Smart as a Rock

Chuck Norris Is Pig Latin

2009-05-29T15:55:00.002-05:00

Normally the hardest part of these clips is getting the actions to line up with what the characters are saying. But this one had a unique challenge. Getting the computerized voice to read and pronounce pig latin in a somewhat reasonable fashion. It didn't really work out, but maybe it's better that way.

How Huckleberry Finn Can Fix Global Warming

2009-05-27T14:28:00.002-05:00

Here's the link to the article talking about the idea from Obama's Energy Secretary, Steven Chu.

Splendid Awkward Pauses and Electric Dog Collars

2009-05-26T15:45:00.000-05:00

The Most Interesting Deadlines in the World...

2009-05-22T12:32:00.000-05:00

Babies, Fire Bathing, and Smores

2009-05-20T12:47:00.002-05:00

True story. Here's the guy.

And here's the link to the story. Crazy.

Better than a 401k...

2009-05-19T15:28:00.003-05:00

I actually got the idea for this post from a buddy of mine that had a domain name. Someone approached him about buying it, and after some negotiations he got a good chunk of cash from him. He later finds out, that the person he was negotiating with was a representative from BMW. He probably could have gotten a "ton of money".

Crooked Bumperstickers........Why?

2009-05-18T17:20:00.000-05:00

The McDonald's Caprice Classic

2009-05-14T17:37:00.003-05:00

Here are the pics. It seriously was the weirdest car I have seen in quite a while.

Mister Sinner

2009-05-12T11:22:00.001-05:00

Here is the actual news story for the real Mister Sinner...
http://news.aol.com/article/inmate-name-change-sinner/454028

My New Blog Format

2009-05-11T13:24:00.001-05:00

Not Fair and Balanced

2009-04-17T16:33:00.002-05:00

This is why I don't like Fox News:

http://tiny.cc/VTTwE

They report this story from the angle that Obama's administration requested all religious symbols be covered up for Obama's speech at Georgetown University.

But in reality, Obama didn't request for any religious symbols to be covered. The White House simply requested that everything that wasn't part of the traditional presidential backdrop (blue curtains and flags) be covered up. That happened to include some religious symbols (it is a Catholic school after all).

Ridiculous.

FoxNews did report the story accurately in the actual article, but the headline is misleading and FoxNews and their editors know that most people won't take the time to read the article to find the truth.

Not Really A Sitting Duck...

2009-04-08T09:46:00.004-05:00

If you follow current events at all you have probably seen a story here or there about Somali pirates hijacking large freight liners and holding them for ransom. I've ignored these stories for the most part, but now there is one off the coast of Somalia that had an all-American crew.

What I don't understand is how this boat with 7, maybe 8 "pirates"

can hijack this boat that weighs 17,000 tons.

Why would the freight liner even stop to see what they wanted? Maybe I am simplifying this, but wouldn't a small crew of armed security personnel on the boat be able to ward off some rag tag Somali pirates? Just put a few holes in their motorized canoe and watch them sink. The End. No more pirates.

Good Debt - Bad Timing

2009-03-27T13:42:00.002-05:00

President Obama's new multi-trillion dollar budget is pretty tough to swallow given the current out flow of resources to the AIG's of the world. But, the budget is overall a good budget and allocates the nation's resources to areas of need.

Check out this blog post:
http://blog.sojo.net/2009/03/26/counting-the-cost-of-good-and-bad-debt/

My Childhood, 2 hours at a time

2009-03-11T15:54:00.005-05:00

Here is the list of the top 10 movies that I remember watching as a child. Ya know, the movies that if they came on TV, you would watch it, no matter where it was in the movie. You watched, and memorized.

No particular order of course. I am equal opportunity.

Flight of the Navigator
Sandlot
Top Gun
Forrest Gump
Hoosiers
Field of Dreams
Indiana Jones - The Last Crusade
Karate Kid
Hunt for the Red October
War Games

How about a nice game of global thermonuclear war?

Inconsistent Ethics are not Ethical at all

2009-03-10T15:24:00.005-05:00

One thing that really bothers me is when people are inconsistent in their positions on issues.

Example: Being anti-abortion and being pro-war. Life is life.

A new one that is gaining popularity:

Being anti-stem cell research and being pro-questionable interrogation techniques.

