(P) Ordinarily I am weary of Democrats who go to great lengths to try to court media moguls such as News Corp's Murdoch. To make a long story short, Democrats can sell out, but they're typically not as good as their counterparts in the Republican party, so in the end they get beat playing that game. But with Hillary Clinton's very public association recently in New York, this might actually be a good thing, for it exposes her true colors in unambiguous clarity. Here's a good article, replete with obvious biases against Senator Clinton.
After all, while the Clintons' corporate sympathies with regard to the telecom industry have been clear since at least 1996's terrible legislation, Hillary always had some room for deniability from her husband's actions. Basically, she has now laid the gauntlet to would be challengers for 2008, and I'm hoping somebody really challenges her on it. Media consolidation is an incredibly important issue among people all across the country of all political stripes, and I think this may be the issue with strong enough Democratic grassroots energy to keep Hillary from securing the nomination in 2008. With the combination of an issues focused Al Gore, tremendous success of documentaries like Outfoxed, and a DNC chair sympathetic to media issues, maybe we can keep Hillary in New York.
And that's something we can all get behind.
Well, except Ruport Murdoch. The Clintons have done wonderful things for his business interests in the US. The only thing better for News Corp would be Hillary losing to the Republican nominee.
5/10/2006
what's this i see
The Royals aren't the last team to put up double digits in the win column! Thanks Florida.
And we've swept a series, to boot. Look out, uh, Minnesota.
And we've swept a series, to boot. Look out, uh, Minnesota.
5/09/2006
north american strategy
What's almost as good as last night? Mmm, how about a little world domination. Jack, Eric, and Nate, you put up a good fight. But somebody's gotta win.
Thanks for the idea tonight Eric!
Thanks for the idea tonight Eric!
5/07/2006
baby steps
It's amazing how things change in a year. I'm living in St. Louis working at Employment Connection excited about baseball wondering what I'm doing with my life.
Ok, that doesn't sound very different at all than when I started this sucker last May.
Story time then! This weekend the poker part of our poker night was a little bust (ahem, Eric...) but we had fun regardless. Good to see you again Rich. Anyway, the point here is that when Eric and Nikki (sorry, don't know how to spell that) were leaving, I was screwing around and spun around or something on our hardwood floor and Eric exclaimed oh my goodness, what are you doing Nate? (Yes, most of my college friends won't call me anything but Nate or Nathan, but that's neither here nor there.)
The point was that I got called on doing something silly and very not me! Tal, whatever you put on that CD, it must be working. You better watch out Kim, by the time you and Andy get married, I'll be ready for that dance...
Anyway, this blog has followed the big things in my life over a year of relative constancy. But the little things, where life is really lived, have changed oh so much. Yippee. It's too harsh to say I feel abandoned, because we always knew most of us would spread out across the country after school; Wash U isn't exactly a place people come to settle down. And it's very exciting, Adrian and Alex already off at school, hopefully Doug and Kelly not far behind, Brad off his butt and off to Cali for work, hopefully Lauren enjoying a job that lets her travel, Viraj, Raych, Jer, Sheena, and so forth. But that doesn't make it any easier, because I'd be lying if I didn't admit it would be wonderful if college could go on forever, without the need to pay those bills.
But I'm usually at my best when pushed, and without Doug to take to the Fatted Calf every other day and Adrian to play ball with, well, I've found an even better exercise and dinner date (hmm, I wonder if she has found Stay Curious yet?). No offense guys, of course. And with nothing to lose, no one I know to see me struggle, I'm off exploring the weird weird world that is social dancing. I'm certainly not into it the way that most of them are, but my curiosity is still engaged, so who knows how long I'll be with this most entertaining crowd?
As far as stay curious itself, I'm not sure where it's going; there's no plan or anything. Right now it's me letting me spend time on me. Most of my life is about other people and what I want to do in and for the world; this is a familiar, safe place to think about and be absorbed with myself.
That's not to say, of course, I hope you do anything but enjoy the ride!
How do I measure a year? How about 239 posts.
And praising every day my sister waits after today to get her license. That's one of those things that will make me feel really old, my little sister driving.
Ok, that doesn't sound very different at all than when I started this sucker last May.
Story time then! This weekend the poker part of our poker night was a little bust (ahem, Eric...) but we had fun regardless. Good to see you again Rich. Anyway, the point here is that when Eric and Nikki (sorry, don't know how to spell that) were leaving, I was screwing around and spun around or something on our hardwood floor and Eric exclaimed oh my goodness, what are you doing Nate? (Yes, most of my college friends won't call me anything but Nate or Nathan, but that's neither here nor there.)
