Thursday, October 2, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Vote for the Guy with One House
(CNN) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain is just holding on like a boxer before he gets knocked out, comedian Chris Rock says.
Comedian Chris Rock told Larry King he's proud of Barack Obama's character.
Rock, an avid supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, spoke with CNN's Larry King on Thursday. He said Obama is more grounded with your average American -- not somebody like McCain with "12 houses."
"The other guy [McCain] can lose five houses," Rock said.
"I'll go with the guy with one house. The guy with one house is scared about losing his house." 
Watch Chris Rock describe a beaten up McCain »
King began the interview by asking Rock about Thursday's economic bailout talks when Obama and McCain went to the White House for discussions with the nation's top leaders.
KING: Obama and McCain at opposite ends of the table. What do you make of it?
ROCK: What do I make of it? If this was a boxing match, McCain would be holding.
KING: Holding on?
ROCK: Yes. It's like he got hit really hard in the stomach like, 'OK. I can't let him go. He's going to knock me out.' So that's what appears to be going on right now. Just a hold.
KING: Has the financial crisis affected you?
ROCK: Larry, I drove a cab over here tonight. When it's over, I'm going to try to pick up some more fares. I'm losing everything, Larry.
KING: Really downtrodden?
ROCK: Yes, it's real bad.
KING: Have HBO paid you already?
ROCK: They have paid me, but the money is worthless now. Haven't you heard? Your money's worth nothing.
KING: You must be ... proud that at this stage in our history a black man is running for president on a major ticket.
ROCK: Um, you know what? I'm proud Barack Obama's running for president. You know? If it was Flavor Flav, would I be proud? No. I don't support Barack Obama because he's black.
KING: I said just as a proud feeling. That's normal.
ROCK: There's a proud feeling because of the character of the man. You know, I was -- I supported John Kerry and, you know -- and what's my man? Al Gore.
KING: Al Gore.
ROCK: But this guy seems to be a little bit more. He seems to have watched other peoples' mistakes and, you know, seems to have a little bit more going on.
KING: From a comedic stand point, who is funnier, McCain or Obama? Seriously. Is Obama not -- it's hard to be funny about Obama?
ROCK: No, no. It's weird. People ask me that all the time. ... McCain jokes are just easy jokes, like I don't want a president with a bucket list. That's like a McCain joke. Those jokes are easy. It's like you basically, you know, you know, take the dust off your Reagan jokes and tell them again. You know?
But Obama, oh, this is a whole new set of jokes. I got to find a whole new move to the basket here. So I kind of hope he wins.
KING: Didn't you introduce Obama at a rally?
ROCK: I introduced Obama at the Apollo Theater not too long ago. I think Obama would be great. I mean, just look the big thing right now is the economy. And people are going broke. And here: The choice isn't Republican or Democrat. The choice is you got a guy that's worth $150 million with 12 houses against a guy who's worth a million dollars with one house.
KING: Well --
ROCK: The guy with one house really cares about losing a house, because he is homeless. The other guy can lose five houses and still got a bunch of houses. Does this make any sense? Am I the only one that sees this?
KING: It's unique way of ...
ROCK: I'm just saying, John McCain could lose half his houses.
KING: You got a point.
ROCK: And sleep well.
KING: You and Bill Clinton were on Letterman on Tuesday. You had some problems with the tone of his endorsement of Barack Obama. ... Do you think Bill is hesitant about Barack Obama?
ROCK: You know what? You know, he did a great speech in Denver. And Hillary's been on the campaign trail. Just at that moment, if you watched what happened on David Letterman, it appeared he was holding back. And when you tell a joke and everybody laughs, it is not because they disagree with what you're saying. So --
KING: They get it?
ROCK: Yes, they get it. The whole audience was in on it. But, you know, hey, the guy's in a weird position there. His wife ran for the thing and she didn't win.
KING: The next night, on "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart asked Clinton about the Letterman appearance and Clinton suggested that Obama supporters who questioned commitment are missing the point.
ROCK: It was great. It was great. And you're right, [Obama] does need to get some of the votes that went to Hillary and all that. I don't understand any Democrat that voted for Hillary that doesn't support Obama. Because their views are pretty similar. You know what I mean? ...
I understand people supporting Mr. McCain. But a Democrat that's going to just be mad is -- there's something kind of really messed up about that.
KING: Have you always done political humor?
ROCK: You know --
KING: When you started, did you do politics?
ROCK: I'm interested in the world. Jon Stewart does political humor. Bill Maher does political humor. I talk about stuff the way guys would talk about it at the barber shop. I don't belong on any panel on this show. You know what I mean? I don't deserve to be near Roland Martin and Anderson Cooper and all these guys. I try to talk about politics in a way a guy that works at UPS would understand.
KING: You did a lot of Brooklyn stuff.
ROCK: I do all sorts of stuff, Larry. All sorts of stuff. You know, I hope Obama wins just because, you know, the country needs it. The country needs a change. We kind of seen what this whole McCain thing is. And I'll go with the guy with one house. The guy with one house is scared about losing his house.
KING: I never thought of it that way.
ROCK: It is that simple.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Filesharing case dismissed
Not saying that anyone I know of downloads and circulates any questionable music files, but this is a landmark case and precedent.
We always thought that the RIAA's first-ever filesharing trial victory against Jammie Thomas was a little suspect since the labels weren't required to prove that Thomas even had Kazaa installed on her machine or was the person using the account in question, and it looks like the court agrees -- it's just declared a mistrial and set aside the $222,000 judgment on the grounds that simply making copyrighted works available for download does not constitute copyright infringement. That's a huge decision -- the "making available" theory is the basis for most of the RIAA's legal arguments -- and it means that the RIAA will now have to prove the unauthorized transfer of each song it wants to collect damages on at the new trial. We'll see what effect this has in the broader sense -- we've got a feeling we're in for a slew of appellate decisions on both sides of the "making available" debate -- but for now it looks like the good guys are finally starting to score some points.