If you are against harming a human life to help advance scientific research and possibly save lives, then you have to be against harming a human life to help advance defense intelligence and possibly save lives.

Simple. Consistent.

&, Oh &, Wherefore art thou &?

2009-03-05T11:38:00.005-06:00

I work at a desk all day long and every day I have a need to use the ampersand key on my keyboard. (ya know, this thing ---> & <---)

The problem is that I can never find the key on my keyboard. I mean, eventually I find it, but it takes a second.

If I need to enter an "s" I know exactly where it is, sandwiched in between the "a" and "d". Likewise, the the "F5" key is fittingly placed right between the "F4" and "F6" keys.

So, who decided to put the "&" where it is?

First of all, it's not even a real key, it's a secondary key. Whoever thought up the modern keyboard apparently didn't think the "&" was a strong enough character to stand alone. It needs the help of the CTRL key and the "7" in order to make it to print. Whatever.

Secondly, why is it in in the same range of fellow secondary characters as the "^" and "*". Who uses the "^"? What does that even mean? And the asterisk? An asterisk is only used* when you couldn't fit everything you wanted to say about something in the original sentence!

*In musical notation, the * indicates when the sustain pedal on a piano should be lifted.

In conclusion, I move to have the "^" replaced with "&" so that both the "6" and "7" keys have the ampersand as the secondary character. Also, the key up in the top left that has "`" and "~" should be done away with and hold only the "&".

That is all.

Bravo?

2009-03-02T11:15:00.005-06:00

A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding. This is done on special occasions by an audience to show their approval and is done after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim.

It is my stance that the standing ovation has become widely overused and as a result has become grossly undervalued.

Proper Use of a Standing Ovation:
Roman citizens began the practice of the standing ovation as a sign of respect and honor for returning victorious military units. This can (and should) be continued for our troops currently, regardless of political beliefs or any interpretation of "victory".

As a sign of respect for certain political offices, a standing ovation is a necessary tradition that should be continued. This is why at the beginning of the State of the Union address, the President is never introduced by name, simply by the office.

When a performer has achieved a level of success that is so far beyond the normal or expected standards, then a standing ovation is a suitable response for the audience. This can be for stage performances, athletic achievements, etc. There really needs to be some self-control on the audiences part in regards to this third standard. I'll touch on this later, but generally if you were able to think about something other than the performance at hand while sitting in the audience, than a standing ovation is not warranted.

Abuses of the Standing Ovation:

Back to the state of the union address. This singular event has more problems with the standing ovation than anything else I can think of. First of all, there is no need to stand up every time the President says something you agree with. Secondly, the standing ovation, or lack thereof, should not be used as a political statement. We know the republicans want smaller government, you don't need to stand up when the President mentions it. We know the democrats want anything and everything that Bush 43 didn't, so there's no need to split the room down the middle during standing ovations. Just don't applaud at all until the end of the speech.

I know there are lots of proud parents out there that are just tickled that little Johnnie can play his trumpet as good as Louis Armstrong. But, he really isn't that good. It's great that the 6th grade band/choir/orchestra/piano recital/play/etc. is putting on a show, but it most likely is not good enough to deserve a standing ovation. Remember, this is something that should be reserved for soldiers returning from war, not a 3rd grader playing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" on his plastic recorder.

What Caused This Abuse of the Standing Ovation?

I don't think that everyone thinks every performance they go to us standing ovation worthy. But, when a critical mass of an audience stands up (probably 20-25%) and it forces the hand of the rest of the audience to join them. A reasonable audience member that knows the standing ovation is not worthy, doesn't want to make a scene by being the one person not standing up after the mediocre 10th grade version of "Hello Dolly".

Also, now that the standing ovation has become so widely abused, if an audience doesn't give a standing ovation, the performers may be offended and as a result have their self-esteem shattered. What a pity.

What's the Big Deal?

It is my belief, that the abuse of the Standing Ovation is a small part of a larger problem with our current society. We are way to happy to praise people for an average performance. This goes beyond the stage and athletic fields. There are major productions for 5th grade graduations now. Seriously?! 5th grade is an accomplishment?