The point was that I got called on doing something silly and very not me! Tal, whatever you put on that CD, it must be working. You better watch out Kim, by the time you and Andy get married, I'll be ready for that dance...
Anyway, this blog has followed the big things in my life over a year of relative constancy. But the little things, where life is really lived, have changed oh so much. Yippee. It's too harsh to say I feel abandoned, because we always knew most of us would spread out across the country after school; Wash U isn't exactly a place people come to settle down. And it's very exciting, Adrian and Alex already off at school, hopefully Doug and Kelly not far behind, Brad off his butt and off to Cali for work, hopefully Lauren enjoying a job that lets her travel, Viraj, Raych, Jer, Sheena, and so forth. But that doesn't make it any easier, because I'd be lying if I didn't admit it would be wonderful if college could go on forever, without the need to pay those bills.
But I'm usually at my best when pushed, and without Doug to take to the Fatted Calf every other day and Adrian to play ball with, well, I've found an even better exercise and dinner date (hmm, I wonder if she has found Stay Curious yet?). No offense guys, of course. And with nothing to lose, no one I know to see me struggle, I'm off exploring the weird weird world that is social dancing. I'm certainly not into it the way that most of them are, but my curiosity is still engaged, so who knows how long I'll be with this most entertaining crowd?
As far as stay curious itself, I'm not sure where it's going; there's no plan or anything. Right now it's me letting me spend time on me. Most of my life is about other people and what I want to do in and for the world; this is a familiar, safe place to think about and be absorbed with myself.
That's not to say, of course, I hope you do anything but enjoy the ride!
How do I measure a year? How about 239 posts.
And praising every day my sister waits after today to get her license. That's one of those things that will make me feel really old, my little sister driving.
5/06/2006
one more day
Yes, my sister's birthday is tomorrow. But even more exciting is another birthday! That's right, stay curious turns 1 tomorrow.
In preparation for the festivities, let me give major props to a company. After all, even though it's usually more fun writing about the (relatively) few problems in our economic system, you confuse me for a pinko commie leftie whateverie at your own peril.
I hate shopping. It is, unfortunately, quite necessary on certain occasions, particularly certain special occasions. However, let me say that Bed Bath N Beyond just made my day. I got in, the staff was friendly and helpful (hmm, who can argue with all of four different young women helping me out?), and I got out.
Not without falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book, though. You see, they are kind enough to offer complimentary gift wrapping with wedding registries. No doubt, you, like everyone else on the planet, already knew this, but I'm still a relative newbie in the wedding world, and this was fascinating to me. That's a fantastic bargain, and a great example of market forces delivering a product that is much needed (ie, help with the obligatory arcane rituals of gift giving). Also interestingly, I found out that complimentary does not mean free. You see, they make you wait up there while they wrap it, with way too friendly staff hanging around with nothing better to do than talk to you. And they set out items which you think, woah, that's cheap, relative to prices you've seen around the rest of the store. Then they stick bright colorful stickers and other paraphanelia in strategic locations.
Presto. I buy something while my gift wrap is being done "for free".
But no more details right now, lest someone is reading my blog :)
Other than my roommates, of course; they're awesome, and they can know what's super top secret.
Well, I take that back; they're giving me a hard time right now, so maybe they're sort of awesome. I'm trying to help them find a file of the Stephen Colbert video from the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Hmm, a couple days ago you could get it from iFilm to youtube. Now why on Earth would the owners of C-SPAN be interested in getting that particular video file pulled? Maybe the same reason the whole corporate media ignored him, then lampooned him, to begin with...nah, that can't be it.
In preparation for the festivities, let me give major props to a company. After all, even though it's usually more fun writing about the (relatively) few problems in our economic system, you confuse me for a pinko commie leftie whateverie at your own peril.
I hate shopping. It is, unfortunately, quite necessary on certain occasions, particularly certain special occasions. However, let me say that Bed Bath N Beyond just made my day. I got in, the staff was friendly and helpful (hmm, who can argue with all of four different young women helping me out?), and I got out.