[Via ZDNet, thanks JagsLive]
Read - Wired article
Read - Decision [PDF]
Judge declares mistrial in RIAA filesharing case, sets aside $222,000 verdict
09-25-2008
[Via ZDNet, thanks JagsLive]
Read - Wired article
Read - Decision [PDF]
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Why People aren't buying houses now
If you don't feel like reading this, here are key points:
- Those with a credit score of 600 or lower cannot get loans at all, says Keith Gumbinger of HSH Associates, a mortgage information publisher.
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which set the lending criteria for most loans, in November will require a 740 score, up from 680 for buyers to escape a surcharge that ultimately increases their interest rate.
- Back in the go-go years, lenders fell all over themselves to make no-down-payment loans. Those are gone, and lenders want some skin in the game, at least 5%. But to avoid paying extra, most buyers need the full 20% demanded in days of yore. To buy a $400,000 house, a family would now have to amass $80,000 in cash, up from $20,000 or less a few years ago.
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In mid-2004 a borrower with good credit could have qualified for a rate of 5.87% on a 30-year fixed $300,000 loan. That translates to a monthly payment of $1,774. Now, with the rate for the same loan at 6.57%, the same monthly payment could support a loan of just $278,500.
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And while banks once allowed a homeowner's monthly principal, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI) to make up as much as 45% of a family's before-tax income, now buyers are restricted to using only 32% for a house payment. If PITI rises beyond that limit, banks consider the loan unaffordable and the family cannot receive a mortgage.
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That limit boosts the amount of income a homeowner needs to purchase. Say your house has dropped from $425,000 to about $395,000. A couple of years ago a family needed an income of only $80,000 to buy. Now, even though the house costs less, a prospective buyer must have an income of $92,000.
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Americans spent an extra $165 billion, or 26% more, on gasoline and oil in the first six months than over the same period last year, and food bills rose by 7%. Without a doubt, most Americans feel pinched.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Marshall Plan - Blow up the Rams
Faulk suggested that the Rams should be better than they are:
“Decisions have to be made. Do you blow it up, where do you go, what do you do? I mean, players that have had big time success, we’re talking Pro Bowl caliber players: Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, Steven Jackson. They look like they don’t belong in the league. And it’s not because they can’t play. You’re not going to tell me that. I’m not believing that they all of a sudden can’t play in this league.”
Faulk contrasting the Bears’ upset of Indianapolis to the Rams’ poor play:
“You’re not going to tell me that the (Bears) offense that they put out there is more talented than the offense that the Rams put out. It’s preparation, it’s understanding what you have; it’s having guys that are reliable.”
Faulk, on the Rams’ decision to release WR Isaac Bruce to open a starting job for Drew Bennett:
“I’m sorry, I’m a little biased to Isaac Bruce. I love Isaac Bruce, and I’ll let facts be known that there’s no way — and I don’t dislike Drew Bennett — but there is no way that this guy is better than Isaac or belongs or should be on that team instead of Isaac. It’s things like that, it’s misjudgment of talent. The guy’s been hurt. He’s often hurt. No knock on him personally, but they needed (Bruce). They could have used him (Sunday).”
Faulk on Steven Jackson:
“I said this earlier in the year, and I think people took it wrong, because I heard a couple comments. I said the Rams shouldn’t pay Steven Jackson. I don’t understand why they’re going to pay him. And I think people took it, like, maybe Steven’s not good or not dynamic. When you can’t block, and when you can’t sack the quarterback and stop the run, there’s no need to have a running back like this. There’s no need to pay him what you’re going to pay him–you’re not going to get to use him. What was he, like, 11 (actually 14 carries) for 40 yards? That’s a lot of money sitting in the backfield, and not have it or be able to use it, or you fall behind by 20 points. Now he’s definitely out of the game. And his effectiveness and what you love about him and what you’re paying him for is no longer necessary. I only forecasted that the Rams would be playing from behind, and people thought I was taking a jab at Steven–it had nothing to do with Steven; it had more to do with the team.”
Faulk on Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett:
“I love Jim. I used to find his defenses to be the most complicated to play against. And now I look back and I say even at (age) 35 with a bum knee I might go for maybe a hundred yards rushing and another hundred receiving right now,” against the Rams defense.
Faulk continued talking about Haslett:
“I like Jim. I’ve always thought highly of him. And I don’t know, maybe he’s upset of the old Rams-Saints days and he’s throwing games or whatever. Some of the things I saw happening out there the other day, I wonder when he sat in his office yesterday morning, what was his mindset? Was he thinking, ‘I need to change it up.’ Was he thinking, ‘my players screwed it up.’ Or was he thinking that he messed it up. Because one of the three things happened, or needs to happen.”
(Note: I think Faulk was joking about Haslett throwing games).
Faulk said Rams coaches should avoid showing the players the game film from Philadelphia:
“I went through a rough patch like this with the Colts, and coaches often don’t even want to look at the film. You don’t want guys to look at the film because it can be so bad that when players notice that it’s that bad, it’s hard to recover from. So I’m hoping that he didn’t allow them to watch the film, the coaches watched it and they go out there and try to make corrections and try to get guys to move forward from the debacle that happened. Something like that can linger though out a whole season just like last year with the Dolphins. It’s tough to get over losses like that.”
If you’d like to listen to an audio of the entire Faulk interview, it is posted at Ben Boyd’s web site, www.STLsportsInsider.com
OK, a quick postscript from me on this:
* I know for a fact that Faulk wants to step in and do what he can to turn the Rams around … he is willing to come back as a personnel executive or possibly even as a head coach … but he will not do so as long as Scott Linehan is the coach. And he probably would stay away as long as Jay Zygmunt is the GM. Faulk has told me that he likes Zygmunt personally but isn’t sure how a working relationship would go.
