Compared to some previous year's Super Bowl events, Sunday's seemed a little weaker than most. After a buildup of hours and hours of pregame coverage, mostly a hype on the great match-up that was to take place, both the Steelers and Seahawks played a mostly unispiring game. The first half concluded with sloppy play on the part of the Seahawks that should not be characteristic of a Super Bowl quality team. The second half also involved an ending that was equally anticlimatic as well.
Even the commercials seemed a major letdown. Few were the awesome attention getters of previous years. One with a young Clydesdale horse had some inspirational value, but certainly could have been better executed yet. Another had awesome special effects for a device called "The Pebble". And the Go Daddy girl is always welcome in the homes of many red blooded males. ABC censors had turned down 13 previously submitted ads by Go Daddy before allowing this one to finally be aired.
Jessica Simpson actually figured a way to worsen her embarrassingly bad, "These Boots Were Made For Walking "cover song with an ad that recycled this theme. Nancy Sinatra who only seemed adequate enough to barely pull off "Boots" in the 1960's compared to her far superior father's talents, did at least sing the definitive version of the song. But the Jessica Simpson version seems to rely only on girlish sexy sounds that remind one of an amateur reject on American Idol butching a Britney Spears' song, rather than trueability or singing talent. But as bad as the Jessica Simpson version is of "Boots", it is not the worst cover version ever made of this song. Gypsy Boots, a beatnik health fanatic who was a regular guest on the old Steve Allen Show, and had absolutely no singing ability did a cover version of "Boots" on an ill conceived album in the 1960's. This version is far worse than even Jessica Simpson's, and is actually too painful to listen to for even some comedy value.
What was wrong with this Super Bowl was that everything counted on this one single game, unlike the NBA Finals or The World Series which are the best of seven games and allow for a team that played poorly one night to adjust their play and the series improves and becomes more competitive as it progresses. When the NFL has only one game, and it is uninspiring compared to what was expected, it seems like a major letdown hours of a buildup and advertisers paying $2.5 million for an ad slot and creating special ads just for the event. I've seen far better NBA or Major League Baseball games than this weak Super Bowl which barely was able to inspire much audience excitment on my part. Some NBA superstars such as Michael Jordan put on awesome displays of ability that awe struck the viewer. Instead other than two big runs that gained major yardage, the Super Bowl failed to inspire nearly as much awe.
The lukewarm performance of Seattle Seahawks had to be the latest disappointment for Billionaire Paul Allen. Some years ago he purchased the Portland Trailblazers Basketball team who failed to win a championship, and had several incidents of criminal conduct connected to team members including drug arrests, sex with underage girls while playing a game in Utah, and some other nasty player conduct that garnered the Trailblazers the "Jailblazers" name by some. The new team seems free of problems like the past, but the new team is comprised with many very young players aged 18-22, who seem very unlikely to even make the playoffs this year as they rebuild. This team lost more than $100 million for Paul Allen in one recent year, a figure that no professional sports team has ever lost. And with the Seahawks falling short in this year's Super Bowl with no certain guarantee to return to next years's Super Bowl, the disappointment for Paul Allen only grows. Paul Allen is a decent man who has brought major sports to both Portland and Seattleand given thousands something to believe in, but the dream of winning any championship seems to evade him once again.
Paul Allen probably found the event even less fulfilling than I did. A real disappointment to say the least.
Senin, 06 Februari 2006
Minggu, 05 Februari 2006
Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis
One of the most beloved figures of the American left has died. The actor, Al Lewis who was best known as "Grandpa Munster" had a colorful life. Born in 1910, 96 year old Al Lewis lived a very full life of varied occupations as well as political activism.
Al Lewis was a circus performer in the late 1920's and had earned a Ph.D. in child psychology. He worked in both burlesque and Vaudeville before becoming a 1950's broadway stage actor. In high school, Lewis stood at 6 foot, 1, so made a natually good basketball player and even went on to become an NBA high school talent scout in later years. He also owned an Italian restaurant called "Granpa's" as well.
In the 1930's , Lewis was a labor organizer seeking to unionize nonunion workers. And he was involved in other political activities. Lewis was the Green Party candidate for New York Governor in 1998, polling 52,533 votes. On the ballot, Lewis sought o listed as "Grandpa Al Lewis", but elections officials were able to turn back his court challenge and he was listed as Al Lewis on the ballot. He hosted a progressive politics talk program on KBIA-FM in New York.