Not without falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book, though. You see, they are kind enough to offer complimentary gift wrapping with wedding registries. No doubt, you, like everyone else on the planet, already knew this, but I'm still a relative newbie in the wedding world, and this was fascinating to me. That's a fantastic bargain, and a great example of market forces delivering a product that is much needed (ie, help with the obligatory arcane rituals of gift giving). Also interestingly, I found out that complimentary does not mean free. You see, they make you wait up there while they wrap it, with way too friendly staff hanging around with nothing better to do than talk to you. And they set out items which you think, woah, that's cheap, relative to prices you've seen around the rest of the store. Then they stick bright colorful stickers and other paraphanelia in strategic locations.
Presto. I buy something while my gift wrap is being done "for free".
But no more details right now, lest someone is reading my blog :)
Other than my roommates, of course; they're awesome, and they can know what's super top secret.
Well, I take that back; they're giving me a hard time right now, so maybe they're sort of awesome. I'm trying to help them find a file of the Stephen Colbert video from the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Hmm, a couple days ago you could get it from iFilm to youtube. Now why on Earth would the owners of C-SPAN be interested in getting that particular video file pulled? Maybe the same reason the whole corporate media ignored him, then lampooned him, to begin with...nah, that can't be it.
5/02/2006
back to basics
As I approach a very exciting date, one whole year of blogger fun, I thought I'd grab one of those bulletins that zip around the web and talk about my ABCs. Enjoy!
A - Available?: Unfortunately, not very often. This time last year I was worried because most of the people I hung out with were leaving town, and now I can't even find time to sleep enough.
B - Best Friend?: All of you! Yes, that is both purposefully vague and not very helpful. Sue me. Or bite me, as one friend might say.
C - Crush?: Ooh, those are fun!
D - Dogs name?: Yeah, right.
E - Easiest Person To Talk To?: Again, difficult to narrow down, but this time I'll give you a name: Becki.
F - Friday or Saturday?: Saturdays rock my face off.
G - Gummy bears or worms?: Bears, duh! Where did I go to school?
H - Hometown?: Liberty, MO...boren 'n rayzed
I - If You Could Move Would You?: If by could, you mean money not an issue, absolutely! I want a mansion on the beach either in the French Rivierra or a South Pacific island. Otherwise, no, I am right where I want to be. Have you seen my apartment? Who would want to move out of it?
J - Jesus?: That's a good J. I think, at least. Does it start with J in aramaic or Greek? [mind wandering off to name of God in Indiana Jones movie...]
K - Kids?: Way too many of them. Actually, I like kids, as long as they belong to other people.
L - Last person you hugged?: Charity...mmm, hope you had fun blues dancing ;)
M - Milk Flavor?: skim
N - Number Of Siblings?: 2
O - One Wish?: purpose
P - Phobia(s) - too many to name; heights, losing my teeth, becoming severely disabled (I really should fill out a living will), awkward social situations, failure, rejection, being in a place where I'm not wanted, and many more
Q - Favorite Quote?: How can you pick one? I have four on my facebook profile, so let me add a different one: "and the greatest of these is love"
R - Reason to smile?: No reason required!
S- Favorite song?: I honestly have no idea. How can one song possibly transcend all the rest? I really love "Impression that I get" by Might Mighty Bosstones.
T - Time You Woke Up?: 7:05 am
U - Unknown Fact About You?: Ha, now how would it remain unknown? How about this: I just started blues dancing.
V - Vegetable You Love?: corn on the cob
W - Worst Habit?: I take things too personally.
X - X-Rays You've Had?: wrist, teeth
Y - Yummy Food?: now that's repetitive. As far as a nice meal, either filet mignon wrapped in bacon or chicken parmesan. As far as pure guilty addiction, glazed donut holes. They're worse than crack.
Z- Zodiac sign?: [before google] what's that? [after google] In the tropical calendar, I'm an Aries, full of the fresh vigor of early spring.
A - Available?: Unfortunately, not very often. This time last year I was worried because most of the people I hung out with were leaving town, and now I can't even find time to sleep enough.
B - Best Friend?: All of you! Yes, that is both purposefully vague and not very helpful. Sue me. Or bite me, as one friend might say.
C - Crush?: Ooh, those are fun!
D - Dogs name?: Yeah, right.
E - Easiest Person To Talk To?: Again, difficult to narrow down, but this time I'll give you a name: Becki.
F - Friday or Saturday?: Saturdays rock my face off.
G - Gummy bears or worms?: Bears, duh! Where did I go to school?
