05 February 2009
a shovel answer
In a continuation of my latest post, I found this great website that breaks down the stimulus bill comprehensively and in a very attractive manner. The site is linked here. One of the things that I find most appealing about this site is their clever use of Gotham HFJ (aka the Obama Font) in the masthead of their site. Has change come or is this just the biggest Christmas tree spending bill of all time? I'm not sure, but the use of the typeface definitely gets me wondering...
02 February 2009
super bowl thoughts
Now that the gastrointestinal ruckus caused by all of that terribly unhealthy yet wonderfully delicious Super Bowl food has ceased, I can now look back on last night's happenings with a sound mind and body. Super Bowl XLIII had some great storylines: a storied franchise seeking unrivaled excellence (Steelers going for a record 6 championships), a comparatively lackluster one trying to secure its first championship since the 40s, a quarterback seeking a signature Super Bowl performance (Ben Roethlisberger turned in a less-than-convincing effort in Super Bowl XL), and another trying to recapture Super Bowl greatness (Kurt Warner was MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV). The game itself produced some remarkable moments as well - two impressive Larry Fitzgerald touchdown catches, an improbable and record setting 100 yard interception returned for a touchdown, and several shrewdly challenged and overturned calls. A lot of talk today has centered around if it was the best Super Bowl of all time. A case can be made, to be sure. Santonio Holmes' catch for the winning touchdown was incredibly clutch. The Cardinals rally that set up that dramatic play was also great to watch. Through the win, a franchise staked an enhanced claim at greatness. But was it the best? No. Not by a long shot. It can't even be considered one of the best in recent memory when it is so clearly overshadowed by its immediate predecessor - Super Bowl XLII.
Circumstances:
XLIII (43): Those mentioned above... in brief, Roethlisberger had a roflsberger of a super bowl and wanted to prove himself, Warner wanted to regain SBMVP status, Steelers a storied franchise looking to one-up the Cowboys and the Niners, and the Cards were looking to break the 60 year championship drought.
XLII (42): In yet another sports proxy war between east coast rival cities Boston and New York, the undefeated Patriots longed for immortality in the form of a perfect 19-0 season while the plucky Giants, riding high after 3 consecutive road wins, looked to stop the seemingly unstoppable New England juggernaut. Despite having been tempered by a latter day ice bowl against Brett Favre and the Packers and a harrowing victory over the rival Cowboys, the Giants were still given little chance of pulling off the upset. Seeing his brother shrug off the Dan Marino comparisons just the year before, Eli Manning knew the pressure was on to prove himself as an equally capable quarterback who justified the 2004 draft shenangians that brought him to New York. The record-setting Patriots were under no less pressure to seal the deal and become the only team in history to go 19-0 and look every bit the part in the process.
Advantage: XLII (42) in a landslide.
The Catch:
XLIII (43): Santonio Holmes' 6 yard touchdown reception will go down in history as one of the most clutch catches in any Super Bowl. The tremendous nature of the moment cannot be denied... the Steelers needed the touchdown to win, a field goal would not have cut it. Roethlisberger placed the ball just where it needed to be in order for Holmes to catch it in triple coverage, and before he did he managed to evade the pressure. All in all, its hard to argue against this catch being epic to say the least.
XLII (42): Unheralded David Tyree's 32-yard catch was immediately recognized to be one of the biggest in Super Bowl history (as recognized on SportsCenter the day following the Super Bowl). The fact that Manning evaded the sack so improbably and that Tyree managed to catch and hold on to the ball AGAINST HIS HELMET sets this catch apart from most others. It loses some credibility as Manning's throw was admittedly "a little high" and not perfectly placed as Roethlisberger's was.
Advantage: none, its a push.
Overall Quality of Game:
XLIII (43): Featuring an interception returned for touchdown, a safety, and some impressive displays from Messrs. Fitzgerald and Holmes it is impossible to argue that this was not an entertaining game in the end.
XLII (42): With lead changes and spectacular grabs of its own, forty-two was an exciting game in its own right, and there was no blasted tuck rule to awkwardly end the game.
Advantage: XLIII (43) by a smidge.
