Friday, December 31, 2010
New York Life
Oddly, earlier before I read this I was thinking about the washer/dryer problem in places like Manhattan. Like many such service issue, I suspect there's a basic coordination problem. People really don't need their own machines, but shared machines are a big hassle, as is the laundromat, and washing services are expensive. Figured for large enough apartment/condo buildings hiring a full time person to do wash/fold service would probably make sense.
New York Life
Oddly, earlier before I read this I was thinking about the washer/dryer problem in places like Manhattan. Like many such service issue, I suspect there's a basic coordination problem. People really don't need their own machines, but shared machines are a big hassle, as is the laundromat, and washing services are expensive. Figured for large enough apartment/condo buildings hiring a full time person to do wash/fold service would probably make sense.
NYE Thread
First round of fireworks finished in the urban hellhole. 75 minutes left to buy your liquor.
NYE Thread
First round of fireworks finished in the urban hellhole. 75 minutes left to buy your liquor.
Everybody's Fault But Mine
I get that we can expect sociopathic tendencies in most people who run for higher office, but can people please stop voting for the worst ones.
When asked about the hundreds of people trapped in their homes for days, Christie said unless they lived on state roads, it's not something his administration would have been able to change.
"If someone is snowed into their house, that's not our responsibility," Christie said.
When asked about mayors who said they were forced to divert their resources to unplowed state roads instead of clearing local roads Christie said, "I know who these mayors are and they should buck up and take responsibility for the fact that they didn't do their job.
Everybody's Fault But Mine
I get that we can expect sociopathic tendencies in most people who run for higher office, but can people please stop voting for the worst ones.
When asked about the hundreds of people trapped in their homes for days, Christie said unless they lived on state roads, it's not something his administration would have been able to change.
"If someone is snowed into their house, that's not our responsibility," Christie said.
When asked about mayors who said they were forced to divert their resources to unplowed state roads instead of clearing local roads Christie said, "I know who these mayors are and they should buck up and take responsibility for the fact that they didn't do their job.
There's A First Time For Everything
Republicans to get a glimpse of what's actually in the constitution.
Maybe some could read the Bible next.
Maybe some could read the Bible next.
There's A First Time For Everything
Republicans to get a glimpse of what's actually in the constitution.
Maybe some could read the Bible next.
Maybe some could read the Bible next.
After Expressing A Wee Bit Of Optimism
I don't think anyone has a clue what's going to happen with housing and the banks. So there's your wild card!
After Expressing A Wee Bit Of Optimism
I don't think anyone has a clue what's going to happen with housing and the banks. So there's your wild card!
Needs To Be Better
As Krugman suggests, if new jobless claims continue at last week's level (big if!) then we can expect things to get better, but very slowly. So far there's really no evidence that a quick rebound with massive growth, something which happened in many past recessions, is in the cards, though if you squint right at the numbers you can hope for very very slow improvement.
Needs To Be Better
As Krugman suggests, if new jobless claims continue at last week's level (big if!) then we can expect things to get better, but very slowly. So far there's really no evidence that a quick rebound with massive growth, something which happened in many past recessions, is in the cards, though if you squint right at the numbers you can hope for very very slow improvement.
Doctrinaire Liberal Fred Hiatt
The funny thing is that it wouldn't surprise me if Hiatt thinks he's a liberal.
Doctrinaire Liberal Fred Hiatt
The funny thing is that it wouldn't surprise me if Hiatt thinks he's a liberal.
Urban Megaprojects
Big projects can be fine, but what makes urban architecture work is when it is, at street level, in human scale with differentiating details. It really isn't that complicated, but for some reason no one wants to do it.
Urban Megaprojects
Big projects can be fine, but what makes urban architecture work is when it is, at street level, in human scale with differentiating details. It really isn't that complicated, but for some reason no one wants to do it.
Did They Even Write A Sternly Worded Letter?
I certainly hope the courts stick it to the banksters, but it really doesn't have to be this way. I don't know how Treasury failing to enforce anything respect to servicer behavior meets Ezra's view of "Obamanomics." The banksters are doing what they want and there are no clear rules for either homeowners, banksters, or investors, which are currently being applied.
Did They Even Write A Sternly Worded Letter?
I certainly hope the courts stick it to the banksters, but it really doesn't have to be this way. I don't know how Treasury failing to enforce anything respect to servicer behavior meets Ezra's view of "Obamanomics." The banksters are doing what they want and there are no clear rules for either homeowners, banksters, or investors, which are currently being applied.
They're Good At This
One does wonder how Republicans manage to exert more power whether they're in the majority or the minority.
They're Good At This
One does wonder how Republicans manage to exert more power whether they're in the majority or the minority.
$3.50/Gallon Gas Will Destroy The World
Just kidding. While oil and gas price spikes would be bad for the short term economy and obviously bad for lower income people who need to drive, I tend to think it would take a truly major increase in oil prices for there to be a dramatic impact on the world. But prices are rising.
$3.50/Gallon Gas Will Destroy The World
Just kidding. While oil and gas price spikes would be bad for the short term economy and obviously bad for lower income people who need to drive, I tend to think it would take a truly major increase in oil prices for there to be a dramatic impact on the world. But prices are rising.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
On The Bright Side, Blogging Will Get A Bit Easier Again
I spent many years doing my small little part in trying to influence the Freak Show side of politics. Destroying the Freak Show is impossible, so playing whack-a-mole with Zombie Lies and occasionally managing to make it work for the benefit of The Left was the best I could do. I'm not saying that's all I ever did on this blog, but it definitely started from the place that fixing politics required if not fixing our media then at least getting a bit better at gaming it. Once Dems took control of everything I just couldn't get too interested in what a never going to win Senate candidate from Delaware might have said 10 years ago. It was time to, you know, govern. Not that the media issue magically disappeared, of course. The Freak Show we will always have with us. But I just thought...well, hey, Team D is in charge now, so let's worry about getting stuff done.
But soon we will have Chairman Issa, and the Freak Show will indeed matter an immense amount once again. It isn't good for the country, but maybe it makes this blogging thing a bit easier.
...adding, it's not that I think that the media have no impact on the getting stuff done part too (death panels!), it's just that at least over the past couple of years what was going on in Timmeh's or Max Baucus's noggins seemed to be a bit more important.
But soon we will have Chairman Issa, and the Freak Show will indeed matter an immense amount once again. It isn't good for the country, but maybe it makes this blogging thing a bit easier.
...adding, it's not that I think that the media have no impact on the getting stuff done part too (death panels!), it's just that at least over the past couple of years what was going on in Timmeh's or Max Baucus's noggins seemed to be a bit more important.
On The Bright Side, Blogging Will Get A Bit Easier Again
I spent many years doing my small little part in trying to influence the Freak Show side of politics. Destroying the Freak Show is impossible, so playing whack-a-mole with Zombie Lies and occasionally managing to make it work for the benefit of The Left was the best I could do. I'm not saying that's all I ever did on this blog, but it definitely started from the place that fixing politics required if not fixing our media then at least getting a bit better at gaming it. Once Dems took control of everything I just couldn't get too interested in what a never going to win Senate candidate from Delaware might have said 10 years ago. It was time to, you know, govern. Not that the media issue magically disappeared, of course. The Freak Show we will always have with us. But I just thought...well, hey, Team D is in charge now, so let's worry about getting stuff done.