A reduced standard for excellence can, will, and has resulted in lower standards across the board and a reduced quality because of it. It may be a stretch but I think you can blame standing ovations for this:

Blogging While Intoxicated

2009-02-27T14:14:00.003-06:00

Well, I'm not really intoxicated, I'm at work...

But the title makes sense for this post anyways.

Why is marijuana illegal but alcohol is legal?

I can't really get my head wrapped around it myself, so I am looking for some help.

To be fair, here are links to 2 groups on opposite sides of the legalizing marijuana debate:

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Truth - The Anti-Drug

So, what do you think? Should we allow marijuana use given that it is regulated and restricted to adults, no driving, etc.? Should we try out prohibition again and make alcohol illegal?

Lint Rollers and What Not

2009-02-26T15:40:00.005-06:00

I'm not Catholic, so I don't make the Fat Tuesday-Lent-Easter Oreo each Spring. But, I do like the concept of it. So, I am going to try my best to give up TV until Easter.

Well, not totally, that's insane. I am going to watch TV if there is a program on that I know I want to watch, or I have something recorded on the DVR, etc.

But, I am not going to play the channel surfing game. There are plenty of things I could probably be doing that are more productive than flipping between ESPNEWS, American Chopper and CNN.

I'm not sure how successful I will be at this, but it's worth a shot, I guess.

Obama's First Mistake

2009-02-25T10:53:00.003-06:00

I hate to say this, but the man I voted for president has made his first mistake as Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America.

It is being reported that the Obama's have decided on what type of dog they will get now that they are in the White House.

And the man that makes the most important decisions in the entire world, has shown that he can buckle under pressure.

The Obama's are getting a Portugese Water Dog.

I have a few issues with this selection:

It is an ugly dog. Plain and simple, that dog is ugly.

The dog's breed has another country in it. That may not be a big deal but, it kind of is.

The dog ranks 62nd in popularity in the US. That's just behind Whippets and just ahead of Shiba Inus...................Exactly. (How can the US population relate to a man that has a dog that is less popular than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier???

My main problem with the dog though, is that it doesn't look more like this:

Online Lie Detector

2009-02-24T12:17:00.004-06:00

The St. Petersburg Times (among many other online sites) is taking it upon themselves to personally keep track of every one of President Obama's campaign promises.

That's 510 promises made over the course of Obama's campaign.

So far, Barack is doing fairly well with 15 promises fulfilled, 4 compromises, 20 in the works, and only 2 broken promises.

I like the idea of keeping track of campaign promises and making it easy to access and understand for the general public. I don't remember if something like this was inplace for Clinton or Bush 43, but I hope this type of checks and balances continues throughout Obama's tenure as Prez. *It probably wasn't as popular back in '92 and 2000 simply due to the fact that the internet wasn't the incredible tool it is now.

Regardless of where you stand on Barack's promises, I think it is in the best interest of the political process for the promises he made to be kept. If the majority voted for him based on these campaign speeches, than the promises contained in the speeches should be the framework that he builds his administration on.

Stimulating

2009-02-18T13:45:00.003-06:00

Does this make more sense than the stimulus plan just passed by Obama and Congress?

Take the 787 billion dollars and divide it evenly between everyone that is 18 years of age or older.

Roughly 260 million Americans are over 17.

$787,000,000,000/260,000,000=$3026 each.

Give each adult in the country 3 grand and I think that will get some money moving around quicker than building roads and preserving national parks. The investments in America's future that are in this bill are good things, but that isn't what this bill should be used for. That's what the government's annual budget is to be used for.

Maybe Obama should just cancel all taxes for one year. Sales tax, corporate tax, income tac. Everything. That'll stimulate the economy for sure.

One Heck of a Job

2009-01-13T16:14:00.004-06:00

Since we are one week away from PE Obama taking office, I thought it was a good time to show these pics. These are before and after shots of some US presidents.

(That's Woodrow Wilson in the first shot, FYI.)

I wonder what Barack will look like it in 4-8 years?

maybe?

What's My New Year's Resolution?

2008-12-31T12:54:00.006-06:00

I've decided to try something a little different this year.

Instead of thinking of what I think I should change about myself and trying to fix that in 2009, I'm asking my friends and family what they think I should change.

In reality, whatever I change will have almost the same impact on my loved ones lives as will it on my own day to day life. So why shouldn't they get a voice in the decision?