But Lewis was best known as the very lovable Granda Munster character from 1960's CBS TV, even more so than his role in CAR 54 , WHERE ARE YOU. In both popular TV comedies, Al Lewis and Fred Gywnne starred. But THE MUNSTERS became the defining role for both actors. Both Lewis and Gywnne were perfect for their roles. Lewis played an elderly Dracula-like character, and Gywnne was an outrageous and childlike bumbling, but well intentioned Frankenstein's Monster character. The show involved some of the coolest 1960's themes in it, such as a great 1960's soundtrack, comedy horror, and other things that made it hip and cool. A custom coach built by custom car designer George Barris that looked like a wild old time horse drawn hearse was built and powered by a wild Ford Falcon 260 V8. An even wilder coffin based dragster was built from what Herman Munster claimed was a "box" he brought home from work at the funeral home.
Like Burgess Meredith best known for his role as the Penguin on the 1960's show BATMAN, or Bon Denver as the boyish screwoff, Gilligan, AL Lewis became forever typecast as Grandpa Munster and embraced the role. Al Lewis survived some serious health issues and even emerged from a coma to live to the ripe old age of 96.
Lewis not only sought to make life more far for people, promote progressive political causes. but made 1960's TV really something special. Thanks so much Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis, it was a way cool ride. You made a lot of kid's childhoods great. You're a real hero in my book.
Al Lewis was a circus performer in the late 1920's and had earned a Ph.D. in child psychology. He worked in both burlesque and Vaudeville before becoming a 1950's broadway stage actor. In high school, Lewis stood at 6 foot, 1, so made a natually good basketball player and even went on to become an NBA high school talent scout in later years. He also owned an Italian restaurant called "Granpa's" as well.
In the 1930's , Lewis was a labor organizer seeking to unionize nonunion workers. And he was involved in other political activities. Lewis was the Green Party candidate for New York Governor in 1998, polling 52,533 votes. On the ballot, Lewis sought o listed as "Grandpa Al Lewis", but elections officials were able to turn back his court challenge and he was listed as Al Lewis on the ballot. He hosted a progressive politics talk program on KBIA-FM in New York.
But Lewis was best known as the very lovable Granda Munster character from 1960's CBS TV, even more so than his role in CAR 54 , WHERE ARE YOU. In both popular TV comedies, Al Lewis and Fred Gywnne starred. But THE MUNSTERS became the defining role for both actors. Both Lewis and Gywnne were perfect for their roles. Lewis played an elderly Dracula-like character, and Gywnne was an outrageous and childlike bumbling, but well intentioned Frankenstein's Monster character. The show involved some of the coolest 1960's themes in it, such as a great 1960's soundtrack, comedy horror, and other things that made it hip and cool. A custom coach built by custom car designer George Barris that looked like a wild old time horse drawn hearse was built and powered by a wild Ford Falcon 260 V8. An even wilder coffin based dragster was built from what Herman Munster claimed was a "box" he brought home from work at the funeral home.
Like Burgess Meredith best known for his role as the Penguin on the 1960's show BATMAN, or Bon Denver as the boyish screwoff, Gilligan, AL Lewis became forever typecast as Grandpa Munster and embraced the role. Al Lewis survived some serious health issues and even emerged from a coma to live to the ripe old age of 96.
Lewis not only sought to make life more far for people, promote progressive political causes. but made 1960's TV really something special. Thanks so much Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis, it was a way cool ride. You made a lot of kid's childhoods great. You're a real hero in my book.
Sabtu, 04 Februari 2006
Bush Claims Not Enough "Skilled American Workers" Exist, Invites 90,000 Foreign Workers To Fill American High Paying High Tech Jobs
Bush and some of the conservative Republican leadership have promoted a steady war on higher education over the last few years. Some wanted to eliminate the Department Of Education. Others have sought a steady assault on this very important American society priority, such as the vote yesterday in Congress that cuts tuition aid and raises the interest rates for college loans closing many young Americans out of a college education. Despite this steady attack by many in the Republican Party, including by the President who often acts as though English is a second langauge because of his very clumsy command of the language, his State Of The Union Address claimed support for education for the U.S. to remain competitive in the world economy.
