Wednesday, June 20, 2012
You Can Judge a Man By His Friends, part 1
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Obama calls GOP budget 'Social Darwinism'
Washington, DC, April 3, 2012. President Obama attacked the Ryan - Boehner Grand Old Tea Party budget passed in the House of Representatives, calling it "Social Darwinism." The Grand Old Tea Party immediately attacked the President saying "Darwinism? That's evolution. We can't practice evolution. We don't believe in it!"
When he heard about the response from the GOP and Tea Party, President Obama started laughing. His laughter, however, subsided when he was reminded of the November 2010 elections, the Grand Old Tea Party majority in the House, their votes in the Senate, and their apparent 5 - 4 majority in the Supreme Court.
President Obama was having lunch with editors and reporters of the Associated Press when he condemned the Ryan - Boehner Grand Old Tea Party budget. He called it a “Trojan horse” and “thinly veiled social Darwinism.” Mark Landler, in the New York Times, aka "the Liberal Elitist media," (here), wrote that Obama said the Ryan - Boehner Grand Old Tea Party budget "would greatly deepen inequality in the country."
While expanding the disparity of wealth that exists between the 3.07 million richest Americans, i.e. the 1%, compared to the 303.93 million not-richest Americans, i.e. the 99%; by decreasing educational opportunities and access to health care, and by increasing poverty, the Ryan - Boehner Grand Old Tea Party budget would actually serve to expand equality among the 303.93 million non-richest Americans, albeit in what many consider to be the wrong direction.
The Ryan - Boehner Grand Old Tea Party budget has been endorsed by all four remaining candidates running in the Republican primaries. Altho Newt Gingrich, opposed it before he was for it, calling it "right wing social engineering." As Speaker of the House, Mr. Gingrich, it must also be noted, pioneered the technique of shutting down the government as a way to protect the taxpayers from the services they need from their government.
The Grand Old Tea Party also attacked the President for having lunch when he should be working. There are rumors that Mr. Gingrich called President Obama "shiftless" and "lazy" for having lunch when he should be working. However, as there are no reporters covering Mr. Gingrich, those rumors could neither be confirmed nor denied.
Rush Limbaugh demanded videos of the President with young female reporters. Mr. Limbaugh later changed his statement, demanding videos of young female reporters without the President, and large quantities of various controlled substances.
Former Vice President Cheney could not be reached for comment. It is believed that he is in a secure but undisclosed location where he may be hunting with lawyers. Or hunting lawyers.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Investment Advice: The STUBL Index
Carl Richards, author of "The Behavior Gap," and a columnist in the NY Times, wrote "Beware of 'Market Predictors' (here)
"To demonstrate how ridiculous market predictors can be, ... David Leinweber decided he could prove a point with butter production in Bangladesh:
After casting about to find a statistic so absurd that no sensible person could possibly believe it could forecast U.S. stock prices, Mr. Leinweber settled on annual butter production in Bangladesh. Over an 13-year period, he found, this statistic “explained” 75 percent of the variation in the annual returns of the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index.
By tossing in U.S. cheese production and the total population of sheep in both Bangladesh and the U.S., Mr. Leinweber was able to “predict” past U.S. stock returns with 99 percent accuracy."
I've used the STUBL index, pronounced "Stubble" index. It stands for "Standard Transitory Unshaved Beard Length." I look at college students on Monday mornings. When a majority of them are clean-shaven I conclude they went to sleep early enough to get up early and shave, and therefore didn't have a great weekend. When a majority of them have a two day beard I conclude they had a great weekend.
This is a leading predictor of the market. However, I'm not sure when the correlation is positive and when it's negative. That's where the crystal ball comes in.
See, it's an integrated approach.
"To demonstrate how ridiculous market predictors can be, ... David Leinweber decided he could prove a point with butter production in Bangladesh:
After casting about to find a statistic so absurd that no sensible person could possibly believe it could forecast U.S. stock prices, Mr. Leinweber settled on annual butter production in Bangladesh. Over an 13-year period, he found, this statistic “explained” 75 percent of the variation in the annual returns of the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index.
By tossing in U.S. cheese production and the total population of sheep in both Bangladesh and the U.S., Mr. Leinweber was able to “predict” past U.S. stock returns with 99 percent accuracy."
I've used the STUBL index, pronounced "Stubble" index. It stands for "Standard Transitory Unshaved Beard Length." I look at college students on Monday mornings. When a majority of them are clean-shaven I conclude they went to sleep early enough to get up early and shave, and therefore didn't have a great weekend. When a majority of them have a two day beard I conclude they had a great weekend.
This is a leading predictor of the market. However, I'm not sure when the correlation is positive and when it's negative. That's where the crystal ball comes in.
See, it's an integrated approach.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Gingrich "I'll set the price of gasoline at $2.50 per gallon."
Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker, former lobbyist, and former husband to two different women, wants to set gasoline prices back to $2.50 per gallon. (here) But how? Would a President Gingrich sign an “Executive Order” setting the price of gasoline at $2.50 per gallon? The President can authorize a mission to attempt to kill terrorists, as Obama did with Bin Laden and Awlaki. But how can the President set the price of a commodity?
I suppose he can order rationing of gasoline – say 10 gallons per citizen per day. And if he does, with my 30 mpg '99 Chevy Malibu w 165,000 miles, I will be able to drive 300 miles per week. If you have a Hummer that gets about 8 mpg, you can go about 80 miles. Or you can buy gas from me for $10 per gallon. (I's a capitalist, yo.)
Or a President Gingrich can say “The market price for gasoline is $5.00 per gallon. But we'll set it artificially to $2.50 via a government subsidies. We'll tax the oil companies." When a lobbyist for the oil companies reminds him that rather than tax oil companies we give them subsidies, as one will, he will flip-flop and tax poor people and the middle class – who don't have lobbyists.
Or, a President Gingrich can say, ““The market price for gasoline is $5.00 per gallon. But we can set it artificially to $2.50 simply by revaluing the dollar so it takes Two Real Dollars to buy one Newt Dollar. As a stroke of marketing genius he could put Reagan's picture on the Newt Dollar. But Newt, never known for his humility, seems more likely to put his own picture on the Newt Dollar.
Of course, if you have a brain then you'll realize that this is not exactly small government. But then again if you've a brain then you're not going to vote for Mr. Gingrich.
There is actually one other way to cut the price of gasoline: cut demand.
Suppose we build very efficient cars and a mass transit infrastructure. And we do research into bio-gasoline and figure out how to get octane and other hydrocarbons from plants we can grow without fossil fuel based fertilizers, rather than from fossilized plants. The only problem with that strategy is that it requires thinking, science, and engineering. Gingrich and Santorum, like Palin, Bachmann, Perry and Cain don't believe in thinking, science, and engineering (except engineering what people believe). Ron Paul might believe in thinking, science, and engineering, but he doesn't believe that the government should do anything. And Romney might, but he won't admit it until after the convention.
Or maybe Gingrich wants us to go metric, and actually meant $2.50 per liter. He is getting old. He might be getting confused.
Or maybe Gingrich wants us to go metric, and actually meant $2.50 per liter. He is getting old. He might be getting confused.
What do we know about President Obama?
Our allies in NATO like and respect President Obama. I don't believe Putin likes him. And I am pretty sure that Achmadinejad is afraid of him. He killed bin Laden and Awlaki (I know he didn't pull the trigger), led NATO to help the insurgents bring down Gadafi, led the international sanctions against Iran, pulled troops out of Iraq, is carefully watching the situation in Syria. He saved the American auto industry - and in so doing saved the midwest from Depression.
He says "I have Israel's back, but don't take my word for it, look at what I've done." His support for Israel at the UN and managing our response to the "Arab Spring" are good for the Americans, Europeans, Israelis, many Arabs, and many Persians, but not for Assad, Achmadinejad, and the Mullahs, or Putin. That's good enough for me.
That's not to say I like everything he's done. There are aspects of his health care, tax, energy, and environmental policies I would like to change.
But you asked "what do we know?"
He was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961.
He was raised by his mom and her parents, who were from Kansas.
He went to elementary school in Indonesia, where his mom was living w her 2nd husband.
He went to high school in Hawaii. Played basketball. Went by the nickname "Barry."
His mom and her parents were middle class. His mom was lower middle class in terms of money, income, wealth. On occasions his meals were paid for w food stamps.
This is conjecture but he probably was quiet, introspective and thoughtful. Obama the man is introspective and thoughtful. Most boys are quiet, and Obama was a black kid w a white mom and white grandparents in Indonesia and Hawaii.
I don't know what it was like - I grew up Jewish in Staten Island at a time when there was one Jewish family per square mile - one family out of about 500 families - that's 0.2% - and had my share of "incidents" involving religion and bigotry. There were some colorful people in my neighborhood, but except for one kid with a Native American grandparent, there were no "people of color." None in my elementary school or Junior high. I was the only Jewish kid in in my class, I think my grade, until 4th grade. Then it was me and a very cute Jewish girl named Laurie. But I digress.
In the south he would have been a scandal. In Indonesia he was a paradox - a black kid w a white mom and Indonesian step-father. Privileged as an American, and yet conscious of it. In Hawaii there are 4 groups: Whites, Chinese, Japanese, and Hawaiians. A black kid w a white mom in the 1960's would have been his own category, especially with a half-Indonesian kid-sister. And divorce was uncommon and scandalous back in the 60's.
My wife - who's from Eastern Europe - asks why we say he's Black because his mom was white. But she doesn't really understand race in America. A black friend of mine says I don't understand race in America from a black person's perspective, and, lawyer that he is, he makes a cogent argument, based on facts.
What else do we know?
Obama graduated Columbia University, then Harvard Law, and didn't go to either as a legacy kid. Ergo, he must be pretty smart and capable of hard work.
He went to Chicago trying to help poor people. Met and married Michelle. He lost one or two elections early on. Got elected to the State Legislature, then the US Senate, then the Presidency.
As we saw in the 2012 White House Press Correspondant's Dinner, he is able to laugh at himself. That evening he grinned ruefully when Seth Meyers said "I don't know who among the Republicans can beat you, but I do know who could beat you - the Barack Obama of 2008. Remember him?" And Obama himself, after issuing the order authorizing the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, and before knowing the results of the mission, before knowing whether it failed or succeeded, calmly and ironically saluted Donald Trump, saying "choosing whether to fire Gary Busey or Meatloaf- would keep me up at night."
As a leader, he seems to listen to people he has reason to believe are experts, and make intelligent and informed decisions based on the facts and insight. That, in my opinion, is exactly what we need in a President. The melanin content in his skin, and the texture of his hair are irrelevant to his ability to do his job.
He says "I have Israel's back, but don't take my word for it, look at what I've done." His support for Israel at the UN and managing our response to the "Arab Spring" are good for the Americans, Europeans, Israelis, many Arabs, and many Persians, but not for Assad, Achmadinejad, and the Mullahs, or Putin. That's good enough for me.
That's not to say I like everything he's done. There are aspects of his health care, tax, energy, and environmental policies I would like to change.
But you asked "what do we know?"
He was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961.
He was raised by his mom and her parents, who were from Kansas.
He went to elementary school in Indonesia, where his mom was living w her 2nd husband.
He went to high school in Hawaii. Played basketball. Went by the nickname "Barry."
His mom and her parents were middle class. His mom was lower middle class in terms of money, income, wealth. On occasions his meals were paid for w food stamps.
This is conjecture but he probably was quiet, introspective and thoughtful. Obama the man is introspective and thoughtful. Most boys are quiet, and Obama was a black kid w a white mom and white grandparents in Indonesia and Hawaii.
I don't know what it was like - I grew up Jewish in Staten Island at a time when there was one Jewish family per square mile - one family out of about 500 families - that's 0.2% - and had my share of "incidents" involving religion and bigotry. There were some colorful people in my neighborhood, but except for one kid with a Native American grandparent, there were no "people of color." None in my elementary school or Junior high. I was the only Jewish kid in in my class, I think my grade, until 4th grade. Then it was me and a very cute Jewish girl named Laurie. But I digress.
In the south he would have been a scandal. In Indonesia he was a paradox - a black kid w a white mom and Indonesian step-father. Privileged as an American, and yet conscious of it. In Hawaii there are 4 groups: Whites, Chinese, Japanese, and Hawaiians. A black kid w a white mom in the 1960's would have been his own category, especially with a half-Indonesian kid-sister. And divorce was uncommon and scandalous back in the 60's.
My wife - who's from Eastern Europe - asks why we say he's Black because his mom was white. But she doesn't really understand race in America. A black friend of mine says I don't understand race in America from a black person's perspective, and, lawyer that he is, he makes a cogent argument, based on facts.
What else do we know?
Obama graduated Columbia University, then Harvard Law, and didn't go to either as a legacy kid. Ergo, he must be pretty smart and capable of hard work.
He went to Chicago trying to help poor people. Met and married Michelle. He lost one or two elections early on. Got elected to the State Legislature, then the US Senate, then the Presidency.
As we saw in the 2012 White House Press Correspondant's Dinner, he is able to laugh at himself. That evening he grinned ruefully when Seth Meyers said "I don't know who among the Republicans can beat you, but I do know who could beat you - the Barack Obama of 2008. Remember him?" And Obama himself, after issuing the order authorizing the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, and before knowing the results of the mission, before knowing whether it failed or succeeded, calmly and ironically saluted Donald Trump, saying "choosing whether to fire Gary Busey or Meatloaf- would keep me up at night."
As a leader, he seems to listen to people he has reason to believe are experts, and make intelligent and informed decisions based on the facts and insight. That, in my opinion, is exactly what we need in a President. The melanin content in his skin, and the texture of his hair are irrelevant to his ability to do his job.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Mittens and He Who Should Be Neutered
Why is Buddy Roemer excluded from the GOP debates? It's not that I don't like Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul, it's that I have nothing but contempt for Mittens, he who should be neutered, and Santorum (who's name doesn't really mean what Google says it means) and ... Ron Paul is a white supremacist. Or he may not be, but he's their boy.
Gingrich cheats on wife 1, Jackie, with Other Woman 1, Marianne, who becomes Wife 2. Then cheats on Wife 2, Marianne, with Young Intern / Other Woman 2, Callista, who becomes Wife 3. This last while blasting Clinton for having a relationship with an intern. What Hypocrisy! What Arrogance! I mean "The Gingrich Wives" - sounds like the title of a film - a porn film.
Romney may be 'Wall Street.' But Gingrich is a lobbyist for Wall Street. Oh, I forgot- Gingrich is an historian.
Why don't I like Romney? He's not Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Bill Gates, Tom Watson, Henry Ford, Bill Hewlett, Dave Packard, Walt Disney: They created stuff. Romney looked for companies to raid.
Romney on Obama: "He had no jobs plan." But he saved all the union jobs at GM and Chrysler. "He never even managed a corner store; he was a community organizer (helping poor people). Romney didn't create jobs; he created poor people.
Mittens, Newter, Santorum, and Ron Paul will solve poverty by eliminating food stamps, Medicare. They will save poor people by allowing them to die.
So the problem with the Republican Party is that it has become the party of the lunatic fringe. Why is Buddy Roemer exlcuded from the GOP debates?
Romney: “Obama apologizes for America.” How, Mitt? By killing bin Laden? By going after Quadafi? Romney should apologize for driving for 12 hours with his dog strapped to the roof of his car.
Gingrich cheats on wife 1, Jackie, with Other Woman 1, Marianne, who becomes Wife 2. Then cheats on Wife 2, Marianne, with Young Intern / Other Woman 2, Callista, who becomes Wife 3. This last while blasting Clinton for having a relationship with an intern. What Hypocrisy! What Arrogance! I mean "The Gingrich Wives" - sounds like the title of a film - a porn film.
Romney may be 'Wall Street.' But Gingrich is a lobbyist for Wall Street. Oh, I forgot- Gingrich is an historian.
Why don't I like Romney? He's not Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Bill Gates, Tom Watson, Henry Ford, Bill Hewlett, Dave Packard, Walt Disney: They created stuff. Romney looked for companies to raid.
Romney on Obama: "He had no jobs plan." But he saved all the union jobs at GM and Chrysler. "He never even managed a corner store; he was a community organizer (helping poor people). Romney didn't create jobs; he created poor people.
Mittens, Newter, Santorum, and Ron Paul will solve poverty by eliminating food stamps, Medicare. They will save poor people by allowing them to die.
So the problem with the Republican Party is that it has become the party of the lunatic fringe. Why is Buddy Roemer exlcuded from the GOP debates?
Romney: “Obama apologizes for America.” How, Mitt? By killing bin Laden? By going after Quadafi? Romney should apologize for driving for 12 hours with his dog strapped to the roof of his car.
John McCain was called a "Maverick" because he actually worked with Democrats.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Occupy Wall Stret
Q What did the lawyer say to the cop?
A Please take your motorcycle off my leg.
Q What did the cop say to the lawyer?
A Whack.
You're lucky you're not in Tien Ahn Mien Square
Whack Whack
Or Damascus, Riyad, or Tehran
Whack Whack Whack Whack.
Bankster: Why are you here? Don't you understand what we do?
Demonstrator: Yes I understand what you do - that's precisely why I'm here.
A Please take your motorcycle off my leg.
Q What did the cop say to the lawyer?
A Whack.
You're lucky you're not in Tien Ahn Mien Square
Whack Whack
Or Damascus, Riyad, or Tehran
Whack Whack Whack Whack.
Bankster: Why are you here? Don't you understand what we do?
Demonstrator: Yes I understand what you do - that's precisely why I'm here.
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