* Faulk has a good rapport with Rams managing partner Chip Rosenbloom and Rams president John Shaw.
* I believe Marshall is being a little disingenuous about the Steven Jackson stuff. I don’t think he has a lot of love for Jackson. I don’t think Jackson has a lot of love for Marshall; let’s just be honest about this. And I know Faulk wants to see how Jackson competes after signing the big contract.
* Faulk has intense feelings about the Rams and is saddened and frustrated by their demise … after having the best and most successful years of his career in St. Louis, he is disgusted by the decline of the franchise, which he blames on many years of terrible mistakes made on personnel decisions. It kills him inside when he hears the Rams being the butt of jokes with analysts at the NFL Network, or elsewhere on TV. Some critics will say that Faulk should hold his comments instead of speaking up and possibly creating controversy … I disagree. He’s like anyone else who loves the Rams. He’s mad as Hell. And it’s hard to keep those feelings bottled up.
My TAKE: Marshall is absolutely correct. This is the same team that drafted Eric Crouch to play WR, not to mention the other 2 qbs they drafted that they wanted to convert to WR or DB(but didnt try to take Brad Smith, a local stud and do the same?). They brought in Drew Bennett (bust), never replaced the special teams that was in place during the Vermeil years (Az-Hakim and Tony Horne), and let go a number of great players and leaders (Dre Bly, London Fletcher, Isaac Bruce, Grant Wistrom, Kevin Carter, Kurt Warner, etc.). In return, they overpaid for Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, Chris Long, and whoever they draft #1 overall next year.
“Decisions have to be made. Do you blow it up, where do you go, what do you do? I mean, players that have had big time success, we’re talking Pro Bowl caliber players: Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, Steven Jackson. They look like they don’t belong in the league. And it’s not because they can’t play. You’re not going to tell me that. I’m not believing that they all of a sudden can’t play in this league.”
Faulk contrasting the Bears’ upset of Indianapolis to the Rams’ poor play:
“You’re not going to tell me that the (Bears) offense that they put out there is more talented than the offense that the Rams put out. It’s preparation, it’s understanding what you have; it’s having guys that are reliable.”
Faulk, on the Rams’ decision to release WR Isaac Bruce to open a starting job for Drew Bennett:
“I’m sorry, I’m a little biased to Isaac Bruce. I love Isaac Bruce, and I’ll let facts be known that there’s no way — and I don’t dislike Drew Bennett — but there is no way that this guy is better than Isaac or belongs or should be on that team instead of Isaac. It’s things like that, it’s misjudgment of talent. The guy’s been hurt. He’s often hurt. No knock on him personally, but they needed (Bruce). They could have used him (Sunday).”
Faulk on Steven Jackson:
“I said this earlier in the year, and I think people took it wrong, because I heard a couple comments. I said the Rams shouldn’t pay Steven Jackson. I don’t understand why they’re going to pay him. And I think people took it, like, maybe Steven’s not good or not dynamic. When you can’t block, and when you can’t sack the quarterback and stop the run, there’s no need to have a running back like this. There’s no need to pay him what you’re going to pay him–you’re not going to get to use him. What was he, like, 11 (actually 14 carries) for 40 yards? That’s a lot of money sitting in the backfield, and not have it or be able to use it, or you fall behind by 20 points. Now he’s definitely out of the game. And his effectiveness and what you love about him and what you’re paying him for is no longer necessary. I only forecasted that the Rams would be playing from behind, and people thought I was taking a jab at Steven–it had nothing to do with Steven; it had more to do with the team.”
Faulk on Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett:
“I love Jim. I used to find his defenses to be the most complicated to play against. And now I look back and I say even at (age) 35 with a bum knee I might go for maybe a hundred yards rushing and another hundred receiving right now,” against the Rams defense.
Faulk continued talking about Haslett:
“I like Jim. I’ve always thought highly of him. And I don’t know, maybe he’s upset of the old Rams-Saints days and he’s throwing games or whatever. Some of the things I saw happening out there the other day, I wonder when he sat in his office yesterday morning, what was his mindset? Was he thinking, ‘I need to change it up.’ Was he thinking, ‘my players screwed it up.’ Or was he thinking that he messed it up. Because one of the three things happened, or needs to happen.”
(Note: I think Faulk was joking about Haslett throwing games).
Faulk said Rams coaches should avoid showing the players the game film from Philadelphia:
“I went through a rough patch like this with the Colts, and coaches often don’t even want to look at the film. You don’t want guys to look at the film because it can be so bad that when players notice that it’s that bad, it’s hard to recover from. So I’m hoping that he didn’t allow them to watch the film, the coaches watched it and they go out there and try to make corrections and try to get guys to move forward from the debacle that happened. Something like that can linger though out a whole season just like last year with the Dolphins. It’s tough to get over losses like that.”
If you’d like to listen to an audio of the entire Faulk interview, it is posted at Ben Boyd’s web site, www.STLsportsInsider.com
OK, a quick postscript from me on this:
* I know for a fact that Faulk wants to step in and do what he can to turn the Rams around … he is willing to come back as a personnel executive or possibly even as a head coach … but he will not do so as long as Scott Linehan is the coach. And he probably would stay away as long as Jay Zygmunt is the GM. Faulk has told me that he likes Zygmunt personally but isn’t sure how a working relationship would go.
* Faulk has a good rapport with Rams managing partner Chip Rosenbloom and Rams president John Shaw.
* I believe Marshall is being a little disingenuous about the Steven Jackson stuff. I don’t think he has a lot of love for Jackson. I don’t think Jackson has a lot of love for Marshall; let’s just be honest about this. And I know Faulk wants to see how Jackson competes after signing the big contract.