But soon we will have Chairman Issa, and the Freak Show will indeed matter an immense amount once again. It isn't good for the country, but maybe it makes this blogging thing a bit easier.
...adding, it's not that I think that the media have no impact on the getting stuff done part too (death panels!), it's just that at least over the past couple of years what was going on in Timmeh's or Max Baucus's noggins seemed to be a bit more important.
But soon we will have Chairman Issa, and the Freak Show will indeed matter an immense amount once again. It isn't good for the country, but maybe it makes this blogging thing a bit easier.
...adding, it's not that I think that the media have no impact on the getting stuff done part too (death panels!), it's just that at least over the past couple of years what was going on in Timmeh's or Max Baucus's noggins seemed to be a bit more important.
Governator
Sometimes I get a bit mixed up about the basic timeline. Being reminded that our media installed Arnold as governor not too long after 9/11 is a reminder of just how quickly the silly season returned after they promised that maybe they'd cover governance like it mattered for a change.
Governator
Sometimes I get a bit mixed up about the basic timeline. Being reminded that our media installed Arnold as governor not too long after 9/11 is a reminder of just how quickly the silly season returned after they promised that maybe they'd cover governance like it mattered for a change.
BUT WE'RE VALUABLE
I get that the internet upended the business model of print publications, but the obsession with trying to find ways to charge readers for the product instead of trying to find ways - any ways! - to make money on the internets has been weird. I guess I've finally concluded that it comes from a business side that understandably didn't want to learn new tricks, and from the editorial side that can't stand the idea that people might not be willing to pay for the valuable wordsmithing. Subscription prices always just mostly covered printing and distribution costs, with advertising really paying the bills to writers. I get that the internet might make the advertising revenue model not work for certain kinds of publications, especially local newspapers, and that's a shame, but so many publications seem to be obsessed with charging readers instead of making money. It's only the latter part that matters.
BUT WE'RE VALUABLE
I get that the internet upended the business model of print publications, but the obsession with trying to find ways to charge readers for the product instead of trying to find ways - any ways! - to make money on the internets has been weird. I guess I've finally concluded that it comes from a business side that understandably didn't want to learn new tricks, and from the editorial side that can't stand the idea that people might not be willing to pay for the valuable wordsmithing. Subscription prices always just mostly covered printing and distribution costs, with advertising really paying the bills to writers. I get that the internet might make the advertising revenue model not work for certain kinds of publications, especially local newspapers, and that's a shame, but so many publications seem to be obsessed with charging readers instead of making money. It's only the latter part that matters.
Bad Equilibrium
From talking to a few parents, the SUV craze is at least in part due to the perceived additional safety given that everyone else on the highway is driving a giant car. Probably stuck there. In fairness, my most frequent form of transport is a rather large bus.
Bad Equilibrium
From talking to a few parents, the SUV craze is at least in part due to the perceived additional safety given that everyone else on the highway is driving a giant car. Probably stuck there. In fairness, my most frequent form of transport is a rather large bus.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Deepest Thought
As much as this pains me, giving $1.1 trillion to the banksters probably would have been a better way to spend the Afghanistan money, though not in Afghanistan of course.
Not quite so many freedom bombs, at least.
Not quite so many freedom bombs, at least.
Deepest Thought
As much as this pains me, giving $1.1 trillion to the banksters probably would have been a better way to spend the Afghanistan money, though not in Afghanistan of course.
Not quite so many freedom bombs, at least.
Not quite so many freedom bombs, at least.
Deeper Thought
It occurs to me that there was probably a better way to spend $1.1 trillion in Afghanistan, if we had wanted to spend $1.1 trillion in Afghanistan.
Deeper Thought
It occurs to me that there was probably a better way to spend $1.1 trillion in Afghanistan, if we had wanted to spend $1.1 trillion in Afghanistan.
Deep Thought
Since our Galtian overlords care so much if Obama invites them over to play, next time I am invited* I will sell my invitation my for 1/100th of their annual income.
Sounds fair to me.
*not that I expect to be invited again.
Sounds fair to me.
*not that I expect to be invited again.
Deep Thought
Since our Galtian overlords care so much if Obama invites them over to play, next time I am invited* I will sell my invitation my for 1/100th of their annual income.
Sounds fair to me.
*not that I expect to be invited again.
Sounds fair to me.
*not that I expect to be invited again.
Not Over
In response to my question about the federal response to the foreclosure crisis, Obama said that the best way to improve that situation was to improve the economy. True enough if you succeed in improving the economy, but that didn't happen, and there were more tools then (and to a lesser extent now) directly available to the executive branch for dealing with the foreclosure crisis that didn't require making President Snowe happy.
U.S. home foreclosures jumped in the third quarter and banks' efforts to keep borrowers in their homes dropped as the housing market continues to struggle, U.S. bank regulators said on Wednesday.
Not Over
In response to my question about the federal response to the foreclosure crisis, Obama said that the best way to improve that situation was to improve the economy. True enough if you succeed in improving the economy, but that didn't happen, and there were more tools then (and to a lesser extent now) directly available to the executive branch for dealing with the foreclosure crisis that didn't require making President Snowe happy.
U.S. home foreclosures jumped in the third quarter and banks' efforts to keep borrowers in their homes dropped as the housing market continues to struggle, U.S. bank regulators said on Wednesday.
Electric Bus
I'm somewhat skeptical about electric cars, but I'm much more optimistic about electric commercial fleet vehicles where necessary range is more predictable and charging infrastructure can be cost effective. 50 mile range with half hour charging time should work fine for an urban bus fleet.
Electric Bus
I'm somewhat skeptical about electric cars, but I'm much more optimistic about electric commercial fleet vehicles where necessary range is more predictable and charging infrastructure can be cost effective. 50 mile range with half hour charging time should work fine for an urban bus fleet.
Two Tier
I don't know if our sham system of justice has always been this bad or if it's getting worse, but either way..
Obviously the defense attorney has an angle on this, and I'm not against the idea that there are legitimate privacy issues to think about, but the selective information release based on area codes is a wee bit suspicious.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI busted the international escort service in July, indicted the owners and three employees on prostitution or money-laundering charges and seized a black book bulging with tens of thousands of customer names, job details and contact information.
Paul DeCailly, the attorney for Miami Companions co-owner Greg Carr, flew to Detroit last week to review the black book. He wanted to see the names of clients from Michigan and Ohio, but the U.S. Attorney's Office said he could see only the names from the 313 and 734 area codes, he said.
"There must be something there they don't want anybody to see," DeCailly said Tuesday. "In the 248 area code, a lot of influential people live there: musicians, Detroit's sports elite, politicians. ... It's the center of a lot of activity in the business community."
Obviously the defense attorney has an angle on this, and I'm not against the idea that there are legitimate privacy issues to think about, but the selective information release based on area codes is a wee bit suspicious.
Two Tier
I don't know if our sham system of justice has always been this bad or if it's getting worse, but either way..
Obviously the defense attorney has an angle on this, and I'm not against the idea that there are legitimate privacy issues to think about, but the selective information release based on area codes is a wee bit suspicious.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI busted the international escort service in July, indicted the owners and three employees on prostitution or money-laundering charges and seized a black book bulging with tens of thousands of customer names, job details and contact information.