So, what do you think I should resolve to change in 2009? Be honest with me, I can handle it.

(Leah told me that I should wake up before she leaves the house each morning.)

Finalists for Worst Parents Ever Award

2008-12-17T12:22:00.005-06:00

Heath and Deborah Campbell are 2 of the worst parents in the world.

They are in the news because the local supermarket would not print their 3-year old son's name on his birthday cake.

The child's name is Adolf Hitler Campbell. (not an actual picture of the child)

They have 2 other children with peculiar names also:

JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell.

The parents are of German dissent and say they named their son after the 20th century German dictator so that "no one else in the world would have that name."

I'm not sure why parents keep doing these stupid things, but it keeps adding fuel to the fire that everyone should have to pass a competency test of some sort to have kids.

It's just $1.40!

2008-12-11T10:29:00.005-06:00

Here's the situation:

A buddy of mine is having a hard time paying his bills, I want to be sure that he can stay in his house and get him self back on the right track, so I give him $70 to get him in a better situation.

Now, I have another buddy of mine who is also in a bad way and is just as important to me. He doesn't need as much, probably only $1.40, should I give him the money?

Of Course! If I was willing to give my first friend 70 bucks why would a dollar-forty be a big deal when my other friend needs some help?!

Congress approved giving the big financial companies 700 billion dollars a few months ago, that's a lot of cash. But now they are arguing over giving the big 3 auto companies 14 billion. *Still a lot of dough, but when compared to 700 billion it is very small.

Why are there so many idiots that make these decisions?!

The only difference I can see is that one decision occurred right around an election and the other is not...

10%....That's a Crisis?

2008-12-05T10:59:00.003-06:00

MSNBC has a "breaking news" article on their website today about a new record that 1 out of every 10 homeowners is at least one month behind on their mortgage payment.

I am not an economist, but I feel like if 90% of us are doing this right, then we are in pretty good shape.

Some other numbers that are closer to being considered a crises in my opinion:

25% of males have a felony on their record.
14.2% of 8th graders have smoked marijuana.
66% of adults are overweight.
17.5% of 6-11 year olds are overweight.

Let There Be Lights

2008-12-03T12:09:00.005-06:00

It is only the 3rd day of December and I already feel like we all need a bit of a reminder in Christmas Light Etiquette. Here a few ground rules you should abide by, if you need further instruction or clarification then just don't put up whatever you aren't sure about.

1. No inflatables. This is the most disturbing new trend in outdoor decorations. It is quick to set up and tear down, so it would seem that it is the perfect decoration for the hectic holiday season. But, no one needs to see Winnie the Pooh and Tigger riding in Santa's sleigh with Oscar the Grouch in tow with a big bag of presents. Not to mention how sad they look in the daytime when they aren't plugged in. The children of this generation will need counseling due to seeing a different deflated baby Jesus on each street of their neighborhood.

2. Less is more. I am as guilty of being tempted to keep adding to a good display as the next guy, but most things are better off in moderation, and Christmas lights are no exception.

3. Not a melting pot. Just because Garden Ridge carries icicle lights, led lights, C7's, C9s, minis, and whatever else, doesn't mean you need to buy and use each kind. Find what you like and use that.

4. No light shows. We've all scene the video of the house that is all tricked out to the music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, it's awesome. But, that's not your house and no $19.99 box of "light show" lights will make your house look like that.

5. Don't be stupid. I am all about using the natural lines on your roof and the trees and bushes in your yard. But, just because you have a truck permanently parked in front of your house that won't start does not mean that you should draw attention to that.

I am sure I will be adding to this as the Christmas season progresses and more people use the month of December as an excuse to turn their front yard into an electric array of tackiness.

Monday's Political Cartoons

2008-11-17T11:51:00.002-06:00

Soy Sale?

2008-11-12T09:05:00.004-06:00

The state of California has passed a law that forbids schools from having bake sales for fundraisers. No longer can little Billy or Sarah bring their mommy's cupcakes and snicker doodles to school and sell them for 25 cents so that the math club can afford graphing paper.

When I saw the headline for this story online I tried to think of a reasonable cause for this new law...

Maybe a kid got sick from some undercooked pastry item?
Some teenagers slipped in some "special" brownies as a prank?
Maybe this law is aimed at small businesses not operating with the proper licenses for selling food?

