Friday, August 29, 2008

Obama's Speech

This country is more generous than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment he’s worked on for twenty years and watch it shipped off to China, and then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news.

- Companies are moving off shore for two reasons – high operating costs usually associated with Unions and high corporate tax rates in the US which are higher than any other developed country. Barack wants to increase corporate tax… McCain’s plan is to lower it from 35% to 25% for all corporations (not just the oil companies – as Barack would have you believe)

How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies but not one penny of tax relief to more than one hundred million Americans?

- Making the Bush cuts permanent isn’t relief for millions of Americans?

a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?

- It’s always been offered as a choice – keep your same old crappy SS or chose to invest over the long term and get better returns (4% vs. ~10%)

when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000 like it has under George Bush.

That’s the promise of America – the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper.

- Where is Barack’s brother? Living in a shack on $1 a month.

Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.

- The companies are leaving to get tax breaks… the only way to make them stay is to sweeten the deal

I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

- who defines what a small business is and what a start up is? Imagine the power a person has who can wave away the tax burden for a company.. and what happens when a company reaches the edge… one more employee or $1 more of profit and WHAM you are now paying taxes?! Where is the incentive to grow and create more jobs.

And I’ll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy – wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can’t ever be outsourced.

- and as you phase out coal and other previous energy jobs, where do those jobs go? The 150 billion can and will come from our current energy companies if it makes sense to do it. Otherwise you are just creating a permanent energy subsidy coming from the very pockets you are trying to keep change in.

if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

- So if I’m an idiot, as long as I talk to some elderly people I can get a free ride? Who defines what serving in your community is? Doesn’t it negatively affect the idea of service if you start making people think the reason to do it is for a cash reward?

Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don’t, you’ll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves.

- Um… you’ve got to be kidding me, just where is this money coming from? The coverage Congress gets is something like $25K a year at the bare minimum.

And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day’s work

- This canard is so old and wrong. The closest analogy I can come up with is… It’s comparing a basket of 10 apples, 5 oranges and a pear with a basket of 2 apples, 3 oranges and 7 pears. If apples get paid more than oranges more than pears the numbers will say its unfair – even if apples get paid the same as apples.

Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I’ve laid out how I’ll pay for every dime – by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don’t help America grow. But I will also go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less

- just when exactly did the president get the line item veto?

John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war.

- Insulting in the extreme for mischaracterizing McCain’s position.

What the nay-sayers don’t understand is that this election has never been about me. It’s been about you.


- then why isn’t Biden on any of the political gear available from his official campaign store a WEEK after he was selected. Palin was on McCain’s the moment she was announced. Why, on the graphics that to appear, is Biden’s name smaller and in a subdued color as to almost fade into the background?



Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Cute kids

So all 3 kids were hovering while we were watching Idol.. Kelden asks for post dinner food for the third time - I say - "WHAT ARE YOU GROWING AGAIN!? - STOP!... you know you aren't allowed to grow." So he laughs and says - yep - growing. I tell him to put his arms up and stretch and say GROW! - he does - Audrey does..

Then Kaeden climbs up on the ottoman puts his arms up as high as he can and says in the most amazingly cute voice - grow!. Of coarse it sounds more like gwow. TOO cute!

This week on Idol

It's almost as if they are trying to throw in the towel.

Bad, Bad, Bad.

David Archeletta was the ONLY one who really performed.
Jason was sad. The dude gave up 3 weeks ago and wants to leave - it's obvious - freaking hummed part of his song.

Cook should have shined on Rock legends week - he is the only rocker left on the stage and he was mediocre to poor. Syesha has an outside chance at actually finishing #2 if this keeps up.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

What's up besides Idol?

Mundane life!

Been actually keeping up with the yard work this year. I'm slowly making progress in getting ahead of some of the bushes and such that really need to be culled back. I'm much happier with the back yard, and the kids have been out there very regularly so far.

I'm playing World of Warcraft again. I know Chelle is frustrated with it. I've been pushing to catch two friends who recently restarted as well. Once we are sync'd up things will settle down.

I also ordered a whole mess of books through Amazon.com. I ran out of topics that I could get from the library. These probably don't pass muster with the liberal filter applied when getting books that kids might read. For the first time I tried the used book section. The first one that showed up was in spectacular condition for and at a large discount. So this could work out well.

Obligatory Idol Post

My gut says finally Brooke is toast. But one of her songs was actually decent.
Jason was woefully bad with both.
Makes me think that Syesha can pull out a miracle 3rd place with her good performances the last couple weeks.

Cook had 2 very nice songs, but Archeletta had 1 good and 1 spectacular.. so, its still a die toss between them.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Who cares!