* Faulk has intense feelings about the Rams and is saddened and frustrated by their demise … after having the best and most successful years of his career in St. Louis, he is disgusted by the decline of the franchise, which he blames on many years of terrible mistakes made on personnel decisions. It kills him inside when he hears the Rams being the butt of jokes with analysts at the NFL Network, or elsewhere on TV. Some critics will say that Faulk should hold his comments instead of speaking up and possibly creating controversy … I disagree. He’s like anyone else who loves the Rams. He’s mad as Hell. And it’s hard to keep those feelings bottled up.
My TAKE: Marshall is absolutely correct. This is the same team that drafted Eric Crouch to play WR, not to mention the other 2 qbs they drafted that they wanted to convert to WR or DB(but didnt try to take Brad Smith, a local stud and do the same?). They brought in Drew Bennett (bust), never replaced the special teams that was in place during the Vermeil years (Az-Hakim and Tony Horne), and let go a number of great players and leaders (Dre Bly, London Fletcher, Isaac Bruce, Grant Wistrom, Kevin Carter, Kurt Warner, etc.). In return, they overpaid for Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, Chris Long, and whoever they draft #1 overall next year.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Generation Y
The Silent Generation...
people born between 1925 and 1945.
The Baby Boomers...
people born between 1946 and 1964.
Generation X...
people born between 1965 and 1982.
Generation Y...
people born between 1983 and 1997.
Why do we call the last group of people Generation Y?
I had no idea until I saw this caricaturist's explanation!
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Republican VP: 5 Things You Didn’t Know: Sarah Palin
Senator John McCain caught a nation off guard with his choice of presumptive vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. So, who is Sarah Palin?
Sarah Palin is a first-term Republican governor from Alaska. She is that state’s first-ever female governor and its youngest, sworn in at age 42 in 2006. Prior to becoming governor, she served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, city council and two terms as the town’s mayor.
After losing the 2002 race for lieutenant governor, Sarah Palin was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, resigning the position 11 months later.
Married with five children, Sarah Palin was 3 years old when John McCain became a POW in Vietnam, yet if elected to the vice presidency, she would be roughly the same age as Al Gore when he took that office.
To further acquaint you with the Republican vice presidential nominee, here are five things you didn’t know about Sarah Palin.
1- Sarah Palin tried to sell a jet on eBay
Shortly after assuming the office of governor, Sarah Palin tried to keep a campaign promise, which was to sell the Westwind II jet that had been bought by the hugely unpopular incumbent, Frank Murkowski.
In 2005, Murkowski requested almost $3 million from the Alaska legislature to buy the jet for use by him, his administration and future administrations. His request was denied, so Murkowski asked the federal government, who also denied him. Unwilling to take no for an answer, Murkowski created a special account and bought it anyway. Voters weren’t impressed with his tenacity.
A year later, Sarah Palin, as governor, listed the jet for sale on eBay, doing so three times, each time bidders failed to meet the reserve. Finally, in August 2007, she succeeded in selling it through a broker for $2.1 million -- at a loss of around half a million dollars.
2- Sarah Palin posed in Vogue
Known for her furs and otherwise stylish outfits (among politicians at least), Sarah Palin is no stranger to chic fashion, which explains why she appeared in a spread for Vogue magazine in February 2008.
In this vein, she’s also a former beauty queen: In 1984, she was crowned Miss Wasilla and she was runner-up in the subsequent Miss Alaska pageant later that year. She didn’t go home empty-handed, however, having been named Miss Congeniality. One curious thing you didn’t know about Sarah Palin is that she lost to a woman named Marilyne Blackburn -- the state’s first black Miss Alaska.
3- Sarah Palin scored the championship point in a high school basketball game
John McCain’s young and attractive running mate has earned a few monikers in her time, including Mrs. Mayor, Madame Governor, Miss Congeniality, GILF, and two notably more feisty names: cougar and, in high school she was known as “Sarah Barracuda.”
This last one she earned as captain of Wasilla High’s girls basketball team, allegedly due to her fiercely competitive spirit. That level of gamesmanship served her and her team well: In the state championship game, Sarah Palin not only scored the winning basket, but she did it with a stress fracture in her ankle.
4- Sarah Palin eloped with her high school sweetheart
Soon after Sarah Heath met Todd Palin at a high school basketball game, the two became sweethearts, but another six years would pass before they decided to tie the knot in 1988. Had it been a better fishing year for the two of them (they operated a small commercial fishery), they might have had enough money to pay for a “real” wedding; instead, they eloped, enlisting some witnesses from a nearby nursing home and dropping $35 at a local courthouse.
Known in Alaska as the “first dude,” the blue-collar Todd Palin is a four-time Iron Dog 2,000-mile snowmobile race champion and, according to a piece in the Anchorage Daily News, he is very much a house-husband.
5- Sarah Palin inhaled
Alaskans are permitted by law to possess a single ounce of marijuana, thanks first to a 2003 ruling by the Alaska Court of Appeals that made it legal to possess no more than four ounces, and later, by a Supreme Court ruling that amended the amount to one. The reason it even reached the Supreme Court was because, in 2006, then-governor Murkowski rejected the Court of Appeals ruling.
Consequently, during the 2006 race for governor, marijuana became an issue among the candidates, albeit a minor issue. At this time, Sarah Palin seemingly decided to launch a preemptive strike against any of her old stoner friends who might have been planning to climb out of the woodwork; she announced that not only had she tried weed, but that she couldn’t “claim a Bill Clinton” and say she never inhaled.
Don’t load that celebratory bowl just yet. One last thing you didn’t know about Sarah Palin is that although she did inhale, she opposes legalization.
Sarah Palin is a first-term Republican governor from Alaska. She is that state’s first-ever female governor and its youngest, sworn in at age 42 in 2006. Prior to becoming governor, she served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, city council and two terms as the town’s mayor.
After losing the 2002 race for lieutenant governor, Sarah Palin was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, resigning the position 11 months later.
Married with five children, Sarah Palin was 3 years old when John McCain became a POW in Vietnam, yet if elected to the vice presidency, she would be roughly the same age as Al Gore when he took that office.
To further acquaint you with the Republican vice presidential nominee, here are five things you didn’t know about Sarah Palin.
1- Sarah Palin tried to sell a jet on eBay
Shortly after assuming the office of governor, Sarah Palin tried to keep a campaign promise, which was to sell the Westwind II jet that had been bought by the hugely unpopular incumbent, Frank Murkowski.
In 2005, Murkowski requested almost $3 million from the Alaska legislature to buy the jet for use by him, his administration and future administrations. His request was denied, so Murkowski asked the federal government, who also denied him. Unwilling to take no for an answer, Murkowski created a special account and bought it anyway. Voters weren’t impressed with his tenacity.
A year later, Sarah Palin, as governor, listed the jet for sale on eBay, doing so three times, each time bidders failed to meet the reserve. Finally, in August 2007, she succeeded in selling it through a broker for $2.1 million -- at a loss of around half a million dollars.
2- Sarah Palin posed in Vogue
Known for her furs and otherwise stylish outfits (among politicians at least), Sarah Palin is no stranger to chic fashion, which explains why she appeared in a spread for Vogue magazine in February 2008.
In this vein, she’s also a former beauty queen: In 1984, she was crowned Miss Wasilla and she was runner-up in the subsequent Miss Alaska pageant later that year. She didn’t go home empty-handed, however, having been named Miss Congeniality. One curious thing you didn’t know about Sarah Palin is that she lost to a woman named Marilyne Blackburn -- the state’s first black Miss Alaska.
3- Sarah Palin scored the championship point in a high school basketball game
John McCain’s young and attractive running mate has earned a few monikers in her time, including Mrs. Mayor, Madame Governor, Miss Congeniality, GILF, and two notably more feisty names: cougar and, in high school she was known as “Sarah Barracuda.”
This last one she earned as captain of Wasilla High’s girls basketball team, allegedly due to her fiercely competitive spirit. That level of gamesmanship served her and her team well: In the state championship game, Sarah Palin not only scored the winning basket, but she did it with a stress fracture in her ankle.
4- Sarah Palin eloped with her high school sweetheart
Soon after Sarah Heath met Todd Palin at a high school basketball game, the two became sweethearts, but another six years would pass before they decided to tie the knot in 1988. Had it been a better fishing year for the two of them (they operated a small commercial fishery), they might have had enough money to pay for a “real” wedding; instead, they eloped, enlisting some witnesses from a nearby nursing home and dropping $35 at a local courthouse.
Known in Alaska as the “first dude,” the blue-collar Todd Palin is a four-time Iron Dog 2,000-mile snowmobile race champion and, according to a piece in the Anchorage Daily News, he is very much a house-husband.
5- Sarah Palin inhaled
Alaskans are permitted by law to possess a single ounce of marijuana, thanks first to a 2003 ruling by the Alaska Court of Appeals that made it legal to possess no more than four ounces, and later, by a Supreme Court ruling that amended the amount to one. The reason it even reached the Supreme Court was because, in 2006, then-governor Murkowski rejected the Court of Appeals ruling.
Consequently, during the 2006 race for governor, marijuana became an issue among the candidates, albeit a minor issue. At this time, Sarah Palin seemingly decided to launch a preemptive strike against any of her old stoner friends who might have been planning to climb out of the woodwork; she announced that not only had she tried weed, but that she couldn’t “claim a Bill Clinton” and say she never inhaled.
Don’t load that celebratory bowl just yet. One last thing you didn’t know about Sarah Palin is that although she did inhale, she opposes legalization.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Democratic VP - Joe Biden - 5 Things You Didn't Know
Joseph Biden Jr. is Delaware’s longest serving Senator. Biden was elected to office in 1972, just weeks before his 30th birthday, making him among the youngest Senators in history. Since then he’s won re-reelection five times, generally by a wide margin. His 35 years of congressional tenure include service on the powerful Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (which he currently chairs) and the Committee on the Judiciary, two of the oldest in the Senate.
Put another way; Joe Biden has been in Washington since Barack Obama was 11 years old.
To further acquaint you with this vice presidential hopeful, here are five things you didn’t know about Joe Biden.
1- Joe Biden survived a brain aneurysm
In the winter of 1988 Joe Biden was chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearings on Supreme Court nominee Anthony Kennedy when he began to experience neck pain. The pain worsened and was joined by other problems, including nausea. Eventually, Joe Biden went to the hospital.
Turns out Biden had what’s called a berry aneurysm at the base of his brain that was leaking blood into the space between his brain and the brain’s protective lining. An emergency, six-hour surgery at Walter Reed Medical Center took care of the problem and in this regard Joe Biden lucked out, since most people with a brain aneurysm get no advanced warning -- it simply bursts, resulting in paralysis, mental impairment, coma or death.
2- Joe Biden's son is going to Iraq
Joe Biden’s oldest son, 39-year-old Joseph Robinette "Beau" Biden III, is not only Delaware’s Attorney General but he is also a Captain in the Delaware Army National Guard's Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, assigned to the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware. Beau Biden and the 261st are being deployed to Iraq on October 3, the day after his father participates in the first vice presidential debate.
According to the Wilmington News Journal, Beau Biden’s job with the 261st is as a military lawyer who offers “legal advice on disciplining soldiers” and who advises “commanders and soldiers on issues such as wills and powers of attorney.” Their deployment is expected to last a year.
As for Joe Biden, he isn’t thrilled about his son’s deployment. Ever since he voted to authorize the use of force in 2002, Joe Biden has been one of the war’s more vocal critics.
3- Joe Biden is a member of the Alfalfa Club
Another thing you didn’t know about Joe Biden is his affiliation with one of Washington’s most secretive and elite clubs, the Alfalfa Club.