Better Super Bowl: XLII
With the combination of the circumstances, the Catch, and the overall quality of the game, forty-two beats out forty-three (sorry Steelers fans). Football fans will be long in waiting to see a game match the sheer epic-ness of forty-two.
Circumstances:
XLIII (43): Those mentioned above... in brief, Roethlisberger had a roflsberger of a super bowl and wanted to prove himself, Warner wanted to regain SBMVP status, Steelers a storied franchise looking to one-up the Cowboys and the Niners, and the Cards were looking to break the 60 year championship drought.
XLII (42): In yet another sports proxy war between east coast rival cities Boston and New York, the undefeated Patriots longed for immortality in the form of a perfect 19-0 season while the plucky Giants, riding high after 3 consecutive road wins, looked to stop the seemingly unstoppable New England juggernaut. Despite having been tempered by a latter day ice bowl against Brett Favre and the Packers and a harrowing victory over the rival Cowboys, the Giants were still given little chance of pulling off the upset. Seeing his brother shrug off the Dan Marino comparisons just the year before, Eli Manning knew the pressure was on to prove himself as an equally capable quarterback who justified the 2004 draft shenangians that brought him to New York. The record-setting Patriots were under no less pressure to seal the deal and become the only team in history to go 19-0 and look every bit the part in the process.
Advantage: XLII (42) in a landslide.
The Catch:
XLIII (43): Santonio Holmes' 6 yard touchdown reception will go down in history as one of the most clutch catches in any Super Bowl. The tremendous nature of the moment cannot be denied... the Steelers needed the touchdown to win, a field goal would not have cut it. Roethlisberger placed the ball just where it needed to be in order for Holmes to catch it in triple coverage, and before he did he managed to evade the pressure. All in all, its hard to argue against this catch being epic to say the least.
XLII (42): Unheralded David Tyree's 32-yard catch was immediately recognized to be one of the biggest in Super Bowl history (as recognized on SportsCenter the day following the Super Bowl). The fact that Manning evaded the sack so improbably and that Tyree managed to catch and hold on to the ball AGAINST HIS HELMET sets this catch apart from most others. It loses some credibility as Manning's throw was admittedly "a little high" and not perfectly placed as Roethlisberger's was.
Advantage: none, its a push.
Overall Quality of Game:
XLIII (43): Featuring an interception returned for touchdown, a safety, and some impressive displays from Messrs. Fitzgerald and Holmes it is impossible to argue that this was not an entertaining game in the end.
XLII (42): With lead changes and spectacular grabs of its own, forty-two was an exciting game in its own right, and there was no blasted tuck rule to awkwardly end the game.
Advantage: XLIII (43) by a smidge.
Better Super Bowl: XLII
With the combination of the circumstances, the Catch, and the overall quality of the game, forty-two beats out forty-three (sorry Steelers fans). Football fans will be long in waiting to see a game match the sheer epic-ness of forty-two.
29 January 2009
shovel ready?
I do not purport to be an economist of any stripe, so feel free to pass extremely critical judgment on the claims I make here based on whatever fiscal weaknesses they present.
That disclaimer being made, though, I must say that I think the stimulus plan put forth by the Obama Administration and passed by House Democrats yesterday is a steaming pile of shit. As an American taxpayer (nominally at least - I promise to make more money in the future, Uncle Sam) I am shocked at the way that this $8xx billion dollars are going to be spent. Here are the things that bug me, in descending order of outrageousness:
1) 21% of funds spent in 2009? Uhm, I am not sure if that is the most expedient way to stimulate an economy that seems to be heading at a rate faster than 9.81 m/s^2 down the proverbial shitter.
2) Only $59 billion in transportation/housing development? People were throwing around Eisenhower-era comparisons when this bill was first introduced. I thought we were supposed to be rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. Just about 7% (by my own math, based on the CBO report) of the stimulus is devoted to these kinds of projects, though.
3) Money for food stamps, Pell grants, and state education programs? Yes, I realize that we don't want states to cut out teachers from the schools and for struggling families to be without food. My objections arise from the perception that the Dems are just hooking up two of their big constituencies (teachers' unions and lower income folk) in the guise of stimulus. Tack on those increases for Pell grants, and you have yourself appropriations masquerading as an urgent financial rescue package.