So.. the next 4 weeks on Idol are worthless. The final two will be David and David.
This week Brooke is so totally toast, with her botch job.
Carly has sunk and is gone next week if she doesn't surprise, and then Syesha would go instead
Jason will hang to the number 3 spot.

But I don't even care about any of them.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

NOOOOO! Kristy gone... pout

Well.. earlier I had predicted she would be #7 and she was. The only surprise is that Syesha is on and Mike isn't. Now that both Chelle and my lust objects are eliminated, you'd think we would can the show... nu-uh. I guess I'll have to pine for my #2 Syesha, even though she is gone next week, two at the most. Chelle has this goofy thing for Jason. I think it's because she is really thinking of Ronan from Stargate (dreadlocks). Who knows someday we might actually vote.. Oh wait... I'm pretty sure Chelle did make a handful of calls one week for some performer who I can't remember.

And what is up with the writing a message on your hand. Granted I feel for Eliot's loss, but there has to be a better way.

I also peeked at High School Musical before Chelle made it out to watch the show. We got it from netflix for Audrey to watch at her sleep over this weekend. Seemed ok, just seems strange that 1st graders are all into watching high school aged people. Hannah Montana, HSM, Bratz... So many other parents we know have allowed it for their girls exactly Audrey's age, so - oh well.

Family walk/stroll/roll

Chelle prompted the family into a walk. On the way out the door, I had a wild idea. Wear the Rollerblades I hadn't touched in like 7 years. So we go around the 2/3 mile loop with me pushing the stroller, Kaeden loved it. He was gripping the stroller tight since it was faster than he was used to, but he was laughing.

When we got back home, Chelle put her blades on and we went for a longer greenbelt/park trip. At the far end, Chelle gets this idea to get her prescription from Walgreens which was only an extra 1/4 mile or so. Without wallet (but they have us on quickpay) and no shoes (they let me go sock-footed) we picked it up and then cruised back home. Kelden was puttering out with only two blocks to go, and it was getting on the dark end of dusk. Was a good time and the kids crashed hard and fast into bed.

Big shocker - yea I know

So Mike Johns is gone - nobody saw that coming. You could tell from the incredulous shocked looks on everyone's face. But it's understandable. It's the same reason why one of the 3 divas got dropped early in like season 2. He has far too much overlap (Cook, Carly = rockin, and an overloaded male talent pool) and people expected him to stay. So people voted for their 2nd choice to keep them safe and wham... perfect storm, enough votes drained to leave him hanging.

This week.. was another yawner. The skinny is - Brook, Syesha and Carly are on the bubble. Carly had so much early talent, but she has been in the game for a long time and had no room to grow, she hasn't gone up and it shows. Syesha is out of her league, it's ok.. she is a decent singer and incredibly hawt! She will definitely get a gig somewhere. Brook is artistic, but she is a church mouse... she's got no confidence and it shows. I called pitch problems, pacing problems and a quavering (scared) tone to her voice... all three were called out by the judges. She was scared and it caused her to rush her song. She has far more talent, but she isn't a star, not like they are looking for on idol... she'd do great performing at a 5 star restaurant or formal functions.

It's now a story about the two David's you have the young and vocally superb Archeletta and the spicy, creative Cook. Both are going to be block buster sellers. I think Archeletta will win due to his age and the tweeniebopper factor. He is a boy band front man for sure. Cook, while artistically more interesting may find his sales nitch a bit more restricted.

Jason and Kristy - Kristy did about as much as she could with the week theme, far better than I thought. Basically she stretched a triple out of a hit to the far right field corner. Jason was fine. I didn't dig it. I'm sure he is fine with his share of tweenieboppers he is fighting David for.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

This week on Idol

YEAH! - Kristy blew one away, saves her for a week. Syesha and Carly had the weakest performances of the night, I expect Carly has enough solid fans to keep her from dropping out. Syesha is a gonner. Archeletta was super. Brook, Mike and Kristy were solid. Wife and I parted ways on Jason - yea he sung his song pretty well, but I thought it a bit weak as an inspirational pick (week's theme). OH and Cook was horrendous this week, but again... he has been amazing so many other weeks, there is no way he is getting the boot.

Syesha = gone, bottom 3 easily
Carly has flirted with the bottom before and on her weak night she will be bottom #2
I think Kristy hasn't solidified a large fan base and has been habitually in the bottom. Fair chance she will be bottom #3 again.
We could get bottom surprised by Cook, Brook (been there before), Jason (been there before)

Right now the final 3 is Archeletta, Johns and Cook - nobody else is even close, though Brook and Jason have very unique qualities and loads of musical talent that may make up for their lack of showmanship or vocal gaps.

HA! - just looked at dialidol.com and they have Kristy and Jason in the safe range with Cook, Johns and Brook at risk. So I guess I'll lock in Brook as Bottom #3

Monday, April 7, 2008

Busy weekend

Got so much done this weekend. Pulled out one of the Ficus stumps, did 80% of the rerouting of the irrigation, mowed of coarse. I finally got to replacing the main sink faucet, that had been encrusted. Whoever designed the faucet had plumbers local 421 in mind... holy cow, was it a bear to get out. I literally had to cut the lines with snippers and a hacksaw, because there was no way I was going to be able to get the assembly apart. Kudos to Home Depot though. The replacement faucet was a dream to put in, works great.

I also exercised my butt off, not all of it directly exercise. Was able to bike both mornings for my 40 minutes. But did an hour of ice skating and two serious episodes of dance dance on Sunday. In addition to the axing and shoveling... it all added up.

Audrey and Sydney had fun skating... but hot cocoa at Starbucks afterwards was the trip. They wanted a table to themselves and they really snootied it up. It was very cute... but can't imagine what it will look like in 8-10 years.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Idol - guessed right again!

Yeah - I knew Ramiele was a gonner. I fear Kristy's time is very near. She is neck and neck with Syesha for being voted off. Though I think a fluke vote could put Jason or Brooke out before her, but I don't think that will happen.

Stay tuned!

Friday, March 28, 2008

Thyroids and other things that go wrong as you age

Got in to do my blood draw. Standard thyroid check and lipid panel. I'm expecting they will up my synthroid dose again. It will be nice when it finally normalizes and I can trust my lipid panel. I had massive improvements in my triglycerides and stuff when I started my latest eating/exercising changes. But my cholesterol continues to be thrown out of whack by insufficient thyroid hormones.

On the other hand. My knee has really held up well with the level of biking I was at (up to 2 hours a day) I did have a few bad days after romping around the soccer field (90 minutes) and ice skating with Audrey. Biking plans have dialed back to being regular 40 minutes a day. Was simply too tired this morning. I was up mucking about with our media center too late to be anything but groggy.

The other plus of being down 25 pounds is far less back strain. It's been quite noticeable. I also enjoy being able to actually tie my shoes without having to hold my breath or position myself so my stomach isn't mashed on my upper legs.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Idol '08 - and other TV stuff.

With the dearth of anything close to decent TV (mostly due to the strike), Chelle snookered me into watching Idol again this season. My top 4 pick at this point are probably: Mike Johns, David Cook, David Archuleta and Carly Smithson. I personally think Mike Johns should win at this point.

I've also been hoping for Kristy Lee Cook (aka Horse-girl) to stay in. Mostly cause I bug Chelle with how HAWT! she is. But I have no illusions that she will finish better than 7th of the people still on the show. Her pick of Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA this week was a master stroke. Patriotic and sung really pretty well, it secured her at least two more weeks on the show. I picked correctly that Chikezie was going. Ramiele and Syesha are soon to follow.

We have been losing shows left and right. I'm down to: Lost, Heroes, Sarah Connor, Battlestar Galactica, 24, Atlantis and from the BBC Dr. Who and Torchwood. I've also getting the Sopranos on DVD from Netflix and watching then while riding the stationary bike.

I love the internet - shopping

So I popped home to start a pork roast (for future lunches) and have lunch. I also scrounged up two pedometers. One had a dead battery. The other I promptly broke the belt hook. Quickly searched up the battery type in google. $3 for 10 + 1.69 shipping first class mail. Jumped over to RadioShack.com ... $4.69 a battery. Quickly made up my mind to order the 10 and then get the single from the Radio Shack on the way to work.

Steep price for the convenience. Tack on 20c for the driving detour as well. Not sure how most things are still sold retail anymore.

McCain star rising

I've been a huge Romney backer since well before the race started in earnest. Being a 13 year AZ resident, I've been pretty skeptical about a McCain run for President. But he has really been hitting all the right buttons lately.

http://race42008.com/2008/03/26/mccains-foreign-policy-speech/ - in a recent policy speech he is mirroring my feelings about a democratic states organization.

http://race42008.com/2008/03/25/mccain-speech-on-the-housing-crisis/ - in a recent speech on the housing crisis, he also mirrors my attitude about a minimalist government involvement and a "let the gamblers wallow in their losses" position.

Compared to the other two options at this point, its a no brainer.

Weight status

Just signed up with the health and wellness tracker at work. For submitting steps taken and time biked, I can have a chance to win an nice Ipod!.

I've been more or less on the wagon with dropping weight. I was 280ish at the beginning of 2008 and am currently hovering at 255-258.

After having bronchitis and a couple stomach bugs, I can get back on track with biking in the mornings and doing some gym work in the evenings.