No. None of those are the reason. They passed a law that prevents school children from having bake sales to prevent childhood obesity.

First, I have a huge problem with parents that let their 10 year old tip the scales at 100 pounds. I don't care if it is in their genetics to be obese. Get them outside, skip the trip to McDonald's, and feed them a more balanced meal with fruit and those hated veggies.

Unacceptable. I applaud the California lawmakers for stepping up and realizing that this is an issue, but is outlawing school bake sales really the answer? I'll answer that, it's not. That is idiotic.

Better things to change:

kid's meals that aren't healthy
kids not participating in PE (if running makes you out of breath, that's more reason to keep running!)
video games that will not automatically shut-off after one hour

Obama's China

2008-11-06T09:51:00.006-06:00

President-elect Obama now has under 2 months to fill out his cabinet. The importance of having a wise and balanced group of advisers around the most powerful man on the planet cannot be underestimated. I have 2 men that I would like to see in Barack's cabinet.

Secretary of State

W's: Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice

My Choice: Bill Richardson

I would love to see Bill Richardson in this position. He is the governor of New Mexico and was Bill Clinton's US Ambassador to the United Nations and also Clinton's Secretary of Energy. He has a track record of negotiating with adversaries abroad (such as North Korea). Richardson would also supply Obama with a much-needed Hispanic in his Cabinet-recognition that the president-elect owes a good part of his victory to the Latino vote.

Secretary of Defense

W's: Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Gates

My Choice: Chuck Hagel

It is widely considered that Robert Gates will stay on for an undetermined amount of time to provide a much needed amount of continuity to the situation in Iraq while Obama's administration gets up to speed. Chuck Hagel, the Nebraska GOP senator who has been alienated from his own party over his opposition to the Iraq war and harsh criticism of Bush, sees eye to eye with Obama on many issues. Hagel, a Vietnam veteran highly regarded for his political courage and sober views of military restraint, could well end up being Obama’s token Republican in the Cabinet.

And how can you not like a guy that dresses up like other politicians for Halloween, and goes to meetings like that?

Election Day

2008-11-04T09:36:00.003-06:00

I am very pleased to report that my polling location at McMillen Junior High (Go Marauders!) in Wylie ran very smoothly and efficiently. I was in and out in roughly 20 minutes and they had the "I Voted" stickers. (I was bummed in 2004 that my polling location didn't have the stickers...)

If you can find a few moments in your day today, please join me in saying a prayer for this election. Not for the results, or that your candidate wins, but that it is controversy free. The winner is clear and this nation can move on. The last thing this country needs is to be further divided with court cases about voter fraud, hanging chads, and the like.

The sun will come up tomorrow even if your candidate does not win. I encourage you to put aside feelings of fear and worry regarding this election, God is bigger than the presidency and he will most certainly take care of his flock.

Why 11/04/08 is a Tough Choice

2008-10-30T15:19:00.006-05:00

I have gone back and forth multiple times over the past 2 months as I attempt to decide who I will vote for on Tuesday. My rotation seems to go like this: Barr, McCain, Obama, McCain, Obama, Barr, to not even sure I want to vote.

OK, I know I'm going to vote, I just don't have the confidence that I would like that the person I vote for will be the best for the job according to my values.

I have some non-negotiable issues that I believe are morally right and because of that I require my candidate to agree with me. Here are some of the "big" ones:

Foreign Policy - I am not an expert on all the different cultural forces at work in the world, but I do know that there is no such thing as "acceptable civilian casualties". And that is not exclusive to American civilians. I believe that every life on the planet is one that was made in the image of God and should be treated as such. Military force should be utilized as a last resort in dealings with other nations/groups/religious extremists, etc.

Poverty - I have found some stats recently that are somewhat alarming to me. You may have heard similar numbers in the past: The top 1% of American wage earners are sharing over 30% of the nation's wealth. The bottom 40% of American wage earners are sharing 1% of the nation's wealth. I have always been a proponent of letting John Q Public decide how he wants to give his money for charity, but the problem of poverty (in the richest country in the world) is reaching epic proportions. If we aren't of good enough moral fiber to take care of it as public citizens through charitable giving, the government needs to step in.

