Teamryan

Happy Halloween!

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 02:01:45 -0500

Happy Halloween!

How the Deficit Got This Big - NYTimes.com

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:07:00 -0400

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.

This Bush guy, his name just keeps coming up.

New Orleans Top City for Singles

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:24:29 -0400

New Orleans Top City for Singles:

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

Ellsbury's season may be historically great

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:23:47 -0400

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

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:22:01 -0400

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'

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:34:12 -0400

Michele Bachmann Wants You to Know She 'abhors slavery':

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

Just the fact that she’s having to make this statement should tell you all you need to know about Michele Bachmann. It’s kind of like… I don’t know: Having to tell people you’re not a witch.

‪7 Harry Potter Movies In 7 Minutes‬‏

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:15:51 -0400

‪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?

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:56:00 -0400

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.

"It’s like nobody sings unless they want to be Britney Spears. That’s stupid—we should all sing in..."

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:26:00 -0400

“It’s like nobody sings unless they want to be Britney Spears. That’s stupid—we should all sing in bars three nights a week if we like it and get paid as professional musicians. Who says you have to be a superstar?”

- Matt Haughey

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

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:24:14 -0400

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.

I’m not a big fan of their cover, but I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment. It’s right behind ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ in my ranking of Christmas Specials.

Getting Away with Torture

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:08:36 -0400

Getting Away with Torture:

This 107-page report presents substantial information warranting criminal investigations of Bush and senior administration officials, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and CIA Director George Tenet, for ordering practices such as “waterboarding,” the use of secret CIA prisons, and the transfer of detainees to countries where they were tortured.

Winning hearts and minds…

Netflix Raises Prices

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:05:49 -0400

Netflix Raises Prices:

I’m currently paying 9.99 a month for unlimited streaming plus one dvd out at one time. With the new plans I would have to pay 15.99 to receive that level of service.

Getting DVDs through the mail seemed cutting edge just a few years ago, but now feels almost archaic, so in theory I have no problem with this move.

However, the vast majority of movies I’d like to watch are not available for streaming. Hopefully, along with the change in Netflix plans, they’ll work on making more movies available by streaming.

Until and if that time comes I’ll choose the streaming only plan for 7.99 and use iTunes to rent movies they don’t have available.

Roger Ebert Reviews Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:49:56 -0400

Roger Ebert Reviews Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2:

These films will be around for a long time. And without spoiling a single thing, let me just observe that the final scene clearly leaves an opening for a sequel. I know, Rowling says there won’t be one. Just sayin’.

I’m way too excited about this movie than someone my age should be.

"In the spring of 1988, I returned to New Orleans, and as soon as I smelled the air, I knew I was..."

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:46:35 -0400

“In the spring of 1988, I returned to New Orleans, and as soon as I smelled the air, I knew I was home.”

- Anne Rice

"So let’s summarize: The economy isn’t fixing itself. Nor are there real obstacles to government..."

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:04:10 -0400

“So let’s summarize: The economy isn’t fixing itself. Nor are there real obstacles to government action: both the bond vigilantes and structural unemployment exist only in the imaginations of pundits. And if stimulus seems to have failed, it’s because it was never actually tried.”

- Paul Krugman

Jon Heyman Hypocritical in Support of Jim Riggleman

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:01:24 -0400

Jon Heyman Hypocritical in Support of Jim Riggleman:

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman was vilified in some circles for leaving a job when he had a contract. But Riggleman didn’t leave until well after it became obvious to him he was not wanted….

The move to quit with the Nationals a game over .500 was derided by many who believe that folks should fulfill their contracts (even though nobody believes the reverse, that the employer is obligated to allow an employee to fulfill one). Riggleman understood that he would be let go eventually, and rather than stay where he wasn’t wanted, he opted out. Good for him.

Heyman frames the situation as one of Riggleman vs. management, when the real story is his abandonment of his players

Manny Ramirez was roundly criticized for quitting on his Red Sox teammates midseason when his option year wasn’t being picked up by management.

Ramirez Embodies Selfishness

He consistently quit on teams. And while he worked hard, it was only on his terms.

Why the disconnect in opinions? I have a few ideas, but I’ll keep them to myself.

Understated Patriotism

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 22:21:00 -0400

Understated Patriotism:

For my father, reality is streaked with a deep pride that comes from many generations of living in, believing in, and fighting and dying for the United States of America. What that has instilled within him is a quiet confidence about the nation, as opposed to an insecurity that needs to frequently and publicly assert itself…

It’s easy to express your patriotism by taking off your hat during the anthem at a baseball game. It’s often a little bit harder to do so in an important and meaningful way, like by saying No to a bad war or taking an unpopular stance because you believe it is in your nation’s best interest.

Happy 4th of July.

"Have you listened to Kid Rock lately? Probably you have. Although he has been culturally irrelevant..."

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:45:31 -0500

“Have you listened to Kid Rock lately? Probably you have. Although he has been culturally irrelevant for the last half-decade, his songs are always playing whenever you turn on the radio. Slowly, he has turned himself into the turn-of-the-millennium answer to the Monkees or, maybe even the late Rolling Stones: quintessentially shallow, timeless pop music that does nothing new and enforces old clichés, forever recapitulating them until, at the end, we can finally come around to enjoying it.”

- Kid Rock, Real American Rock Star | The Awl

"Someone suggested that there’s an incomplete part of our chromosomes that gets repaired or..."

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:05:18 -0400

“Someone suggested that there’s an incomplete part of our chromosomes that gets repaired or found when we hit New Orleans. Some of us just belong here.”

- John Goodman

"New Orleans is an incomparable city, with its wrought iron edifices, its balustrades, balconies,..."

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:41:10 -0400

“New Orleans is an incomparable city, with its wrought iron edifices, its balustrades, balconies, sprawling above-ground cemeteries, shotgun houses and its riotous mix of food and music”

- ‘Soul of America’ photos of New Orleans to appear at Oswego State Downtown