Spudlets
September 30, 2003
Go Cubs ... Go Cubs ... Go Cubs
GO CUBS!
Posted by MarcV, 1:35 PM link
Ouch
I should know better than to get my hopes up with those motley Monsters of the Midway, but it just felt like it was time to whomp on the cheeseheads. Oh well ...
Let's see how those predictions held up:
+ Kordell (Slash) Stewart - 250 yds passing, 70 yds rushing, 1 TD, 1 INT
...... K Stewart 25-44 for 201yds, 71 yds rushing, 0 TD 2 INT [pretty close, except for the TDs]
+ A-Train - 120 yds rushing
...... A Thomas 13 rushes for 110 yds [pretty close again]
+ David Terrel - 90 yds receiving, 1 TD (hands ref the ball after scoring)
...... D Terrell 7 catches for 48 yds [he dropped a few]
+ BFavre - 222 yds rushing, 1 TD, 4 INT, 3 sacks
...... B Favre 21-30 for 179 yds, 3 TD 1 INT 0 sacks [would have thrown more if Green had not rushed for so many yards, would have been less TDs if the Bears could cover better in the red zone]
BEARS 23 - PACKERS 17 [Half right, just underestimated the Packer score by only 3 TDs]
While it may be tempting to go on a rant on what is wrong with the Bears, I'll just leave that to the message boards and say that I hope that they can start working in some of the younger players, since some of the veterans are stinking up the place.
Posted by MarcV, 1:34 PM link
September 29, 2003
Special Idiotarian Award
I don't know who deserves the nomination, the person who wrote this drivel or the newspaper editor that gave it the light of day. From yesterday's Greensboro News & Record:
Get priorities straight?
When President Clinton lied to the American public about his sexual adventures, no one died.
When President Bush lied to the American public about his desire to go to war, many people have and are dying.
It seems that the American public is more concerned about sexual adventure than the killing of our soldiers in Iraq.
Curtis S. Harrison
Greensboro
After the first glance you think: did I really read this? After the second time you think: this can't be worth refuting! After the third and final go-round you think: even if I did answer back, would it change his mind? Naaah. There seems to be this "liberal" core of vehement Bush haters/Clinton did no wrong/get out of Iraq nonsense. I don't think they are large enough to tip the scales on an election, and hopefully the venom they spew will cause "moderates" to re-think their Democrat-liberal tendencies. Every time they question the Iraqi war effort there should be the reply, "Do you want to put Hussein back in power?"
Posted by MarcV, 11:44 AM link
Trial Lawyer Edwards
I usually don't get the opportunity, but yesterday I did get to watch the first half of the Fox Sunday morning show with Tony Snow. Nat'l. Sec. Advisor Condi Rice was on first, and she competently explained the administration's stance on the recent UN meetings and working with our allies, as well as the junk about Pres. Bush's "involvement" with the exposure of a secret CIA agent. She may not be ready for 2004 campaigning, but she may make an excellent VP running mate in 2008, or maybe Presidential candidate if we need an anti-Hillary. She was followed by Trial Lawyer Edwards, giving a standard wishy-washy performance. He wanted to be for and against a bill that he voted for, the Patriot Act:
SNOW: Well, these are hypothetical matters. The question is, do you know of any specific instances? And again, you see the stuff, I don't, the public at large doesn't. But you get very detailed briefings on what they've requested, what they've gone to the court to seek and so on, so you know what's going on.
Do you know of any specific cases where any of these things have come to pass, other than what you're talking about, the detainees at Guantanamo?
EDWARDS: Well, what I know is, they've dramatically changed our policy with respect to this issue of enemy combatants. I think that's a great concern. I know that the attorney general has changed the rules that allow agents to go into synagogues, mosques, churches and political meetings.
So I know there are some pretty significant changes going on that would allow some of this activity, and I don't know all the details of what the attorney general's doing. So, I think there is reason for concern.
While not actually saying "Ashcroft", he continues to pile onto the demonization of the AG bandwagon. He later went on to tried and criticize the administration for not working with our supposed "allies" more closely and letting them take on some of the financial burden. Can anyone think of a country, besides Britain, that would be willing to make the billion $$ contribution to the Iraqi rebuilding effort? I don't see any other country stepping up to the plate.
As far as getting ally support, it takes two to tango and the French/Germans/Russians did not even want to get on the dance floor, let alone hold our hands. While the Germans recently may be starting to make nice-nice noises, the bottom line was that the job had to be done in Iraq, with or without the UN and its crew. If anything we hurt ourselves by trying to get them on-board.
Posted by MarcV, 11:40 AM link
Chicago Sports Fanatic
Oh to be in the Windy City today! Not only is the Chicagoland area premiering the new and (maybe) improved Soldier Field, but the city is abuzz with pennant fever (CONGRATULATIONS CUBS - DIVISION CHAMPS!). Although I cannot be physically there, I will be cheering on in spirit. I'm fortunately able to view (here in the Tarheel state) 3 solid nights of Chicago sports action: Monday night - Bears stomp on cheeseheads, Tuesday night - Game 1 of Cubs vs. Braves, Wednesday night - Game 2 of Cubs vs. Braves.
Lady Spud knows about Monday and Tuesday night, but not about Wednesday night yet. She has already made disapproving noises about the first two nights, so some bribery may be in order after work on Wednesday. Food or flowers - through the stomach or the heart? Usually a big ol' chocolate bar does the trick, but this may call for something out of the ordinary.
My prediction for tonight:
+ Kordell (Slash) Stewart - 250 yds passing, 70 yds rushing, 1 TD, 1 INT
+ A-Train - 120 yds rushing
+ David Terrel - 90 yds receiving, 1 TD (hands ref the ball after scoring)
+ BFavre - 222 yds rushing, 1 TD, 4 INT, 3 sacks
BEARS 23 - PACKERS 17
This prediction was sent to the Taterbed by Tatoo (da plane, da plane!) in a fit of optimism. All of the talking heads point to the Bear's ineptitude vs. the cheeseheads, and how wonderboy Favre seems to shine on Monday night. I can't explain it, but I just have a feeling that the cheesehead curse will be lifting. Maybe it's the Cub's euphoria, maybe it's because the Bears are cornered and trapped as underdogs in their own lair, but it is stomping time!!
My uncle just passed this along to me:
Cub management made sure that every champagne bottle handed to Sammy Sosa during the post-game celebration Saturday had the cork removed.
Posted by MarcV, 9:34 AM link
September 26, 2003
Eating lunch was a little more difficult today than usual. With soccer practice and a consignment sale going on, supper was not served until near 7:30. The undercooked pizza was quickly cut up straight from the oven, and I devoured the first piece right after the blessing. I don't know what it is about hot pizza, but it gives you that "burned roof-of-the-mouth" like no other dish. I hate when that happens! I wasn't quick enough with the iced tea, so now I'm paying the price.
Posted by MarcV, 3:03 PM link
Do's vs. Do-nots
Income inequality has been bandied about recently on the blogosphere, due to Congress debating the renewal of the federal welfare reform. For now Congress is content to pass short-term extensions. An article by Jonathon Rauch (link from Prof. Kiesling at the Knowledge Problem) ties together some results from studies on the welfare system, as well as the results from welfare reform. A shift has been made on the perception of the root of the poverty problem being more behavioral than economic.
From 1965 to 1995, notes Ron Haskins of the Brookings Institution, the federal and state governments increased their means-tested spending, adjusted for inflation, by a multiple of seven. Yet child poverty increased. After the mid-1990s, when state and federal programs switched their emphasis from writing checks to encouraging work, welfare caseloads fell by a stunning 60 percent, an unprecedented number of single mothers found and kept jobs (even through the recent recession), and child poverty dropped -- for black children, Haskins says, to its lowest level ever. "I don't think any public policy has ever had this kind of impact," Haskins says.
By linking welfare with work, we have had more people get off of the welfare rolls and supporting themselves. To have a more "employable" (productive) workforce, we have to foster a desire for people to not only have minimum work skills, but the need to continue learning and improving those skills. If a single mother is having a hard time just making ends meet, then she won't be able to spend the time improving her workskills. To really solve the problem involves changes at the source: the children. Over about the last 40 years, single parenthood has nearly tripled for least-educated women, while barely changing for the best-educated.
Kids who don't know their fathers, and whose teenage mothers dropped out of school, and who grow up in neighborhoods where married parents are curiosities, are much more likely to become unmarried parents and dropouts themselves. Kids who are doted on by two college-educated parents never even think about failure.
"We know we have growing income inequality," (Isabel) Sawhill (of the Brookings Institution) says, "but there's a lot less focus on another gap that's opening between rich and poor, and that's in the behavioral domain, and it involves both work and marriage." This new gap, she adds, "doesn't bode well for the future of social relations in America." Unchecked, it might lead to permanent class barriers, something America has, until now, been mercifully spared.
Forget about the haves and the have-nots. America now faces a divide between do's and do-nots. Coping requires conservatives to see that inequality threatens mainstream values, and liberals to see that mainstream values are the key to reducing inequality.