Now the schizophrenic and inconsistent claims of Bush are again called into question as 90,000 foreign workers are being extended special visas to take high paying high tech jobs in the U.S., because Bush now claims that not enough "skilled American workers" exist in the U.S. Conservatives have made such an effort to cut education funds, cut tuition support, and often raise banners of outright social ignorance as campaign themes to appeal to the worst of base instints in some voters, and now this bitter harvest is resulting in American citizens being passed over for 90,000 of the very best jobs in America, and workers from foreign nations who put a high priority on education including advanced math and science skills are being called to come to America to fill these jobs.
One area where these high tech skills are greatly needed is in the area of advanced computer skills for designing military wares. In the 1980's such strict laws existed that restricted foreign companies from any involvement in companies that produce goods for the U.S. military that American Motors stood to lose U.S. military contrcts because the French automaker Renault had bought a 49% share of the company due to severe financial problems at AMC. AMC lost more than $320 million in one 14 month period with their car production operations and needed the investment of Renault in order to stay in business. Vehicles such as the military HumVee and Jeep stood to lose out in military contracts, so the American General division was spun off as a separate new corporation to continue to garner U.S. military contracts for the HumVee. Eventually Jeep itself was sold to Chrysler, but now Chrysler is a German owned company. With such a creeping influence of foreign ownership of companies that produced military goods, foreign ownership have been gradually relaxed. Today as much as 80% of some U.S. military missile parts are now produced in China. This means not only the export of many high tech jobs to China in sensitive military computer parts, but includes the possibility of Chinese military espionage to sabotage these chips or to build in features that can be defeated by Chinese military technology. Because of a lack of "skilled American workers" in this important military high tech industry, increasingly China is becoming a major military supplier to the U.S.
And increasingly the U.S. is producing less and less of the integrated circuits of the world. America produced about 49% of all the IC chips in the world during the mid 1980's. Today that figure is down to only about 10%. And less and less U.S. produced electronics exist, with the U.S. computer industry still the only area of U.S. manufacturing strength, but increasingly both South Korea and China are challenging this in area of both components and parts.
Both in business and in military wares, the U.S. is losing an important edge to nations who put a far higher priority into education than our own society, and increasingly foreign workers both outside and within America as "guest workers" are being called to fulfill important high tech jobs that misplaced Republican priorities have prevented many American workers from being able to fill. It should have become apparent to conservatives some years ago that when you make a top priority attacks on education, you only reap a harvest of social ignorance as well as young Americans not able to fill important high tech jobs. You reap what you sow.
Now the schizophrenic and inconsistent claims of Bush are again called into question as 90,000 foreign workers are being extended special visas to take high paying high tech jobs in the U.S., because Bush now claims that not enough "skilled American workers" exist in the U.S. Conservatives have made such an effort to cut education funds, cut tuition support, and often raise banners of outright social ignorance as campaign themes to appeal to the worst of base instints in some voters, and now this bitter harvest is resulting in American citizens being passed over for 90,000 of the very best jobs in America, and workers from foreign nations who put a high priority on education including advanced math and science skills are being called to come to America to fill these jobs.
One area where these high tech skills are greatly needed is in the area of advanced computer skills for designing military wares. In the 1980's such strict laws existed that restricted foreign companies from any involvement in companies that produce goods for the U.S. military that American Motors stood to lose U.S. military contrcts because the French automaker Renault had bought a 49% share of the company due to severe financial problems at AMC. AMC lost more than $320 million in one 14 month period with their car production operations and needed the investment of Renault in order to stay in business. Vehicles such as the military HumVee and Jeep stood to lose out in military contracts, so the American General division was spun off as a separate new corporation to continue to garner U.S. military contracts for the HumVee. Eventually Jeep itself was sold to Chrysler, but now Chrysler is a German owned company. With such a creeping influence of foreign ownership of companies that produced military goods, foreign ownership have been gradually relaxed. Today as much as 80% of some U.S. military missile parts are now produced in China. This means not only the export of many high tech jobs to China in sensitive military computer parts, but includes the possibility of Chinese military espionage to sabotage these chips or to build in features that can be defeated by Chinese military technology. Because of a lack of "skilled American workers" in this important military high tech industry, increasingly China is becoming a major military supplier to the U.S.
