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JimmyC
So I’m in the movie theatre and 4 girls walk in and sit one seat away from me in the same row. Its Batman - The Dark Knight. The kind of movie I like to get lost in. 30 minutes to go in the movie and the girl closest to me pulls out her blackberry with a backlight and starts tapping away. I figure - important message from her boyfriend that his wedgie got stuck and he needed help. Then 15 minutes to go and she pulls it out again, the freaking climax of the movie and what the hell is so freaking important!? I actually got up and moved over 5 seats (away from the awsome center seat I had).
When the lights come on we all leave, only one girl leavs her slurpie cup and empty bag of popcorn on the seat.
Generation Y? Generation Why? Generation Me! Well, we were just as bad - my father was right.
Study finds students narcissistic
These kid’s parents were the "boomers" - the original ME generation. My parents were one each - before and after the boom. I think the difference is that the Boomers were much more physically connected to each other (in many ways) and that led to much more empathy and consideration where the mood of this generation is social but disconnected as they communicate via technology rather then woodstock, wine bars and anti-war rallies. The boomers did end up a bit too selfish during the 80’s and 90’s but they did create a boom in the economy - maybe this generation will help us tweenies get out of the dip we are in now. I hope, there aren’t enough of me right now to support all those retiring boomers!. But first, they have to get their heads out of their computers, read less and get a little dirty. Its one thing to talk about hope, rail in your blog (smile) and complain about the evil empire; its another thing to contribute to the economy, walk among those of us actually working for a living and to give leadership to the next generation by creating wealth and prosperity through something more then temporary fixes and wealth redistribution. In too short of a time there won’t be much to redistribute - it will all be in India and China.
Republicans Worry That McCain Pick Will Rile Party Base
The exchange illustrates the concern within the Republican Party over Sen. McCain’s No. 2. While the senator has said he will pick someone who shares "my principles, my values and my priorities," he has also often done as he pleases rather than as he is told.
You know, I hope he does - GW started out that way and quickly became Chaney’s patsey. The last real man in the white house was Regan - man up John, do what is right not what is expected.
Is this about giving in, giving up - making fun, being real-istic. What do you think?
ARE YOU GENERATION Y KIDS THAT ARE NOW MAKING MONEY IN THIS PLACE?
Capital G YOUTUBE AUDIO
Nine Inch Nails - Lyrics
I pushed the button and elected him to office and a
He pushed the button and he dropped the bomb
You pushed the button and could watch in on the television
Those motherf**kers didn’t last too long
I’m sick of hearing about the have and have not’s
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we are doing things is
The more we let you have the less that I’ll be keeping for me
Well I use to stand for something
Well I’m on my hands and knees
Turning in my god for this one
and he signs his name with a capital G
Don’t give a shit about the temperature in Guatemala
Don’t really see what all the fuss is about
Ain’t gonna worry about no future generations
And I’m sure somebody’s gonna figure it out
Don’t try to tell me that some power can corrupt a person
You hadn’t had enough to know what its like
Your only angry cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head cause you know that I’m right..alright!
Well I use to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
Theres a lot of me inside you
Maybe your afraid to see
Well I use to stand for something
Well I’m on my hands and knees
Turning in my god for this one
and he signs his name with a capital G 
www.windaction.org | Tilting at T. Boone Picken’s windmills
I’m not sold on this windmill thing either. T. Boone is a terrific capitalist but this post makes a really good point, you can’t strap a windmill on a car - and that’s where the oil is going. What’s one got to do with the other?
FOXNews.com - Recycling Nuclear Fuel: The French Do It, Why Can’t Oui? - Opinion
Maybe when gas hits $5/ gallon and the other fossil fuels start to rise we will consider this. We cannot get Yucca Mountain operational and why put it all there if we can recycle it. Why store it when you can reuse it. I just makes sense. If I have to live with a liberal president in Obama then I hope they do some progressive things like this in his administration. Rather then hiding further in the fantasy that we can reduce our energy needs and save the environment. I’m all for reducing the use of Coal and other fossil fuels, and we can see that France is using nuclear power in a positive way (Can you think of a more liberal country?) so lets just do it already!
Bob Dole Defends John McCain in Letter to Rush Limbaugh - You Decide 08!
I used to listen to Rush but I don’t anymore. I’m 42, working hard to give my family the best and tired of angry mindless airbags like Rush.