Abortion - I believe abortion is murder, it is a sin, and it should be stopped. Will making abortions illegal help stop abortions? Yes, and that should be done. But, I think a bigger step towards reducing abortions in America is dealing with the cause. Most abortions are a result of the mother being concerned about her future with a baby. Will she be able to afford food and health care? Will she still be able to work at all? The government needs to address these issues. But even still, why is she pregnant? Schools need to go further than teaching abstinence only. Students need to be made aware of proper and safe methods of contraception. That is a controversial opinion among most conservatives, but I feel like kids are gonna have sex. The option is uneducated, unprotected sex or safe sex. That's a no-brainer to me.

I think you can see why I am torn. The are other issues that I feel strongly about including immigration, health care, the federal budget, etc. But I don't think those are non-negotiable the same way that the three above are.

Good luck on Tuesday making your decisions and remember, the sun will rise again on November 5. (and if it doesn't, none of this will be a big deal at that point)

Monday's Political Cartoons

2008-10-20T13:50:00.002-05:00

No Candy from Sex Offenders

2008-10-17T11:16:00.008-05:00

It is very possible that this post will cause some differing opinions, but here goes:

In the state of Maryland, if you are on parole or probation for a sex-crime, you now have to post this poster on your door for Halloween:

The reason, according to the Division of Parole and Probation, is "because Halloween is a holiday in which large numbers of children interact with strangers, the concern among parents and other community members about sexual offenders in their neighborhoods is naturally intensified during this time of year."

Fair enough. I understand that parents are concerned about their children interacting with strangers. That is justified. My problem is this:

The Division of Parole and Probation goes on to say, "Our goal is public safety, and in keeping with that we need to make sure that the individuals under our supervision are provided with the enhanced supervision that we're committed to."

If these sex offenders are deemed to still be a risk to children, then why aren't they still in prison? Why are they on parole/probation if they are possibly going to harm another child?

I know that you can never know 100% whether a person will commit a crime again when they are released from prison. But why don't we make car thieves put a sign in front of their home that says, "Don't Park Here, I Might Steal Your Chevy!"; or make people convicted of driving drunk wear a shirt whenever they go somewhere with alcohol that reads, "I Might Drink Too Much And Then Drive Home The Wrong Way On The Highway!"; or should we make a shoplifter walk into a store and tell the stock boy, "Keep An Eye On Me, I Might Steal Some DoubleMint!"? Does anyone else see the double-standard?

What's the difference?

To be totally clear, I don't think kids should trick-or-treat at someone's house if that house is occupied by a child predator. The difference I have with this legislation, is that the child predator shouldn't be out in public to begin with!

The story on foxnews.com is here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,438725,00.html

Monday's Political Cartoons

2008-10-13T13:32:00.003-05:00

Count Every Vote

2008-10-08T09:37:00.003-05:00

Sorry, no cartoons in this post.

I have never understood the logic behind the electoral college system. If you can explain it to me, please do.

There is a somewhat new idea gaining some steam that will hopefully be enacted for the 2012 election. It is the National Popular Vote (NPV) system.

Currently, Texans have 34 electoral votes for president. If McCain wins by 1,000,000 or 1 vote in the state, he still gets all 34 electoral votes. That doesn't make sense to me and it also disenfranchises many non-republican voters in Texas that know they don't have much of a chance to overthrow the Republican candidate in the state.

Under the NPV system, the 34 electoral votes would not be decided solely by the Texas popular vote, but by the national popular vote. If McCain wins the national popular vote than he gets all 34 Texas electoral votes, and vice versa for Obama.

If/when this legislation is passed in all 50 states, then every vote will matter. Even, democrats in Texas and republicans in California. Doesn't that make sense?

If you want some further details on this legislation, go here: http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/index.php

Okay, maybe just one cartoon:

Bottom's Up

2008-10-07T15:02:00.003-05:00

I got this email forward from my Mother and haven't really fact checked any of it. But, it's probably pretty close to accurate:If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you will have $49.00 today.
If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in AIG one year ago, you will have $33.00 today.
If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Lehman Brothers one year ago, you will have $0.00 today.
But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the aluminum cans for recycling refund, you will have received $214.00.

Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink heavily & recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.

A recent study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year. Another study found that Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year. That means that, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon!