And increasingly the U.S. is producing less and less of the integrated circuits of the world. America produced about 49% of all the IC chips in the world during the mid 1980's. Today that figure is down to only about 10%. And less and less U.S. produced electronics exist, with the U.S. computer industry still the only area of U.S. manufacturing strength, but increasingly both South Korea and China are challenging this in area of both components and parts.
Both in business and in military wares, the U.S. is losing an important edge to nations who put a far higher priority into education than our own society, and increasingly foreign workers both outside and within America as "guest workers" are being called to fulfill important high tech jobs that misplaced Republican priorities have prevented many American workers from being able to fill. It should have become apparent to conservatives some years ago that when you make a top priority attacks on education, you only reap a harvest of social ignorance as well as young Americans not able to fill important high tech jobs. You reap what you sow.
Jumat, 03 Februari 2006
Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss
Just like the lyrics of the old song by The Who, the surprise election of Ohio Representative John A. Boehner was a missed opportunity for the House Republican leadership to make a clean break with the seeming bad appearances of both the Abramoff lobby scandal and Tom Delay's money machine politics, but instead turned out to be just more of the same old tired politics.
To many in Congress Rep. Boehner is like the big tobbaco lobby's own personal "Western Union", as he actually personally delivers tobacco lobby checks right to the members of Congress. In order to promote the goals of this murderous industry that hooks people on a drug just as addictive as heroin, and causes injury and death to innocent bystanders through secondhand smoke including ear infections in children and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome to infants, Boehner actually distributed tobacco lobby checks to House members right on the floor of Congress to further the murderous tobacco industry interests. And Roy Blunt who was defeated by the Republican leadership, married a lobbyist for Philip Morris. The only question was which tobacco lobby Congressman pal the Republican House leadership would annoit as their new leader in their phony "reform" drive.
Conn. Republican Rep. Chris Shays feels that Boehner is even closer to the big lobby industry than Rep. Blunt who Congress turned down. And former Republican Rep. Linda Smith said that how Boehner conducts himself, if it is not "illegal, then it should be". Yet Boehner laughably represents himself as some sort of "reformer".
In the words of The Who, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss". There was a clear missed opportunity to break with the "culture of corruption" in Congress. But these tired old politicians just could not bring themselves to do that.
To many in Congress Rep. Boehner is like the big tobbaco lobby's own personal "Western Union", as he actually personally delivers tobacco lobby checks right to the members of Congress. In order to promote the goals of this murderous industry that hooks people on a drug just as addictive as heroin, and causes injury and death to innocent bystanders through secondhand smoke including ear infections in children and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome to infants, Boehner actually distributed tobacco lobby checks to House members right on the floor of Congress to further the murderous tobacco industry interests. And Roy Blunt who was defeated by the Republican leadership, married a lobbyist for Philip Morris. The only question was which tobacco lobby Congressman pal the Republican House leadership would annoit as their new leader in their phony "reform" drive.
Conn. Republican Rep. Chris Shays feels that Boehner is even closer to the big lobby industry than Rep. Blunt who Congress turned down. And former Republican Rep. Linda Smith said that how Boehner conducts himself, if it is not "illegal, then it should be". Yet Boehner laughably represents himself as some sort of "reformer".
In the words of The Who, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss". There was a clear missed opportunity to break with the "culture of corruption" in Congress. But these tired old politicians just could not bring themselves to do that.
Kamis, 02 Februari 2006
Iraqi General's Story About WMD Transfers Largely Ignored
One fascinating story that has been largely ignored by most in the mainstream media is the new book written by General Georges Sada, the number two general in the Iraqi Air Force under Saddam Hussein who details how Iraq was able to transfer WMDs out of Iraq by using civilian aircraft with the seats removed in his new book, SADDAM"s SECRETS.