The libertarian in me wants to see the federal government get out of the education and child-care business and let the states handle it. Unfortunately, weak states can drag down the whole country if we do not do anything about giving kids a decent chance to escape poverty. This is a national problem, having implications that will affect us far into the future. It seems that compassionate conservatism will involve federal outlays for school improvement and helping poor single moms with child care. I hope the money can be spent wisely, rather than just throwing money at the problem and seeing if it goes away.
Posted by MarcV, 2:52 PM link
With dropping the Pigskin Prognosticators this season, I'm less inclined to give witticisms on NFL matchups. Someone's back and does it better than I ever could: Sports Guy: NFL picks return. He is picking the despised Cheeseheads over America's Team, my beloved Chicago Bears, for Monday night. He tried to slightly hedge his bet by mentioning King Cheesehead's (Favre) failings against Arizona, but falls back on his gambling rule of never betting against Favre on Monday night. Usually I would agree with him, but I have a peaceful, easy feeling about this game. Like Bill Murray in Meatballs - "This is the year that Fink beats the Stomach." More on Monday afternoon.
Posted by MarcV, 2:01 PM link
Aaaah boojers! The State-Carolina game will not be shown on regular TV tomorrow. Time-Warner cable has graciously offered it by pay-per-view, $9.95 if I sign up today or $12.95 if I sign up tomorrow. You have to subscribe to their mostly worthless digital plan in order to be eligible for the PPV. Since I only get the basic-basic analog package, then it's either radio or the scroll score given when some other game is televised.
I'm tempted to say that NC State will crush the Heels, and the Pack should be a heavy favorite going in. I do remember clashes in the past where State was favored and then upset, so we'll just call it a close one for now.
Posted by MarcV, 8:34 AM link
September 25, 2003
Probiscis
After a length and exhaustive application process, looks like I'm in as a contributor to The Probiscis, "The Official Campus Newspaper of Weevil State University". If you are interested in joining the staff of DOOFUS, be sure to contact Dean Spud so that he can arrange the necessary paperwork. You may want to check out the requirements before applying.
Posted by MarcV, 4:17 PM link
Gimme Eyeballs
I had heard rumors about Google expanding their tentacles in the Web, and now I am seeing more evidence of this. Did you notice at the end of Lileks' Strib Tuesday column? There was a small box with a light blue background advertising lens coatings. In his column the Bleatmeister was complaining about his glasses and having to clean them, as well as discussing some of the possible coatings that opticians can put on them. Google planted a box at the end of the column, analyzing what the subject was and determining which of their advertisers offers something related to the subject. Today's column just had ads for Minnesota schools and hotels, since he was rambling about washing clothes (you'd think that Google would have an ad link for that!).
I have also noticed Google doing this on specialized blogs. For example, a Cubs blog will show ads in the Blogger box at top for sports jackets with team insignias. Yeah, I know, there really is no free ice cream if you value the time your eyeballs linger on the monitor screen. At least the Google boxes are less annoying than pop-up ads.
Advertisers are in transition. They can not rely on 4 network TV channels, radio and newspaper ads as the controlled space for placing ads. A recent Wired article discussed the future of television. I wonder how many TV executives 5 years ago were predicting the incredible sales of TV shows on DVD?
Even with TiVo and DVD recorders, people still like buying the different seasons of various TV shows on the DVD. It's nice to see a whole season's worth of episodes without commercial interruption, but I can't think of many shows where I would pay money to avoid commercials.
To some of the savvier people in advertising, the real problem isn't the DVR. The problem is the 30-second spot itself - the "30," in industry parlance. "We are dealing with a world-class disconnect between the way we're trying to communicate and the way the consumer wants us to communicate," says Gerster. All DVRs have done is force the ad business to admit the obvious - that most people will avoid commercials whenever possible. And it isn't just the spots themselves, it's their ubiquity. The networks are now squeezing 16 to 17 minutes of ads and promos into each hour of programming, up from 14 minutes a decade ago. "Technology gives you the ability to skip commercials, and clutter gives you the reason," says Andrew Green, an executive at rival buying agency OMD, which handles clients like Pepsi and McDonald's. "We are driving this thing into the ground."
So far, the networks have been able to get more and more money for fewer and fewer top-rated shows because advertisers are desperate to pile into the handful of vehicles that are left. At last spring's up-front market, where ad buyers sign up for airtime on the upcoming fall season, they dumped $9.3 billion on the six broadcast networks, well over the record $8.1 billion they'd spent the year before. But this won't go on forever. A recent Forrester survey showed that if 30 million households had DVRs - a milestone we're projected to reach in early 2007 - three-quarters of the national advertisers would cut their spending on TV. And just because advertisers are buying today doesn't mean they're happy about it.
Advertisers have noticed the increased usage of digital video recording systems (DVRs), and have looked beyond the standard 30 second ad. It's no secret that big companies negotiate with TV and movie producers to place their products in a scene. The question now becomes, what do you charge for a can of soda in the background, versus a character actually drinking it and smiling?
A New York marketing entrepreneur named Frank Zazza claims to have the answer. Zazza has come up with a scheme that grades placements by 10 levels of impact, from having the product in the background to naming an entire episode after it. Mix this in with his carefully calibrated "awareness scale" plus a couple of other factors, and you get the dollar value of a placement. For $300,000 you could buy, say, 3 seconds of "verbal" (talk about the product) or 90 seconds of background. "This has the ability to completely change the dynamic of television and the way it's bought," says Peter Gardiner, chief media officer of Deutsch, one of New York's hottest ad agencies.
Zazza has his eye on an even bigger prize. He's working with a company that inserts virtual billboards into sports broadcasts to apply the same technology to product integration. Instead of having an actual Coke can on the set of Friends, the producers could digitally insert it before the show airs. If Pepsi offered more for the DVD version of the series, they could replace the Coke with a Pepsi. It's product integration without the product. What this means for the networks is unclear; the important thing, Zazza says, is to keep the advertisers happy: "Unilever, Procter & Gamble - they're going to be around a long time after CSI is kicking up daisies."
Advertisements are one of those necessary evils of a market-based economy. As new products come into the marketplace, suppliers need some way of announcing the latest and greatest. While some ads may be more entertaining than others, they all want to grab your eyeballs (or ears) and massage your greedy impulses. The tradeoff of clutter (banner ads, product placements in shows, increased number of ads/hour of broadcast) for free entertainment/information is better than having to pay for each minute of "content".
Posted by MarcV, 4:16 PM link
September 23, 2003
5 Greatest American Mythical Heroes
Every culture has its myths and heroes, from Odysseus to Beowulf to today's characters in movies. Hollywood is the premier maker of myths in the world today, and has been pumping them out for nearly 100 years. The movie Secondhand Lions caught me by surprise last Saturday with a mythical hero, and it helped me in considering what are the greatest heroes that Hollywood has portrayed.
I present, from the Taterbed, the top 5 American Mythical Heroes:
5. Uncle Hub (Robert Duvall), Secondhand Lions - We don't find out much about him until about 1/2 hour into the film, when he's shanghaied into the French Foreign Legion during WW1. He also fights slave traders, fights for his true love, and continues to fight even after a tragedy. How he "handled" some young men, as well as Walter (the abandoned boy played by HJ Osment) was an inspiration for me. Uncle Hub helps us to remember that type of people back in the 20th century that made America what it is today.
4. Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck), To Kill A Mockingbird - This story came at an important time in the development of American society. The country had been living with freed slaves for over 80 years, yet bigotry and racism had kept down the declaration of "all men created equal" receiving equal justice. His willingness to step forward and defend a black man, when most of the rest of his community was against it, helped inspire people around this country to look at themselves and see how they were treating others. Atticus also came close to losing a child over this situation.
3. Cowboy (John Wayne), Stagecoach to The Shootist - Some may not consider him heroic, but John Wayne consistently portrayed cowboys that helped others and sacrificed, going beyond what ordinary people would do when others were in trouble. He is the one that comes to mind whenever someone mentions American Cowboy, and he personified the American spirit for many years.
2. Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), Forrest Gump - FG is one of the greatest American myths ever. His pureness of heart and loyalty are unexpectedly rewarded many times over, and he keeps finding treasure in the land of opportunity. Everyone would love to have his "dumb" luck. He is heroic by the sacrifices he makes without hesitation, by never taking advantage of anyone, and by his gentleness and kindness.
1. Augustus McCrea (Robert Duvall), Lonesome Dove - Others may disagree with this selection, that Gus was a goof-off/slacker and liked to party too much. When the chips were down, though, Gus was there and ready to take care of whatever was needed. His rescue of Laurie from Blue Duck was awesome. He may not have died "heroically", but it was his choice.
HONORABLE MENTION: Indiana Jones, George Bailey (It's A Wonderful Life), Mr. Smith (Goes to Washington), Cool Hand Luke (maybe not so honorable a mention!). I'm sure there are a few that should be considered but don't come to mind - leave a comment if you think someone has not made the list. I also noticed that I fell into the "white male" trap, but Hollywood has not had an extensive history of making American myths/heroes of women or minorities. I'll keep looking and maybe update the list if I can find a suitable candidate (Norma Rae?).
Posted by MarcV, 11:33 AM link
September 22, 2003
Football Wrap-up
Did not see much over the weekend, since America's team (Chicago Bears) as well as the Panthers had a bye week. This parity thing in the NFL has really seemed to take root, what with Arizona winning a game and Seattle undefeated. Who woulda thunk that a few weeks ago?!?