Paul DeCailly, the attorney for Miami Companions co-owner Greg Carr, flew to Detroit last week to review the black book. He wanted to see the names of clients from Michigan and Ohio, but the U.S. Attorney's Office said he could see only the names from the 313 and 734 area codes, he said.
"There must be something there they don't want anybody to see," DeCailly said Tuesday. "In the 248 area code, a lot of influential people live there: musicians, Detroit's sports elite, politicians. ... It's the center of a lot of activity in the business community."
Obviously the defense attorney has an angle on this, and I'm not against the idea that there are legitimate privacy issues to think about, but the selective information release based on area codes is a wee bit suspicious.
The Buildings Are Too Damn Small
When more Census data is out I plan to look into this a bit more carefully, but I gather that along with the general (though now roughly halted) population decline in my urban hellhole over the past 60 years, as with the rest of the country, sq.ft./person has increased as the number of people/household has shrunk. This reduces overall population density and makes it harder to support foot traffic dependent neighborhood retail corridors. In much of South Philly in particular, buildings are only two stories high and there are almost no large apartment complexes of any kind.
The Buildings Are Too Damn Small
When more Census data is out I plan to look into this a bit more carefully, but I gather that along with the general (though now roughly halted) population decline in my urban hellhole over the past 60 years, as with the rest of the country, sq.ft./person has increased as the number of people/household has shrunk. This reduces overall population density and makes it harder to support foot traffic dependent neighborhood retail corridors. In much of South Philly in particular, buildings are only two stories high and there are almost no large apartment complexes of any kind.
License to Steal
Big banks think they can just take your house for no reason.
Do not buy a house until this behavior is stopped with criminal prosecutions.
Do not buy a house until this behavior is stopped with criminal prosecutions.
License to Steal
Big banks think they can just take your house for no reason.
Do not buy a house until this behavior is stopped with criminal prosecutions.
Do not buy a house until this behavior is stopped with criminal prosecutions.
Villagers
I guess I thought the Green Lantern Theory Of Geopolitics was at least a little bit the mocking political rhetoric of the Bush years. But, no, it's how our pundits really think.
Like any war, this one is ultimately about willpower, and America has an advantage in Petraeus, one of the strongest-willed people you could hope to meet.
Villagers
I guess I thought the Green Lantern Theory Of Geopolitics was at least a little bit the mocking political rhetoric of the Bush years. But, no, it's how our pundits really think.
Like any war, this one is ultimately about willpower, and America has an advantage in Petraeus, one of the strongest-willed people you could hope to meet.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Klintoon
Saw that recently. Hadn't seen it in awhile. The 90s were crazier than most people realize. The crazy internets had an influence that most of the press didn't have a sense of.
Klintoon
Saw that recently. Hadn't seen it in awhile. The 90s were crazier than most people realize. The crazy internets had an influence that most of the press didn't have a sense of.
FCOJ
Interesting story of a product de-commodifying, or at least evolving from the commodity the "market" had imposed on it.
I'd say one undertold story of the past couple of decades is the halt in the march towards universal commoditization that characterized the prior 150 years or so.
(ht felix salmon)
I'd say one undertold story of the past couple of decades is the halt in the march towards universal commoditization that characterized the prior 150 years or so.
(ht felix salmon)
FCOJ
Interesting story of a product de-commodifying, or at least evolving from the commodity the "market" had imposed on it.
I'd say one undertold story of the past couple of decades is the halt in the march towards universal commoditization that characterized the prior 150 years or so.
(ht felix salmon)
I'd say one undertold story of the past couple of decades is the halt in the march towards universal commoditization that characterized the prior 150 years or so.
(ht felix salmon)
Also, Too
The cyclists who ride on the sidewalk, yell "excuse me" so that you move out of their way, and then apologize as they ride by you. Even though they apologize they have no intention of changing their behavior. Not accepted!
Also, Too
The cyclists who ride on the sidewalk, yell "excuse me" so that you move out of their way, and then apologize as they ride by you. Even though they apologize they have no intention of changing their behavior. Not accepted!
'Tis The Season to Hate Everyone
Dear visitors to Philadelphia, there are good reasons for those 'no stopping' zones.
Dear cab driver behind me, if both the bus driver and I are stopped at a green light it is probably because a trash truck is trapped in the intersection and unable to complete its turn. See above.
Dear delivery trucks, the streets are narrow here and if two of you are parked on both sides of the streets the bus will not be able to get by.
Dear pedestrians, the bus is bigger than you. Suggest not running in front of it against the light.
Dear cyclists, if you are weaving through slow moving traffic drivers cannot be expected to see you and you will probably die.
Dear cab driver behind me, if both the bus driver and I are stopped at a green light it is probably because a trash truck is trapped in the intersection and unable to complete its turn. See above.
Dear delivery trucks, the streets are narrow here and if two of you are parked on both sides of the streets the bus will not be able to get by.
Dear pedestrians, the bus is bigger than you. Suggest not running in front of it against the light.
Dear cyclists, if you are weaving through slow moving traffic drivers cannot be expected to see you and you will probably die.
'Tis The Season to Hate Everyone
Dear visitors to Philadelphia, there are good reasons for those 'no stopping' zones.
Dear cab driver behind me, if both the bus driver and I are stopped at a green light it is probably because a trash truck is trapped in the intersection and unable to complete its turn. See above.
Dear delivery trucks, the streets are narrow here and if two of you are parked on both sides of the streets the bus will not be able to get by.
Dear pedestrians, the bus is bigger than you. Suggest not running in front of it against the light.
Dear cyclists, if you are weaving through slow moving traffic drivers cannot be expected to see you and you will probably die.
Dear cab driver behind me, if both the bus driver and I are stopped at a green light it is probably because a trash truck is trapped in the intersection and unable to complete its turn. See above.
Dear delivery trucks, the streets are narrow here and if two of you are parked on both sides of the streets the bus will not be able to get by.
Dear pedestrians, the bus is bigger than you. Suggest not running in front of it against the light.
Dear cyclists, if you are weaving through slow moving traffic drivers cannot be expected to see you and you will probably die.
What Are They For Again
I really haven't said much about Wikileaks, in part because it's one of those things with lots of details that matter and I just haven't devoted time to following it, but I admit to being completely baffled by the response from mainstream journalists.
It isn't exactly the same thing, but moments like this I'm reminded of a time years ago when I was talking at a conference about internets and stuff to a not entirely plugged in audience and a man stood up and said something like, "You mean, people can just say whatever they want on the internet? Don't we need to do something about that?"
It isn't exactly the same thing, but moments like this I'm reminded of a time years ago when I was talking at a conference about internets and stuff to a not entirely plugged in audience and a man stood up and said something like, "You mean, people can just say whatever they want on the internet? Don't we need to do something about that?"
What Are They For Again
I really haven't said much about Wikileaks, in part because it's one of those things with lots of details that matter and I just haven't devoted time to following it, but I admit to being completely baffled by the response from mainstream journalists.
It isn't exactly the same thing, but moments like this I'm reminded of a time years ago when I was talking at a conference about internets and stuff to a not entirely plugged in audience and a man stood up and said something like, "You mean, people can just say whatever they want on the internet? Don't we need to do something about that?"