H - Hometown?: Liberty, MO...boren 'n rayzed
I - If You Could Move Would You?: If by could, you mean money not an issue, absolutely! I want a mansion on the beach either in the French Rivierra or a South Pacific island. Otherwise, no, I am right where I want to be. Have you seen my apartment? Who would want to move out of it?
J - Jesus?: That's a good J. I think, at least. Does it start with J in aramaic or Greek? [mind wandering off to name of God in Indiana Jones movie...]
K - Kids?: Way too many of them. Actually, I like kids, as long as they belong to other people.
L - Last person you hugged?: Charity...mmm, hope you had fun blues dancing ;)
M - Milk Flavor?: skim
N - Number Of Siblings?: 2
O - One Wish?: purpose
P - Phobia(s) - too many to name; heights, losing my teeth, becoming severely disabled (I really should fill out a living will), awkward social situations, failure, rejection, being in a place where I'm not wanted, and many more
Q - Favorite Quote?: How can you pick one? I have four on my facebook profile, so let me add a different one: "and the greatest of these is love"
R - Reason to smile?: No reason required!
S- Favorite song?: I honestly have no idea. How can one song possibly transcend all the rest? I really love "Impression that I get" by Might Mighty Bosstones.
T - Time You Woke Up?: 7:05 am
U - Unknown Fact About You?: Ha, now how would it remain unknown? How about this: I just started blues dancing.
V - Vegetable You Love?: corn on the cob
W - Worst Habit?: I take things too personally.
X - X-Rays You've Had?: wrist, teeth
Y - Yummy Food?: now that's repetitive. As far as a nice meal, either filet mignon wrapped in bacon or chicken parmesan. As far as pure guilty addiction, glazed donut holes. They're worse than crack.
Z- Zodiac sign?: [before google] what's that? [after google] In the tropical calendar, I'm an Aries, full of the fresh vigor of early spring.
4/30/2006
skip the darfur stuff
We all know terrible things are happening to lots of people in Sudan. That's old news. What could we do, anway?
What's really interesting about this article covering a recent protest at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington is who escorts the arrested representatives to the van (yes, even members of congress can get arrested for unlawful assembly). Not DC police. The article takes the time to specifically mention that they were "led to a white police van by U.S. Secret Service uniformed officers."
Not that it's a particularly new practice (at least, I don't think so), but enough to make you wonder why the representatives chose the Secret Service to do the arrest and take them to the DC station where they paid the $50 fine. Energy company executives can steal money from taxpayers in secret meetings that Dick Cheney doesn't even reveal but yet the founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus can't give a speech on the steps of the Sudanese Embassy condemning the present situation in Sudan?
Who runs the Secret Service?
(That's actually a very interesting question in itself, by the way)
It's also possible that I am so exhausted from blues stuff all weekend that this isn't really that interesting at all. Who knows.
Oh, but this is interesting: Doing a little background on the Secret Service, and their website is still active at Treasury. I guess that whole Department of Homeland Security thingy is coming along real well.
What's really interesting about this article covering a recent protest at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington is who escorts the arrested representatives to the van (yes, even members of congress can get arrested for unlawful assembly). Not DC police. The article takes the time to specifically mention that they were "led to a white police van by U.S. Secret Service uniformed officers."
Not that it's a particularly new practice (at least, I don't think so), but enough to make you wonder why the representatives chose the Secret Service to do the arrest and take them to the DC station where they paid the $50 fine. Energy company executives can steal money from taxpayers in secret meetings that Dick Cheney doesn't even reveal but yet the founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus can't give a speech on the steps of the Sudanese Embassy condemning the present situation in Sudan?
Who runs the Secret Service?
(That's actually a very interesting question in itself, by the way)
It's also possible that I am so exhausted from blues stuff all weekend that this isn't really that interesting at all. Who knows.
Oh, but this is interesting: Doing a little background on the Secret Service, and their website is still active at Treasury. I guess that whole Department of Homeland Security thingy is coming along real well.
4/26/2006
gotta love cnn
Props to CNN for covering the fun over in Nepal. (There's an actual revolution of people wanting real political power instead of being ruled by an autocratic, violent monarch).
This is priceless, though. The bolded headline says this:
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Soldiers killed six villagers Wednesday after thousands of civilians tried to overrun an army camp in southwestern Nepal, a military official said.
Then, the next sentence says this:
The killings were not believed to be connected to the political turmoil that has gripped Nepal for weeks.
Yeah, right. Completely unrelated.