4) Numerous other offenses to the sensibilities... such as the hundreds of millions being spent on re-sodding the National Mall. I am sure thats going to be a great and needed project (especaially after I saw all the pummeling that ground took for the inauguration), but is that going to really be the shot in the arm that the economy needs? Doubtful.
Now I would love to be proven wrong here. I want the economy to come out of the dumps as fast as possible. Soup lines, dust bowls, and those newsie hats are Depression-era relics that I want to remain as such - things of the past and not of the present. I am just not sure if pouring billions into questionable programs is the change, um excuse me, stimulus we need.
That disclaimer being made, though, I must say that I think the stimulus plan put forth by the Obama Administration and passed by House Democrats yesterday is a steaming pile of shit. As an American taxpayer (nominally at least - I promise to make more money in the future, Uncle Sam) I am shocked at the way that this $8xx billion dollars are going to be spent. Here are the things that bug me, in descending order of outrageousness:
1) 21% of funds spent in 2009? Uhm, I am not sure if that is the most expedient way to stimulate an economy that seems to be heading at a rate faster than 9.81 m/s^2 down the proverbial shitter.
2) Only $59 billion in transportation/housing development? People were throwing around Eisenhower-era comparisons when this bill was first introduced. I thought we were supposed to be rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. Just about 7% (by my own math, based on the CBO report) of the stimulus is devoted to these kinds of projects, though.
3) Money for food stamps, Pell grants, and state education programs? Yes, I realize that we don't want states to cut out teachers from the schools and for struggling families to be without food. My objections arise from the perception that the Dems are just hooking up two of their big constituencies (teachers' unions and lower income folk) in the guise of stimulus. Tack on those increases for Pell grants, and you have yourself appropriations masquerading as an urgent financial rescue package.
4) Numerous other offenses to the sensibilities... such as the hundreds of millions being spent on re-sodding the National Mall. I am sure thats going to be a great and needed project (especaially after I saw all the pummeling that ground took for the inauguration), but is that going to really be the shot in the arm that the economy needs? Doubtful.
Now I would love to be proven wrong here. I want the economy to come out of the dumps as fast as possible. Soup lines, dust bowls, and those newsie hats are Depression-era relics that I want to remain as such - things of the past and not of the present. I am just not sure if pouring billions into questionable programs is the change, um excuse me, stimulus we need.
27 January 2009
snow pictures
Today was day one of a supposed two and a half day snowstorm here in FroRo. With the giddiness of a small child upon hearing the news of the school closures, I went outside and snapped a few photos of the quaint snowy scenery. Enjoy!
What time is it? Who cares? Its certainly not time for school!
Its really coming down out there!
Look at that plow job! Looks like we won't be going to school again until the spring thaw!
23 January 2009
grading policy
As I sleepily stumbled through my morning routine today, I picked up on an interesting story reported in the local news. Apparently there is a fight underway in my beloved Fairfax County Public Schools regarding the grading system; some parents would like to see the grading system shifted from a so-called six-point rubric (94-100% is an A, etc) to a ten-point system (90-100% as an A) that would supposedly make grading more fair. Some of the more outrageous claims come from Mr. Todd Gaziano, U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner, who makes the argument that:
According to this outstanding logic, because black and hispanic students get lower grades, and the grading scale as it is hurts everyone (supposedly), the grading issue is actually a civil rights issue. Surely MLK is turning in his grave. A civil rights issue? Calling this a civil rights issue is insulting to people who have legit civil rights claims, say people who can't marry the person they love or those who marched in the south when they couldn't eat where they pleased or sit where they wanted. No, no this is not a civil rights issue, Mr. Gaziano, this is an issue of whiny parents and underperforming minority students.
The whiny parents are those who can't stand to see their child fail at anything and look for outside reasons for their children's shortcomings. I'm sorry your son didn't get an A in Biology class, Mrs. So-and-so, maybe he should have studied better. Oh, he didn't get that scholarship? Well thats what makes scholarships so valuable - they are not easy to get! Suck it up.