- From the Packer defeat: "A sign hanging from the second level at Sun Devil Stadium read 'We'll have the grilled cheese,' and there were a lot of melted cheeseheads in the crowd of 58,784, most of them Green Bay fans." (106 at nearby Sky Harbor Airport) [If the Bears are not claiming victory over a weekend, then this has to be about as good a news story as you can get: PACKERS LOSE, PACKERS LOSE.]
- From Peter King's column: Shaun Alexander's [Seattle RB] daughter was born 28 minutes before kickoff. He was at the hospital. He then made it back to the stadium for most of the game. He and his wife named the girl "Heaven." I must say I never met a girl named "Heaven." I assume her nickname will be "Hev."
- For the New England Patriots, Rosevelt Colvin is out for the season with a hip injury, and Ted Washington is also injured and out for a few weeks. Maybe the Bears weren't so stupid after all ...
Other injuries that may help the Bear's cause: Marshall Faulk out with a broken hand (Nov. 16 game), Culpepper nursing sore back (Dec. 14 game). If Culpepper can not play for an extended period, then the NFC North may be won be attrition, where a 7-9 team may take it. Can you imagine the uproar if a team makes it into the playoffs by winning their division with a 7-9 (or even an 8-8) record? If the Bears can ride out their problems with the offensive line and sharpen up their defense in the next few weeks, they may be able to squeak out an 8-8 record. How's that for optimism!?!
Posted by MarcV, 3:19 PM link
If you wondered what was behind the bankruptcy filing for the company that created Veggie Tales, this article from Christian Retailing Online helps explain it. Apparently Lyrick Studios was dropped as the distributor in favor of Warner Home video in 2001, so Lyrick sued Big Idea and won.
Posted by MarcV, 3:01 PM link
Secondhand Lions
Saw the movie Saturday (matinee) and really enjoyed it. I would put it in my personal top ten. It is the story of a 12 year old boy who was dropped off (by his selfish mother) with his old bachelor uncles, who are rumored to be rich. They live like any old bachelors would: house that needs painting and cleaning, eating "guy" food, not caring how they're dressed, and trying to keep visitors away. While they take their time accepting the boy, they eventually open their hearts to him and are rewarded with the love that he has for them.
This is a great family film, and has the effect of helping you forget about the outside world for two hours as you are drawn into a dusty Texas farm in the 1950's. I hesitate to give more details, because this is one you should see in a theater rather than just wait for the video. It has been a long time since I heard people actually clap at the end of a film. It was not a rousing cheer, but some people enjoyed the film enough to applaud. I did not join in, simply because there was nobody there responsible for the film to accept the applause.
While this may appear to be a "coming of age" movie centered on Walt (Haley Joel Osment), I saw it as the story of Uncle Hub (Robert Duvall). I'll post tomorrow on how he could be considered a great American mythical hero. Uncle Garth (Michael Caine) stays in the background at times but he has his moments as well. This will probably turn out to be a great "transition" movie for Haley Joel Osment, as he matures into young man roles. He has the talent to take him far, as long as he keeps picking good characters. He does not have much to smile about for a good portion of the film, but at the end his smile not only fills the screen but the whole theater.
This film gives a voice to the call for male role models and the importance of men in raising sons. It's a great film for Dads to take their sons, and maybe even give them the talk that you may have been holding back. At the very least, you can find some opportunities to discuss some "heavy" subjects, such as honor and respect. Ladies enjoyed the film too (according to my Mom and Lady Spud), so it's not just a guy-film. I hope Secondhand Lions is remembered at Oscar time, and not just set aside since some would consider it a "fluff" film. With the third and final segment of the Ring Trilogy coming out later this year, Secondhand Lions may not be considered as the best film of the year, but I would say it's pretty close.
One final thought [SLIGHT SPOILER] - there is an interesting thread running through the film of US-Arab relations. Uncle Hub finds and marries an Arab princess, fights a sheik who wanted her and spares his life. Uncle Hub warns him that he has given him two chances, and that the third will be his death. In a similar way the US has given several chances to the Arab world, but now we are giving them the message that if they continue to send assassins, that we will not spare them. The film ends on a hopeful note in regards to this, and I remain hopeful too that the killing and terrorism can eventually be minimized. It will never be eliminated, but perhaps one day be rare.
Posted by MarcV, 11:39 AM link
Take Two
Today's double shot of funnies from the comedian Argus Hamilton:
General Wesley Clark began his presidential campaign Friday with a speech in Iowa City, Iowa. He declared that the passions of Iowans are his passions as well. On his honeymoon night, his wife came to bed dressed up as a corn subsidy.
Congress plans to send a fact-finding delegation of members to Liberia. There's no possibility of their coming down with malaria from any mosquito bites. The bloodsuckers would never bite a congressmen, if merely out of professional courtesy.
[BONUS!]
Ottawa refused Tuesday to limit the number of Pakistanis allowed into Canada because of security concerns. They say immigration improves their economy. The low cost of Viagra in Canada is blamed for the country's steady decline in productivity.
Posted by MarcV, 11:38 AM link
September 19, 2003
Take Two
Today's double shot of funnies from the comedian Argus Hamilton:
Great white sharks were sighted near the Southern California coast last week, causing no small alarm. Several surfers drew bites. The Democrats insist that any leg that isn't bitten all the way through should count as a vote for Gray Davis. [A surfer named Chad was asked about the incident, and all he could say was "Gnarly", which happens to contain the four letters of Gov. Davis first name.]
U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia is a strong partner in the war on terrorism. It's hard to argue. Ever since fifteen of them attacked New York, you can't help but be impressed by their slow but steady progress. [This is funny-sad. If anything, Saudi Arabia should be included in the Axis of Evil, but I guess the current administration is optimistically working with them. I hope the day comes soon when they are held accountable for their support of terrorism.]
Posted by MarcV, 10:32 AM link
Historic Times
He posts them, and I link them. Today the Master Historian, Victor Davis Hanson, has a treatise comparing aspects of the Civil War with the current War on Terrorism. Since 2001 I have been learning more about Pres. Lincoln and how he led the country. It's funny how similar things are now compared to 140 years ago.
If the news from the battlefield was not depressing enough, Lincoln wrestled with recalcitrant border states, draft rioting, simmering resentment against emancipation, budget shortfalls — and, of course, an upcoming election replete with an array of often really vicious opponents. Most prominently, radicals like John C. Frémont damned him for a failure of nerve. Copperheads turned to the diminutive, dapper, and glib failed general, George McClellan, who was willing to throw in the towel and accept a brokered stalemate. Lincoln, who had done so much to prevent war, was castigated as a warmonger with the blood of thousands of his hands. And this was in his fourth, not his first, summer of bloody fighting.
Few in the heat of summer 1864 saw that the war had, in fact, been fought rather brilliantly — and the tide had already almost imperceptibly shifted for good. Grant had worn Lee down in Virginia. Sheridan was loose in the Shenandoah Valley. Uncle Billy Sherman was grinding his way to Atlanta — and aiming at larger things still.
Then suddenly Sherman took Atlanta on September 2. Frémont withdrew from the race. Public opinion turned against McClellan. And in little more than two months Lincoln was reelected with 55 percent of the vote. Sherman cut through Georgia. Grant tightened the vice around Richmond. The primate of the editorial cartoonists was now Uncle Abe. The rest was history.
We are near the end of such a pivotal summer ourselves, the type that defines not just a presidency, but an entire nation for generations to come. After the spectacular victories in Afghanistan and Iraq, public ardor for the conflict is temporarily cooling. Because of the past recession, the effects of 9/11, the tax cuts, and the cost of the war, we are running up billions in projected annual budget deficits. Our own McClellans and contemporary Copperheads deride the president as a miserable failure cheek by jowl with major newspapers.
Few stop to appreciate that 50 million are now liberated with the first chance of real democracy in the history of the Middle East. We almost take for granted that the Taliban and Saddam Hussein are gone and that 90 percent of Iraq is functioning under local democratic councils — in an irreversible process that is taking on a culture and logic of its own. We are angry not that the situation in the occupied countries is stabilizing — so far at a cost of less than 300 — not 300,000 — American dead, but that they are not yet normal societies. Few Americans ask why and how Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iran are suddenly whining privately rather than shouting defiance.
So beneath the hysterical headlines of quagmire, Vietnam, and stalemate, we have sorely hurt our enemies. We have driven the remnants of the Taliban into the Pakistani coffeehouses, the terrorists into caves, Saddam Hussein into a low-rent apartment, his sons into the Inferno — and replaced them all not with dictators, but real opportunities for freedom and consensual government. Instead of more skyscrapers exploding in American cities, 7,000 miles away jihadists and Islamic terrorists are being hunted down in their own once sacred enclaves.
That is a right-on, yeah man! For those who have been wallowing in blogging blah, go and read the rest. It will be sure to lift your spirits. He goes on to give the UN another (well-deserved) smackdown, renews his warning about the "Franco-German" parasites, and ends with words of encouragement.
Another great one from Master Historian.