Monday's Political Cartoons

2008-10-06T10:26:00.003-05:00

Monday's Political Cartoons

2008-09-30T11:58:00.002-05:00

Just a little late on these this week...

Palin was the Wrong Choice

2008-09-24T10:26:00.008-05:00

If you don't like Electoral College projections and Electorate math than just skip this post.

Historically, Presidential nominees pick a running mate that will help deliver a state that they might not get otherwise. I think McCain missed a big chance at winning this election by picking Sarah Palin. She is an interesting character and has certainly energized the GOP supporters, but she won't deliver a state to McCain. Alaska votes Republican. No Democratic candidate has gotten more than 35% of the vote in any of the past 4 elections. Alaska is Red, period.

So, who should McCain have picked?

Rudy Giuliani.

Rudy is certainly not going to energize the conservative base the way Palin has, but those supporters will vote Republican no matter who McCain picked. Rudy leans left on certain issues (abortion, immigration) much like McCain (on other issues...). That gives McCain/Rudy a big edge in gaining undecided voters over McCain/Palin.

Additionally, and most importantly, Rudy is a superstar in New York. I'm not positive he could convince NY state to vote red in November. But, he at least would make it interesting.

New York has 31 electoral votes. 3rd most in the country. When Obama gets those 31 electoral votes, it will put him over the top and he will be the 44th president.

Even if you give every other state that is currently considered a swing state (Ohio, Virginia, and Florida) to McCain, without NY he can't win.

If you want to play with electoral college outcomes, you can make your own map at this site: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=1

Top Grossing Movies by Rating

2008-09-23T12:13:00.010-05:00

This post really is just the result of me being bored and finding some interesting information on the world wide interweb. Here are the top 3ish money-making movies for each rating.

G

1. Finding Nemo $339,714,978 (my wife's favorite)
2. The Lion King $328,541,776
3. Monster's Inc. $255,873,250
...
9. Gone With the Wind $198,676,459 (highest G-rated non-animated film)

PG

1. Star Wars $460,998,007 (the 1977 original)
2. Shrek 2 $441,226,247
3. E.T. $441,226,247 (really?! ET?)

PG-13

1. Titanic $600,788,188
2. The Dark Knight $521,890,027 (the only 2008 film on the list)
3. Pirate's of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest $423,315,812

R

1. The Passion of the Christ $370,782,930 (3 very different movies in the R category)
2. The Matrix Reloaded $281,576,461
3. Beverly Hills Cop $234,760,478

It appears obvious that PG-13 is the way to go for the big money makers. There are 7 PG-13 movies that made more than The Passion (R).

And if you are curious, making NC-17 movies is really not a good investment. Showgirls is the highest grossing ever, and it only made $20,350,754.

Monday's Political Cartoons

2008-09-22T11:58:00.005-05:00

America's Budget

2008-09-19T13:21:00.009-05:00

I really don't understand why the government can get away with spending so much more than they earn every year. It seems like a simple concept. If you don't have the money, you can't spend it. This seems like a logical break down of the country's budget:

For this little expirement we will use last year's revenue:

2007 Taxes:

$2,568,000,000,000 (2.5 trillion dollars)

The government's spending can be broken down into 3 categories:
Mandatory (53% in 2007)
Discretionary (38% in 2007)
Interest (9% in 2007)

Mandatory Spending includes items that, by law, must be paid to individuals who meet certain requirements. (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.)

Discretionary Spending includes all other items on which the federal government spends money. (Military, Congress, Highways, Education, etc.)

Interest is simply money paid on the national debt.
----
So what should it be in 2009?

Assuming the taxes stay the same and the government has about 2.5 trillion dollars to work with...

Mandatory Spending
Social Security 24% $600 billion
Medicare 16% $400 billion
Medicaid 8% $200 billion
Other Mandatory Programs (disability, veteran's, unemployment) 12% $300 billion

Discretionary Spending
Education 4% $100 billion
Transportation 1% $25 billion
Defense 10% $250 billion
Government Salaries .5% $12.5 billion

Interest Payments
National Debt 24.5% $612.5 billion

Maybe that is an oversimplification, but I think we generally overcomplicate things.