As for making excuses for the minorities? I'm sorry, but thats the most insulting thing I have ever heard. Fairfax County Public Schools are some of the best in the COUNTRY, with resources and a budget that most counties DREAM of. There is opportunity to succeed abound. I know, I went to FCPS schools from 7th to 12th grade. And yes, despite Jeff's claims, I am an hispanic student. I did well enough to get into Thomas Jefferson, and then did well enough there to get into UVa. My parents never graduated from college and worked constantly while I was going through the school system, so its not like I was getting homework help or any outside encouragement besides what responsible parents provide. These kids don't need excuses, they need the kick in the ass and the harsh dose of reality that the six-point system provides.
The whiny parents and the excuse-makers need to calm down and shut up. Their points are ridiculous and wasteful, as the FCPS board and superintendent have much more to worry about in light of the budget shortfalls. Six-points, touchdown, ftw.
Fairfax County's six-point grading scale discriminates against minority students. He has completed his own analysis of the Fairfax County Public Schools Investigation of the Grading Policy and has determined that it shows all Fairfax County students are disadvantaged by the tougher grading policy, but that lower-grade students are hurt the most. Gaziano says because Black and Hispanic students often make up a large section of that group, the grading scale discriminates against them.
[paraphrasing from this article]
According to this outstanding logic, because black and hispanic students get lower grades, and the grading scale as it is hurts everyone (supposedly), the grading issue is actually a civil rights issue. Surely MLK is turning in his grave. A civil rights issue? Calling this a civil rights issue is insulting to people who have legit civil rights claims, say people who can't marry the person they love or those who marched in the south when they couldn't eat where they pleased or sit where they wanted. No, no this is not a civil rights issue, Mr. Gaziano, this is an issue of whiny parents and underperforming minority students.
The whiny parents are those who can't stand to see their child fail at anything and look for outside reasons for their children's shortcomings. I'm sorry your son didn't get an A in Biology class, Mrs. So-and-so, maybe he should have studied better. Oh, he didn't get that scholarship? Well thats what makes scholarships so valuable - they are not easy to get! Suck it up.
As for making excuses for the minorities? I'm sorry, but thats the most insulting thing I have ever heard. Fairfax County Public Schools are some of the best in the COUNTRY, with resources and a budget that most counties DREAM of. There is opportunity to succeed abound. I know, I went to FCPS schools from 7th to 12th grade. And yes, despite Jeff's claims, I am an hispanic student. I did well enough to get into Thomas Jefferson, and then did well enough there to get into UVa. My parents never graduated from college and worked constantly while I was going through the school system, so its not like I was getting homework help or any outside encouragement besides what responsible parents provide. These kids don't need excuses, they need the kick in the ass and the harsh dose of reality that the six-point system provides.
The whiny parents and the excuse-makers need to calm down and shut up. Their points are ridiculous and wasteful, as the FCPS board and superintendent have much more to worry about in light of the budget shortfalls. Six-points, touchdown, ftw.
15 January 2009
presidential portrait
CNN has a good look at President-Elect Obama's official portrait (the picture that will go up in most federal government buildings and such), check it out here.
My first thought: did they have to photoshop the American flag lapel pin in?
Second thought: check out some of the comments that follow the picture... I especially like the cotton fields one (don't worry, it's a reverse-racist joke, one aimed at white racists).
And final reaction: man... isn't it great to have a president who doesn't look like a buffoon?
My first thought: did they have to photoshop the American flag lapel pin in?
Second thought: check out some of the comments that follow the picture... I especially like the cotton fields one (don't worry, it's a reverse-racist joke, one aimed at white racists).
And final reaction: man... isn't it great to have a president who doesn't look like a buffoon?
13 January 2009
ponzi scheme
A lunchtime article I thought was very worth reading, probably one of the best opinion pieces I have come across since I started reading the NYTimes and WaPo with any regularity.
Just a taste:
Very well done, Mr. Cohen
Just a taste:
But think: Was there a better Ponzi scheme than the one that ensnarled countless underfinanced homeowners? Who has gone to jail? Nobody. Who has paid back the huge amounts of money made in financial services? Nobody. Where's the former financial genius who has vowed to return his bonus -- or donate it to charity -- because he was overseeing a huge dream factory that produced nothing more than a stack of three-dollar bills as high as the sky? "Here, sorry, I didn't earn it." Words you will never hear.
Very well done, Mr. Cohen
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