Posted by MarcV, 10:18 AM link
I read over the "Tragedy" post from yesterday and felt like I left it hanging. So what do we do, conduct our lives with this fear of tragedy, not let the children out of the house, not let anyone get close to us so that we won't be hurt? This may be obvious, but the only thing I know to do is thank God each day for the blessings we do have and take joy in His provision.
While it's easy (and comfortable) for me to get home, engage the LazyBoy in the full and upright position, read a magazine and watch TV, I have to make the effort to spend time with my youngster and wife. The real tragedy would be letting the days go by, something that I can control, as opposed to worrying about something that I cannot control. That's easy to say, but tougher to put in practice. I hope posting on this helps.
Posted by MarcV, 10:18 AM link
September 18, 2003
Rain has been pouring down pretty good here at the Taterbed. The weather forecast called for 1/2 inch, but it's looking like 1 to 2", at least. I have to go make the run to the truck in the parking lot in a few minutes, using the small foldable umbrella as a mini-shield for my head. The golf umbrella is at home.
Looks like another night of movies, maybe popcorn. The first Lord of the Rings film was in the cheapo DVD bin, along with K-PAX and The Kid (5 movies-5 days-$5). We watched the first half last night, and will get to the second half tonight. It's fun to watch with the surround sound. Maybe someday I can justify a big screen TV (27" for now). We'll probably get the boxed set of the three LOTR movies this time next year, God willing and a hurricane don't cause the creek to rise.
The hotels in the Triad are all booked up, so wait a day or two before you decide to visit. Hopefully the folks visiting from the coast will have something left to go home to. There's going to be another big clean-up after folks see how much of their stuff has been washed away.
Posted by MarcV, 4:29 PM link
Tragedy
Saw two movies this week that had been in release for awhile (hence I could afford to rent them!) but I'm just getting around to seeing them [POTENTIAL SPOILERS TO FOLLOW]. They both had a common thread of how people deal with tragedy in their lives. K-PAX, with Kevin Spacey as a potential "alien", was better than I expected. I'm still trying to figure out how he initially ended up in a mental institution and how they were able to keep him there. He did not seem dangerous, yet saying that he was from another planet was enough to keep him locked up. Apparently the doctors saw something that needed to be "worked through", but it was puzzling how someone who seemed intelligent enough to be on his own was held back.
The tragedy in K-PAX is difficult for me to write about, since it is about the only thing that I fear. The Lord asks me not to fear, to trust in Him, but my weak human condition clings to this fear. Even though Prot was eventually unable to come to grips with his tragedy, he helped other people in the mental ward, as well as helping his doctor (played by Jeff Bridges) realize what should be important in his life.
The Kid, starring Bruce Willis, is another story about someone who finds out what is important in life, only Russ (Bruce W.) has to have his 8 year old former "self", Rusty, come to the future and remind him. Russ has lived a life suppressed of most good emotions, and was just left with anger. Rusty helped him to remember the tragedy that changed their life (mother's death). Again, The Kid was better than I expected, considering that Disney was behind it.
One aspect that both films were missing (as well as most films in general) was any reference to faith or religion, how people would use their faith to deal with tragedy. That would be the true test of faith, how we deal with the loss of family. God showed His love for us by sacrificing His Son. I don't know how much my faith could carry me in that ultimate sacrifice. We hope and pray that we would never be tested like that, because you just can't prepare yourself for something like that.
Posted by MarcV, 4:17 PM link
September 17, 2003
No, the Taterbed has not pulled up stakes to get out of the way of Isabel. The effect of her wrath should not be too bad since we are about 200 miles inland. My sainted mother (she has to be for putting up with me all these years) is visiting and I took 2 days of vacation. Posting production should get back to semi-normal tomorrow. Out here in the Piedmont they're only giving us a 50% chance of rain with 40 mph wind gusts expected tomorrow. Hope B. at Indigo Insights fares OK (as I recall she is somewhere close to Fayetteville, NC). The Dead Mule Southern School of Literature may have a few tipped critters, since they are based in Washington, NC (very close to Isabel's projected path). May God watch over and protect them, as well as everyone else staring down Isabel's eye.
Posted by MarcV, 4:52 PM link
September 15, 2003
Pigskin Wrap-Up
- I did not get to see the 4th quarter and beyond, but the Wolfpack tried mightily but fell inches short of the shocking upset. I would not have predicted their defense doing as well as they did, limiting the Buckeye running game, and the offense struggling as much as they did. Hopes for a championship season in Raleigh have pretty much been extinguished, while the folks in Columbus should not get their hopes up for a repeat. Buckeye luck has to run out sometime. Doesn't it?.
- Finally got to see my first Bear game of the year. To avoid sounding overly pessimistic (and keep this post at a short length) they looked OK at times. I'll even go so far as to be wildly optimistic and predict that the Bears have a shot at reaching their win total (4) of last season. I will grind my teeth and express outrage over the use of a prevent defense when the Vikings were at 3rd and goal from the 7. Rushing three guys is inexcusable at that point of the game.
People gripe about Shoop, but Blache is blech as far as I'm concerned. If (and when) Virginia McCaskey cleans house in Lake Forest, Jauron will take with him his ineffective staff and they will hopefully be replaced by a strong coaching staff. It was nice to see Thomas break a few runs.
- The Panthers should have lost yesterday for doing the same dumb thing as Blache called for the Bears: running a prevent defense at the end of the game. The prevent defense will typically prevent you from winning a close game. The Panthers held the Bucs in check all game, and then decided to run a prevent (rush 3 guys) on the Bucs last drive. This allowed Brad Johnson to sit back and pick apart a semi-shaky Panther secondary. I still can't believe how much the middle of the Bucs line collapsed when the Panthers blocked the point-after at the end of regulation.
The Panthers showed other teams that the Bucs can be run against. The Bucs strength is getting an early lead and then tearing apart any team that tries to pass on them. They probably have the second best pass defense ever (second, of course, to my beloved '86 Bears). If the Panthers can develop a passing attack over the season, they may be the team to beat for one of the Super Bowl berths. I really don't see any other dominant team in the NFC.
- Poor Bengals - sometimes you gotta taste what it's like to lose a few close ones before winning them.
- Poor Browns - they had hopes for another playoff berth, but it's not looking too good now. Giving up 295 yards rushing to one back by high-school tackling is very sad.
- Poor Cardinals - wonder what they'll do with the #1 pick, because I can't see them winning more than one game.
- Poor Eagles - Hopes so high going into the season, to see that broken up like so many of McNabb's passes.
- Poor Steelers - without Porter the Steelers D is only average.
- Are the Chiefs the AFC team to beat? The Colts may have a say, but with Tennessee, Oakland, Miami and Denver showing weaknesses, KC may ride an upgraded defense with an explosive offense to the Super Bowl. Could they be the Rams v2.0?
Speaking of the Rams, have we seen the last of Kurt Warner? I'd love to see the Bears get him, but the price will probably be too high, plus they still have Rexman (a first round QB) that they are preparing.
Posted by MarcV, 10:53 AM link
Take Two
Today's double shot of funnies from the comedian Argus Hamilton:
[Yeah, Clinton is an easy target, but these were funny]
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin hosted his annual Steak Fry in Iowa Saturday featuring Democratic candidates. He chose Bill Clinton to headline the evening. Nothing gets the townspeople of Iowa going like an off-Broadway production of The Music Man.
House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi said Friday she is satisfied with Howard Dean's Israel policy. He assured her that as president he will follow in the footsteps of Bill Clinton. Satisfying Nancy Pelosi was certainly a step in the right direction. [Ewwww, grooooosss!]
Posted by MarcV, 10:53 AM link
Storm Alert
The latest track for Isabel has it skipping off of the Outer Banks and up into Washington DC, according to this FOXNews story. At its current course it could severly damage military preparation and transfers with Iraq and any other "hot spot", since Isabel will work up the Virginia coastline up to mid-Pennsylvania. Our nation's capital could get a knock-out blow from this storm:
In Washington, D.C., emergency officials were working on acquiring additional sandbags, and planned to meet with other department and critical services leaders Monday.
"Then we're going to pray," said Peter LaPorte, director of the Emergency Management Agency.
That guy better be careful or he'll have the anti-religion squad on him, and then he'll have to pray in a closet next to the Ten Commandments! Funny how these types of events inspire religious expressions.
Many of the Carolina beaches are already hurting for sand and trying to find funding for beach replenishment. Isabel may take away what little beach sand some of them are still clinging to. Get ready for some major hollering for disaster relief on the Outer Banks. Should we allow taxpayer money to go towards rebuilding on that shifting land? Influential people with high-dollar properties there will squeeze as much as they can out of the government.
Posted by MarcV, 8:38 AM link
September 12, 2003
I'm on day #5 for the daily newspaper dropout. The last two posts below link to the Greensboro News and Record, the paper I used to read. With a high-speed cable connection to the 'Net and cell phone bills, I decided not to renew my subscription. I was also getting tired of the same liberal crap coming out of the paper. For nearly 20 years I have read a daily newspaper, but so far I have not suffered through any withdrawal symptoms. Now I have to get into the habit/discipline of scanning Internet news sites and finding the "important" news. I still may sign up for e-mail delivery of comics, though!
That spell checker on Blogger is the best thing they've done since I signed up over a year ago.
