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IMAX. 3-D. Furniture store...what?

All the non-museum (ie commercial) IMAX theaters in Boston are housed within Jordan's Furniture Stores. Weird phenomenon (and smaller screen sizes). On the bright side, all the chairs on the theater are tempur-pedic.


-- Posted from my iPodPhone

Harvard Hoops

They have been flying under the radar this year, but following tough play against UConn and a second straight upset of BC, the Crimson are on the march. Stud senior Jeremy Lin is even getting props from ESPN. Big game against Georgetown on December 23rd. I think if they play it close (or maybe even squeak out another upset), they are going to have to get some national attention. They are young too! Cornell also looks like they are for real this season, so winning the Ivy isn't a walk away. Sure would be nice to see them in the tourney.

We Only Care About Ourselves

It's true. Civic engagement in this country is in the crapper and has been for a while. Everyone was really excited about the turnout in 2008, but the final number was 57%...57%! I shouldn't be surprised that people are uninformed about issues that truly are important to them: they either don't have time to learn or don't care enough to. Those who are engaged seem to be protesting things that don't actually exist. Though we may all care about about issues that are important to us (or more directly impact people's lives), it's really ourselves we care about the most:

Now, there have been a lot of recent posts about depressed enthusiasm among Democratic voters combined with more passion on the Right potentially leading to Republicans recapturing the House next year. That would be a travesty. I'm pretty down on the current state of HCR, Climate Change legislation, Financial Services reform, etc., myself. Voters can get engaged: make phone calls, write letters, donate/withhold money, call Joe Lieberman a douche, etc. But if they really want a bill that makes sense...if they want real reform...then the President has to do something about it.

He may need the votes congress to get reform passed, but he still needs to reform something on the other end of it. Someone please move this to the top of Barack's Netflix queue.

Rahm Emanuel, GFY

I think this (unfortunately) extends to the President as well. This is just about the worst idea I've ever heard. I'm not sure it's good politics either (even if the Dems are going to dump Lieberman after HCR passes (which they probably don't have the balls to do (and which Obama will likely discourage (again!)))). Lieberman does not "want" anything, except to feel important and be a douche. He is really good at the latter.

Barack Meet Paul

Please, President Obama, do the following:

1) Call up Paul Volcker
2) Apologize for appointing him to the NEC and promptly burying him
3) Ask him politely to breath some fire, publicly, on your behalf
4) Use the threat of him at Treasury as a bargaining chip in financial reform
5) Call up Paul Volcker
6) Thank Paul Volcker

This is absurd. The entire financial services industry (in this I include banks, broker/dealers and insurance companies) are absurd. Financial innovation is absurd. Leave the risk taking to the appropriate risk takers (PE, VC and HFs) and make the banks into utilities. Investment banks should be kept out of the retail banking business and have no access to federal subsidies (Discount Window, TALF or any other alphabet soup).

Let Volcker loose.

Ben Nelson's Reign of Idiocy

To paraphrase Atrios, "We are all war bonds now." These people are such idiots. We finance everything through bonds. If you want to finance the war through a separate mechanism that won't expand the debt, you have to introduce something like David Obey's "War Tax."

TX-NB

After watching that heartbreaking loss for Nebraska, I can't believe no one mentioned the out of bounds kick-off. TX gained a total of 30 yards after the kick-off and nearly ran out the clock without even attempting a fieldgoal. And yet, not a single mention from the Musberger. Low quality.


-- Posted from my iPodPhone

"No" Terrorist Attacks

I've seen some buzz about how Dana Perino said on Sean Hannity's show that "[the US] did not have a terrorist attack on our country during President Bush's term." The next day, she posted on twitter that she meant post 9/11. Fair enough, except for the following:

Anthrax
DC Sniper
Ohio Sniper
Virginia Tech

Any others I'm forgetting?

So she's right, if you are willing to exclude those four (and of course the 9/11 attacks themselves).

Sorry, 5≠0.

Super Talented

I had tickets to see The Swell Season when they were in Boston earlier this year, but ended up traveling for work and missed the show. I'm glad to see that they are still touring. Apparently, at a recent LA show, Jason Segel came up on stage and performed. Pretty good stuff:

I stand by my earlier contention that Jeff Zucker absolutely destroyed NBC and its long-term future and it's absurd that he a) still has a job and b) is likely to get some kind of major pay-day from the Comcast/NBCU/GE/Vivendi deal. Horrrrrrrrrrrendous.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

I think it's time to watch it all again. Best. Show. Ever.

Today's Songs on Repeat

How's that for a totally generic/incomprehensible post title? A little self-loathing for your troubles...

Eels - Little Bird

This was released today, the first single from the forthcoming Eels album, "End Times," due early 2010. It is, in a word, uplifting. Much like most of Eels stuff.

The Band - It Makes No Difference

I've posted a My Morning Jacket version of this song previously. It's just so good, I thought I'd give you a live version, sung by the band that wrote it. Rick Danko's voice is pretty much the greatest thing ever.

Time Zone

I pretty much have no idea which one I'm in.