According to General Sada, drums of chemical weapons in yellow barrels with poison emblems were loaded onto civilian aircraft and either sold or transfered to Syria's military. General Sada, like Tariq Aziz, was a Christian and not a Muslim, and General Sada was not a member of the Baath Party either, yet he was a close military confident of Saddam Hussein who was known for his very blunt and honest nature in descriptions of military information to the Iraqi dictator. While many in the Iraqi military often gave Hussein overly optimistic views, partially for their own job if not their own safety, Sada was one of few to challenge Hussein, yet was not excuted or replaced for doing it. General Sada also claims that on two occasions he was able to talk Hussein out of chemical weapons attacks on Israel, and considers this his greatest victory.
General Georges Sada became a "born-aagin" Christian believer in 1987. And despite this minority faith in this largely Muslim nation, he was able to yield great influence over Saddam Hussein. Just like Mikhail Gorbachev, whose closet respect for the Christian faith was central to his views to move the Soviet Union to a freer and more Democratic state, Sada made a difference for the better within Iraq.
During the 1980's war between Iraq and Iran, Iraq used chemical weapons to stop Iranian troops. And Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons such as mustard gas against Kurdish villages. With a severe shortage of cash and the lack of any real long range missiles to deliver chemical weapons more than 150 miles due to UNSCOM arms inspections and destruction, a likely arms deal to sell this terrible weaponry to Syria was made. With Syria far closer to Israel than Iraq, this is hardly any news that should comfort. Syria could easily employ such terrible weapons in any conflict with Israel should it decide to back up Iran should war break out in the MidEast over the nuclear arms situation with Iran.
How the U.S. failed to detect this arms transfer is a good question. But a far more serious one is just what are the nature of the WMD transfers to Syria, and how large of WMD forces remains close to Israeli border in Syria.
During 12 years of U.N. sanctions, and short on cash with no real viable delivery system for the chemical weapon agents, Iraq likely could have sold Syria the WMDs, and expected that they could someday renew their own program if they could get out from under U.N. sanctions and UNSCOM arms inspections. Iraq likel "sanitized" their nation through the WMD sales to Syria. Even GlobalSecurity.org, recognized that Syria has a relatively large force of missiles or shells that are capable of delivering WMDS including some newer North Koran Scud C missile with a 600km range. Other former Soviet Union and Chinese missiles are plentiful and shells number into the thousands in the Syrian military. Many of these are indeed WMD warhead capable.
Any WMD transfer would have given U.N. sanctions cash strapped Iraq needed cash with many embargos on many Iraqi goods and the "oil for food" program under some restrictions.
According to General Sada, drums of chemical weapons in yellow barrels with poison emblems were loaded onto civilian aircraft and either sold or transfered to Syria's military. General Sada, like Tariq Aziz, was a Christian and not a Muslim, and General Sada was not a member of the Baath Party either, yet he was a close military confident of Saddam Hussein who was known for his very blunt and honest nature in descriptions of military information to the Iraqi dictator. While many in the Iraqi military often gave Hussein overly optimistic views, partially for their own job if not their own safety, Sada was one of few to challenge Hussein, yet was not excuted or replaced for doing it. General Sada also claims that on two occasions he was able to talk Hussein out of chemical weapons attacks on Israel, and considers this his greatest victory.
General Georges Sada became a "born-aagin" Christian believer in 1987. And despite this minority faith in this largely Muslim nation, he was able to yield great influence over Saddam Hussein. Just like Mikhail Gorbachev, whose closet respect for the Christian faith was central to his views to move the Soviet Union to a freer and more Democratic state, Sada made a difference for the better within Iraq.
During the 1980's war between Iraq and Iran, Iraq used chemical weapons to stop Iranian troops. And Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons such as mustard gas against Kurdish villages. With a severe shortage of cash and the lack of any real long range missiles to deliver chemical weapons more than 150 miles due to UNSCOM arms inspections and destruction, a likely arms deal to sell this terrible weaponry to Syria was made. With Syria far closer to Israel than Iraq, this is hardly any news that should comfort. Syria could easily employ such terrible weapons in any conflict with Israel should it decide to back up Iran should war break out in the MidEast over the nuclear arms situation with Iran.
How the U.S. failed to detect this arms transfer is a good question. But a far more serious one is just what are the nature of the WMD transfers to Syria, and how large of WMD forces remains close to Israeli border in Syria.