Posted by MarcV, 3:20 PM link
Wolf Alert
The formerly highly anticipated match between the OSU Buckeyes and NC State Wolfpack is scheduled for tomorrow near high noon. Although the Pack did not help the anticipation by losing last Saturday, Buckeye fans are still a little nervous:
"We don't like wolverines, and we don't like wolves, either," said Jack Gordon, an ardent Buckeyes booster for 30 years. "Everybody in town has been talking about it since they beat Notre Dame," Gordon said. "We talk about this as one we're all scared to death about," said Dave Phillips, a Bowling Green graduate who considers OSU his favorite team.
The Taco Bell near the OSU stadium has a 31-17 OSU victory predicted on their sign. I'll admit to the Buckeyes scoring 31, but the Wolfpack will pull off the upset by scoring 35.
NC State 35 - OSU 31
Posted by MarcV, 3:07 PM link
Get Your Galoshes
Hurricane Isabel, estimated to be nearly a week away from the East Coast, is already generating headlines. It has been 5 years since a category 5 hurricane has threatened us, although the concern now is the damage that it could do similar to 1999.
While Isabel bears a resemblance to Hugo, the rivers, lakes and groundwater in the Carolinas are reminding climatologists of the conditions before Hurricane Floyd hit in 1999, spawning monster floods that killed more than 40 people and damaged or destroyed about 67,000 homes.
Floyd arrived a week after Hurricane Dennis saturated the eastern third of the Carolinas. This year's heavy spring and summer storms could have a similar effect, said Ryan Boyles with the N.C. State Climate Office. Much of the state has received 50 percent more rain than normal. "It's not going to take much before it all goes to runoff," he said. "If we have a lot of rain out of this storm, we could see some real problems."
Even though the Taterbed is over 200 miles inland, I can recall the big soaking that Floyd left (we had just moved back to NC a month or so before Floyd hit). While we have been fortunate to have gone about a week or so without rain, Isabel could potentially cause more flooding than Floyd.
"This is certainly a storm to be watched," Goodman said. "The storm is 600 miles wide. It doesn't have to come here to impact us. It has 60 miles of hurricane force winds extending from the center."
If Isabel does threaten the state, coastal residents buying plywood to board up their homes will find prices at all-time highs.
It took the state quite awhile to recover financially from the damage that Floyd wreaked. If Isabel inflicts serious damage, this could be more trouble to a state that is finding creative methods to stay out of the red financially. I suppose most of the states in the potential path of this storm would be hard-pressed to deal with the recovery costs.
Posted by MarcV, 3:05 PM link
A good short post from Larry Kudlow on September 11, 2003, on NRO. There is not any financial discussion, just some pride in America, what we are and we can be. He gives details on some of the things that Ronald Reagan said and ties it all together nicely. "Like Reagan, I choose the path of faith and optimism." That's a good choice!
Posted by MarcV, 11:40 AM link
Referral Log Fun
Goggle gave me a #4 ranking on comebacks for popular snobs (modern drunkard magazine came in #2). Since I don't know whether the popular snobs will be giving or receiving the comebacks, I'm at a loss for a response. I'm trying to understand the concept of being popular yet also being a snob. Are there fan clubs for snobs? I'm guessing some of the "upper crust" Hollywood-types may qualify.
It's early in the football season, yet I got some nibbles on Anger Against Shoop Chicago Bears and 49ers Haters Society. The Bears did lose, and I can understand the frustration, but the Taterbed is place of love and harmony. Even if the Bears come up short, can't we all just get along and make Rodney King happy? Besides, it looks like Jauron's days are numbered, and you know Shoop will be right on his heels as Jauron is given his walking papers.
BONUS: For all of you legion of Bear's fans, here's a link to about 60 photos that someone took last Wednesday (9/10) during a tour of Soldier Field. His impression: I don't know how they are going to have this ready in 2 1/2 weeks. I hope they have decent weather for the next 2 weeks. The Bears can embarass themselves on the field - they don't need a half-done stadium for further embarassment (on a national TV Monday night game).
Posted by MarcV, 10:09 AM link
Friday Five
Here we go again with Friday's five.
1. Is the name you have now the same name that's on your birth certificate? If not, what's changed?
No, but I'll never tell. There's less than 10 people in NC that know "the truth".
2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be?
Elmer J. Fudd, Millionaire: I own a mansion and a yacht. Actually, Lady Spud and I will occasionally go undercover as Wanda and Fred Richman, but that's spy-stuff hush-hush.
3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?)
My parents saw a movie about a miracle, back when they were teenagers, and it so moved them that I was stuck with the name. My Dad told me that he had previously pushed for "Saulius Paulius", but don't think my Mom would have went along.
4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why?
I love the name of Jesus, love to hear that name (but not in vain).
5. Is the analysis of your name at kabalarians.com accurate? How or how isn't it?
No. This is about as silly as generalizing behavior based on a zodiac sign.
Your name gives you a desire to sing, dance, and have a good time. [HAH! More like croak, stumble and vegetate.]
In order to bring out the higher [did they day "high" {insert Beavis&Butthead laughtrack}] side of your nature, you should develop your artistic and creative talents.
Yeah, by blogging!
The name of Spud creates a happy, versatile, and expressive nature, with good business judgment and a fine sense of responsibility, which should enable you to establish congenial relationships in positions of trust where you are dealing with the public. You have a clever, quick mind, with the ability to accomplish a great deal in a short period of time, although it is not easy for you to systematize your efforts. This name could allow expression along musical and artistic lines and gives you the desire to entertain and to meet and mix with people of refinement and culture.[Ha hah hah ha] It also brings out your love of home and family, and in close association you are able to show understanding and affection. Others are attracted by your generosity and your consideration of their interests. Although this name is well balanced, if it is combined with a surname that is not harmonious, you would tend to worry and find it difficult to organize your efforts.
Posted by MarcV, 10:08 AM link
September 11, 2003
Kerry Idiocy
Saw this mentioned over at NRO and decided to check it out myself. In some comments about the Democratic debate Tues. night, we get this moronic utterance from John Kerry:
Tuesday night Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry -- who at least has the good grace to acknowledge his vote in favor of the Patriot Act -- noted, as he surveyed the debate audience, that there were "people from every background, every creed, every color, every belief, every religion. This is, indeed, John Ashcroft's worst nightmare here." Mr. Kerry got his laugh, but he sullied himself in the process.
This stupidity almost inspired some cursing in the Taterbed, but decorum prevailed. These pea-brains in the Democratic party have this bone stuck in their throat, assuming that AG John Ashcroft is racist, making him out to be a monster. It was refuted during his confirmation hearing, yet they continue to act as if it is common knowledge.
It's tempting to get into the race game and compare how "diverse" each of our lives are, like some type of one-upmanship game, but that does not help. It's sad that liberals want to paint conservatives/Republicans as racist, yet it is the liberals/Democrats that continue to play the race card. I'm sick of the politicians that have to stoop to this level and the hatred they apparently have for President Bush and members of his administration.
I hope Americans remember the type of sad and pathetic tactics used by the Democrats and do not reward them with their votes.
Posted by MarcV, 10:54 PM link
He posts them, I link them. This day just could not go by without a few elegant words from the famed historian, Victor Davis Hanson on 9/11/01 - NRO. Many of his arguments will be familiar if you have read his previous articles, but it is great to see them together and cogently expounded on this day.
Posted by MarcV, 11:00 AM link
Tribute
God bless the families that gave up loved ones to the terrorists 2 years ago.
God bless the people who survived and still feel guilt about making it and sadness over the friends that they lost.
God bless Pres. Bush and our leadership for taking steps to protect us from further terrorist acts.
God bless this country, stand beside her and guide her, as we help other countries figure out this freedom thing.
If I could have a wish, if I was in charge, I would like to see someone make a movie honoring the sacrifice that the people on Flight 93 made when they denied the terrorists control of their plane, resulting with a crash into a Pennsylvania field. There are probably many challenges for the rights to the story. Surely someone in Hollywood can work through them and produce a movie that will tell what happened. Obviously there are no eyewitnesses left to describe what actually occurred, but there should be enough evidence to piece a story together, and portray the courage of ordinary people put into an extraordinary circumstance.
I appreciate the fears of peaceful Arabs and Muslims, that this would open up old wounds and possibly create more trouble. This story needs to be told, this film needs to be made. We have all seen the World Trade Center documentaries, but there will be no visual representation of what happened with Flight 93 until this movie is made. It won't be actual footage, but it is as close as we can get.
Posted by MarcV, 10:09 AM link
Time Out
At Bible study last night, the instructor asked us to define evangelizing, and then discussed how we have things backwards nowadays by expecting our pastors to evangelize for us. The church had been in the past and should be set up today where the pastor teaches us, and each of us (the body) goes out to evangelize. An older gentleman in the class agreed, and then went on to say that the spirit of revival seems to be missing. He cited the '30s and 40's when whole towns would stop what they were doing during the week and attend revival services.
The instructor gave examples of Brownsville and Toronto as recent revivals, but agreed that we have His work cut out for us considering that over 60% of the town is not in church on Sunday morning. When was the last time a town stopped what it was doing for something that was not weather-related? I think it was two years ago, today. It's similar to what you hear at funerals: the only time we get together is when someone dies. The only time a community stops what it normally does is during and after a disaster.