It isn't exactly the same thing, but moments like this I'm reminded of a time years ago when I was talking at a conference about internets and stuff to a not entirely plugged in audience and a man stood up and said something like, "You mean, people can just say whatever they want on the internet? Don't we need to do something about that?"
Don't Talk About The Important Things
I really can't comprehend the lack of media attention paid to the actual problem: unemployment.
Some days it all just sounds like this to me:
Some days it all just sounds like this to me:
Don't Talk About The Important Things
I really can't comprehend the lack of media attention paid to the actual problem: unemployment.
Some days it all just sounds like this to me:
Some days it all just sounds like this to me:
Car Crashes
Plenty of things impact where people choose to live, but I've long been fascinated by the fact that people take "risk of deadly car crash" to just be an unchangeable fact of life.
Car Crashes
Plenty of things impact where people choose to live, but I've long been fascinated by the fact that people take "risk of deadly car crash" to just be an unchangeable fact of life.
Have some thread
If you're looking for something to listen to while you're doing your morning exercises, you could try Bob McChesney's interview with Chris Hedges, and a reprise of McChesney's interview with the late Chalmers Johnson.
(Yeah, I know, I'm not exactly doing push-ups around here, either.)
Signed,
Not Atrios
(Yeah, I know, I'm not exactly doing push-ups around here, either.)
Signed,
Not Atrios
Have some thread
If you're looking for something to listen to while you're doing your morning exercises, you could try Bob McChesney's interview with Chris Hedges, and a reprise of McChesney's interview with the late Chalmers Johnson.
(Yeah, I know, I'm not exactly doing push-ups around here, either.)
Signed,
Not Atrios
(Yeah, I know, I'm not exactly doing push-ups around here, either.)
Signed,
Not Atrios
Monday, December 27, 2010
More Thread
Tron was fairly meh. The original, which I rewatched a year or two ago, was hilariously bad in a lot of ways but succeeded nonetheless because it channeled a bit of computer geekdom and was visually new and interesting. This one..really didn't add to any of that.
More Thread
Tron was fairly meh. The original, which I rewatched a year or two ago, was hilariously bad in a lot of ways but succeeded nonetheless because it channeled a bit of computer geekdom and was visually new and interesting. This one..really didn't add to any of that.
Elite Opinion On Inflation
Our unelected Galtian overlords at the FOMC worry way too much about inflation and zombie unicorns, and most of our elite press do too. The Fed has long been too slow to loosen and too quick to tighten, with the possible exception of Greenspan during the pre-election period in 2004, and our elite press tends to reinforce the belief that inflation is the boogeyman which must be stopped at all costs to be borne by the poor and middle class.
Elite Opinion On Inflation
Our unelected Galtian overlords at the FOMC worry way too much about inflation and zombie unicorns, and most of our elite press do too. The Fed has long been too slow to loosen and too quick to tighten, with the possible exception of Greenspan during the pre-election period in 2004, and our elite press tends to reinforce the belief that inflation is the boogeyman which must be stopped at all costs to be borne by the poor and middle class.
Trendspotting
Another day, another NYT story about hohw municipalities are going to have stick it to workers and retirees by declaring bankruptcy.
Trendspotting
Another day, another NYT story about hohw municipalities are going to have stick it to workers and retirees by declaring bankruptcy.
East Coast Bias
One could use 'large population centers' as a partial excuse, but no one really seems to notice when the weather is crap in Chicago, either. So, yes, NY-DC corridor weather gets exaggerated coverage because that's where our betters our national media people are.
East Coast Bias
One could use 'large population centers' as a partial excuse, but no one really seems to notice when the weather is crap in Chicago, either. So, yes, NY-DC corridor weather gets exaggerated coverage because that's where our betters our national media people are.
Midnight Blizzard
Football in the snow is great, a football game ending at midnight in the middle of a blizzard not so great. Postponing it was the right thing to do.
They shouldn't schedule games in cold weather locations at that time once we get close to winter.
...adding, glance at numbers tells me at most 1/7-1/6 of attendees walk or take public transit normally to games. Bad weather could boost that number, but given that the regional rail system is shutting down about the time that the game would end there's really a limit to the number of people who can realistically use it at that time of night. And of course with that much snow there's no guarantee that the public transit system would continue functioning well. PATCO to South Jersey runs all night, but people from the PA suburbs wouldn't have had many options. If the game had been earlier this wouldn't have been an issue.
They shouldn't schedule games in cold weather locations at that time once we get close to winter.
...adding, glance at numbers tells me at most 1/7-1/6 of attendees walk or take public transit normally to games. Bad weather could boost that number, but given that the regional rail system is shutting down about the time that the game would end there's really a limit to the number of people who can realistically use it at that time of night. And of course with that much snow there's no guarantee that the public transit system would continue functioning well. PATCO to South Jersey runs all night, but people from the PA suburbs wouldn't have had many options. If the game had been earlier this wouldn't have been an issue.
Midnight Blizzard
Football in the snow is great, a football game ending at midnight in the middle of a blizzard not so great. Postponing it was the right thing to do.
They shouldn't schedule games in cold weather locations at that time once we get close to winter.
...adding, glance at numbers tells me at most 1/7-1/6 of attendees walk or take public transit normally to games. Bad weather could boost that number, but given that the regional rail system is shutting down about the time that the game would end there's really a limit to the number of people who can realistically use it at that time of night. And of course with that much snow there's no guarantee that the public transit system would continue functioning well. PATCO to South Jersey runs all night, but people from the PA suburbs wouldn't have had many options. If the game had been earlier this wouldn't have been an issue.
They shouldn't schedule games in cold weather locations at that time once we get close to winter.
...adding, glance at numbers tells me at most 1/7-1/6 of attendees walk or take public transit normally to games. Bad weather could boost that number, but given that the regional rail system is shutting down about the time that the game would end there's really a limit to the number of people who can realistically use it at that time of night. And of course with that much snow there's no guarantee that the public transit system would continue functioning well. PATCO to South Jersey runs all night, but people from the PA suburbs wouldn't have had many options. If the game had been earlier this wouldn't have been an issue.
Hey That Could Work Here Too
Wish someone would propose "a real transfer of wealth and income from businesses and governments to households" here.
Hey That Could Work Here Too
Wish someone would propose "a real transfer of wealth and income from businesses and governments to households" here.
All The Other Numbers Are Meaningless
For most of us, the unemployment rate is really the headline piece of data. All the rest is basically meaningless. An economy with 9%+ unemployment is not good, no matter what the rest of the numbers say.
All The Other Numbers Are Meaningless
For most of us, the unemployment rate is really the headline piece of data. All the rest is basically meaningless. An economy with 9%+ unemployment is not good, no matter what the rest of the numbers say.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Stimulate The Economy
Bit of advice: spend a tiny bit of the Nobel money and hire a local entrepreneur to take care of the shoveling.
Stimulate The Economy
Bit of advice: spend a tiny bit of the Nobel money and hire a local entrepreneur to take care of the shoveling.
It'll Probably Happen Here Too
As my state is now totally controlled by Republicans, I'm sure my schadenfreude will be short-lived, but I admit there's some amount of guilty pleasure in watching assholes destroy their already pretty messed up states.
And, no, I don't really take pleasure in the suffering of individuals, it's just that after decades of this rhetoric it's maybe time for the Republican Paradise to finally appear.
And, no, I don't really take pleasure in the suffering of individuals, it's just that after decades of this rhetoric it's maybe time for the Republican Paradise to finally appear.
It'll Probably Happen Here Too
As my state is now totally controlled by Republicans, I'm sure my schadenfreude will be short-lived, but I admit there's some amount of guilty pleasure in watching assholes destroy their already pretty messed up states.
And, no, I don't really take pleasure in the suffering of individuals, it's just that after decades of this rhetoric it's maybe time for the Republican Paradise to finally appear.
And, no, I don't really take pleasure in the suffering of individuals, it's just that after decades of this rhetoric it's maybe time for the Republican Paradise to finally appear.
SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW
My personal issue is that it's really dumb for the NFL to schedule a late Sunday night game in my urban hellhole, especially in snow season. They'll run extra subway trains, but game will likely run past time when most of the regional rail lines have run their last train.
Yes I know I'm the only one who thinks about this stuff.
Yes I know I'm the only one who thinks about this stuff.
SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW
My personal issue is that it's really dumb for the NFL to schedule a late Sunday night game in my urban hellhole, especially in snow season. They'll run extra subway trains, but game will likely run past time when most of the regional rail lines have run their last train.
Yes I know I'm the only one who thinks about this stuff.
Yes I know I'm the only one who thinks about this stuff.
Sunday Bobbleheads
Dancing Dave's Meet the Press has Valerie Jarrett.
Face the Nation has Villagers.
This Week has Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli.
Document the atrocities!
Face the Nation has Villagers.
This Week has Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli.
Document the atrocities!
Sunday Bobbleheads
Dancing Dave's Meet the Press has Valerie Jarrett.
Face the Nation has Villagers.
This Week has Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli.
Document the atrocities!
Face the Nation has Villagers.
This Week has Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli.
Document the atrocities!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tintin's Chestnuts on an Open Fire
Tintin counterattacks wildly, but to little effect. Why, it is as if he does not even know that Santa is a Republican. Bwah-ha-ha!
(Via.)
(Via.)
Tintin's Chestnuts on an Open Fire
Tintin counterattacks wildly, but to little effect. Why, it is as if he does not even know that Santa is a Republican. Bwah-ha-ha!
(Via.)
(Via.)
The Great Casino
It's all the same thing.
Wall Street executives usually protest when their business is compared to a casino. But there is a logic to privately held Cantor’s Vegas subsidiary, casino industry experts say.
“Guys who trade Treasuries are doing it for basis points, and sports betting is not much different,” said Jeffrey B. Logsdon, an entertainment and gaming analyst for BMO Capital Markets. “Trading a million dollars in Treasuries is different than trading a billion. Sports betting is the same. You want the spread, volume and you see yourself as a match maker.”
The Great Casino
It's all the same thing.
Wall Street executives usually protest when their business is compared to a casino. But there is a logic to privately held Cantor’s Vegas subsidiary, casino industry experts say.
“Guys who trade Treasuries are doing it for basis points, and sports betting is not much different,” said Jeffrey B. Logsdon, an entertainment and gaming analyst for BMO Capital Markets. “Trading a million dollars in Treasuries is different than trading a billion. Sports betting is the same. You want the spread, volume and you see yourself as a match maker.”
Friday, December 24, 2010
Santa Bomb!
"Tintin" makes some sort of effort at retaliation...
Of course, we have in our arsenal a Hall n' Oates-flavored Sarah Palin spooge-anthem sung by Don Simmons himself.
We are prepared to discuss a schedule for Tintin's reparation payments.
Of course, we have in our arsenal a Hall n' Oates-flavored Sarah Palin spooge-anthem sung by Don Simmons himself.
We are prepared to discuss a schedule for Tintin's reparation payments.
Santa Bomb!
"Tintin" makes some sort of effort at retaliation...
Of course, we have in our arsenal a Hall n' Oates-flavored Sarah Palin spooge-anthem sung by Don Simmons himself.
We are prepared to discuss a schedule for Tintin's reparation payments.
Of course, we have in our arsenal a Hall n' Oates-flavored Sarah Palin spooge-anthem sung by Don Simmons himself.
We are prepared to discuss a schedule for Tintin's reparation payments.
Religion in America
I'd guess there are two main reasons people lie about their degree of religious adherence/church attendance. One is that there are is a lot of cultural pressure equating participation in formal Christian religion with morality. Good people go to church! The other is that a lot of our traditions, despite having secular aspects to them, do have a link to religion, and a lot of people have a hard time decoupling the two. It isn't a problem for me. We celebrated Christmas (tree, gifts and Santa) and Easter (easter egg hunts and chocolate bunny heads) in my non-religious house growing up.
I was chatting about this with Dan Savage once (namedrop alert!!), and he said something along the lines of "non-religious Catholics need to learn how to be Jews," meaning it's possible to hold on to the various rituals and traditions without actually being a believer, as many non-religious Jews do.
I was chatting about this with Dan Savage once (namedrop alert!!), and he said something along the lines of "non-religious Catholics need to learn how to be Jews," meaning it's possible to hold on to the various rituals and traditions without actually being a believer, as many non-religious Jews do.
Religion in America
I'd guess there are two main reasons people lie about their degree of religious adherence/church attendance. One is that there are is a lot of cultural pressure equating participation in formal Christian religion with morality. Good people go to church! The other is that a lot of our traditions, despite having secular aspects to them, do have a link to religion, and a lot of people have a hard time decoupling the two. It isn't a problem for me. We celebrated Christmas (tree, gifts and Santa) and Easter (easter egg hunts and chocolate bunny heads) in my non-religious house growing up.
I was chatting about this with Dan Savage once (namedrop alert!!), and he said something along the lines of "non-religious Catholics need to learn how to be Jews," meaning it's possible to hold on to the various rituals and traditions without actually being a believer, as many non-religious Jews do.
I was chatting about this with Dan Savage once (namedrop alert!!), and he said something along the lines of "non-religious Catholics need to learn how to be Jews," meaning it's possible to hold on to the various rituals and traditions without actually being a believer, as many non-religious Jews do.
The Year In Lists
Didn't personally come across an immense amount of good new music this year. The iTunes machine tells me I listened to Dr. Dog's Shame Shame the most, so they win the plug.
The Year In Lists
Didn't personally come across an immense amount of good new music this year. The iTunes machine tells me I listened to Dr. Dog's Shame Shame the most, so they win the plug.
Virginia Is For Banksters
Somewhere to not buy a house.
Last year, the state legislature overwhelmingly passed a law making it easier for lenders to defend themselves when accused of giving homeowners too little warning of impending foreclosures.
The process moves so quickly in Virginia - one of the fastest states in the nation - that homeowners can receive less than two weeks' notice that their house is about to be sold on the courthouse steps.
That confronts homeowners with an almost impossible deadline. To get a court to stop the sale in that narrow window, they must gather evidence, file a lawsuit and potentially post a bond with the court that could total thousands of dollars. Instead of trying to find a lawyer and prepare a suit, many borrowers run out the clock trying to deal with their lender.
Virginia Is For Banksters
Somewhere to not buy a house.
Last year, the state legislature overwhelmingly passed a law making it easier for lenders to defend themselves when accused of giving homeowners too little warning of impending foreclosures.
The process moves so quickly in Virginia - one of the fastest states in the nation - that homeowners can receive less than two weeks' notice that their house is about to be sold on the courthouse steps.
That confronts homeowners with an almost impossible deadline. To get a court to stop the sale in that narrow window, they must gather evidence, file a lawsuit and potentially post a bond with the court that could total thousands of dollars. Instead of trying to find a lawyer and prepare a suit, many borrowers run out the clock trying to deal with their lender.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Season's BLEEDINGS!
Because nothing says The Hellidays without a YouTube war, CHECK YER STOCKING, Tintin. Dashing through the snow, with a one horse open SLAY!
Check out the Pam Gellar screech solo...
Check out the Pam Gellar screech solo...
Season's BLEEDINGS!
Because nothing says The Hellidays without a YouTube war, CHECK YER STOCKING, Tintin. Dashing through the snow, with a one horse open SLAY!
Check out the Pam Gellar screech solo...
Check out the Pam Gellar screech solo...
Strange World
Some days I think I'm the only one who has noticed that unemployment is at 9.6%.
Except the unemployed, of course.
Except the unemployed, of course.
Strange World
Some days I think I'm the only one who has noticed that unemployment is at 9.6%.
Except the unemployed, of course.
Except the unemployed, of course.
Holiday Schedule
Usual end of the year blog slowdown is here. Will keep posting, just won't be at my computer 12 hours a day like I usually am.
Happy holidays. Better luck next year with the War On Christmas!
Happy holidays. Better luck next year with the War On Christmas!
Holiday Schedule
Usual end of the year blog slowdown is here. Will keep posting, just won't be at my computer 12 hours a day like I usually am.
Happy holidays. Better luck next year with the War On Christmas!
Happy holidays. Better luck next year with the War On Christmas!
The Way The World Doesn't Work
As Ireland lights another pile of money on fire, I'm reminded that another way to save the big banks and let rich assholes continue to receive absurd bonuses would have been to give people money to pay down their debts. Banks would have gotten their money, and people would have less debt. This would never happen because it would grossly unfair to help some people so we'll do the fair thing and just give money to rich assholes.
The Way The World Doesn't Work
As Ireland lights another pile of money on fire, I'm reminded that another way to save the big banks and let rich assholes continue to receive absurd bonuses would have been to give people money to pay down their debts. Banks would have gotten their money, and people would have less debt. This would never happen because it would grossly unfair to help some people so we'll do the fair thing and just give money to rich assholes.
But I Thought Harold Ford Was the Junior Senator From New York
One of the silliest made up media narratives was how Gillibrand was a DOOOOOOOOOOMED politician.
But I Thought Harold Ford Was the Junior Senator From New York
One of the silliest made up media narratives was how Gillibrand was a DOOOOOOOOOOMED politician.
Must Love SEPTA
My local transit authority is hilarious flawed and certainly deserves much of the criticism locals heap on it, but overall the hellhole is quite fortunate to have as comprehensive a system as it is. It's biggest strength, for better or for worse, is probably the regional rail system, and we could certainly use another subway line or two (not likely), but overall we're pretty lucky.
On the SEPTATRAIN for quick trip to Wilmington.
On the SEPTATRAIN for quick trip to Wilmington.
Must Love SEPTA
My local transit authority is hilarious flawed and certainly deserves much of the criticism locals heap on it, but overall the hellhole is quite fortunate to have as comprehensive a system as it is. It's biggest strength, for better or for worse, is probably the regional rail system, and we could certainly use another subway line or two (not likely), but overall we're pretty lucky.
On the SEPTATRAIN for quick trip to Wilmington.
On the SEPTATRAIN for quick trip to Wilmington.
Dashing through the snow...with NORAD, YouTube and Google
Every Christmas Eve, children all over the world ask themselves—and their parents—questions about Santa’s magical journey. How does Santa visit so many children in one night? Will he eat the cookies I left out? How does he fit all those presents into his sleigh? These childhood mysteries are part of what makes the Santa tradition so special.
There’s one timeless question that we’re proud to say we can help answer: Where in the world is Santa at this very moment? Thanks in part to recent advances in warp-speed GPS technology and some very clever elves (elveneering?) NORAD Tracks Santa is once again prepped and ready to go.
Starting tomorrow, December 24 at 2:00 a.m. EST, visit www.noradsanta.org to follow Santa as he journeys around the world delivering presents to children in more than 200 countries and territories. There are a few different ways to find the jolly man in his unmistakable red suit over the course of the day, so feel free to track him using any of the following methods:
Get real-time information about Santa’s location: Use Google’s Realtime Search to get updates from social networks, news and micro-blogs like Twitter at @noradsanta, and keep up with news about his journey on this Facebook page.
For any techie questions you might have, we’ve also put together some helpful tips and tricks about all the cool ways you can experience Santa’s journey. And now that you know how to follow Saint Nick on Christmas Eve, it’s our tradition to tell the story of how this all started...
NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) first began to track Santa in 1955 when a misprinted advertisement in a Sears & Roebuck catalogue mistakenly led callers expecting a Santa-hotline to the NORAD commander-in-chief's telephone. Embracing the spirit of the season, NORAD used its satellite and radar capabilities to offer callers sleigh-location updates, and has tracked Santa's whereabouts on Christmas Eve ever since. Then in 2004, Google started tracking Santa on Google Earth as a 20% project, which in 2007 grew into a partnership with NORAD, adding the mapping technology of Google Maps and Google Earth to the NORAD experience. Over the years, other Google teams have also joined in the holiday fun (YouTube, Google Voice’s www.SendACallFromSanta.com and Google SketchUp).
As we approach this year’s Christmas Eve adventure, Santa was able to take a break from the preparations to visit the New York Stock Exchange this past Monday. His helpful elves kept everything at the North Pole on schedule while folks from Google and NORAD attended the Closing Bell ceremony, and stood alongside Santa from Macy’s going over last minute details about tomorrow’s big ride:
Santa with NORAD, Google and members of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
So don’t forget to visit www.noradsanta.org tomorrow morning starting at 2:00 a.m. EST when Santa embarks on his flight. From all of us here at Google and YouTube, happy holidays and here’s to a very happy New Year!
Brian McClendon, Original Google Engineering Elf, recently watched “Picasa 3.8 Face Movie.”
There’s one timeless question that we’re proud to say we can help answer: Where in the world is Santa at this very moment? Thanks in part to recent advances in warp-speed GPS technology and some very clever elves (elveneering?) NORAD Tracks Santa is once again prepped and ready to go.
Starting tomorrow, December 24 at 2:00 a.m. EST, visit www.noradsanta.org to follow Santa as he journeys around the world delivering presents to children in more than 200 countries and territories. There are a few different ways to find the jolly man in his unmistakable red suit over the course of the day, so feel free to track him using any of the following methods:
- Subscribe to his YouTube channel: Santa’s home on YouTube is at http://www.youtube.com/noradtrackssanta. That’s where you can find videos from his journey throughout the night. This “Commander's Holiday Message” offers a peek of what to expect:
- See Santa on a Google Map: On your home computer or laptop, visit www.noradsanta.org and choose your preferred language. You’ll see a large Google Map on the page displaying Santa’s current location and his next stop. Click the video icons to watch “Santa Cam” videos, and click the gift icons to learn more about each city.
- Watch Santa fly with the Google Earth Plug-in: From www.noradsanta.org, click on the link Track Santa in Google Earth. You'll see Santa steering his sleigh right on the webpage. If you don't have the Google Earth plug-in, you can get ready by downloading it ahead of time.
- Follow Santa on your phone: Track Santa from your mobile phone by opening Google Maps for mobile and searching for [santa]. Or, visit m.noradsanta.org on your phone’s browser.
Get real-time information about Santa’s location: Use Google’s Realtime Search to get updates from social networks, news and micro-blogs like Twitter at @noradsanta, and keep up with news about his journey on this Facebook page.
For any techie questions you might have, we’ve also put together some helpful tips and tricks about all the cool ways you can experience Santa’s journey. And now that you know how to follow Saint Nick on Christmas Eve, it’s our tradition to tell the story of how this all started...
NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) first began to track Santa in 1955 when a misprinted advertisement in a Sears & Roebuck catalogue mistakenly led callers expecting a Santa-hotline to the NORAD commander-in-chief's telephone. Embracing the spirit of the season, NORAD used its satellite and radar capabilities to offer callers sleigh-location updates, and has tracked Santa's whereabouts on Christmas Eve ever since. Then in 2004, Google started tracking Santa on Google Earth as a 20% project, which in 2007 grew into a partnership with NORAD, adding the mapping technology of Google Maps and Google Earth to the NORAD experience. Over the years, other Google teams have also joined in the holiday fun (YouTube, Google Voice’s www.SendACallFromSanta.com and Google SketchUp).
As we approach this year’s Christmas Eve adventure, Santa was able to take a break from the preparations to visit the New York Stock Exchange this past Monday. His helpful elves kept everything at the North Pole on schedule while folks from Google and NORAD attended the Closing Bell ceremony, and stood alongside Santa from Macy’s going over last minute details about tomorrow’s big ride:
Santa with NORAD, Google and members of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation that’s me, the tall guy in the back row clapping)
So don’t forget to visit www.noradsanta.org tomorrow morning starting at 2:00 a.m. EST when Santa embarks on his flight. From all of us here at Google and YouTube, happy holidays and here’s to a very happy New Year!
Brian McClendon, Original Google Engineering Elf, recently watched “Picasa 3.8 Face Movie.”
If It's What People Wanted You Wouldn't Have To Mandate It
Posts like these inevitably get commenters saying something along the lines of "people like grass!" I think Matt's a bit more anti-land use regulation in general than I am, but the point is that if that's what people really wanted it wouldn't be necessary to regulate it. And while there's nothing wrong with a bit of green, pointless setbacks and other ways in which developers meet development regulations are often really out of place in a dense urban area.
If It's What People Wanted You Wouldn't Have To Mandate It
Posts like these inevitably get commenters saying something along the lines of "people like grass!" I think Matt's a bit more anti-land use regulation in general than I am, but the point is that if that's what people really wanted it wouldn't be necessary to regulate it. And while there's nothing wrong with a bit of green, pointless setbacks and other ways in which developers meet development regulations are often really out of place in a dense urban area.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Home for the Holidays
I am very thankful to not be traveling this Christmas season. And as in years past, I won't be posting between now and the new year, either. What I do hope to be doing is spending as much time as possible with family and friends.
In the meantime, hit the jump for our annual attempt at a Year in Review. And this year we have a little twist… Read more »
Celebrating our partners’ success
As 2010 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on another incredible year in online video. During the last 12 months you all watched more than 700 billion YouTube videos, and uploaded more than 13 million hours of content to the site. We met a bunch of new faces (and fruits) and celebrated as new YouTube partners hit the big time with millions of views. Indeed, our partner program grew to around 15,000 participants worldwide.
We’re privileged to work with the most passionate and talented partners in the world, who produce and upload videos that inspire us, make us laugh and move us -- and, most importantly, change the way we look at the world. In bedrooms, garages and studios across the globe, these talented and entrepreneurial YouTube partners are building the next generation of media companies, and in July this year we announced a new way we’d be supporting this via Partner Grants.
It’s clear that we want to see YouTube partners continue to create great video and further push the boundaries of what’s possible online. To that end, today we’re giving a $1,000 credit at B&H Photo to 500 partners around the world, who primarily create and distribute their content online, to purchase new video production equipment. This group includes well-known YouTube stars like ShayCarl, MysteryGuitarMan and FreddieW (and this past weekend we learned the latter two make quite a guitar-bass duo), and also successful musicians like Kina Grannis and promising new talents like EmilyNoel83, who was the inaugural winner of our “On The Rise” program last month. Collectively, these 500 partners generated billions of video views in 2010, and we chose them to receive a $1,000 credit based on their popularity during 2010, as well as their online focus.
We hope this will provide our most popular partners with the tools they need -- whether it be a new camera, sound & lighting equipment or editing software -- to produce even higher quality videos and ultimately drive bigger audiences to their work. Hundreds of creative people all around the world have launched professional careers after using YouTube as a global platform to demonstrate their talent - we want to see this number continue to grow.
On behalf of the entire YouTube community, we thank these partners for sharing their creativity and talent with us, and we look forward to what’s to come in 2011 and beyond.
Tom Pickett, Director of Content Operations & Online Creators, recently watched “P4A: The Annoying Orange Interviewed by Tay Zonday.”
We’re privileged to work with the most passionate and talented partners in the world, who produce and upload videos that inspire us, make us laugh and move us -- and, most importantly, change the way we look at the world. In bedrooms, garages and studios across the globe, these talented and entrepreneurial YouTube partners are building the next generation of media companies, and in July this year we announced a new way we’d be supporting this via Partner Grants.
It’s clear that we want to see YouTube partners continue to create great video and further push the boundaries of what’s possible online. To that end, today we’re giving a $1,000 credit at B&H Photo to 500 partners around the world, who primarily create and distribute their content online, to purchase new video production equipment. This group includes well-known YouTube stars like ShayCarl, MysteryGuitarMan and FreddieW (and this past weekend we learned the latter two make quite a guitar-bass duo), and also successful musicians like Kina Grannis and promising new talents like EmilyNoel83, who was the inaugural winner of our “On The Rise” program last month. Collectively, these 500 partners generated billions of video views in 2010, and we chose them to receive a $1,000 credit based on their popularity during 2010, as well as their online focus.
We hope this will provide our most popular partners with the tools they need -- whether it be a new camera, sound & lighting equipment or editing software -- to produce even higher quality videos and ultimately drive bigger audiences to their work. Hundreds of creative people all around the world have launched professional careers after using YouTube as a global platform to demonstrate their talent - we want to see this number continue to grow.
On behalf of the entire YouTube community, we thank these partners for sharing their creativity and talent with us, and we look forward to what’s to come in 2011 and beyond.
Tom Pickett, Director of Content Operations & Online Creators, recently watched “P4A: The Annoying Orange Interviewed by Tay Zonday.”
QEII
I said before the most likely major impact of QEII was that it would goose stock prices. That doesn't mean it was bad policy relative to doing nothing, but it does mean that a true helicopter drop of some sort would have been much more effective.
QEII
I said before the most likely major impact of QEII was that it would goose stock prices. That doesn't mean it was bad policy relative to doing nothing, but it does mean that a true helicopter drop of some sort would have been much more effective.
Doctors Being Dumb #2: 07-31-2010
Summary: First of all, it's good to be posting on this blog again. I had to take a bit of a break for health reasons, and it's been way too long since I've added anything here. Trust me though ... not posting hurt me more than it hurt you. So let's get started, shall we?
The article posted is itself a pretty humorous summary of what happened, but if you haven't heard the news, it's really not funny at all. Earlier this year (very late August to very early September), this was one of the stories that started making rounds throughout the internet. The basic story goes like this: the doctor involved, Dr. Jacquelyn Kotarac, had a pretty dramatic, on-again-off-again relationship with her boyfriend. I have no idea how things got to the point that they did on the night in question, but whatever it was, Dr. Kotarac decided that the best way to deal with the situation was to confront her ex-boyfriend-or-whatever at his house.
Ex-boyfriend-or-whatever was probably thinking that he didn't want to deal with Dr. Kotarac's bullshit that night, so he snuck out of his house and went over to a friend's to spend the night. (Apparently, he was going to Europe the next day, which will become relevant later on in this story.) In the meantime, Dr. Kotarac decided that the best next course of action would be to try to break into Ex-boyfriend-or-whatever's house ... with a freaking shovel. This leads me to two obvious questions:
- Where the hell did she get the shovel? Did she just carry it with her at all times for these kinds of occasions?
- How did she fail at getting into a house with a goddamned shovel? Was it made of fucking plastic?
In any case, somehow, the shovel idea didn't pan out. So naturally, she opted for the obvious Plan B: climbing up onto the roof by using a ladder, removing the chimney cap, and trying to slide down the chimney like a goddamn Mrs. Santa Claus.
And if you ever needed proof that Santa Claus doesn't exist, this is it, folks. Dr. Kotarac got stuck in the chimney and died of asphyxiation. In fact, the only way that that her body was discovered was that Ex-boyfriend-or-whatever had hired a house sitter to feed his fish while he was away in Europe, so, three days after the poor woman died, the stench of decomposing flesh is what lead the house sitter to discover her body.
It took firefighters five hours to take apart the chimney and get Dr. Kotarac's body out.
Now, I'm not saying that Dr. Kotarac was a stupid lady - I would actually argue the opposite. For example, if you do a vitals.com search for her, you'll find that she went to UCLA for medical school, and did her residency in Cedars-Sinai. Clearly, it takes a lot of intelligence, drive, and skill to be able to succeed at places like those. But, even though I'm not qualified at all to diagnose Dr. Kotarac, it's pretty clear to me that Dr. Kotarac had some sort of psychiatric condition going on. It's a given that med school can drive people to their breaking point - believe me, I've been there. And I have to wonder, did the stress of medical school contribute to whatever was going on with her? Or did she succeed in medical school because of whatever her psychiatric condition was - something that created her to be driven beyond what normal people ought to be?
And what the hell does that say about how healthy medical school is for our psyches, anyway?
Best quotation: Alas Kotarac, while plenty smart being a doctor and all, is not all that schooled in the art of home construction or Christmas myths. Santa, as it turns out, would have difficulty making it down a chimney due to modern construction techniques, which dictate that chimneys aren't big enough for a human to slide comfortably down.
P.S.: Sorry if this post wasn't as humorous as the previous ones have been. I'll do better next time.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
License To Steal
As I've written a million times, when I decide I get to break into your house and steal all your stuff I'll probably go to jail for a long time.
License To Steal
As I've written a million times, when I decide I get to break into your house and steal all your stuff I'll probably go to jail for a long time.
It’s all about practice
Welcome to the final post in Howcast’s Modern 101 for Emerging Digital Filmmakers. On Friday, October 1, we kicked off our series with Embracing exploration: being a filmmaker today and today we’re wrapping up with a video co-produced with Tribeca Flashpoint Academy, How has the web changed film school?
Over the course of our series, we shared breakfast with our Howcast Emerging Filmmakers and learned instant gratification is a huge benefit to being a web filmmaker; we offered up a digital roadmap for filmmakers; sat in on Shooting People’s Ingrid Kopp’s Digital Bootcamp; talked with some producers about how the web is changing film festivals; and outlined one filmmaker’s plan of attack for distributing and promoting his short documentary. (Plus, lots more!)
We felt it was fitting to end up at the beginning of a film career -- talking to current film students and professors about how the web complements a formal film education and how web filmmaking will fit into students’ careers after graduation.
As the students at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy explain in their video, they watch hundreds of hours of web video each week and they upload regularly. The web is giving them a chance to learn how audiences respond to their ideas and their professors see it as a viable venue for quality work. This is exciting news for filmmakers everywhere. Whether you’re in school or not, the web’s vast network of videos, collaborators, and viewers is reachable within minutes.
There has always been one thing about film school that can’t really be summed up in a course catalogue and a filmmaker can’t get working in a vacuum, and that’s the chance to fine tune your craft amongst other young creators and veteran professionals. Create, share, get feedback, create again. It’s all about practice. This chance to practice was really only previously available to a small few with the resources to access equipment and education. Thanks to technology, today a filmmaker anywhere -- in film school, in high school, or even a hobbyist -- can see an innovative video, be inspired to make their own, upload, and get insight from a worldwide community of filmmakers. To me, that’s been the most important lesson we shared in our blog series.
Happy holidays and happy shooting!
Heather Menicucci, Director, Howcast Filmmakers Program, recently watched “I Hope This Gets To You”.
Over the course of our series, we shared breakfast with our Howcast Emerging Filmmakers and learned instant gratification is a huge benefit to being a web filmmaker; we offered up a digital roadmap for filmmakers; sat in on Shooting People’s Ingrid Kopp’s Digital Bootcamp; talked with some producers about how the web is changing film festivals; and outlined one filmmaker’s plan of attack for distributing and promoting his short documentary. (Plus, lots more!)
We felt it was fitting to end up at the beginning of a film career -- talking to current film students and professors about how the web complements a formal film education and how web filmmaking will fit into students’ careers after graduation.
As the students at Tribeca Flashpoint Academy explain in their video, they watch hundreds of hours of web video each week and they upload regularly. The web is giving them a chance to learn how audiences respond to their ideas and their professors see it as a viable venue for quality work. This is exciting news for filmmakers everywhere. Whether you’re in school or not, the web’s vast network of videos, collaborators, and viewers is reachable within minutes.
There has always been one thing about film school that can’t really be summed up in a course catalogue and a filmmaker can’t get working in a vacuum, and that’s the chance to fine tune your craft amongst other young creators and veteran professionals. Create, share, get feedback, create again. It’s all about practice. This chance to practice was really only previously available to a small few with the resources to access equipment and education. Thanks to technology, today a filmmaker anywhere -- in film school, in high school, or even a hobbyist -- can see an innovative video, be inspired to make their own, upload, and get insight from a worldwide community of filmmakers. To me, that’s been the most important lesson we shared in our blog series.
Happy holidays and happy shooting!
Heather Menicucci, Director, Howcast Filmmakers Program, recently watched “I Hope This Gets To You”.
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