This is priceless, though. The bolded headline says this:
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Soldiers killed six villagers Wednesday after thousands of civilians tried to overrun an army camp in southwestern Nepal, a military official said.
Then, the next sentence says this:
The killings were not believed to be connected to the political turmoil that has gripped Nepal for weeks.
Yeah, right. Completely unrelated.
4/24/2006
yay enron
At least, yay Enron movie. It came from Blockbuster this weekend, and it was very good! The real title, the Smartest Guys in the Room, makes me laugh because that kind of short sightedness is hubris and idiocy, not brains. That's the difference between Microsoft's monopolies and Enron's. One of the two companies is run by smart people with real vision. The other by controlling, politically well-connected executives who need people to think they're smart.
Wait, why is it that Microsoft let this guy take over? Hmm...
At any rate, it was supremely timely as Ken Lay is just now testifying in his trial. I will never forget Murray Weidenbaum, an economics professor of Wash U's Weidenbaum Center, talking to our Honors class senior year about government regulation and energy markets and entertaining a few questions about Enron. It was amazing how Professor Weidenbaum essentially shrugged off Enron's collapse as if nothing had gone wrong. It was basically a PR problem for why people had such a skewed impression of what Kenny Lay was really doing. The problem in California was that they did deregulation badly (not that it's an illegitimate claim, but it is a little misleading, or at least driven by a particular agenda) not that Enron acted illegally. He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced; I still wonder why he was so willing to almost personally assure that there's no way there were improper things going on, particularly the intimate relationship between Enron's executives and the Bush family. Was it a man willfully blinding himself to avoid facing the brutality of a catastrophic failure of such a hands off approach by government which he has spent a lifetime advocating? Or perhaps a not so naive attempt to convince the next generation of business people that this almost fanatical market ideology should be pursued even in the face of real world results to the contrary? I would love to sit down with him for a few minutes and chat about energy markets after Enron. And speaking of professors I would love to have follow up conversations with, I had some fun discussions with Professor Roberts about the invasion of Iraq (among other issues). I wonder what he would have to say now?
And check this out. When Googling Weidenbaum, I came across this great letter about different schools. Apparently Wash U has tons of libertarian students. Maybe that's one of the things that attracted me subconsciously to the student body?
/end nostalgic glance at college wondering if I should be in an econ Phd program right now
Wait, why is it that Microsoft let this guy take over? Hmm...
At any rate, it was supremely timely as Ken Lay is just now testifying in his trial. I will never forget Murray Weidenbaum, an economics professor of Wash U's Weidenbaum Center, talking to our Honors class senior year about government regulation and energy markets and entertaining a few questions about Enron. It was amazing how Professor Weidenbaum essentially shrugged off Enron's collapse as if nothing had gone wrong. It was basically a PR problem for why people had such a skewed impression of what Kenny Lay was really doing. The problem in California was that they did deregulation badly (not that it's an illegitimate claim, but it is a little misleading, or at least driven by a particular agenda) not that Enron acted illegally. He is extremely knowledgeable and experienced; I still wonder why he was so willing to almost personally assure that there's no way there were improper things going on, particularly the intimate relationship between Enron's executives and the Bush family. Was it a man willfully blinding himself to avoid facing the brutality of a catastrophic failure of such a hands off approach by government which he has spent a lifetime advocating? Or perhaps a not so naive attempt to convince the next generation of business people that this almost fanatical market ideology should be pursued even in the face of real world results to the contrary? I would love to sit down with him for a few minutes and chat about energy markets after Enron. And speaking of professors I would love to have follow up conversations with, I had some fun discussions with Professor Roberts about the invasion of Iraq (among other issues). I wonder what he would have to say now?
And check this out. When Googling Weidenbaum, I came across this great letter about different schools. Apparently Wash U has tons of libertarian students. Maybe that's one of the things that attracted me subconsciously to the student body?
/end nostalgic glance at college wondering if I should be in an econ Phd program right now
4/20/2006
buh bye
I go to work and our tree out back is beginning to show signs of spring.
I pull in tonight to find it chopped up in pieces! How sad, no more squirrels jumping back and forth from our deck to the tree limbs. It sure opens up the space now between the deck and the trees lining the metro.
I pull in tonight to find it chopped up in pieces! How sad, no more squirrels jumping back and forth from our deck to the tree limbs. It sure opens up the space now between the deck and the trees lining the metro.
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