Will Muslims consider this a revival day years from now? I caught the PBS special last night about the Twin Towers, and the interviews of those who survived. You could sense the guilt of some who still have a hard time accepting that they made it out but some of their friends did not. My engineering mind is still fascinated by the evil genius of bin Laden's plan. He knew where to aim the planes, knew that he could get small groups of terrorists on several planes and hijack them, with the Western "sheep" letting them take control since that is what we are trained to do (appease the one holding the weapon). One plane did not follow his plan after the passengers found out the results from other hijacked planes.
My emotions still feel the rage against the needless death and suffering, acknowleging that a desire for revenge needs to be tempered. The recent release of another bin Laden video brings the emotions back to the surface. All I can do is trust in God that He will direct our leaders to bring about justice for this. This is a strange war we are fighting against an elusive enemy - no easy answers. It will be difficult to point to a time and say that was V-T (victory over terrorists) Day.
Posted by MarcV, 10:08 AM link
September 10, 2003
Hump Day
In Honor of Hump day, I'll post on two H's: Homeschooling and Hip-Hop.
- Last night the Spud family went to our local homeschooling group meeting. Once a year they invite the whole family as a get-together, a "see who's homeschooling" thing. They mentioned that North Carolina has about 27,000 homeschoolers, administered by a team of 4 people and many volunteers. For what one school spends on a science department, the state manages about the equivalent of ten high-schools. They don't even have enough time to file forms, let alone answer the phone for people who call in for questions.
Today they are organizing a trip to the zoo, so Lady Spud will be taking the youngster to see the animals. In the group last night one family had twelve kids, and the other nine (with a tenth on the way). I saw the two moms talking together after the meeting, and just thinking about the daily work they go through each day wears me out. Between the two of them they have a "21 gun salute". Don't know if they will make it to the zoo today. I can't imagine the organizational skills (and patience) you would need just to get them there, kept together at the zoo, and then back home.
I'll mention another "H": hard-headed boy. The youngster got to play with other kids (supervised) while we met with other parents, but he did not want to stop playing when it was time to go. He had two major misbehaviors last night, so we are cutting out his computer privileges today. The sweet boy who was relatively easy to handle has now become the demanding stubborn boy. I suppose it's part of the process. I just have to keep my anger in check, since effective discipline is not administered when angry. It sometimes feels like the hardest job in the world, but I'm glad to be blessed with it.
God made kids ornery enough so you don't mind seeing them grow up,
but He made them cute enough so you don't kill them.
- Spud Q. Tater
- VH-1 is showing a special called Hip-Hop Babylon, and it's interesting to see the history of this genre. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed rap music when it first got big in the early '80's. I would watch the rap show on MTV with Ed Lover and Dr. Dre and tape the rap videos: Oakwood 3-5-7, Fresh Prince, Run DMC. Back then you had different flavors; some fun, others urgent, and some even political. I loved the inventiveness and artistry of De La Soul. Now you just have gang-bangers and people showing off how rich they are (bling-bling), most all of it depressing. The only fun they have is when they are cutting down another rapper.
This special also highlighted the not surprising revelation that hip-hip stars were (and are) used and swindled by agents and record labels. It should not be surprising that people who know about this do not feel remorse about downloading songs from the 'Net. It should not be surprising that people are finding different ways of acquiring music as the record labels have continuously increased prices as the rest of the economy finds ways of cutting costs and reducing prices.
I don't approve of downloading music that is normally sold in stores and do not do it myself. Record companies are fighting back by swearing out arrest warrants for the major "downloaders" (they are initially targeting several thousand), working with colleges and universities to have them police their own networks "or else", and reducing the prices on CD's. People may feel like they are getting back at the record companies, but they are also hurting the artists as well as many store owners.
This industry is changing, and the majority of people will pay money for legal copies of music at a fair price. The music industry needs to figure out how to supply the yearning masses with the tunes they desire.
Posted by MarcV, 3:59 PM link
Take Two
Today's double shot of funnies from the comedian Argus Hamilton:
The Baltimore Sun said Monday al-Qaeda suspects at Guantanamo are confessing when given McDonald's Happy Meals and Twinkies. Forget bamboo slits under fingernails and Chinese water torture. No prisoner can withstand the American Way of Life. [Fast food = fast confessions]
Teddy Kennedy vowed to hold up President Bush's $87 billion request unless he reveals his Iraq strategy. Hold on for dear life. This road is dangerous enough without taking the car keys away from President Bush and handing them to Ted Kennedy. [Road to piece(s)?]
Posted by MarcV, 3:33 PM link
BARK!
A venting Yorkie can be an awesome force. Mrs. Watson rather emphatically states that Islam is not a religion of peace. I think it can be, that the face of the faith has been corrupted and stolen by fanatical kooks (Islamofascists), yet we need to be consistent and hold them accountable for their actions. We will not be able to negotiate with them if we call them blood-thirsty warmongering murderers, which is probably their perspective when we say that Islam is not a religion of peace. Jesus still wants us to reach out to them, in spite of their heathen ways. Difficult to grab their hand when they want to chop it off.
Posted by MarcV, 3:32 PM link
September 09, 2003
Good, short post from William F. Buckley Jr. on Bush Haters on National review Online. It's frustrating to see the hatred that people have for him, and when they turn around and say, "Well, ya'll did the same thing for Clinton." No, I didn't see many people hating Clinton, but they typically expressed disgust and revulsion FOR HIS ACTIONS. We were brought up to ascribe a certain amount of dignity with the office of the President. Cllinton did much to degrade that dignity, while Pres. Bush has helped to restore it.
Posted by MarcV, 3:55 PM link
Tech Tues
- I have posted on TV's (DLP's) before, and Philips has come out with another one that is starting to creep into my "covet" zone. The Cineos uses a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), a 55" screen in a unit that is only 18" deep, 84 pounds and swivels. This is from a paper posted 2 years ago from RCA:
Replacing traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) technology, brilliant HDTV images on the L50000 are created in the Light Engine. White light is first generated by an ultra-high pressure (UHP) lamp, processed into a laser-like beam through a series of integration optics, and separated into red, green, and blue (RGB) components by a sophisticated optical prism. The three light streams are directed to three color-specific LCOS imagers, each modulated with high-definition video signals. The reflected video components are then recombined within the same prism into a single video stream to provide a cohesive, perfectly-aligned digital picture. Finally, this output is magnified by an 11-element precision optical lens system and the high-definition image is presented on a flat, high-definition screen. The ultra precision 150 micron pitch, high-contrast screen displays images with three times finer resolution than conventional projection TV screens.
It's incredible what they can do with precision optics for consumer devices. DLP reflects light beams with tiny mirrors to direct the light beams through a spinning color wheel, while LCOS splits the light into red-green-blue and then feeds it into the LCOS imagers. The Cineos seems to be going for $3500 (44" at $2800), which is comparable to a plasma, but without the concern of the screen image degradation over time. I could not find any estimates on bulb life or maintenance costs/difficulties with the LCOS compared to the DLP.
- I saw this article in the Wired dead tree edition for October (not online yet), and was able to find a link. The Harborview Burn Center is using a "virtual reality" environment to help burn victims during treatment. Ordinarily opioid drugs help them manage pain, but when they are getting treatment the pain can be excruciating. Preliminary results have been very encouraging for patients who use "SnowWorld" during treatment.
In SnowWorld, patients fly through an icy canyon with a river and frigid waterfall. Patients shoot snowballs at snowmen and igloos (with animated impacts). Since patients often report re-living their original burn experience during wound care, SnowWorld was designed to help put out the fire.
Our logic for why VR will reduce pain is as follows. Pain perception has a strong psychological component. The same incoming pain signal can be interpreted as painful or not, depending on what the patient is thinking. Pain requires conscious attention. The essence of VR is the illusion users have of going inside the computer-generated environment. Being drawn into another world drains a lot of attentional resources, leaving less attention available to process pain signals. Conscious attention is like a spotlight. Usually it is focussed on the pain and woundcare. We are luring that spotlight into the virtual world. Rather than having pain as the focus of their attention, for many patients in VR, the wound care becomes more of an annoyance, distracting them from their primary goal of exploring the virtual world.
It's difficult to imagine a living hell worse than being severly burned on a significant portion of your body. This VR device may be particularly helpful for children. I have heard of people getting major dental work (i.e. root canal) without novacaine or other pain medication. Having that kind of mind control over pain is a rare gift, and for those who do not have it, VR pain control may be a much better alternative than megadoses of morphine, especially when the morphine is ineffective. This link gives more descriptions of the software. This seems to have been around for a few years, but I'm just hearing about it now.
Posted by MarcV, 1:47 PM link
September 08, 2003
Bears Bashed
As a fan you are sometimes expected to take your lumps along with your team, but that was an extra painful (49-7) portion. As a service to any Bear fans who might be checking in, here's some notable quotables:
Kordell (Slash) Stewart - "You've got to grind it out, man," he said. "I've gotten my behind whupped worse than that before. The good thing is that I walked away healthy."
- "Everything is because of everybody," center Olin Kreutz said. "I think it's all our fault."