I did enjoy my caribbean jerked chicken sandwich during my 8 hour layover in my hometown. Otherwise, since Friday, it's been: Boston --> Houston --> Longview, TX (via Uhaul) --> Dallas (via Uhaul) --> Atlanta (overnight thanks to weather) --> Boston and now to Barcelona via London redeye. Fortunately, BA offers masks for sleeping, a lesson I learned the hard way on my last redeye to London.

On the bright side, I got to hang out with this pup in Texas


and ate lots of tasty BBQ.

-- Posted from my iPodPhone

Scenes From a Rec League Soccer Game

INT. REVERE INDOOR SPORTS ARENA - NIGHT

A friendly, co-ed recreational league soccer game is being played. It's warm outside, but stifling in the arena. BRIAN, early 30's, tracks a ball to the back corner of the arena. Looking up, he clears the ball upfield.

Suddenly, BOOM, Brian is checked into the boards. FAT GUY, fat 30's and goateed, has lifted has hands to his chest and shoved Brian with the full weight of his...weight. It's clearly a dirty play. Brian shoves Fat Guy.

BrianWhat the fuck, dude?

Fat GuyYou tore my ligament last time!

BrianHuh?

Brian walks back to his bench as Fat Guy is red-carded and forced to exit the arena.

(scene)

If You Have a Beard and Wear Flip-Flops, You Are a Terrorist

Maybe I should be wary? This is absolutely fucking absurd. I know most people in the media brush off the crazy nativism that now permeates the right-wing news media, but this is why it is dangerous to ignore.

This is what police say happened at 6:35 p.m. Monday:

The priest's GPS gave him the wrong directions, leading him off Interstate 275 and into downtown Tampa. He followed a line of cars into a garage at the Seaport Channelside condominium to ask for help.

He found Bruce, whose back was turned, bending over the trunk of his car, and he tapped his shoulder before saying, in broken English, "please" and "help."

That's when Bruce reached for the tire iron. Police say that by the end of the chase, he had hit the priest four times.

I'd be willing to be money, there will be next to no penalty for this guy. Hey steroid/HGH taking, thoughtless and dangerous meathead from FL, GFY.

The Keys No Longer Exist

Lamont

This just arrived in my email inbox:

To be honest, where has this guy been the last two years since he was 100% correct and Joe Lieberman was 150% a d-bag. He got the ball rolling, lost and then has done nothing to try to hold Lieberman to account (or at least keep a public profile). Just can't get excited about it (and I volunteered for him on Election Day '06)

The Latest in Hedge Fund Fashion Footwear

Quite comfortable and fashionable. Every research analyst should have a pair:

A Referendum on Obama

Obviously, the Media is the Media and will brainlessly regurgitate what news will be good for Republicans (Zombie Lies in honor of Atrios), but if they want the NJ and VA losses to be a referendum on Obama, shouldn't this chart be the biggest indicator that Obama remains exceptionally popular:  

Corzine had a favorable/unfavorable of 39.7/51.4, which is actually an improvement from the summer time!  That horrific number is actually better than his job approval/disapproval which sits at an amazing 38.1/55.9.  


The guys lost by four percentage points and accrued 45% of the total vote.  One could argue that party ID helped Corzine overcome those horrible numbers, but the fact that Corzine was even being considered to potentially win the race has to be a testament to Obama's (and D's in general) popularity.  If nothing else, at least RELATIVE popularity.

Deputy Dog Back in Action

Please, someone get Joe Lieberman his binky and some regular coverage on Access Hollywood so he will shut his mouth already. He has now come out saying he will "use his power a single Senator" to stop healthcare reform if it includes a public option. Let's side aside the fact that he's blatantly stating falsehoods about what a public option is (stating it's a new government entitlement, which it's not (it's financed by premiums)) and how much it will cost (he's saying it will break the budget, which it won't); how does this guy still have any seniority in the Democratic caucus? I've been following most of the Lieberbarf coverage at My Left Nutmeg, which does a lot of great coverage of CT Politics.

Josh Marshall recently commented that he wished there was some sort of anti-Lieberman placeholder in CT, but I think he misses an obvious opportunity: Chris Dodd. Dodd is going to be locked in a very difficult re-election campaign next year, both within the party and statewide. For some bizarre reason, he continues to stand behind his "friend" Lieberman. You can see an example of this type of behavior here. I get that these guys have known each other a long time and are potentially friends inside and outside the Senate. But let's be frank, there are very important, fundamental Democratic reforms on the table here (HCR, Cap & Trade, Banking Reform, etc.) that Lieberman stands in the way of, for seemingly no legitimate reason other than his own sense of self-importance. Dodd claims to be a champion of these reforms (hell, he'll potentially be authoring the banking reform).

If Dodd wants the vigorous support of Democratic partisans/activists, shouldn't he have to show that he will "fight" to get these reforms made into law? Friendships are important in life, but you don't get to be a US Senator to make and keep friends. You get elected to represent the interests of your constituents (who, in CT by the way, support a public option 64% to 31%).

Derek Jeter Gets Roberto Clemente Award For Giving Back

Is that an Onion headline? I love that McCarver tells everyone Jeter received the award without a hint of irony. Giving back!? The guy avoided paying NYC taxes for like 8 years and had to pay restitution! Come on.


-- Posted from my iPodPhone