings. Either way, I take the typically-unpopular stance that I don't have a problem with laws on adultery.
PS - South Korea? Really? You guys can't be pulling that 18th century crap anymore if you want to be part of the real developed world.
This reminds me of an argument I don't often get to have. I have no problem with adultery being illegal.
Now let me say first that I don't think it should be treated as a criminal matter at all and the idea of serving jail time for adultery is ludicrous. Nonetheless, marriage is a binding legal contract and, like all contracts, the involved parties should be liable if the contract is broken.
Now, I have no idea how this plays out in court. It could very well be that cheating spouses get shafted in divorce proceedings. Either way, I take the typically-unpopular stance that I don't have a problem with laws on adultery.
PS - South Korea? Really? You guys can't be pulling that 18th century crap anymore if you want to be part of the real developed world.
Good Article on Economy
There's nothing particularly outstanding about the content of this article, but as I read it, I realized I wish all economic articles were written this way. It assumes the reader doesn't have a Ph.D. in economics but is smart enough to grasp an outline of the ideas. I really appreciate that, and apparently I'm not alone in wishing more articles struck the balance.
December 16, 2008
More cities I wouldn't have expected
King of Prussia, PA
In other news, I apparently am descended from Prussian royalty. Yeah, that worked out pretty well.
In other news, I apparently am descended from Prussian royalty. Yeah, that worked out pretty well.
News and Notes
I'm sure you've thought to yourself before how annoying (and similar) the "extreme" graphics employed by CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News are. Well, if you've ever thought the same thing about their sound effects, you're not alone.
In other news, the Arena Football League is cancelling its 2009 season. It was, however, quick to point out that it is cancelling only the 2009 season. Here's my favorite quotation: "This is the farthest thing from the league folding. This is, in my opinion, just showing us the league will not fold."
Finally, despite my knowledge that it is grammatically imperative to use the word "quotation" where I did above, I felt like losing part of my soul for not using the more conversational "quote."
In other news, the Arena Football League is cancelling its 2009 season. It was, however, quick to point out that it is cancelling only the 2009 season. Here's my favorite quotation: "This is the farthest thing from the league folding. This is, in my opinion, just showing us the league will not fold."
Finally, despite my knowledge that it is grammatically imperative to use the word "quotation" where I did above, I felt like losing part of my soul for not using the more conversational "quote."
December 15, 2008
NY budget
So I know very, very little about NY State politics, so I could be way off-base here, but Governor Paterson's plan to balance the budget sounds like bullshit to me. Higher sales taxes, higher fees in state parks, higher tuition to CUNY and SUNY, cuts in government aid to education, Medicaid, and public employees' benefits...and no income tax increase on the highest income bracket.
I have no idea whether there was a better way or or his hands are tied, but it doesn't feel good...
I have no idea whether there was a better way or or his hands are tied, but it doesn't feel good...