- "This will make us see if you want to be here or if you're here just to earn a paycheck," defensive tackle Bryan Robinson said.
- "I'm embarrassed right now," Urlacher said, summing up the prevailing feeling in the locker room. "It's the worst game we've had since I've been here."
- "This [loss] starts with me, and I don't feel good about how it went," Jauron said.
So you're having a bad feeling now? I could tell the Bears were playing poorly in preseason, but hoped it was because of new faces in the O-line and QB, as well as the coaches holding back starters. 5 sacks given up, about 2 yards per pass attempt as well as per rush does not spell success. Losing one (Villerial) of the only two guys with experience on an already weakened O-line does not bode well for next week.
In conclusion, an early submission for stupid quote of the season goes to Slash:
"We got our [butts] whupped," he said. "I didn't play well at all and turned the ball over three times and couldn't find the rhythm. Whether you're Santa Claus or Jesus or whatever else, you just can't make those mistakes."
Hunh? I had heard that he was supposed to be a "Christian" athlete, but that last line was taking the Lord's name in vain as far as I'm concerned. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and not stomp on him for a bad game, but poor comments like that are not helping. On to a Sunday night game against the Vikings, who will probably run the Bear's D off of the field. With the amazing Lions winning yesterday, the Bears are currently occupying the cellar with the cheeseheads. I hope the Bears don't bring any whine in a week.
Posted by MarcV, 4:07 PM link
Sen. Edwards (D-N.C.) has decided not to seek re-election for senator next year. Yeee haw! For now the NC Democratic machine can only come up with a defeated has-been (Erskine Bowles) and an old-fashioned political boss (former State House leader Dan Blue, who couldn't make it out of the primaries last time). Libby Dole tussled with Bowles for awhile, but he eventually faded. I don't see where Blue can be a champion of reforming government, plus his whole political career has been in-state (as far as I know). "Rep. Richard Burr, R-N.C., already has announced he will run for the Edwards seat and has built up a campaign structure that brought the seat in doubt for the Democrats." Here's what Edwards had to say:
"More than ever, regular North Carolinians and people all over the country need a voice in the White House representing them," he wrote. "The problems that drove me to explore a possible campaign are even more pressing today than they were in January. "Given all of this, the decision to move forward decisively to seek the nomination was not a difficult one," he said.
Are there "irregular North Carolinians", and if so who are they? I don't think that voice in the White House will be Mr. Trial Lawyer Edwards, unless he goes on to work for some prestigious lobbying firm after his ignominious defeat in the primaries. State law allowed him to campaign for both, but he was looking at a good chance for defeat in the Senate race as an incumbent. Republicans are looking to gain a few seats this election cycle - hope they can do something positive with it (like REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ) and not just rubber stamp Pres. Bush's compassionate/expensive conservatism.
Posted by MarcV, 9:41 AM link
Referral Log Fun
Made the top 4 at Yahoo for this search: Las Vegas flooding and Christ's return. I don't recall seeing that mentioned in the book of Revelations, although the modern day Sodom and Gamorrah could use a little cleaning (not that I'm advocating leveling the city). If I recall my geography correctly, Las Vegas is not downriver from the Hoover dam, in case that ever busted. I have not doubt that Jesus could flush out Vegas any way He wanted.
I just missed the top 20 (at #21) for snappy comebacks for teachers, probably since I don't do that for a living (teach, not make snappy comebacks!). Hmmm, what advice could I give to help those teachers battling in the trenches:
- Oh yeah, well the principal will take my side, nyaaah!
- You kids think you're so smart, yet I'm being paid to babysit you.
- I'm big you're little, I'm smart you're dumb, I'm right you're wrong. (From Matilda)
- Just wait until you teach kids of your own!
(That's about as snappy as I can get for a Monday morning.)
I'm getting the occasional visitor searching for anything related to the Saturday Night Live skit on Da Bears and the Superfans. Those were some great moments on the show. I loved it when the Superfans would slobber all over Coach Ditka, and then later renounced their membership after the Bears let Da Coach go. They have issued DVD's based on various performers on the show (i.e. the best of Belushi, or Murphy, or Carvey), and I'd be very tempted to purchase one where they put together all of Da Bears - Superfans skits. Amazon does have Mr. Bill Classics, but they're out of stock. You can get a used DVD starting at $89.99 ?!? There are VHS copies floating around if that price is a little hard to swallow. Ooh noooooo ...
Posted by MarcV, 9:26 AM link
September 05, 2003
Referral Log Fun
Pulling in at #88 for smoked pigs ear recipe dog. First, make sure that either the pig is dead and/or the head has been severed off of the body. Grab the ear by the tip, take a sharp knife and cut the ear off at the base, being sure not to get too much scalp skin. Repeat for the other ear. Have a SmokieJoe barbecue nice and hot, quickly rinse the ears off then slap them on the grill. Remember to put the cover on the grill to give them that extra-smoky flavor. After the one side gets nice and crispy, turn it over to let the other side cook. Scrape off the charred hair bristle. Remove from the grill and cut into small pieces, since you only have two ears to eat and you want to be sure to share some with everyone.
There were only two results listed for weather in Jerusalam at Pentecost. Since the Weather Channel records don't seem to go back very far, I will offer the following.
The day started out bright and sunny, with a few fluffy clouds floating lazily by. At 9 am, with the temperature reading at ~78 F, the thermometer briefly surged up by a few degrees as tongues of flames hovered over some people's heads. The rest of the day was filled with shouts of praise and other joyful noises.
Posted by MarcV, 8:57 AM link
Friday Five
Here we go again with Friday's five.
1. What housekeeping chore(s) do you hate doing the most?
Cleaning bathrooms
2. Are there any that you like or don't mind doing?
Vacuuming, especially if loud music can accompany it
3. Do you have a routine throughout the week or just clean as it's needed?
The latter
4. Do you have any odd cleaning/housekeeping quirks or rules?
You gotta check the dish rag every time and verify lack of "sourness"
5. What was the last thing you cleaned?
Loaded dishwasher last night
Posted by MarcV, 8:53 AM link
September 04, 2003
NFL - Bears
It's really here, the start of the NFL season. Lo, those many dry months in the rain this summer, when football news consisted of draft picks and roster rumors, we now come to something meaningful on the gridiron. My enthusiasm seems to be somewhat tempered compared to a year ago.
After some serious consideration I have decided not to conduct the Pigskin Prognostication Pickin' Pool this season. Part of it is just time consideration, but it's mostly due to a heavy heart this year. My beloved Bears look to be struggling at reaching .500 this year. Yes, every season starts with a prediction of 19-0 and a championship ring.
Maybe by keeping my expectations low, I can hopefully be pleasantly surprised. The problem with the prognostication pool for me is that I will pick the Bears every week, so if they lose I'm already a game behind. It's selfish, I know, but it was rather painful last season to continually pick the Monsters of the Midway, and not only have to suffer their setbacks but compound that with the prognostication loss.
Anyhow, there are just too many question marks this season, but I am optimistic for the future. I don't think Slash (Kordell Stewart) can lead them to the promised land, but Grossman will hopefully get the time this season to be carefully brought along and not thrown into the fire. Rex G. could be the one to break the Bear's QB jinx and lead them to playoff success as long as he does not end up as another McNown.
Otherwise, both sides of the line, particularly the offensive, are suspect. The running game seems to be starting from scratch and the cornerbacks may be vulnerable. Jauron could be a lame duck, particularly since the first part of the schedule is the most difficult (first 2 games on the road, bye week then Packers and Raiders at home, followed by the Saints away). We are still stuck with Shoop (offensive coordinator), who will continue to call dink passes, probably using a new QB and banged-up O-line as an excuse. If the ball is not thrown downfield more this year, expect to hear mighty growls of disapproval on the lakeshore.
As far as the NFC North, I want to discount the Packer's chances this season, but they may be successful again as long as Favre can take snaps. They seem to have so many suspect areas, though the cheesehead QB makes up for them. Minnesota is poised for a huge year if their D can keep the opposing team off of the field. The Lions, well, they're the Lions, and losing their #1 running back (Stewart) is not a good way to start the season. They'll improve under the Mooch, but they still need to find and keep more quality players on both sides of the ball.
Preseason pundits are calling the NFC South the toughest division, but the West (Rams and 'Niners) and East (Philly and maybe NYG) also have some tough teams. I don't want to see Tampa Bay make another run in the playoffs - just don't like 'em! As far as the AFC, will this be the year the Dolphins finally break through? I'm tempted to say no as long as Wannstedt is coach. I still like Tennessee ending up in the Super Bowl this season, and probably playing against Philly, but watch out for the Rams scoring machine revving it back up.
The Bears start their season against San Francisco Sunday afternoon. Was it nearly 15 years ago that the Bears had their last legitimate chance at the Super Bowl, only to have an icy dagger thrust into their hearts by Montana? I can still feel the ache from that game.
Jan. 8, 1989
Soldier Field
With the wind-chill at 25 below zero, the Bears appeared to have the weather with them in the NFC title game. But Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes as the 49ers rolled to a 28-3 victory. Two weeks later the 49ers beat Cincinnati in the Super Bowl. (From the Chicago Tribune site)
Posted by MarcV, 12:07 PM link
September 03, 2003
Indigo has some good funnies today. Growing up Catholic, I was able to appreciate some of the definitions. With RECESSIONAL though, it's not just in a hurry to get to the parking lot, but beating the Baptists to the good restaurants. Those of us who don't get out until after 12 usually are resigned to either waiting in line or going to a fast-food joint.
