Teamryan is a tumblelog.

How the Deficit Got This Big - NYTimes.com

The answer is largely the Bush-era tax cuts, war spending in Iraq and Afghanistan, and recessions…

A few lessons can be drawn from the numbers. First, the Bush tax cuts have had a huge damaging effect. If all of them expired as scheduled at the end of 2012, future deficits would be cut by about half, to sustainable levels. Second, a healthy budget requires a healthy economy; recessions wreak havoc by reducing tax revenue. Government has to spur demand and create jobs in a deep downturn, even though doing so worsens the deficit in the short run. Third, spending cuts alone will not close the gap. The chronic revenue shortfalls from serial tax cuts are simply too deep to fill with spending cuts alone. Taxes have to go up.

In future decades, when rising health costs with an aging population hit the budget in full force, deficits are projected to be far deeper than they are now. Effective health care reform, and a willingness to pay more taxes, will be the biggest factors in controlling those deficits.

New Orleans Top City for Singles

It’s also pretty great if you’re not single.

Ellsbury's season may be historically great

Johnny Damon often smirked that the Red Sox had yet to find someone that could fill his shoes. It took a while, but I’d say they’ve succeeded.

The Republicans exit history - Roger Ebert's Journal

Good overview of today’s Republican Party. But his plea to “declare its independence from its radical fringe and embrace common sense” is wishful thinking as long as the Christian Right is in charge.

Michele Bachmann Wants You to Know She 'abhors slavery'

I just want to make it absolutely clear: I abhor slavery.

‪7 Harry Potter Movies In 7 Minutes‬‏

All movies covered except for the recently released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

If you haven’t seen the movies I doubt this will be much help. But if you have, and you want a refresher before seeing the finale, it does the job quite well.

How come you're not watching Harry Potter?

Or any other movie created since the dawn of time.

Though if your idea of entertainment is watching a promotional video for Sarah Palin disguised as a movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows might be over your head.

My Morning Jacket Covers 'Our World' by Emmet Otter's Jug-Band

Every December, my friend Cara and I would camp in her basement, furiously running through channels on the old slider cable box, passing time until the next showing of Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas,” bassist Tom Blankenship tells SPIN. “It deserves to share legendary status with Rudolph, Frosty, and Charlie Brown.