The way he spins, is no different then Hannity or the other liberal loud mouths. For example, he sums up what he thinks is a slam at Dole - saying Dole told Hannity that he didn’t support McCain, this is from Rush’s website and radio talk show:
From Hannity’s show: “DOLE: My heart’s kind of with McCain, but you know, again, I’ve stayed out of it. I don’t have any dog — I don’t want to say dog, some may say that’s saying we don’t have a good candidate, but I don’t have anybody in this fight.”
From Rush’s show (they weren’t talking to each other) RUSH:
“So he sends me the letter. He wants to sing the praises of McCain and he ends up saying on television last night, he doesn’t have anybody in this fight. Let me read to you the letter. "Dear Rush: I’ve not seen yo…”
“…. All I know is they raise huge question marks. But to sit here and to witness the manipulation of Bob Dole with a letter to me leaked to the public, to criticize Mitt Romney for attacking a war hero when no such thing happened; when Bob Dole’s letter is not an endorsement of anybody; when Bob Dole’s le…”
“….Here’s the quote: "If I believe the country will suffer with either Hillary, Obama, or McCain, I would just as soon the Democrats take the hit rather than a Republican causing the debacle, and I would prefer not to have conservative Republicans in the House and Congress paralyzed by having to support out of party loyalty a Republican president who is not conservative."
….."If I believe the country will suffer with either Hillary, Obama, or McCain, I would just as soon the Democrats take the hit rather than the Republicans cause the debacle." By "if," I meant it’s unknown yet. It’s in the future. This is February, folks. The general election is November, and what I meant when I told this to Howard Kurtz, "if," parentheses, "down the road I think…" It’s an open question yet, and yet everybody reading this thinks that I’ve just said, "Screw it! I’m voting Hillary or Obama." That’s not what that meant to say. I clarify it.”
Rush you don’t know what you meant to say or what you are saying half the time. Dole said his heart is with McCain - he does support him, he just isn’t sure he can win. Does Rush actually think Huckabee or Romney will win? I think Rush wants Hillary to win so he has something to talk about on his show for the next four years! That is disgraceful!
The conservatives in this country are really disappointing me with the way they are attacking McCain and Dole. This is a damn good letter and very reasonable. Mitt’s just saying what they want to hear and polarizing with positions on Abortion and Immigration that just create an enormous amount of insane focus on issues that won’t determine my children’s future. All the talk about McCain not supporting tax cuts is half-told. If the congress would cut spending he would support them. I like his positions there too. I’m more concerned with psychotic fundamentalists blowing up my countries buildings, out of hand spending in congress and by our current president, and the promise of a president the world will respect. I don’t see that with Mitt, Huckabee is a good talker but I don’t see it there either and certainly not with the Democratic candidates. Come on, an egomaniac and a child? Grow up people and lets fix the real problems.
Ahh- Macworld. The future is next week. CIS has some cool
In an article in today’s WSJ Business Tech blog:
Apple chose today to announce two new high end computers the week before Jobs takes the stage
I love my Mac Pro - wish I had one of these. Ahh, the processing power, but FinalCut is working for me now, enough power. But still - to upgrade to a new processor - maybe I’ll hack someday. Can’t wait to see what Steve has for us next week. The blog Wingfield @ the WSJ wrote about that too. The wafer thin powerbook - I’m not excited about it yet. When they come out with a multi-touch OSX mac I’ll start pressing IT for one.
As for today’s Stock Tank!!! "Oh Apple, if there’s been a fool around - its got to be me." As I watched you tickle $200/share and now back to the November number of $171 - This happened last time you made a big announcement - iPhone’s in Europe. We are heavy in this one, in the IRA so we won’t sell but its painful. Makes me think to buy more after we just cashed in a bit to buy some Citi which also tanked. I thought it was the bottom for the financial sector but it’s not there yet. Countrywide may "go away" and the rest are suffering. Looked at it like a strong Dividend play - may still be for the long run, but if they cut that dividend - I’m all wet. Time to shift to even more safe stuff like more into P&H where we are already heavy and Coke where we probably didn’t put enough.
A business associate of mine - Commercial Banker is retiring, had a nice conversation with him. He is one of quite a few I know in the past few years. At 42, its a leading indicator that I have to stay serious. So what happens when Steve Job’s retires - Bill’s on his way out, its only a matter of time.
And now to the politics. Can you believe this - all they talk about is change. Change CHANGE! even the republicans want change. The funny thing is, Bush can’t run again so there is going to be change 
regardless. So what I want to know is - change to what. I know we need it, I don’t like what the Dems are proposing, I don’t know what the Repls are proposing. Its all reteric now - I quite frankly don’t trust Hillary and Mit - they both have changed what they are saying so much - that thats all I can count on in regard to change from them. I fall back to McCain as that is about all I can do. I just wish I could get comfortable with a guy like Huckabee - but I’m Jewish and don’t know what that means to him. So we have some time - and time to change, my mind. 
I love reading Walt’s tech column in the WSJ, not just because he is also a Mac fan but also because he always has a positive and enlightening approach to most subjects, even techie ones. Today I found his weblog and this is a great article on a positive situation in Israel and Jordan. Here Walt talks about the fact that the peace process between the two countries is working and it is possible for the people of both countries to not only get along but work together: Peace in the Mideast, With Great Cellphone Coverage . I think this is wonderful and a model for the possibilities. I wonder if it’s possible for cooperation someday as there is in Asia between Japan, China and the other countries in Asia who for centuries were sworn enemies. Japan is the economic powerhouse and the countries around have learned from them, trade with them and now are on equal ground. Would you call Korea Jordan? I’ve written here how most of these Arab countries are simply extensions of kingdoms. How I feel that the borders are fabrications and simply the result of previous empires leaving - England, France, Rome, Persia, Greece - all built these borders. Are there really Jordanians, Palestinians, Kuwaitis, Iraqis, Israelis? Or are these people from ancient times in kingdoms that replaced empires, countries created out of convenience or voids. Foreign countries drew these lines after world wars. We do know there are Persians, Arabs and Jews, Kurds, Hindus, etc. These are cultures that could be countries; but that’s another topic.
What I can say is Walt hit the nail on the head - a border is just a crossing and it can be a gateway to discovery and possibilities when your perspective is positive. Thanks Walt for stepping out of the box, tapping your experience and shedding some light and love.
Exchange Rates Graph (American Dollar, Canadian Dollar)The Canadian’s are coming, the Canadian’s are coming. I expect to see more of our friends from the north as tourists this winter in the south as the Canadian dollar is now on par with the US dollar.  Pretty interesting we can’t make fun of their money anymore.  And the Euro is the new dollar everybody wants.  George - you need to start thinking about something other then the the war in Iraq.  Work smart, not like an ogre with a sledge hammer. If Israel can zip in and blow up Syrian nuclear facilities then get out, why do we continue to dump so much cash into Iran.  I’m all for removing the lunatics but we can’t forget our economic future either.Â
Dan Rather - God bless him; he has his flaws but at least he is a real journalist. At least he looks at all sides. He has his opinions and I don’t always agree with him but he will not lie to prove a point; and I believe he doesn’t form his final report before he does his interviews. Why he supports Bill Maher, I don’t know. Maybe so he can bring him to reality sometimes.
I’m watching Bill Maher’s show “Real Time” and he is all up in arms about the drug war and how if we weren’t fighting it we would be winning the war on terror. He has Dan on the show with another journalist and while she agrees with Bill we aren’t doing anything about Opium in Afghanistan – blabbering something about they have the poppies and we aren’t doing anything about jobs… Dan tried to interject twice that we are doing something about it: “Tom Swick in the state department is trying to crack down.” Then Bill ignores it and says what he had written down anyway: to say that the Taliban in place shut down the opium trade. Dan again interjects and says that was a street myth – “The Taliban weren’t against it, they held back to get the price up and they are in it again now.†Then Bill says “they were flexible enough to ally with the opium traders which we’re to stupid to do.†Dan bites his lip and Bill changes the subject. ally with the opium traders… holy crap!
What an idiot. I think that its great when I see guys like Letterman, Costas and Miller do interviews and they pull out the person. Then there are guys like Leno and Maher that really don’t listen to the person they are talking to - its about the joke or them.
It’s amazing to see the difference. I don’t know why HBO keeps him on - he isn’t that funny; maybe it the shock of his audacity. I’m not talking about the “Audacity of Hope.†I’m talking about the Audacity of lying or worse, making stupid wrong remarks because you think its funny when it’s just plain impudent and idiotic.