In 1913, a group of Southerners founded the Alfalfa Club in Washington D.C., allegedly for no other reason than to have an annual dinner on the birthday of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in late January.
Today, the secretive Alfalfa Club (journalists are barred from attending the dinner) has around 200 members. Most of them are part of Washington’s wealthy and elite. Along with Joe Biden, they include President Bush, his brothers and his father; Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts; a number of both Democratic and Republican members of Congress, state Governors and mayors; and some not directly involved in politics, such as Michael Dell.
4- Joe Biden was a below-average college student
Joe Biden completed his undergraduate work at the University of Delaware, but he didn’t do so in any exceptional manner. In his first three semesters he scored mostly Cs and Ds, and even an F in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). For about 100 years, starting in 1862, an ROTC class, which taught mechanics, military tactics, etc. was compulsory for most male U.S. college students. Only in physical education classes did Biden receive As.
His academic record didn’t improve much while at Syracuse College of Law either, where he graduated 76th in a class of 85.
5- Joe Biden drives a 1967 Corvette
The last thing you didn’t know about Joe Biden is what kind of wheels the man has.
Joe Biden’s current wife is his second; his first wife, Neilia, passed away, along with the couple’s daughter, in a car accident shortly after his initial election to the Senate in 1972. Joe and Neilia Biden were married on August 27, 1966, in Skaneateles, New York, and his father -- a car salesman -- gave his son a sweet wedding gift: a brand new 1967 Chevy Corvette, a car he still owns today.
Put another way; Joe Biden has been in Washington since Barack Obama was 11 years old.
To further acquaint you with this vice presidential hopeful, here are five things you didn’t know about Joe Biden.
1- Joe Biden survived a brain aneurysm
In the winter of 1988 Joe Biden was chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearings on Supreme Court nominee Anthony Kennedy when he began to experience neck pain. The pain worsened and was joined by other problems, including nausea. Eventually, Joe Biden went to the hospital.
Turns out Biden had what’s called a berry aneurysm at the base of his brain that was leaking blood into the space between his brain and the brain’s protective lining. An emergency, six-hour surgery at Walter Reed Medical Center took care of the problem and in this regard Joe Biden lucked out, since most people with a brain aneurysm get no advanced warning -- it simply bursts, resulting in paralysis, mental impairment, coma or death.
2- Joe Biden's son is going to Iraq
Joe Biden’s oldest son, 39-year-old Joseph Robinette "Beau" Biden III, is not only Delaware’s Attorney General but he is also a Captain in the Delaware Army National Guard's Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, assigned to the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware. Beau Biden and the 261st are being deployed to Iraq on October 3, the day after his father participates in the first vice presidential debate.
According to the Wilmington News Journal, Beau Biden’s job with the 261st is as a military lawyer who offers “legal advice on disciplining soldiers” and who advises “commanders and soldiers on issues such as wills and powers of attorney.” Their deployment is expected to last a year.
As for Joe Biden, he isn’t thrilled about his son’s deployment. Ever since he voted to authorize the use of force in 2002, Joe Biden has been one of the war’s more vocal critics.
3- Joe Biden is a member of the Alfalfa Club
Another thing you didn’t know about Joe Biden is his affiliation with one of Washington’s most secretive and elite clubs, the Alfalfa Club.
In 1913, a group of Southerners founded the Alfalfa Club in Washington D.C., allegedly for no other reason than to have an annual dinner on the birthday of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in late January.
Today, the secretive Alfalfa Club (journalists are barred from attending the dinner) has around 200 members. Most of them are part of Washington’s wealthy and elite. Along with Joe Biden, they include President Bush, his brothers and his father; Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts; a number of both Democratic and Republican members of Congress, state Governors and mayors; and some not directly involved in politics, such as Michael Dell.
4- Joe Biden was a below-average college student
Joe Biden completed his undergraduate work at the University of Delaware, but he didn’t do so in any exceptional manner. In his first three semesters he scored mostly Cs and Ds, and even an F in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). For about 100 years, starting in 1862, an ROTC class, which taught mechanics, military tactics, etc. was compulsory for most male U.S. college students. Only in physical education classes did Biden receive As.
His academic record didn’t improve much while at Syracuse College of Law either, where he graduated 76th in a class of 85.
5- Joe Biden drives a 1967 Corvette
The last thing you didn’t know about Joe Biden is what kind of wheels the man has.
Joe Biden’s current wife is his second; his first wife, Neilia, passed away, along with the couple’s daughter, in a car accident shortly after his initial election to the Senate in 1972. Joe and Neilia Biden were married on August 27, 1966, in Skaneateles, New York, and his father -- a car salesman -- gave his son a sweet wedding gift: a brand new 1967 Chevy Corvette, a car he still owns today.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
NFL 2008 Projections - AFC Edition
The AFC is supposed to be the Varsity team versus the NFC which is JV. Since 1998, the NFC wins the Super Bowl once every five years. The Giants ushered in what should be the once in this set of five years, but I think it is time for a new streak to form. In the same manner that most NFC teams beat up on each other all year and lose the big game, it is time for the AFC to hit the wall. The teams are getting better and all of the 'cupcake' games are out of the window. Here is how I see the AFC shaking out this year, underperforming.
AFC East
1. New England - How is it that the team that nearly went undefeated last year gets the easiest schedule in the world out of the gate? Granted, most of the opponents are division foes, but then to get the NFC West? The Pats however will be shot down to reality this year amassing at best 11 wins. The defense is not only getting old, but getting worse. The only bright spot is Mayo, the rookie from Tennessee. Brady's foot "injury" wont be a problem.
2. Buffalo - The Bills take the next step. No, not the playoffs. They will compete in the East and miss out with a winning record. There are a lot of key components that are one year away for the Bills. Young receivers Hardy, Evans, Parrish, and Reid are still learning. Hardy will be a TD machine with his 6-6 frame and Evans showed he can stretch the field when healthy. QB Edwards has been banged up but will be fine as long as Lynch is in the backfield. Bills peak at 9 wins.
3. New York Jets - J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets are better. Sure they have Brett Favre. Sure the Offensive line is better. Sure they can win some games. They play 2 different style teams their first 5 games - Air it out in Seattle and Cardinals versus Smashmouth - Oakland, Jax, and Rams. They are in fight with Bills for 2nd place in the division. My nod goes to Bills, not the Mangenius.
4. Miami - Can you smell upset potential? I can. The Fins have two pro-bowl caliber backs once Ronnie Brown returns to form. That probably wont be until October and by then Ricky Williams will be hurt. Ted Ginn Jr takes the sophmore leap to becoming a potential deep threat and Chad Pennington guides this team to 6-10. Not bad after losing Jason Taylor.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis - Tricked ya. Still got the Colts on top. Peyton Manning's knee will be the focal point on this team for the first 3 weeks or so until he hits his stride. Marvin Harrison is back, Anthony Gonzalez is the new Brandon Stokely, and Reggis Wayne is Reggie Wayne. Don't expect the Colts to cruise as this is probably the 2nd best division in football with the NFC East. Bob Sanders makes an impact when he is on the field, but he wont make it more than 3 more years in the league with his style of play.
2. Jacksonville - Still second fiddle in the South, Jacksonville is no slouch but at the same time, no surprise. Jacksonville was one tragedy away from overtaking the Colts this year. With Peyton Manning nursing a gimpy leg, the Jags could capitalize off their pass rush and ball control offense were set to overtake the division crown that lives in Indy. Jaguars still need a big play WR to keep the defenses guessing.
3. Houston - The Texans are coming. The Texans are coming. They are this year's Titans. They could possibly sneak into the playoff mix with a healthy Schaub to Johnson combo. Super Mario Williams is a sack artist and is getting help on defense with Okoye and Ryans. The problem with this team despite no running back, is the health of Schaub and Johnson, more importantly Johnson.
4. Tennessee - Titans fall into the same trap as the New York Giants this year. You can have a solid team and still fall to last in your division at 8-8 or 7-9. The only problem that Tennessee has is an inability to put anyone outside the hash marks at WR. They drafted a trailblazer in Chris Johnson, but unless he is going to line up at flanker on 3rd down, its going to be hard to keep the defense off of Vince Young.
AFC West
1. San Diego - When your best players on both sides of the ball are playing with bum knees, its hard to pick them as the division winner right? Fortunately for the Chargers, it seems like they caught the entire division retooling. LT will be back to form, he has 2-3 more years of dominance before he pulls a Barry Sanders and walks away. Merriman is going to attempt to play on one leg in a position where he plays on pure speed. That is like Usain Bolt trying to run the 100m with a walking boot on his foot. Good luck Lights Out, but you are making a big gamble.
2a. Oakland - I like the running game. Not too many people talk about Justin Fargas, but it will be his running that will be why McFadden wins Rookie of the Year if he does. Fargas is actually listed as the pseudo starter, somewhat like Julius Jones in Dallas the last few years over Marion Barber. Fargas was actually the leading act at USC before the Reggie Bush show arrived. This running game will be aided greatly by a great defense and also anything Jamarcus Russell can do in play action.
2b. Denver - This team is tricky to figure out. They have two of the best corners in the game, a good young QB, a great young WR, and a running scheme that has caught on like the Plague. Two questions still remain: Why can't they stop the run? Who is going to run through those zone blocks? The Broncos play in the wrong division to not be good against the run.
4. Kansas City - The Chiefs are rebuilding. But they are on the fast track. Brodie Croyle to Bowe is going to be a hot connection. Larry Johnson is going to show he is not a one trick pony. A midseason trade to dump Tony Gonzalez to a contender will prove good since Gonzalez will probably only play 2-3 more years.
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh - Omar Epps really has this team turning the corner, but not moving to far away from Pittsburgh Steelers brand of football. Running game - check, big play WR - check, possession WR - check, great defense - check. Throw in Big Ben and the Steelers appear to be a lock in this position for years to come. This will hold especially true if Polumalu returns to form and Mendenhall shows he was no one year wonder.
2. Cleveland - Speaking of going in the wrong direction, the Browns will be shocked back to reality. A lot of exposure and even more games on television than the Pats, the Browns will almost live up to the hype after a brutal first couple of weeks. It is still to early to hand over the keys to Brady Quinn even though he beat up on the JV team of Wisconsin Wesleyan College in the preseason.
3. Baltimore - The Ravens might be getting older faster than we think. Ed Reed is questionable and Ray Lewis is coming off his worse season as a pro. The Ravens still are scary. Willis McGahee is the focal point with two young QB's handing off to him, and soon handing off to Ray Rice once Willis is hurt again. Still nothing special at WR, and the special teams is coming back around to championship form in Figurs. Will compete, but 7-9 is on its way.
4. Cincinnati - Barring any massive reconstructions, this Bengals team will struggle. Carson Palmer was beat up by the Saints in preseason. Chad ***** (Since he might have changed his name again by now like the WR formerly known as Chad or something stupid) has a bum shoulder and even bigger mouth. They cut there "franchise" running back and even more importantly, their best known offensive lineman. I hope Marvin Lewis is working on his resume to take over Notre Dame after Charlie Weis is fired for losing to Applachian State.
Playoffs
San Diego, New England, Indy, Pittsburgh, WC - Jacksonville, Buffalo
AFC East
1. New England - How is it that the team that nearly went undefeated last year gets the easiest schedule in the world out of the gate? Granted, most of the opponents are division foes, but then to get the NFC West? The Pats however will be shot down to reality this year amassing at best 11 wins. The defense is not only getting old, but getting worse. The only bright spot is Mayo, the rookie from Tennessee. Brady's foot "injury" wont be a problem.
2. Buffalo - The Bills take the next step. No, not the playoffs. They will compete in the East and miss out with a winning record. There are a lot of key components that are one year away for the Bills. Young receivers Hardy, Evans, Parrish, and Reid are still learning. Hardy will be a TD machine with his 6-6 frame and Evans showed he can stretch the field when healthy. QB Edwards has been banged up but will be fine as long as Lynch is in the backfield. Bills peak at 9 wins.
3. New York Jets - J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets are better. Sure they have Brett Favre. Sure the Offensive line is better. Sure they can win some games. They play 2 different style teams their first 5 games - Air it out in Seattle and Cardinals versus Smashmouth - Oakland, Jax, and Rams. They are in fight with Bills for 2nd place in the division. My nod goes to Bills, not the Mangenius.
4. Miami - Can you smell upset potential? I can. The Fins have two pro-bowl caliber backs once Ronnie Brown returns to form. That probably wont be until October and by then Ricky Williams will be hurt. Ted Ginn Jr takes the sophmore leap to becoming a potential deep threat and Chad Pennington guides this team to 6-10. Not bad after losing Jason Taylor.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis - Tricked ya. Still got the Colts on top. Peyton Manning's knee will be the focal point on this team for the first 3 weeks or so until he hits his stride. Marvin Harrison is back, Anthony Gonzalez is the new Brandon Stokely, and Reggis Wayne is Reggie Wayne. Don't expect the Colts to cruise as this is probably the 2nd best division in football with the NFC East. Bob Sanders makes an impact when he is on the field, but he wont make it more than 3 more years in the league with his style of play.
2. Jacksonville - Still second fiddle in the South, Jacksonville is no slouch but at the same time, no surprise. Jacksonville was one tragedy away from overtaking the Colts this year. With Peyton Manning nursing a gimpy leg, the Jags could capitalize off their pass rush and ball control offense were set to overtake the division crown that lives in Indy. Jaguars still need a big play WR to keep the defenses guessing.
3. Houston - The Texans are coming. The Texans are coming. They are this year's Titans. They could possibly sneak into the playoff mix with a healthy Schaub to Johnson combo. Super Mario Williams is a sack artist and is getting help on defense with Okoye and Ryans. The problem with this team despite no running back, is the health of Schaub and Johnson, more importantly Johnson.
4. Tennessee - Titans fall into the same trap as the New York Giants this year. You can have a solid team and still fall to last in your division at 8-8 or 7-9. The only problem that Tennessee has is an inability to put anyone outside the hash marks at WR. They drafted a trailblazer in Chris Johnson, but unless he is going to line up at flanker on 3rd down, its going to be hard to keep the defense off of Vince Young.
AFC West
1. San Diego - When your best players on both sides of the ball are playing with bum knees, its hard to pick them as the division winner right? Fortunately for the Chargers, it seems like they caught the entire division retooling. LT will be back to form, he has 2-3 more years of dominance before he pulls a Barry Sanders and walks away. Merriman is going to attempt to play on one leg in a position where he plays on pure speed. That is like Usain Bolt trying to run the 100m with a walking boot on his foot. Good luck Lights Out, but you are making a big gamble.
2a. Oakland - I like the running game. Not too many people talk about Justin Fargas, but it will be his running that will be why McFadden wins Rookie of the Year if he does. Fargas is actually listed as the pseudo starter, somewhat like Julius Jones in Dallas the last few years over Marion Barber. Fargas was actually the leading act at USC before the Reggie Bush show arrived. This running game will be aided greatly by a great defense and also anything Jamarcus Russell can do in play action.
2b. Denver - This team is tricky to figure out. They have two of the best corners in the game, a good young QB, a great young WR, and a running scheme that has caught on like the Plague. Two questions still remain: Why can't they stop the run? Who is going to run through those zone blocks? The Broncos play in the wrong division to not be good against the run.
4. Kansas City - The Chiefs are rebuilding. But they are on the fast track. Brodie Croyle to Bowe is going to be a hot connection. Larry Johnson is going to show he is not a one trick pony. A midseason trade to dump Tony Gonzalez to a contender will prove good since Gonzalez will probably only play 2-3 more years.
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh - Omar Epps really has this team turning the corner, but not moving to far away from Pittsburgh Steelers brand of football. Running game - check, big play WR - check, possession WR - check, great defense - check. Throw in Big Ben and the Steelers appear to be a lock in this position for years to come. This will hold especially true if Polumalu returns to form and Mendenhall shows he was no one year wonder.
2. Cleveland - Speaking of going in the wrong direction, the Browns will be shocked back to reality. A lot of exposure and even more games on television than the Pats, the Browns will almost live up to the hype after a brutal first couple of weeks. It is still to early to hand over the keys to Brady Quinn even though he beat up on the JV team of Wisconsin Wesleyan College in the preseason.
3. Baltimore - The Ravens might be getting older faster than we think. Ed Reed is questionable and Ray Lewis is coming off his worse season as a pro. The Ravens still are scary. Willis McGahee is the focal point with two young QB's handing off to him, and soon handing off to Ray Rice once Willis is hurt again. Still nothing special at WR, and the special teams is coming back around to championship form in Figurs. Will compete, but 7-9 is on its way.
4. Cincinnati - Barring any massive reconstructions, this Bengals team will struggle. Carson Palmer was beat up by the Saints in preseason. Chad ***** (Since he might have changed his name again by now like the WR formerly known as Chad or something stupid) has a bum shoulder and even bigger mouth. They cut there "franchise" running back and even more importantly, their best known offensive lineman. I hope Marvin Lewis is working on his resume to take over Notre Dame after Charlie Weis is fired for losing to Applachian State.
Playoffs
San Diego, New England, Indy, Pittsburgh, WC - Jacksonville, Buffalo
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