During 12 years of U.N. sanctions, and short on cash with no real viable delivery system for the chemical weapon agents, Iraq likely could have sold Syria the WMDs, and expected that they could someday renew their own program if they could get out from under U.N. sanctions and UNSCOM arms inspections. Iraq likel "sanitized" their nation through the WMD sales to Syria. Even GlobalSecurity.org, recognized that Syria has a relatively large force of missiles or shells that are capable of delivering WMDS including some newer North Koran Scud C missile with a 600km range. Other former Soviet Union and Chinese missiles are plentiful and shells number into the thousands in the Syrian military. Many of these are indeed WMD warhead capable.
Any WMD transfer would have given U.N. sanctions cash strapped Iraq needed cash with many embargos on many Iraqi goods and the "oil for food" program under some restrictions.
Rabu, 01 Februari 2006
What A Difference A Day Makes!
It seemed like only last night that in the George Bush State Of The Union Address, that he was upholding the value of improving American education. But today the Republican Congress pushed a claimed "deficit reduction bill" that cuts tuition aid. And it was only last night that Mr. Bush held up the value of cutting the federal deficit, but the very same claim "budget deficit reduction bill" cuts social service to the poor as well as child support payment enforcement by $40 billion over five years, yet offers a new $70 billion dollar tax cut to the wealthy, thereby actually increasing the federal deficit by $30 billion.
This is yet another sign that some in Congress have cut education too much and now cannot do simple math. Imagine political leaders in world math champion countries like South Korea, China or Japan cutting education related funds.
What a difference a day makes in what Bush proposed in the State Of Union Address and the reality on the ground the next day. No wonder millions are turned off from politics where any lie to get by for one day, gives way to reality the next.
This is yet another sign that some in Congress have cut education too much and now cannot do simple math. Imagine political leaders in world math champion countries like South Korea, China or Japan cutting education related funds.
What a difference a day makes in what Bush proposed in the State Of Union Address and the reality on the ground the next day. No wonder millions are turned off from politics where any lie to get by for one day, gives way to reality the next.
Selasa, 31 Januari 2006
A Terror Video Double Feature
For the price of just just two blank VHS videotapes, terrorists were able to get more than their money's worth value in raising fear and anxiety in the U.S.
Al Qaeda's number two, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri was able to taunt the U.S., especially the Bush Administration in one video. And while most of the threats are no doubt an attempt to frighten the U.S. and use psychological games and perceptional illusions to raise a fear level far greater than the actual capability of Al Qaeda, still the uncertainty of whether al-Zawahiri may be able to plan some revenge attack in the U.S. in response to the failed Predator drone attack on his life is unclear. It is always this uncertainty about terrorism that leads to a state of anxiety.
But the angry content from al-Zawahiri may not have been from that of a hunted or defeated man, it could always be that from someone bent on revenge against the U.S. Time will tell whether Al Qaeda has been busted down to just a defeated organization where only a few videotape threats is the best this organization can now muster or not.
And a second and very disturbing tape of Christian Science Monitor journalist, Jill Caroll who looked very distraught and tearful was gut wrenching.
It is not known whether these tapes are the worst that terrorists can now do or not. But these tapes were indeed disturbing and both cast a long shadow over tonight's State Of The Union Address.
Al Qaeda's number two, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri was able to taunt the U.S., especially the Bush Administration in one video. And while most of the threats are no doubt an attempt to frighten the U.S. and use psychological games and perceptional illusions to raise a fear level far greater than the actual capability of Al Qaeda, still the uncertainty of whether al-Zawahiri may be able to plan some revenge attack in the U.S. in response to the failed Predator drone attack on his life is unclear. It is always this uncertainty about terrorism that leads to a state of anxiety.
But the angry content from al-Zawahiri may not have been from that of a hunted or defeated man, it could always be that from someone bent on revenge against the U.S. Time will tell whether Al Qaeda has been busted down to just a defeated organization where only a few videotape threats is the best this organization can now muster or not.
And a second and very disturbing tape of Christian Science Monitor journalist, Jill Caroll who looked very distraught and tearful was gut wrenching.
It is not known whether these tapes are the worst that terrorists can now do or not. But these tapes were indeed disturbing and both cast a long shadow over tonight's State Of The Union Address.
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