Posted by MarcV, 3:30 PM link
Take Two
Today's double shot of funnies from the comedian Argus Hamilton:
President Bush flew back to Washington and attended St. John's Church Sunday morning. He attends his family's Congregational Church in Maine and the Episcopal Church in Washington but he was raised Presbyterian and calls himself a Methodist. When Anglo-Saxons practice multi-culturalism no corner of Britain goes unrepresented. [Don't folks just love labels - I'm working on my label: Jesus freak!]
Canada announced Friday that all passport photos must show the Canadian with a serious look on his face. This is an expensive idea. Jim Carrey is a Canadian and Warner Bros. loses sixty million dollars whenever he makes a serious picture.
[BONUS]
New York former governor Mario Cuomo publicly urged Senator Hillary Clinton Sunday to run for U.S. president in 2004. It's not too late. Hillary Clinton has tremendous name recognition, and if she can overcome that she may have a chance.
Democratic candidates spent Labor Day in Iowa attacking Howard Dean. The man is absolutely amazing. Howard Dean is the only doctor ever to raise six million dollars on the Internet without writing Viagra prescriptions for complete strangers.
Posted by MarcV, 10:07 AM link
More Greed
Dr. Byron started a few posts on the theology of economics. Since his commenting system is down, and even though I'm late to the game, I wanted to add my two cents. First, his definition: "My theology of economics is to set up a system where we, as a people, can enjoy as abundant a life as we can within a broad moral framework." Next, the greed comes in: "People are naturally sinful and greedy. The presence of the Holy Spirit will minimize that nature, but our society as a whole is still greedy. While we are given the call to help the poor, we also need to reconcile ourselves to the idea that Joe Average is greedy."
He further refines his theology of ecomonics in his next post: "Our economics should reflect that (not naturally good outside of God). Our theology should strive to bring people to Christ and to minimize that sin nature, but our economics should recognize that man is sinful and that that greedy nature needs a healthy outlet." In his last post, he delivers some recommendations:
How do we function in this marketplace? Be well-trained. Work hard. Deliver a good product or service at a fair price. Be good workers wherever we work. Care for the people we work for and the people who use our goods and services we make. If we do that, we will both glorify God and earn our keep.
The marketplace isn't our home; the Church is communal, but a fallen world doesn't function well on a communal basis.
Something that I have come to understand more, to go along with greed in explaining economics and motivation, are incentives. People will not do someting unless there are incentives either in front of them or promised. Christians continue to fall into a trap of relying or hoping on people's generosity or altruistic nature, and that can sometimes work in the church body, but in the secular world people will not act unless they have an incentive to act. The capitalist system places money (wealth) as the incentive. We somehow have to balance striving for wealth with serving God, and it can be a thin balance beam.
Greed is neither good nor bad. Greed is. It is something we are born with. God in His infinite wisdom gave us a survival instinct, and greed is as important as any other basic human instinct. Once they are strong enough, babies grab anything they can and put it in their mouths if it can fit (or doesn't crawl away!). If it's bitter or sour or causes them pain, then they spit it out. That is a survival instinct. The same greedy instinct that causes them to put a bug in their mouth also helps them survive illnesses and injuries, the will to live. The following is a listing of how greed fits into human development and the 10 Commandments.
Childhood
Constant need/greed but cannot provide for themselves. No stealing (#8) is heavily emphasized, with no lieing (#9) close behind, since both of these can help satisfy greedy urges but are strongly discouraged.
Teens
If they survive, they begin to understand the nicer (i.e. more expensive) things in life, and the greedy urges increase the coveting of property (#10). They think they know better and want (but are not able yet) to do for themselves. This will often clash with honoring their parents (#5). Language skills are developed enough to show off their "command of cursing" (#3), and unfortunately they also sometimes show their independence by turning their back on the church (#4).
Young Adults
Having "flown the nest", they are on their own and have gone to the next level of coveting, but without the resources to satiate their greed. Now that they are at "marrying" age and sexually active, lust creeps in (no adultery, #7) and can wreak havoc on families as well as the pocketbook. Some adults discover such a need/greed for power that they turn to murder (#6).
Old Adults
If they have made it this far, people usually know what they can afford, as well as having maxed-out credit cards. The last vestiges of greed turn inwards, to the desire since early childhood of wanting to be in control. Thus the desire for power by not yielding to God (#1) and putting worldly items ahead of Him (#2). They can question a God who has got them to the point they are at, and not the point the were hoping to be at. Finally, greed can make people do strange things, in order to leave a legacy after they are gone.
Throughout our lives greedy desires guide our thoughts and sometimes actions. How we act upon them gives a measure of the man, or woman. Jesus asks us to deny our greedy self-interest, take up our cross, follow Him and love our fellow man. Our greedy lives in this fallen world are in constant conflict with our desire to serve the Lord (Romans 7).
Our government has been established to help keep fairness in the marketplace and society. Once ownership laws are set, then the market functions by people contributing their effort and ingenuity to produce something of value. If I know that my hard work and bright ideas will result in a measure of wealth that will satisfy some of my greedy desires, then I will make the effort and contribute to the good of the market as it benefits me. This again goes against Christian doctrine, where grace is freely given and my faith, not my works, are rewarded. We work for the Lord not to benefit ourselves, but to honor Him.
We neither have to embrace or reject greed, just understand how our lives can be swayed by it and keep the beast controlled as much as possible.
Posted by MarcV, 10:07 AM link
September 02, 2003
Good discussion on the NFL's hiring practices and more at Jay Nordlinger's Impromptus on National Review Online. As Dr. King mentioned (35 years ago?) for people to be "... judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin", we're still a long ways from that.
Posted by MarcV, 11:33 AM link
Take Two
Today's double shot of funnies from the comedian Argus Hamilton:
The White House announced a $500 billion budget deficit to greet the returning Congress this week. We can't keep this up. At this rate of spending, Medicare won't have enough money to pay for emergency surgeries, just enough to pay the doctor to touch up the X-rays.
Alabama complied Friday and moved the Ten Commandments from the court lobby to a closet just off the lunchroom. It's insane. In the space of three months, the federal courts have put the Ten Commandments in the closet and let the sodomy laws out. [AMEN - any more evidence for last days?]
Posted by MarcV, 10:14 AM link
Face Off
Interesting article over at Wired on interpreting facial expressions and the CD's you can purchase to help you interpret facial expressions. Don't know if the guy who is selling the training CD's (Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine) paid Wired for the article, but he seems to be an expert in this particular field (Pixar hired him as a consultant for facial expressions of their animated characters).
He was a pioneer in the study of facial expression and emotions in the 1950s, when many of his colleagues felt he was wasting his time. That's because scientists then believed that expressions and gestures were learned socially and varied among cultures. Charles Darwin, however, believed that at least seven of the basic emotions -- sadness, happiness, anger, contempt, disgust, fear and surprise -- were expressed in the same way universally.
So Ekman set out to prove this by studying populations in Japan, Brazil, the United States, Indonesia and the former Soviet Union. All exhibited the same expressions.
To prove that other cultures hadn't learned the expressions through TV or film, Ekman trudged to Papua New Guinea to study people who had never been exposed to media or other cultures around them. The Papuans had never seen a match or viewed their image in a mirror. Yet when they expressed surprise or fear at either of these, they used the same expressions that anyone in the world would use.
Ekman said it's hard to overstate the importance of emotions, because they are the motivation for most of what we do in life. Quoting one of his mentors, he said we all organize our lives to maximize the experience of positive emotions and minimize the experience of negatives ones.
Some people who may not have superior intelligence have been very successful in business by simply reading faces and using that to their advantage. Champion poker players also need that skill. With all of the instant communication/video conferencing technology available, many people still do not conclude business deals until they physically meet and size each other up. Various studies have probably been done on this, but surely quite a few juries are swayed not so much on the evidence but by the reactions of the accuser/accused during a trial. Most people believe they have a special talent for lie detection, but according to Dr. Ekman 80-90% of people misinterpret facial expressions.
I always thought I was in the minority with my lack of "people-reading" skills, but apparently not. Only in the last few years have I really begun to appreciate office politics and how to play the game. It's a game that does not interest me, yet I need to play it in order to keep this job and the paychecks coming in. From my unscientific survey, the majority of bloggers seem to be introverts like me. Bloggers don't have to worry about either giving or interpreting facial cues. It's just letters (and sometimes pictures) on the screen, trying to get a point across by simple prose.
Perhaps blogging will never be a "truly big thing" because of the lack of socialization and face-to-face visual contact. It does fill a gap where ideas can be communicated semi-anonymously, and your imagination can fill in the social aspects. Just by reading Spudlets you don't know if I'm 6'4" abs-of-steel with chiseled good looks, or just another pudgy nerd behind a keyboard with too much time on his hands. What's that, you'd guess the latter?!?! Hah, shows you how much you think you know - I'm not a nerd! I think ...
Posted by MarcV, 10:10 AM link