Mark Cuban's Response

2008-09-19T13:21:00.004-05:00

Mark Cuban has a blog (blogmaverick.com) that he uses to address various issues. He has posted a long list of emails he has received in response to the Josh Howard/National Anthem issue. It really opens your eyes to see how ridiculous many people are and also serves as a reminder that e-mail and the Internet are not an excuse to act like an idiot. Someone might just post it on a blog for everyone to see.

http://blogmaverick.com/ (contains quite a bit of foul language in the emails)

"I don't celebrate that ****. I'm black."

2008-09-17T08:52:00.000-05:00

“The Star-Spangled Banner's going on right now and I don't celebrate that s**t. I'm black.’’ – Josh Howard

If you would like, you can see the YouTube video of the Mavs forward, Josh Howard, at Allen Iverson's celebrity charity softball game this summer saying the above phrase to a camera during the pre-game playing of the National Anthem. Link here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1llOTCAyf0 (Warning - it's graphic - Josh is at about the 1:40 mark)

There are numerous ways that this statement is idiotic. Here are just a few:

Josh needs to know that at his level of celebrity, you just can't act like an idiot. In the past 4 months Josh has repeatedly voiced his "right" to smoke pot; participated in street-racing on public streets during his youth basketball camp; disregarded his bosses orders to not throw a party during a playoff series; and now this comment during the National Anthem.

If Josh was trying to be funny, he needs to know that comedians have a few unwritten rules they must live by. 1) They must be funny. 2) Some people can tell certain jokes that others can't i.e. Chris Rock can tell jokes that Jay Leno can't. Right or Wrong, that's just the way it is. 3) Some topics are just off-limits. i.e. 9/11, abortion, etc.

Josh seems to be playing the dis-enfranchised black man card. I have no doubt in my mind that there are people in this country that have suffered because of their skin color. Racism does exist. I don't know if Josh has personally encountered this, but for him to not respect the one song that is meant to represent the freedoms that have allowed him to provide for his family seems a little misplaced. Josh Howard has used his gift of basketball skills and hard work to earn a 4 year college education from Wake Forest and a professional career that will pay him over $100 million dollars when it's all said and done. I'm not saying that rich people don't have problems, but it is obvious to me that the freedoms this country has, have given him the opportunity to provide for his children, grand children, their children and grandchildren, and their grandchildren. And also, allow him to street-race on publicly funded roads, avoid prosecution for smoking illegal drugs, and not be fired for disregarding a boss' direct orders.

I won't voice my opinion on what the Mavericks should do with Josh as far as a trade goes right now. But, they definitely need to sit him down and discuss a few simple steps he can take to not be an idiot. I'll do it if they want me to.

Monday's Political Cartoons

2008-09-15T12:17:00.000-05:00

This is the first installment of Monday's Political Cartoons. I'll search the entire interweb and find what I think are the funniest/most relevant political cartoons and then post a few here. Enjoy!

That one's a little tricky to read, but it's a gift basket from Osama Bin Laden to W Bush, as opposed to the threatening video he normally sends around this time of the year...

A jab at Obama and his main campaign message that would like to make you think that McCain is politically aligned with W Bush.

More lipstick on a pig here, additionally this cartoonist wants to be sure that everyone is aware of the tactics McCain is using in his campaign.

Define Mandatory

2008-09-13T17:51:00.000-05:00

The news coverage for a much of the last week to ten days has revolved around Hurricanes and the destruction they create. Both Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana and Hurricane Ike here in Texas have resulted in mandatory evacuations for citizens in the path of these storms. Most people listen to this order and get the heck out of dodge. But, of course, there are those that refuse to respect the authority of the government and the authority of the storm heading their way.

Then, emergency response crews have to head in to the area before it is safe and try to rescue these idiots that thought they were invincible. By refusing to evacuate they have put themselves in danger, the rescuers in danger, and force the government to waste resources that could be used getting the gulf coast back to normal quicker.

Just to be sure, I looked it up:

Mandatory = permitting no option; not to be disregarded or modified

When the next hurricane comes and it is a mandatory evacuation, don't be an idiot.

Working Clothes

2008-09-13T13:38:00.000-05:00

Leah and I have a blog together at wideawakewilliams.blogspot.com but she won't let me get all political there, so here is my own blog. I try to approach things from a common sense perspective and consider all parties involved when I make decisions. I don't get everything right and am usually open to other's thoughts and advise.

"Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson