Monday, September 19, 2011
One Card
Information (where/when/whichroute) and payment (how/howmuch) have long been barriers for non-regular commute mass transit users. The internet has solved the first problem, with transit agency trip planners and for many cities google maps directions providing people what they need to know. And single payment systems, such as DC's Smartrip or London's Oystercard, which simplify payment and are accepted across multiple travel modes (bus,subway, train, tram), solve the second.
Easier than driving.
Easier than driving.
Really A Bad Plan
As I said before regarding netflix, whatever works for them. They're a non-monopoly business with a nonessential product, and if they think the best way to chase the benjamins is to split their store into two separate ones and create a much shittier product for the consumer they're welcome to do so. I just have a hard time believing that they won't lose tons of customers, as to me their basic business model was always "this is too good a deal to pass up," both in terms of money and ease of use.
For Your Consideration
I'll offer up, without comment, Ezra's presumably informed take on the state of the world...
It's The Day After Friday
I don't think ending Saturday delivery is a major crime against humanity, but it really really would need to be offset by somewhat extended evening and Saturday hours at the actual post offices.
So, Uh, Where's The Peace Then?
Lindsey Graham, of course, is one of the most serious senators when it comes to foreign policy issues, along with his sidekicks Lieberman and McCain.
That they're all complete buffoons seems to matter not to Village bookers.
That they're all complete buffoons seems to matter not to Village bookers.
All We Really Need To Do Is Nothing
Other than the "do something about jobs right now" bit,anyway. I'm quite happy for all of the various dumb dealing with the deficit plans to just go away. Maybe I'm not quite so optimistic about the firmness of that veto threat, but if it's real...
BC3 Assignment #4: 36 Hours
Welcome to the final -- and most difficult -- assignment for Boot Camp 3. This one will be more involved than the other three, but the prizes have been amped up to reflect that. And I can honestly say that I do not know a single editorial photographer who would not be happy to receive this exact assignment. Read more »
Default
It's hard not to agree with Dr. Doom. Greece should default and leave the Euro.
Though I don't think it's going to happen.
Logically, therefore, if those three options aren’t possible, the only path left is to leave. A return to a national currency and a sharp depreciation would quickly restore competitiveness and growth, as it did in Argentina and many other emerging markets which abandoned their currency pegs.
Though I don't think it's going to happen.
Burn The Brand Down
Whatever works, but I suspect the geniuses running Netflix Qwikster don't actually have any idea what they are doing. Streaming may be the future, but DVDs were where they had the competitive advantage and customer stickiness. You can get limited catalog streaming anywhere, you can't get an incredibly giant (but by accounts dwindling) DVD library which appears in your mailbox in a day anywhere.
It's A Miracle The Subject Was Broached At All
It's sadly notable that abortion was even suggested as an option, even if a quickly rejected one. That's actually progress.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
On TV
Seems that Chris Hayes convinced some security guard at MSNBC to let him in and then took over the broadcast.
Never Been Quite Sure
Did people turn on HMOs because they sucked or because of anti-Clinton health care reform rhetoric?
Obviously they weren't all created equal, but my vague memory is they went from the savior of health care to history's greatest monster in the public perception pretty quickly.
Obviously they weren't all created equal, but my vague memory is they went from the savior of health care to history's greatest monster in the public perception pretty quickly.
Along Those Lines
I don't know for sure, but I'm reasonably sure the risk of stranger abduction on a commuter train is far lower than the risk of severe injury or death for a kid riding in a car passenger seat.
Parse This
Other people are different from me.
The bank's statement comes as UBS boss Oswald Gruebel insisted he would not resign over the incident.
"I'm responsible for everything that happens at the bank," Mr Gruebel told Swiss Sunday newspaper, der Sonntag. "if you ask me whether I feel guilty, then I would say no."
Be Very Afraid
I understand the reasons to some degree, but the mismatch between reality and the perception of reality when it comes to crime trends is quite large. Times are indeed different these days, but not like most people think. Violent crime rates continue to fall.
Sunday Bobbleheads
This Week has Bill Clinton, The Poodle, and Google's Eric Schmidt.
Meet the Press has Clinton, McConnell, and Granholm.
Face the Nation has Clinton and Cheney.
Document the atrocities!
Meet the Press has Clinton, McConnell, and Granholm.
Face the Nation has Clinton and Cheney.
Document the atrocities!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
An AMT Replacement For Actual Rich People
Not for not-so rich people. Works for me.
In the grand scheme of things the injustice of the AMT hitting not quite rich enough people is not a big deal. But I got hit with the AMT once (twice?). It was annoying. I'm not objecting to the amount of tax I owed. I'd be happy to raise the marginal rates to achieve the same goal (meaning I'd have paid same amount I owed), but dangling those deductions which influence the decisions you make, along with requiring nontrivial accounting, only to pull them back on the final turbotax page, or whatever, is stupid.
Generally I'm against phasing out of deductions. Cap deductions, fine, and raise marginal rates even on the not quite rich enough crowd, fine, but phasing out deductions based on income can result in very high effective marginal tax rates.
In the grand scheme of things the injustice of the AMT hitting not quite rich enough people is not a big deal. But I got hit with the AMT once (twice?). It was annoying. I'm not objecting to the amount of tax I owed. I'd be happy to raise the marginal rates to achieve the same goal (meaning I'd have paid same amount I owed), but dangling those deductions which influence the decisions you make, along with requiring nontrivial accounting, only to pull them back on the final turbotax page, or whatever, is stupid.
Generally I'm against phasing out of deductions. Cap deductions, fine, and raise marginal rates even on the not quite rich enough crowd, fine, but phasing out deductions based on income can result in very high effective marginal tax rates.
Deep Thought
Instead of war, can't we just install Bob Rubin as Treasury Secretary in countries we don't like?
How Is This Even Possible
I really don't have any understanding of how a trader could do this.
Or even why? Why not actually hedge the bets?
It is thought a trader was able to circumvent UBS's risk-management systems by creating fictitious trades that made the bank's computer systems believe that the positions taken had been "hedged" to mitigate potential losses when in fact they had not been.
Or even why? Why not actually hedge the bets?
An update from YouTube NextUp Japan
This month, the 10 winners of our YouTube NextUp contest in Japan attended Creator’s Camp at Digital Hollywood University in Tokyo. The YouTubers learned to use the magic of green screens, worked with editing pros, talked with industry professionals on brand management and got some hands-on time with high-end digital cameras. We have a summary video of the week’s activities here, and learn many of the same lessons from the YouTube Creator Playbook.
One of our favorite parts of Creator Camp is seeing the creativity coming out of the YouTubers collaborations, so we put together a playlist for you.
The YouTube NextUp winners are already working on their first big projects after Creator Camp, and here’s a few you can look forward to:
Mami Ihara, Partner Program Specialist, recently watched “坂本龍馬 Japanese samurai ryoma sakamoto.”
One of our favorite parts of Creator Camp is seeing the creativity coming out of the YouTubers collaborations, so we put together a playlist for you.
The YouTube NextUp winners are already working on their first big projects after Creator Camp, and here’s a few you can look forward to:
- HotchiKazuhiro starts work on his 26-part animated fantasy epic Jugaia
- SQUASHfilms will be touring all of Japan’s world heritage sites and making videos from each
- Two of the NextUp winners will shoot videos from the Northeastern Japan areas affected by the tsunami and earthquake — ChrisNolandTV chronicling rebuilding of the coastal cities and dfarm777 looking at the areas’ stray pets recovery effects
Mami Ihara, Partner Program Specialist, recently watched “坂本龍馬 Japanese samurai ryoma sakamoto.”
Stuff We Forget
I haven't spent a lot of time in "poorer" or "less developed" or whatever we're calling them these days countries, but in my not vast experience the thing which stands out starkly is the poor quality/lack of public infrastructure.
Just Do It
Yeah, Elizabeth Warren, just give Goldman Sachs a call and see if they'll make you a partner...
Maybe I'll give Joe Lieberman a call and see if he'll make me his Chief Adviser On What Country To Blow Up Next.
Maybe I'll give Joe Lieberman a call and see if he'll make me his Chief Adviser On What Country To Blow Up Next.
The Worst Idea In The World
Raising the Medicare eligibility age isn't just a bad idea because squishy liberals like me think life should be easy for older people, or a bad idea because it's stupid fucking politics, it's a horrible idea because it will increase overall costs and mess up our already fucked up health care/health insurance markets more. Also, too, it will make life horrible for older people.
Mucking with Social Security is bad, mucking with the Medicare eligibility age is bad AND stupid. So it's probably the likeliest outcome then.
Mucking with Social Security is bad, mucking with the Medicare eligibility age is bad AND stupid. So it's probably the likeliest outcome then.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Kill Me of Night
Who the fuck cares who wins the Republican primary?
"I'd like anal warts." "No! I want syphilis!"
"I'd like anal warts." "No! I want syphilis!"
This week's Trends: anniversaries, webcams, and the future
Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:
Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends
Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "You're not gonna be the great breakdancer you think you are."
- We looked at how the anniversary of 9/11 became a dominant topic on YouTube.
- We studied the unexpected pop-culture resurgence of Back to the Future 2.
- We tracked the popularity of iPhone concept videos.
- We saw some interesting public displays from around the world.
- We collected dramatic footage from a chemical fire in Canberra.
- And these two seniors trying to work their webcam became the major viral hit of the week:
Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends
Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "You're not gonna be the great breakdancer you think you are."
Lower Than They've Been In A Long Long Time
You get the deception from media figures in the right, and then your really stupid elected officials.
Super Duper Wankers
I somehow missed that in addition to the SuperWanker committee we know have the self-appointed Grand Royal Poobahs Of The Duchy Of SuperDuperWanker who want to 'GO BIG!!!'
Don't blame them, really. No one will blame them when the economy is destroyed, until perhaps the lights are finally turned off at Kaplan Test Prep.
Don't blame them, really. No one will blame them when the economy is destroyed, until perhaps the lights are finally turned off at Kaplan Test Prep.
Watch Austin City Limits Music Festival all weekend on YouTube
This year marks Austin City Limits Music Festival’s 10th anniversary, and starting today, we're streaming the festival live on YouTube. Check out the trailer for the event:
Looking for big headliners? Rock? Rap? Indie? Electronic? Get your fill of bands including Coldplay, Social Distortion, Big Boi, TV on the Radio, Fleet Foxes, Cut Copy and over 30 more artists. Check out the full webcast schedule and mark your calendars—it’s going to be a great weekend of music.
The Dell and AMD-sponsored webcast kicks off today at 11:30 a.m. PT on youtube.com/aclfestival. We’ll see you there!
Sarah Bardeen, Music Community Manager, recently watched “Austin Kiddie Limits 2011.”
Looking for big headliners? Rock? Rap? Indie? Electronic? Get your fill of bands including Coldplay, Social Distortion, Big Boi, TV on the Radio, Fleet Foxes, Cut Copy and over 30 more artists. Check out the full webcast schedule and mark your calendars—it’s going to be a great weekend of music.
The Dell and AMD-sponsored webcast kicks off today at 11:30 a.m. PT on youtube.com/aclfestival. We’ll see you there!
Sarah Bardeen, Music Community Manager, recently watched “Austin Kiddie Limits 2011.”
Learn Damnit
It was already basically dead, but when the Bush administration finally-sorta-kinda got around to putting out their own actual Social Security plan, after months of the media and the Republicans blasting the Democrats for not being Very Serious and pre-emptively releasing their own plan to destroy Social Security, and the "transition costs" were, IIRC,* by their own admission north of ONE TRILLION DOLLARS, even the Villagers started to turn against it a bit.
And, yes, reporters should know this...
*The google and my memory are failing me now, but IIRC the only "plan" that was released was released in an on background press briefing by some administration official...
And, yes, reporters should know this...
*The google and my memory are failing me now, but IIRC the only "plan" that was released was released in an on background press briefing by some administration official...
But What About All The Killer Clowns
We all weigh relative risks badly, not knowing what they are or how to respond to them, but people should be in tune more with the fact that putting your kids in a car is about the most dangerous "normal" activity you can expose them to...
As Long As They Do Something Decisive
I imagine Timmeh knows this, but these issues are never about people getting together to "to do what is essential." There are a bunch of stakeholders. Different ways of resolving the crisis will impact the different stakeholders differently. In addition you have individuals and institutions wedded to various ideologies, and these differences can't simply be resolved by chopping all of the various babies in half.
There is no one right way forward.
There is no one right way forward.
Unauthorized
I think even I could code the little trading computer with something like "if bet>$1 trillion, deny authorization." Or, ok, these things are complicated, how about if "Probability of loss>$1 trillion is >.00001 then deny authorization."
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Watch Jonah Hill live on YouTube this Friday at 4pm PT
Fans of comedy star Jonah Hill, pull up a chair and join us. Jonah’s stopping by YouTube this Friday for a live streaming Q&A at 4pm PT to celebrate the release of his new movie, Moneyball.
The film tells the story of how baseball’s Oakland A’s used statistical analysis to compete against teams with much higher payrolls. As the A’s are one of two baseball teams local to YouTube HQ, we’re particularly happy to welcome Jonah as our guest.
As well as starring opposite Brad Pitt in Moneyball, Jonah appeared in some of the most popular comedies of recent years, including Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Funny People, all of which were directed by comedy auteur and mentor Judd Apatow. We’ll be asking Jonah about this and more, and he’s looking for you share your questions too:
Find out the human-interest story behind the statistics when we throw Jonah some curveballs. Fans of comedy know he’s sure to knock a few out of the park.
Mark Day, Comedy Programs Manager, recently watched “Dr Seuss Versus Shakespeare. Epic Rap Battles of History #12.”
The film tells the story of how baseball’s Oakland A’s used statistical analysis to compete against teams with much higher payrolls. As the A’s are one of two baseball teams local to YouTube HQ, we’re particularly happy to welcome Jonah as our guest.
As well as starring opposite Brad Pitt in Moneyball, Jonah appeared in some of the most popular comedies of recent years, including Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Funny People, all of which were directed by comedy auteur and mentor Judd Apatow. We’ll be asking Jonah about this and more, and he’s looking for you share your questions too:
Find out the human-interest story behind the statistics when we throw Jonah some curveballs. Fans of comedy know he’s sure to knock a few out of the park.
Mark Day, Comedy Programs Manager, recently watched “Dr Seuss Versus Shakespeare. Epic Rap Battles of History #12.”
They Could Just Give Them Free Money
It departs slightly from what we think of as "monetary policy," but conceptually there's nothing* stopping the ECB from giving lots of free money, to, say the Spanish government. Presumably this money won't be spent building bridges or SUPERTRAINS in Munich, and wouldn't be especially likely to contribute to an overheating German economy. The point is, if Germany is doing just fine but Spain is in a recession, I get why German citizens might not want to be taxed to give money to Spaniards. What are the obejctions to running the printing presses for awhile?
*In practical terms there might be lots of things stopping them, but I haven't yet seen anyone say what exactly is wrong with the idea, other than traditionally central banks only give free money to large banks.
*In practical terms there might be lots of things stopping them, but I haven't yet seen anyone say what exactly is wrong with the idea, other than traditionally central banks only give free money to large banks.
Basically Everybody Gets HPV
Consult your qualified medical professional, but, yes, I gather that people have some misconceptions about HPV. Practically everyone who has sex gets it at some point, mostly asymptomatic and it often disappears or goes dormant without anyone being aware.
Unthinkable Sums
Random tossed off amounts of what we should spend in Iraq, about 2/3 of their GDP, in order to make stupid old men responsible for hundreds of thousands of needless deaths feel a bit better about themselves are Very Serious Proposals, while any similar proposal for spending that money at home is CRAZEEE. Like DENNIS KUCINICH CRAZEE.
Introducing Your September “On The Rise” Nominees
Each month, we identify four YouTube Partners who are growing their subscribers but haven’t yet reached the 100,000 subscribers mark for our On The Rise program. You vote for your favorite in the top right corner of this blog, and the winner will be featured on the YouTube homepage and videos page.
This September, our nominees are here to help you learn and play. So go grab a football, arts supplies, headphones or popcorn and check out the nominees are below. Then vote for your favorite in the top right corner by September 22 at 6pm PT, and we’ll announce the winner on September 29.
UncutSports
Kevin and George were bored with traditional TV sports reporting, so they created the Uncut Sports Show to offer unfiltered opinions on everything from football to wrestling to golf.
simplekidscrafts
When her son was four years old, Merve began this video blog to document their frequent arts and crafts projects. Now three years old, the channel offers step-by-step videos for how to turn everyday materials into fun kids crafts.
theneedledrop
Anthony Fantano is a public radio host and an avid independent music fan. For the last two years, he’s been reviewing all kinds of songs and albums from “music you like and music you hate.”
pineappleboyfilms
Jake Jarvi is a writer/videographer for luxury lifestyle magazines by day, but his real passion is film. In 2008 he produced the short film “Twisted Thicket,” and he’s now creating episodes of “The Platoon of the Power Squadron,” a series revolving around four Chicago strangers who become roommates and happen to have super powers.
Past winners like JasonMundayMusic and DestinWS2 have seen their audiences grow and even been in the news, all thanks to your support. If you’re interested in checking out more rising YouTube Partners, visit our On The Rise channel, which features nominees, trending partners and monthly blog winners. Look for more featured partners on the YouTube Browse page.
Devon Storbeck, Partner Support, recently watched “How to Edit Videos for Free.”
This September, our nominees are here to help you learn and play. So go grab a football, arts supplies, headphones or popcorn and check out the nominees are below. Then vote for your favorite in the top right corner by September 22 at 6pm PT, and we’ll announce the winner on September 29.
UncutSports
Kevin and George were bored with traditional TV sports reporting, so they created the Uncut Sports Show to offer unfiltered opinions on everything from football to wrestling to golf.
simplekidscrafts
When her son was four years old, Merve began this video blog to document their frequent arts and crafts projects. Now three years old, the channel offers step-by-step videos for how to turn everyday materials into fun kids crafts.
theneedledrop
Anthony Fantano is a public radio host and an avid independent music fan. For the last two years, he’s been reviewing all kinds of songs and albums from “music you like and music you hate.”
pineappleboyfilms
Jake Jarvi is a writer/videographer for luxury lifestyle magazines by day, but his real passion is film. In 2008 he produced the short film “Twisted Thicket,” and he’s now creating episodes of “The Platoon of the Power Squadron,” a series revolving around four Chicago strangers who become roommates and happen to have super powers.
Past winners like JasonMundayMusic and DestinWS2 have seen their audiences grow and even been in the news, all thanks to your support. If you’re interested in checking out more rising YouTube Partners, visit our On The Rise channel, which features nominees, trending partners and monthly blog winners. Look for more featured partners on the YouTube Browse page.
Devon Storbeck, Partner Support, recently watched “How to Edit Videos for Free.”
Us And Them
Never fear, they're doing their best to make things worse, but at least they don't need a warrant to tap your phone.
The FBI is teaching its counterterrorism agents that “main stream” [sic] American Muslims are likely to be terrorist sympathizers; that the Prophet Mohammed was a “cult leader”; and that the Islamic practice of giving charity is no more than a “funding mechanism for combat.”
Losing Is The Only Crime
I'm sure an "unauthorized" win would have been fine.
LONDON - Police in London's financial district have arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with a massive loss reported by Swiss bank UBS.
Thursday Is New Jobless Day
428K new lucky duckies.
As usual, an "unexpected" increase.
Maybe somebody should do something? Nah, much more fun to fret about the consequences of trying to do something.
As usual, an "unexpected" increase.
Maybe somebody should do something? Nah, much more fun to fret about the consequences of trying to do something.
Unauthorized
It seems like losses at the Great Casino are always unauthorized.
(Reuters) - Switzerland's UBS said on Thursday it had discovered unauthorized trading by a trader in its investment bank had caused a loss of some $2 billion.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Choosing Extension Cords for Plug-In Strobes
Before considering an expensive battery pack or generator for your big lights, don't overlook the obvious. Extension cords are a cheap and reliable way to get power to your studio strobes.
A couple hundred feet of power cable and a little advance scouting will solve the vast majority of your location needs. But be careful not to skimp. Here's how to choose a good extension cord for your strobes. Read more »
Sucking
It's the sucking on purpose part that rankles. We could have internet innovation managed as well as Korea does. We could have trains as good as some random European country.
We don't.
You know, we should have something state of the art.
That's right. We do.
Drones.
Happy Hour Thread
People cheering on death and pain is nothing new, and the impulse did not suddenly disappear when Leave It To Beaver started being broadcast on the teevee.
Now go have a drink!
Now go have a drink!
Edit your videos with YouTube
Until now, when you uploaded to YouTube, your video was hosted and shared, but couldn’t really be changed. If you wanted to trim off the end, swap out the soundtrack, or add an effect, you had to edit your video using a separate program and upload again.
Starting today, you can edit your uploaded videos right on YouTube and maintain the same video IDs. This means you keep your view count and comments, and all existing links to your video will continue to work. No re-uploading necessary!
Here’s how it works: just click Edit video on the video’s page or on your My Videos page:
You can stabilize your hand-held footage, rotate a video, and boost the contrast and colors. Try “I’m Feeling Lucky” for 1-click color correction:
Starting today, you can edit your uploaded videos right on YouTube and maintain the same video IDs. This means you keep your view count and comments, and all existing links to your video will continue to work. No re-uploading necessary!
Here’s how it works: just click Edit video on the video’s page or on your My Videos page:
You can stabilize your hand-held footage, rotate a video, and boost the contrast and colors. Try “I’m Feeling Lucky” for 1-click color correction:
Or if you’re looking for a more dramatic change, try one of our effects (developed in collaboration with our friends at Picnik):
Click Save to begin processing the edits to your video. And if you don’t like the new version, fear not: you can revert to the original and save again. You can also save your edits into a new video and try out multiple versions. Note that popular videos with over 1,000 views and videos with third-party content can only be saved as new videos once edited (learn more).
Here’s a quick video showing what you can do:
We’ll be rolling this out to all users globally over the course of the day. We know you want your videos to look their best, and we’re excited to see what you come up with using YouTube video editing!
John Gregg, Software Engineer, recently watched “Shenandoah.”
Click Save to begin processing the edits to your video. And if you don’t like the new version, fear not: you can revert to the original and save again. You can also save your edits into a new video and try out multiple versions. Note that popular videos with over 1,000 views and videos with third-party content can only be saved as new videos once edited (learn more).Here’s a quick video showing what you can do:
We’ll be rolling this out to all users globally over the course of the day. We know you want your videos to look their best, and we’re excited to see what you come up with using YouTube video editing!
John Gregg, Software Engineer, recently watched “Shenandoah.”
Very Serious International Economic Advice
Cut spending to cut deficits -> economy shrinks -> deficits increase ->cut more spending -> economy shrinks -> deficits increase -> ...
Yes I Fear The Consequences
But my point is that before this nefarious plan was hatched, I imagine few of us thought badly of those states which chose their electors in this fashion (damn you Maine!!). I'm sure there are arguments that can be made why Pennsylvania shouldn't do this, but I don't think they'd persuade me if it was something which would be likely to benefit my chosen team.
All's Fair
And, yes, I'm so old I can remember when it was Villager conventional wisdom that if ALGORE won the electoral vote and lost the popular vote he might HAVE TO refuse to take office, or some crap, but I don't have any principled objection to this.
On its 70th Anniversary, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane Comes to YouTube
UPDATE 9/15: We now have the first 10 minutes of Citizen Kane available to watch for free. The preview is embedded below, and you can click to rent if you'd like to see the full film.
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of its release, Orson Welles’ seminal work Citizen Kane joins the thousands of movies available on YouTube.
What makes Citizen Kane a film worthy of your attention? Let us count the ways, and find more on the YouTube Movie Extras playlist for Citizen Kane:
Minjae Ormes, YouTube Movies and TV Marketing Manager, recently watched "Bernard Herrmann: A Master of Movie Music."
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of its release, Orson Welles’ seminal work Citizen Kane joins the thousands of movies available on YouTube.
What makes Citizen Kane a film worthy of your attention? Let us count the ways, and find more on the YouTube Movie Extras playlist for Citizen Kane:
- American Film Institute (AFI) voted Citizen Kane the #1 “Greatest Movie of All Time.” Twice.
- Welles and his cinematographer Gregg Toland popularized the technique of “deep focus” which makes you see everything in the fore-, middle- and background in focus. You’ve seen it in movies ranging from The Shining to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
- Director Steven Spielberg is among many filmmakers who credit Citizen Kane as a major influence, and even paid homage to Citizen Kane in the last scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
- You almost never got to watch this film. The negatives of Citizen Kane were destroyed in a warehouse fire decades ago. Thanks to a surviving positive print and digital restoration, Citizen Kane is now on YouTube today.
Minjae Ormes, YouTube Movies and TV Marketing Manager, recently watched "Bernard Herrmann: A Master of Movie Music."
I'll Be Liquid As Soon As My Puppy Wins At The Dog Track
And, once again, everyone just pretends that the massive needs that banks have for free money is just this 'liquidity' thing, instead of wondering why the hell banks need free money all the time every day to operate.
Show Them The Money
Yes Social Security is an incredibly effective anti-poverty program. Seniors get money from the government, they have more money than they would have otherwise, and they are therefore less poor. If only we could learn from the success of this program an apply it elsewhere.
We spend a decent amount of money, or at least a decent percentage of the money we do spend on anti-poverty programs, doing anything but giving people money. Maybe we should look at what works.
We spend a decent amount of money, or at least a decent percentage of the money we do spend on anti-poverty programs, doing anything but giving people money. Maybe we should look at what works.
"Liquidity Crisis"
Yes the banks will have no problems as long as people will keep lending them lots of money!!!
I know I'm supposed to understand this stuff, but why does every bank seem to survive only if they can borrow money from other banks constantly?
I know I'm supposed to understand this stuff, but why does every bank seem to survive only if they can borrow money from other banks constantly?
Good Terrorists, Bad Terrorists
I'm not sure if the point to be made is that, yes, there was widespread support in the US for IRA terrorism back in the day, or that, yes, terrorism is a tactic and those who engage in terrorism are mostly seen as 'good' or ' bad' depending on whether 'we' like them or not.
Contracting Our Way To Prosperity
In a completely shocking development, austerity isn't wokring in the UK either.
Stupid wealthy people who rule the world, more concerned with ideology and being proved fucking right than in making lives better for anybody. Sure, some are doing what's best for their pocketbooks, which I suppose you can respect to some degree, but others are just idiots.
Stupid wealthy people who rule the world, more concerned with ideology and being proved fucking right than in making lives better for anybody. Sure, some are doing what's best for their pocketbooks, which I suppose you can respect to some degree, but others are just idiots.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Death Better Than Sexytime
So even if we agree (I don't, but just for fun here) that teen girls should not have sex, then opposition to HPV vaccination is justified on the basis that the marginal increase probability that your vaccinated daughter will have the sexytime is more important to you than the possibility that without the vaccine she might face the deathtime. And of course the obvious point is presumably she will have sex eventually with Mr. Right, who hasn't necessarily been a good boy himself...
ok.
ok.
This Economic System We Have?
Not working for most of us. So, uh, it's not effing working.
Kenyan Muslim Socialism, you're our only hope...
Kenyan Muslim Socialism, you're our only hope...
Simple Answers To Simple Questions
Kill her!!!!
They* don't care about "unborn children," they care about controlling women and punishing them for unapproved sexytime.
*Usual disclaimer, I don't mean all self-described pro-life people, just the movement prolifers/leaders.
They* don't care about "unborn children," they care about controlling women and punishing them for unapproved sexytime.
*Usual disclaimer, I don't mean all self-described pro-life people, just the movement prolifers/leaders.
Music Tuesday: David Choi, Meklit Hadero and more
Last week on youtube.com/music, we brought you a full album of vintage psychedelic music, a playlist of space-themed videos to commemorate the New Pornographers’ new sci-fi offering, and eMusic’s Six Degrees of Beirut playlist, which traced the band’s influences. We also featured a few awesome videos we thought you should see. This week, we’re ignoring the massive bunch of new releases from everybody from Lady Antebellum and Bob Seger (!) to Blitzen Trapper, Katy B, Mogwai, Neon Indian, Laura Marling, Das Racist, The Kooks and Trombone Shorty. Instead, we’re taking music discovery to a whole new level.
Get More Into Singer-Songwriters With David ChoiDavid Choi has become one of YouTube’s biggest stars, a singer-songwriter whose reach is equalled only by his following. This week, David put out a call to the community to help him get more into singer-songwriters on YouTube. The community responded with over a thousand suggestions. He whittled the list down to his favorites, who are featured today on the homepage and youtube.com/musictuesday.
Introducing Meklit HaderoMeklit Hadero is hardly a household name, but she should be. The Ethiopian-American singer-songwriter’s jazzy, soulful style has drawn enthusiastic accolades from anybody who heard 2010’s On A Day Like This. (And we think more folks should hear it.) Hadero spent a good part of her time honing her sound at the Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco, a crucible for innovative musicians, and the time she put in shows. In June, she visited Google and gave a live performance, which you’ll see here, paired with her debut video for “Leaving Soon.”
Raleigh Moncrief: Lament For MorningDebate has raged among music geeks about whether “chillwave” is a genuine phenomenon or just a term cooked up to link disparate, laptop-based artists. We won’t label the work by the young Sacramento, CA-based producer Raleigh Moncrief (who recently signed to the genre-defying independent label Anticon) -- but a pop-meets-ambient vibe is certainly there. The song’s basic architecture rests on Philip Glass-style repetition before wreathing itself in respectably-sized beats -- and the result is absorbing. Perhaps equally impressive is this abstract, impressionistic video, which Moncrief directed himself.
Sarah Bardeen, Music Community Manager, recently watched “Shlohmo - Just Us.”
Get More Into Singer-Songwriters With David ChoiDavid Choi has become one of YouTube’s biggest stars, a singer-songwriter whose reach is equalled only by his following. This week, David put out a call to the community to help him get more into singer-songwriters on YouTube. The community responded with over a thousand suggestions. He whittled the list down to his favorites, who are featured today on the homepage and youtube.com/musictuesday.
Introducing Meklit HaderoMeklit Hadero is hardly a household name, but she should be. The Ethiopian-American singer-songwriter’s jazzy, soulful style has drawn enthusiastic accolades from anybody who heard 2010’s On A Day Like This. (And we think more folks should hear it.) Hadero spent a good part of her time honing her sound at the Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco, a crucible for innovative musicians, and the time she put in shows. In June, she visited Google and gave a live performance, which you’ll see here, paired with her debut video for “Leaving Soon.”
Raleigh Moncrief: Lament For MorningDebate has raged among music geeks about whether “chillwave” is a genuine phenomenon or just a term cooked up to link disparate, laptop-based artists. We won’t label the work by the young Sacramento, CA-based producer Raleigh Moncrief (who recently signed to the genre-defying independent label Anticon) -- but a pop-meets-ambient vibe is certainly there. The song’s basic architecture rests on Philip Glass-style repetition before wreathing itself in respectably-sized beats -- and the result is absorbing. Perhaps equally impressive is this abstract, impressionistic video, which Moncrief directed himself.
Sarah Bardeen, Music Community Manager, recently watched “Shlohmo - Just Us.”
Dare To Dream
So what should happen to someone who was brought here as a child of 3 from another country, and has never known any other country other than this one or any other language but good enough for Jesus American English?
I have a modest proposal.
LET THEM DIE!!!!!! (CHEERS!!!)
I have a modest proposal.
LET THEM DIE!!!!!! (CHEERS!!!)
Listen To Ourselves
So aside from the the fact that the tax the rich 'pay for it' plan is just a "trigger," and the superwankers can choose their own adventure here, I thought this from Lew was something people need to remember.
Given veto points, there's a certain inertia in the system of course, but when it comes to budget items...they're up all the time, and a potential shutdown looms each time.
So why are we talking about 5 and 8 years from now?
Obviously Congress can pass a subsequent law.
Given veto points, there's a certain inertia in the system of course, but when it comes to budget items...they're up all the time, and a potential shutdown looms each time.
So why are we talking about 5 and 8 years from now?
And Just When You Think They've Reached Peak Stupid
They manage to make that pie just a little higher...
To The Sea!
Finally you'll be able to (once again) take a choochoo to the sea in LA.
DOWNTOWN — With a flourish of gold-painted shovels, a gaggle of city, county and state officials broke ground on the final stop of the Exposition Light Rail Line, which should be coming to Santa Monica in 2015.
The event marks the end of a 22-year process that required uncommon cooperation and collaboration between multiple jurisdictions to bring the rail line from its beginning in Downtown Los Angeles to its terminus 15 miles away in Santa Monica.
When complete, it should take 46 minutes to travel from Los Angeles to the city by the sea.
Showing Your Papers On The Train
I don't remember the precise timeline, but for a couple of years or so they were checking IDs universally on Amtrak, then they supposedly started doing random checks but it's been a long time since I've had an ID check. It's almost entirely pointless. Generally identity verification is just security theater. And, ultimately, what're you going to do when someone fails to have ID? Well, when I forgot my license once nothing happened. They decided not to throw me off the train at the next stop without any ID. I assume this was pretty standard.
Identity verification is mostly pointless, identity verification after someone has boarded is entirely pointless, and identity verification pre-boarding wouldn't really be compatible with a functioning train network. Also, too, anyone can steal a damn bus and drive it into a crowd (point being there are a lot easier ways to do damage than train-related program activities).
Identity verification is mostly pointless, identity verification after someone has boarded is entirely pointless, and identity verification pre-boarding wouldn't really be compatible with a functioning train network. Also, too, anyone can steal a damn bus and drive it into a crowd (point being there are a lot easier ways to do damage than train-related program activities).
Where'd It All Go
Not naive about the capacity of people to steal, but it's a bit hard to get what's going on here absent a massive gambling problem (and I include The Great Casino as part of the gambling potential of cousre).
What's It For
Without wishing to ignite a city mouse/country mouse feud, I think we'd have fewer of these problems if we just acknowledged that there was public infrastructure that should be provided, that sometimes communities/states come up short in being able to provide them, and that then maybe there's a place for the Feds to step in. The point I'm trying to make is that if we just had a more common understanding of what universally provided public services/infrastructure should be, and focused on the provision of those things, then there'd be less talk of wasting money propping up unsupportable places.
And, no, I'm not trying to start a city mouse/country mouse feud. Same point could be made about lots of money spent in urban areas...
And, no, I'm not trying to start a city mouse/country mouse feud. Same point could be made about lots of money spent in urban areas...
Monday, September 12, 2011
Monday Evening
enjoy. I guess some weird people will be jibber jabbering at each other soon, if you're into that kind of thing.
Refreshing
If the twitter is to be believed the jobs bill would be paid for by making rich people and corporations pay more in taxes in various ways.
Pass The Bill
I can't get too excited about a jobs bill without knowing what the likely awful plans to "pay for it" are, but the politics at the moment certainly seem to be a bit more advantageous for Team D.
On A Related Note
I think reasonable people can genuinely disagree about how "bike friendly" local transportation policy should be. I think the broader problem is that even in an urban hellhole like NYC where significant numbers of people don't own cars and rely on walking/public transportation to get around, policy is set by, and policy discussions driven by, elites who do drive.
Haters
One mystery to be solved is just why newspaper comments sections are the worst places on the internet, if not the world. Still they display an attitude here I've seen elsewhere, contempt and disdain for people who don't own carss. Fewer cars= more road space for you, driver!
But Suffering Is Good For Everyone
We are living in a morality play written by sociopaths, determined to make the poor suffer for the sins of the rich.
Well, not everyone of course...
George Osborne's austerity programme will cut the living standards of Britain's families by more than 10% over the next three years as those on the lowest incomes suffer most from the tax increases and spending cuts designed to reduce the budget deficit.
A study from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the UK's leading experts on the public finances, concludes that the chancellor's strategy will result in greater inequality and rising child poverty, throwing into reverse progress made in the final years of the last Labour government.
Well, not everyone of course...
One Hell Of A Mulligan
So Joe Scarborough was telling us this morning that Big Daddy George Bush kept us safe.
Oh. Kay.
Oh. Kay.
That's No Fun
What's the point if they can't take your money and spend it at the Great Casino?
Britain's banks should ring-fence their high street and investment divisions as part of a far-reaching reform package which should be put in place by 2019, a Government-appointed commission said today.
The protective firewall would be designed to "make it easier and less costly to resolve banks that get into trouble" and without taxpayers' help, the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) said.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
On Assignment: Stephanie Barnes
Shooting against sunset usually looks pretty good, even with just one light. So much so, that can keep you from experimenting with that second or third light that can give your photos more texture and depth.
Most of my sunset photos lately seem to be done with two lights, one for shape and one for detail. But the third light added to the photo of soprano Stephanie Barnes above was a great help, and will definitely affect the way I shoot portraits at dusk from now on. Read more »
It's Never Been About Greece
It's always been about the people gave them money.
The sooner they default the better. Not saying that's an easy path, just the best one.
The sooner they default the better. Not saying that's an easy path, just the best one.
Our media - not theirs!
Cliff Schecter will be talking to Jay Ackroyd on Virtually Speaking Sundays in a few minutes. You can listen live or later at this link.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Signed,
Not Atrios
Yutes
A history professor friend quips (or used to, probably not anymore) that she doesn't have to explain to her students who Monica Lewinsky is, but she will soon...
It occurs to me that the run-up to the Iraq war is just about ancient history to the kids now.
It occurs to me that the run-up to the Iraq war is just about ancient history to the kids now.
The Very Important Question
Who is the worst person at the Washington Post?
I'm struggling to come up with an answer.
I'm struggling to come up with an answer.
Shame
It has been a decade of shame.
How many people died because of what this country did notionally in response to 9/11, cheered on not just be self-styled neocons but by the "liberals hawks" and the "decent left."
Happy 9/11 day assholes.
How many people died because of what this country did notionally in response to 9/11, cheered on not just be self-styled neocons but by the "liberals hawks" and the "decent left."
Happy 9/11 day assholes.
Obviously The Solution Is More Austerity
International elites really are trying to destroy the world.
THESSALONIKI, Greece (Reuters) — Greece’s economy will shrink by more than 5 percent this year, topping earlier projections, the country’s finance minister told business people in this northern Greek city where the prime minister will speak about the economy later on Saturday.
Sunday Bobbleheads
On Face the Nation it's 9/11 day.
On Meet the Press it's 9/11 day.
On This Week it's 9/11 day with Brennan, Bloomberg, Rudy 911, and Don "Sweep It All Up" Rumsfeld.
So, uh, do something else.
On Meet the Press it's 9/11 day.
On This Week it's 9/11 day with Brennan, Bloomberg, Rudy 911, and Don "Sweep It All Up" Rumsfeld.
So, uh, do something else.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Remembering September 11, 10 years later
Today marks 10 years since the September 11 attacks. While YouTube did not exist in 2001, people from around the world have used the site over the last few years not only to share their stories and commemorate those lost that day, but also to reflect on the last ten years and look forward to the future.
As we shared last week, in collaboration with the New York Times, we created a dedicated YouTube channel -- youtube.com/September11 -- where we’re highlighting powerful stories from the community, archival news footage from 2001, and special New York Times content.
You can watch a New York Times portrait of J.A. Reynolds, who lost his son, Bruce, on 9/11.
Or listen to the story of two brothers -- Joe and John, a firefighter and a policeman -- who died at Ground Zero.
You can visit youtube.com/September11 to watch more reflections and upload your own. You’ll also see more of these stories on the YouTube homepage today.
Olivia Ma, YouTube News & Politics, recently watched "Always a Family."
As we shared last week, in collaboration with the New York Times, we created a dedicated YouTube channel -- youtube.com/September11 -- where we’re highlighting powerful stories from the community, archival news footage from 2001, and special New York Times content.
You can watch a New York Times portrait of J.A. Reynolds, who lost his son, Bruce, on 9/11.
Or listen to the story of two brothers -- Joe and John, a firefighter and a policeman -- who died at Ground Zero.
You can visit youtube.com/September11 to watch more reflections and upload your own. You’ll also see more of these stories on the YouTube homepage today.
Olivia Ma, YouTube News & Politics, recently watched "Always a Family."
Too Small To Get Credit
If I were more conspiracy-minded I'd wonder if the plutocrats had agreed to starve all the little fish...
Try Being Nice To Your Customers
It's sad about the lost jobs, but as I said yesterday the sheer numbers of bank branches is confusing to me. Most of us should almost never have to walk into one.
Here's A Crazy Idea
How about giving free money to rich people?
Just trying to think outside the box.
Just trying to think outside the box.
We Did It Their Way
Fred Hiatt's crayon scribblers think the last decade has been pretty awesome. They should, we pretty much did everything they told us to do.
Friday, September 9, 2011
This week's Trends: fire, flash and dubstep
Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:
Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends
Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Back for the Future."
- We studied how interest in dubstep music has risen across 2011.
- We uncovered on-the-scene footage from Russia's tragic KHL plane crash.
- We revealed part 2 of our exploration of the three kinds of one-man-bands.
- We collected bystander footage of the wildfire in Texas.
- And we learned of the "flash haka" and looked at the creativity behind 10 unique flash mobs from outside the United States.
Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends
Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Back for the Future."
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Oy:
Moderate pace?
Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said President Barack Obama’s $447 billion jobs plan would provide a “substantial” boost to the U.S. economy.
“I think we’ve got a good chance of continuing a moderate pace of growth coming out of this crisis,” Geithner said today in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Marseille, France. If Congress approves the plan, “it would dramatically reduce the risk of a long period of much weaker growth.”
Moderate pace?
The Mysteries Of Branch Banking
I'm so old I can remember years ago when it was CW that with all of the exciting new technology available (ATMs, online banking, etc.) banks would be able to save oodles of money by shutting down branches. Then branches seemed to multiply and proliferate everywhere. I get that they are, in part, advertising, but they're very expensive. My pet "I just made it up" theory is that in their zeal to find ways to skim lots of money off of new ways to do things (ATMs, money transfers, etc.) they forgot that they could save lots of money if people didn't need/want all of those branches.
But what do I know.
But what do I know.
Gonna Carry That 50" Teevee On The Choochoo
Stupid people everywhere.
One of the chief criticisms of the proposed light-rail line from Cumberland Mall to MARTA’s Art Center station in midtown Atlanta has been a concern that criminals will use the transit system to come into Cobb, a concern echoed by Lance Lamberton, president of the Cobb County Taxpayers Association.
Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - State Sen Stoner is first Cobb lawmaker to give light rail public support
Rock Of Stupidity
I suppose the question is..would any result make these idiots change their minds?
Domestically, if I were the Republicans (not that I expect them to take my advice) I'd offer up enough votes to pass Obama's plan and then wrap it around his neck. Essentially the too little, too late gamble that the economy will still suck in November and make Obama totally own it.
George Osborne mounted a strong defence of his deficit reduction plan on Friday, hailing it as the "rock of stability" that will prevent Britain being wrecked by the global financial crisis.
The chancellor again refused to change direction in the face of poor economic news at home and abroad, in a speech in which he reiterated that Britain's deficit must be vigorously tackled. Otherwise, Osborne warned, Britain's homeowners and businesses would suffer.
Domestically, if I were the Republicans (not that I expect them to take my advice) I'd offer up enough votes to pass Obama's plan and then wrap it around his neck. Essentially the too little, too late gamble that the economy will still suck in November and make Obama totally own it.
The Great Casino
Good to see Bloomberg editors acknowledge what's going on.
Though I will add, that aside from the making money with no down side bets part, it's also culture. "Normal" banking is boring. Gambling is fun fun fun!
Though I will add, that aside from the making money with no down side bets part, it's also culture. "Normal" banking is boring. Gambling is fun fun fun!
Name Them
After months of hearing about this regulation crap, could any reporter be bothered to ask...which ones?
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Speechify
The official thread. Drink during all the usual appropriate drinking moments, then go watch grown men in armor throwing a ball around.
I Was Against The War In My Blogs
I'm just thinking about Bill Keller and the latest round of nobodycouldhavepredicted and Iwaswrongfortherightreasonswhiletheywererightforthewrongreasons.
So many years later, and all I can think is...face it, you got conned by really stupid people. What does that say about you?
So many years later, and all I can think is...face it, you got conned by really stupid people. What does that say about you?
Small Improvements
It isn't a revolution, but even small improvements are welcome to the area around 30th St. Station (the urban hellhole's Amtrak station), which is currently completely unfriendly to pedestrians and to people who naively think that there might be an obvious way - or even a direct connection! - to travel from the 30th st. train station to the 30th st. subway/trolley station.
Andrew Pinkham's Renaissance Pet Portraits
Photos © Andrew PinkhamIt's not often one comes across someone doing interesting photography via the Lolcats website. But that is exactly where I found out about Andrew Pinkham.
Based in Philadelphia, his work occupies a space somewhere between digital portrait photographer and Old Master painter. He is just as comfortable with a Nikon speedlight as he is with turning a photograph into a painterly illustration in post.
An interesting destination, to be sure. But how does someone go about arriving at a style like this? Read more »
Just Imagine If He'd Auctioned Off The Right To Push The Button
Or stabbed someone to death on stage live?
We shouldn't be surprised by wingnuts who love it when "bad guys" get killed. This is nothing new!
We shouldn't be surprised by wingnuts who love it when "bad guys" get killed. This is nothing new!
Live From the Runway: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC live streamed on YouTube
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is back on YouTube, and once again, it’s LIVE! Live From the Runway, presented by Maybelline New York, is your front row seat to the hottest shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Tune in every day through September 14 to see live runway shows from your favorite designers streamed right to your computer or mobile phone.
Live From the Runway will help you stay up-to-date with show schedules, backstage beauty looks, interviews, latest trends, and how-to videos. Fashion and beauty lovers can join the conversation by tweeting #LiveRunway. Recaps and archived fashion shows will also be available between live streams, so check back daily. Welcome to the front row!
Jamie Berkowitz, Lifestyle Program Manager, recently watched, “25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes! - WendysLookBook”
Live From the Runway will help you stay up-to-date with show schedules, backstage beauty looks, interviews, latest trends, and how-to videos. Fashion and beauty lovers can join the conversation by tweeting #LiveRunway. Recaps and archived fashion shows will also be available between live streams, so check back daily. Welcome to the front row!
Jamie Berkowitz, Lifestyle Program Manager, recently watched, “25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes! - WendysLookBook”
Double Dippery
There's a weird debate floating around out there between the double dip bears and the no double dip bulls. It doesn't matter. +.2% GDP versus -.2% GDP growth is mostly (though not entirely) meaningless. Unemployment that isn't dropping it a reasonable clip is a problem either way. Not entering into another recession as measured by GDP is not actually a success.
Also, too, maybe somebody should do something.
Also, too, maybe somebody should do something.
8/09/2011 - Economic recovery appears to have come close to a halt in the major industrialised economies, with falling household and business confidence affecting both world trade and employment, according to new analysis from the OECD. Growth remains strong in most emerging economies, albeit at a more moderate pace.
“Growth is turning out to be much slower than we thought three months ago, and the risk of hitting patches of negative growth going forward has gone up,” OECD Chief Economist Pier Carlo Padoan said during a presentation of the OECD’s latest Interim Economic Assessment.
Economic growth in the G7 economies excluding Japan will remain at an annualised rate of less than 1% in the second half of 2011.
Reality Show Run
I'm not sure about the independent part, but I've long assumed that's what Palin will do. She will pretend to run, or pretend to be going to run, for as long as possible, as the teevee shows dutifully follow her around.
Grifters gotta grift.
Grifters gotta grift.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
GOP Debate Coverage
According to the GOP contenders:
TSA agents maul people.
We need a fence!
FEMA sucks.
Watch it live
*UPDATE
Science destroys the economy.
Three cheers for the death penalty!!!
TSA agents maul people.
We need a fence!
FEMA sucks.
Watch it live
*UPDATE
Science destroys the economy.
Three cheers for the death penalty!!!
WTC
Cliff captures it.
He doesn't write about what happened here, afterwards. New Yorkers came together. And, of course, leaving the City, fleeing in fear, was not an option. Supporting our neighbors was our response.
He does write about the threat to the Republic that bin Laden sought, and so far, attained.
Deep Thought
The most reasonable guy in the room would probably do something about 9.1% unemployment.
Afternoon Thread
Having a crappy everything going wrong and being too hard to fix day. Not in a bloggy mood.
The Pointlessness Of Presidential Discourse
Floating around out there are the ideas that presidential speechifying can't get stuff through Congress and that no amount of speechifying can impact the election which is going to be driven almost entirely by the economy.
Well, ok.
Well, ok.
A Little Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing
Anecdotal, but it's this kind of thing which has long worried me. People who bite the bullet and spend a bit of time actually watching Charlie Rose and reading the New York Times op-ed pages, before they've come to understand that Tom Friedman is a buffoon and the things Maureen Dowd thinks are important actually aren't, end up stupid.
You See, It's All Just A Liquidity Problem
The ATM at the Great Casino broke, that's all.
Just need a bit of extra cash for the daily operations...
But questions continue to mount about the ability of Europe’s banks to ride out the crisis, as some are having a harder time securing loans needed for daily operations.
Just need a bit of extra cash for the daily operations...
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
City Car
I've never been very optimistic that these types of things would ever catch on in the urban hellholes of the US. Basically they need to be really cheap, way below what an entry level 'real car' costs, as well as meeting whatever requirements for them to be street legal.
It's Always Morning In America
I've been thinking about the Politico article since it came out. If we look at the Scariest Chart ever, which admittedly contains some revisions which make things look a little bit worse than they did at the time, it's obvious that there was just never any reason for any confidence that the recovery was here.
Benen's graph might make this a bit more clear. Basically we had two ok but not awesome months and one good month in summer of 2010 (aka Recovery Summer) and then 3 ok but not awesome months this past Spring...and from that, everyone thought we could declare victory and go home.
Benen's graph might make this a bit more clear. Basically we had two ok but not awesome months and one good month in summer of 2010 (aka Recovery Summer) and then 3 ok but not awesome months this past Spring...and from that, everyone thought we could declare victory and go home.
Changing World
I don't have a perfect memory of my upbringing, but I do know that a 10-year-old on a bike wouldn't have raised any eyebrows back then in my neighborhood. When you were 10 you were supposed to do things like ride your goddamn bike. I had some freedom to wander around alone, or at least with my brother (2 years older) at age 6-7, and definitely at age 10, free roaming around the neighborhood, on foot or bike, was normal...
Music Tuesday: Taylor Swift, Queen and more
It’s been a big week for music at YouTube. Last week Taylor Swift joined us for a Q&A, answering questions from fans around the world and proving that under that bubbly exterior is a serious artist with some seriously interesting things to say. (And yes, she does admit that she’s written songs on paper towels.) This week, youtube.com/music pays tribute to one of rock’s great bands, and introduces some new talent.
Queen - Live At Wembley Stadium
Forty years on, Queen remains an indelible part of popular music. Is there anyone who hasn’t gone hoarse screaming “We Are The Champions” at least once in their lives, or stomped along to “We Will Rock You” at a sporting event? The band even inspired Stefani Germanotta’s stage name.
In honor of Freddie Mercury’s 65th birthday this week, the band is sharing the concert film Queen - Live At Wembley Stadium in its entirety on Queen’s official channel for 48 hours. Widely considered one of the great concert films of all time, Wembley Stadium captures the band at the height of their powers, even though their greatest albums were arguably behind them. Mercury’s charisma is stunning: when he leads the stadium in an a cappella sing-along, you can only marvel at hearing tens of thousands of people willingly following his lead.
As an added bonus, a gaggle of celebrity musicians (including Katy Perry) recorded tributes to Freddie Mercury for his birthday -- and you can watch them all.
Jonti “Firework Spraying Moon”
Jonti exists in some alternative reality where the Beach Boys and Free Design share space with Madlib -- and we like the result. This Australian/South African transplant recently signed to Stones Throw Records, and his first album is slated to drop in October. You can get an early taste of his sound with his first video, which is as gleefully glitchy as his music.
Sarah Bardeen, Music Community Manager, recently watched “Queen - Under Pressure.”
Queen - Live At Wembley Stadium
Forty years on, Queen remains an indelible part of popular music. Is there anyone who hasn’t gone hoarse screaming “We Are The Champions” at least once in their lives, or stomped along to “We Will Rock You” at a sporting event? The band even inspired Stefani Germanotta’s stage name.
In honor of Freddie Mercury’s 65th birthday this week, the band is sharing the concert film Queen - Live At Wembley Stadium in its entirety on Queen’s official channel for 48 hours. Widely considered one of the great concert films of all time, Wembley Stadium captures the band at the height of their powers, even though their greatest albums were arguably behind them. Mercury’s charisma is stunning: when he leads the stadium in an a cappella sing-along, you can only marvel at hearing tens of thousands of people willingly following his lead.
As an added bonus, a gaggle of celebrity musicians (including Katy Perry) recorded tributes to Freddie Mercury for his birthday -- and you can watch them all.
Jonti “Firework Spraying Moon”
Jonti exists in some alternative reality where the Beach Boys and Free Design share space with Madlib -- and we like the result. This Australian/South African transplant recently signed to Stones Throw Records, and his first album is slated to drop in October. You can get an early taste of his sound with his first video, which is as gleefully glitchy as his music.
Sarah Bardeen, Music Community Manager, recently watched “Queen - Under Pressure.”
Insanity Everywhere
Plan A is destroying the economy, so...stick with it!
George Osborne has signalled that the government would stick to its hardline deficit reduction strategy despite being forced to revise down his growth forecasts for the economy following the slowdown of recent months.
Everybody Knows
There are several decades long narratives in American politics which people (with a perpetual Villager assist) have long internalized. Democrats are pacifist wimps who want to give all your money to undeserving poor people. Republicans love to cut taxes and to cut government spending. Democratic political consultants seem to be forever trying to fight against these narratives, without seeming to understand that it's very difficult to dislodge them. The problem that arises is that if you start beating the deficit drum, then you haven't made voters "trust you" on the deficit, you've made the case to voters that they should elect the Republicans who will be better on this very important issue.
Of course enlightened Eschaton blog readers know that Republicans are full of shit on spending and to a lesser extent taxes, but David Gregory is never going to explain that to the rest of the country. If you make the case that Republican issues are important, you're making the case for...Republicans.
But it's brilliant politics!!!
Of course enlightened Eschaton blog readers know that Republicans are full of shit on spending and to a lesser extent taxes, but David Gregory is never going to explain that to the rest of the country. If you make the case that Republican issues are important, you're making the case for...Republicans.
But it's brilliant politics!!!
Substance And Politics
Various people have tried to reassure me that the deficit two step is getting the politics right.
I guess The Village has now officially decided that the jobs issue "has become issue No. 1" even though, you know, it's been issue No. 1 for years now.
Public pessimism about the direction of the country has jumped to its highest level in nearly three years, erasing the sense of hope that followed President Obama’s inauguration and pushing his approval ratings to a record low, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
More than 60 percent of those surveyed say they disapprove of the way the president is handling the economy and, what has become issue No. 1, the stagnant jobs situation. Just 43 percent now approve of the job he is doing overall, a new career low; 53 percent disapprove, a new high.
I guess The Village has now officially decided that the jobs issue "has become issue No. 1" even though, you know, it's been issue No. 1 for years now.
Democracy Is Not The Problem
European leaders weren't elected to bail out banks and punish their population, the Euro and the economic/political integration of Europe was always an elite project with marginal public support, and while here in the US the tea partiers squawk about spending, they don't actually care about it.
This Tomato
The 7-Year-Old loves Neko. We had to gently break it to her that the actual lyric is not "this tomato loves you." Good kid.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Boot Camp III Assignment #3: Results
Results from Assignment #3, in which you were asked to choose a relatively large object or scene to photograph, and enhance the ambient with one or two small flashes.Inside, four finals -- two from the U.S., one from Scotland and another from Malaysia. Read more »
Just Who Do They Think The Idiots Are?
With stuff like this the question is...who is the intended audience? Or, more specifically, which people are the people they imagine to be complete idiots, because they're the intended audience?
Or is the speaker the idiot?
Mysteries.
Or is the speaker the idiot?
Mysteries.
Not Comforting
You know, I appreciate one of our corporate overlords being against the corporate SuperPACs, but this isn't any better.
A world where company policy can dictate how and where their executives send their political bucks isn't a very awesome world either.
President Obama's supporters have created a Super-PAC called Priorities USA. Cohen says he and other Comcast executives don't contribute to Super-PACs or so called 527 groups that shield donors.
"We participate actively in the process but we participate through candidate PACs through full disclosure (and) through party PACs and party committee PACs with full disclosure of our participation," Cohen said.
Cohen noted that he's also raised money for Republicans including House majority leader Eric Cantor, and he follows the same rule in those efforts.
A world where company policy can dictate how and where their executives send their political bucks isn't a very awesome world either.
When The Dust Settles
We'll all know that, once again, the hippies are too blame.
I'd love to write post after post about how Republicans suck and it's their fault for not implementing the president's agenda. Or if we want to maintain the fiction that all legislation emanates from Congress (yes the legislation does just not the impetus for it), we can write post after post about how the Democratic agenda, supported by the president, is being thwarted by the Republicans.
And that agenda is? Apparently reducing regulatory uncertainty.
ah.
I'd love to write post after post about how Republicans suck and it's their fault for not implementing the president's agenda. Or if we want to maintain the fiction that all legislation emanates from Congress (yes the legislation does just not the impetus for it), we can write post after post about how the Democratic agenda, supported by the president, is being thwarted by the Republicans.
And that agenda is? Apparently reducing regulatory uncertainty.
ah.
Too Dumb For Words
No, getting bumped to a higher tax bracket does not mean all of your income is taxed at that higher rate.
Remember Stupid Liberals
Everyone that mattered thought the Iraq war was an awesome idea.
So suck on that!!!
So suck on that!!!
Always Playing On Their Field
So weird.
AMANPOUR: Well, let me ask Carol on that in the last 30 seconds. This business of walking away from the EPA regulations, I mean, is that a vision for the future? Or is that just a one-off?
LEE: I think you're very likely to see more of these. The White House is -- the Republicans have been very effective at tagging the president as being very pro-regulation. This was clearly a move -- business welcomed it. The Republicans welcomed it. And if you talk to people in the White House, they say there's more of these to come.
Morning thought
If Obama wins the election, he has to spend four more years pretending to lead the country.
But if Obama loses, he gets to make speeches to rich people for a pile of money and maybe join the Carlyle Group or one of those other things that you get as a reward for making sure that no one saves your national economy.
So, if you're Obama, do you really want to win the next election?
If the answer is "No," his policies make a lot more sense.
Signed,
Not Atrios
But if Obama loses, he gets to make speeches to rich people for a pile of money and maybe join the Carlyle Group or one of those other things that you get as a reward for making sure that no one saves your national economy.
So, if you're Obama, do you really want to win the next election?
If the answer is "No," his policies make a lot more sense.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Gotta Have People Who Care About Stuff
I get that in politics you're going to have a few likely useful people around who are basically sociopaths, whose job it is to win and who don't give a shit about anything or anybody else. These people should be listened and then frequently ignored. They are sociopaths after all.
Sunday Bobbleheads
Face the Nation has Bachmann and Huntsman.
Meet the Press has The Moustache of Understanding, Paul Gigot, Maxine Waters, and a double dose of Kearns Goodwins.
This Week has Krgthulu and Bernstein, DeMint, Jonathan Karl, Dana Loesch, Michael Gerson, Clarence Page, Holtz-Eakin, and Carol Lee. Sounds like a party!
Happy Labor Day!
Document the atrocities!
Meet the Press has The Moustache of Understanding, Paul Gigot, Maxine Waters, and a double dose of Kearns Goodwins.
This Week has Krgthulu and Bernstein, DeMint, Jonathan Karl, Dana Loesch, Michael Gerson, Clarence Page, Holtz-Eakin, and Carol Lee. Sounds like a party!
Happy Labor Day!
Document the atrocities!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Apparently It's The Season
For the neverending series of columns about how stupid strawliberals are.
Starting to remind me of the Iraq war runup.
Starting to remind me of the Iraq war runup.
Those Wacky Arabs
Ever since the greatest day ever, 9/11 day, one of my big pet peeves has been the puzzled and bemused reports about really bizarre Arab cultural customs that us enlightened folks in Teh West can't possibly understand. You know, like how upset Arab men get when their "honor" is insulted when soldiers bust down their doors, kick them to the ground, and shove rifles into the faces of their wives. And don't get me started on all those CRAZY CONSPIRACY THEORIES that even their political elites sometimes promote!!
Truly an inscrutable people.
Truly an inscrutable people.
Solvable
The important thing to remember is that the problems with the economy are completely solvable in ways that people with fancy Swedish prizes people have been recommending this whole time. Perhaps it's not entirely clear where exactly the blame lies, but there is mass economic suffering because the people who run the world have no idea what they're doing.
Friday, September 2, 2011
I Saw This Movie in the 90s!
Sucked then, too.
(Sorry, just noticed the click through there involves an ad about how Goldman Sachs gives money to the New York Yankees. Not even fucking kidding. Fuck me. Better link.)
(Sorry, just noticed the click through there involves an ad about how Goldman Sachs gives money to the New York Yankees. Not even fucking kidding. Fuck me. Better link.)
Wee Reminder
The people with money prefer those who stay bought to those who they keep having to buy off.
Second Best
What the people in the White House economics team should be thinking about is the fact that they're operating in what economists term a second best world. In a first best world you'd have a bunch of optimal policies, but if some of the conditions or policies are suboptimal because, say, John Boehner's House won't enact any good policies, then you have to readjust the remaining policies. The point is that, for example, maybe a massive writing down of all Fannie and Freddie owned mortages isn't an optimal policy if we were in a first best world. But we aren't and we aren't going to be. So it might be a second best optimal policy.
Where We Are
Black unemployment is at 16.7%.
Black male unemployment is at 18%.
White unemployment is at 8%.
Unemployment for those 25+ with bachelor's degree or more education is at 4.3%.
Black male unemployment is at 18%.
White unemployment is at 8%.
Unemployment for those 25+ with bachelor's degree or more education is at 4.3%.
Lunch Thread
Odd how both parties think the path to election is "pissing off liberals."
Maybe they're even right!
Maybe they're even right!
Priorities
I suppose we could stimulate the economy by hiring more police offers to deal with this sort of thing.
Thousands of unmarried couples who are living together in Florida may be surprised to learn that they are actually breaking the law. Under outdated and rarely enforced state laws that have been on the books since the late 1800s, “cohabitation” is actually a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by $500 or up to 60 days in jail. The same penalty applies to adultery – which one Florida woman tried to have enforced for her cheating husband in 2006.
The Sun Sentinel reports that one Florida Republican is commendably trying to repeal these irrelevant laws — only to be met with mass opposition from his fellow Republicans including Gov. Rick Scott (R). These social conservatives won’t support his effort to finally legalize a common practice and would prefer that official condemnation of couples “living in sin” stay enshrined in state law:
Whiteness Is Still Weird
Perhaps we don't have crazy legal battles, but the cultural question of "white or not white" is still as weird as it has always been.
Numbers Behind The Numbers
I'll outsource a more detailed look at the numbers to CR.
And a reminder that +0 jobs isn't treading water, it's getting worse.
And a reminder that +0 jobs isn't treading water, it's getting worse.
Jobs
+17K private sector, -17K public sector.
Whoever put their chips on the green number wins!
Austerity is so winning.
Whoever put their chips on the green number wins!
Austerity is so winning.
All We Did Was A Bit Of Freedom Bombing
So, you know, not really our responsibility.
And I don't think we should take responsibility because there's nothing we can do. Also, too,days weeks months ago.
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Rebel forces and armed civilians are rounding up thousands of black Libyans and migrants from sub-Sahara Africa, accusing them of fighting for ousted strongman Moammar Gadhafi and holding them in makeshift jails across the capital.
And I don't think we should take responsibility because there's nothing we can do. Also, too,
Duhhh
No, really?
The world is ruled by fools.
MADRID — After more than a year of aggressive budget cutting by European governments, an economic slowdown on the continent is confronting policymakers from Madrid to Frankfurt with an uncomfortable question: Have they been addressing the wrong problem?
The world is ruled by fools.
Infrastructure
Kevin Drum is on-board for a trillion over five years.
Big Media Matt has always been on-board.
This is absolutely no-brainer public policy. The rest of the world is paying US for the privilege of holding dollar denominated instruments. We can turn that money into rail stock, concrete and a reliable electricity grid.
Yet, impossible. Not even worth the president's effort, or a concerted effort by the Democratic Senate to make the Republicans explain why we shouldn't build stuff with cheaper than free money.
The Chinese and the Indian historians are gonna make up some elaborate theories....
Big Media Matt has always been on-board.
This is absolutely no-brainer public policy. The rest of the world is paying US for the privilege of holding dollar denominated instruments. We can turn that money into rail stock, concrete and a reliable electricity grid.
Yet, impossible. Not even worth the president's effort, or a concerted effort by the Democratic Senate to make the Republicans explain why we shouldn't build stuff with cheaper than free money.
The Chinese and the Indian historians are gonna make up some elaborate theories....
Thursday, September 1, 2011
A visit from Taylor Swift
Did you know Taylor Swift wanted to be a stockbroker when she was growing up? Or that she can be found reading John Adams' biography or tuning in to CSI marathons when she's not performing?
Earlier today, Taylor Swift answered questions from fans around the world during her YouTube Presents interview. Questions were submitted through Taylor Swift’s channel and the most popular were asked in today’s Q&A, including whether she sings her own songs in the shower, what beauty means in her eyes, and the funniest thing a fan has done to get her attention (it involves a chicken suit).
The four-time Grammy Award winner sat down with us and gave a candid look inside her life as one of the youngest and most successful pop stars in the world.
Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Lion Cubs hugs."
Earlier today, Taylor Swift answered questions from fans around the world during her YouTube Presents interview. Questions were submitted through Taylor Swift’s channel and the most popular were asked in today’s Q&A, including whether she sings her own songs in the shower, what beauty means in her eyes, and the funniest thing a fan has done to get her attention (it involves a chicken suit).
The four-time Grammy Award winner sat down with us and gave a candid look inside her life as one of the youngest and most successful pop stars in the world.
Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Lion Cubs hugs."
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