The Transitive Property....

So I have been thinking about this a lot lately.  I really didn't have a strong opinion on the matter one way or another and with all the hoopla surrounding the issue it seemed that I should start working on that.  So after much reading and searching I have settled on my personal take on the subject.  I now fall firmly in the "let's start working on this" camp.  I have kind of always been there, just not with much conviction.  Growing up in upstate New York I have seen the effects of midwest pollution and acid rain in my lifetime with the dead lakes in the Adirondack Mountains.  This has always left me of the opinion that less pollution regardless of why is not a bad thing.  However this did not leave me with a strong opinion on the science of what was happening and who was saying what. 

There are many reasons I have got to where I am.  Let me just say I haven't seen "An Inconvenient Truth" so Al Gore is not one of them.  This guy however is, while not necessarily my reason, a great explanation of where I am at in my logic.  I know this video is long (I have actually watched most of his series and would tell you it is a couple of hours worth spending.).  

enjoy....

Yesterday the Drudge Report picked up a report based off a press release from some group nobody has ever heard of about Gore's energy bills.

Here is a good breakdown of the non-event from newsvine. 

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In real news....

The sudden self inflicted drop in Chinese stock prices certainly helped underscore the "Asian contagion" theory.  I doubt this is going to lead to a big skid, but it is noteworthy, just in how the markets interacted over the last 24 hours.  Every major index was down (except Norway's AEX).  China's economy is scary.  Not in a lots of cheap labor we are all going to lose our jobs sort of way, but in a I'm growing too fast sort of way.  US and other international companies are not in China for cheap labor.  They are in China & India because they are emerging markets.  The problem is with the lack of transparency in China it is hard to see the foundation on which the economy is built.  If the economy tanks, it is not a manufacturing problem, it is a sales problem.  Is there something underneath all of this or is it a house of cards?  This move was the results of a new set of rules issued by the Chinese government, a responsible one if you ask me, but I am confident that yesterdays ripple will be referenced when we finally see a real correction in the market in China (I would bet after the Olympics).

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Just to ask the question...

Does anyone have any theories why gold tanked (-2.6%), but platium soared (+11.3%)?  I don't own either, but usually when people start selling off stocks they seem to rush to park money in more stable investments so you can see the gold price rise.

I'll apologize for the Enya-ish music, it gets old fast, at least it did for me.  But I came across this this morning, and have to admit I was facinated...

Sand Video

I am a skeptic.  The way I look at things politically especially has always been through a filter.  Reading thing's like James Loewen's "Lies my Teacher told Me" or Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" have left me a little jaded.  I am always suspicious of the herofication of the past of this country.

With that said, I think it is important to note that there is a middle ground between blindly glorifying the leaders of the past and being down on all things patriotic.  There is a value to looking at people who came before us and saying that yes they were far from perfect, but at the same time they were pretty amazing.

There is much you can say about Washington & Lincoln.  From Washington owning slaves while standing up for freedom to some moments of weakness during the Lincoln-Douglas debates.  However there is some amazing things you can say too. 

Besides the war and all that came with it, Washington was brave and humble enough to step down after two terms of the presidency.  This may be the single most amazing thing he did (in my eyes at least).  This seemingly obvious thing to do now, was absolutely incredible at the time and set the tone for the next 200+ years.

Lincoln may have said some things that are hard to swallow and while his reasons may not have been as altruistic as we all would like, but when it comes down to it he freed that slaves.  He also kept the union together.  Just try and imagine if the country had split.

So let us now praise imperfect men.  Let us honor them with our eyes wide open & pray that we too, despite our own imperfections, can follow their lead and rise up for a greater good if we are called to the occasion.

I was watching some recent reports on Obama and thought back to the Democratic National Convention speech that was so impressive. 

I know it is nothing new, but if anyone hadn't seen it I thought I would post it here...

This isn't an endorsement of Obama (I'm still looking into where he stands on everything).  I do however admire his ability to deliver a speech. 

Although less popular than Youtube if you haven't looked at this site before, give it a few minutes of you time.

Some items I have come across recently...

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This one makes me think of study hall in middle school  Only my Fingerboard skills never compared to this guy

Everyone needs a hobby.  This never occurred but it seems like good exercise.

And speaking of exercise...this commercial has been around for a while but I came across it again here so I am linking it as part of this post.

So I was looking around youtube because I wanted to figure out how to post the video to vox, instead of just posting the link.  So this is what I found to practice with.  His name is  Jake Shimabukuro.

A little video to watch. 

I have been listening to NPR's series "crossing the divide".  Yesterday I heard "The Trouble with Bipartisanship" by Mike Pesca. 

He has some pretty stark examples of the problems with bipartisanship.  I personally can't help but think of the "Patriot Act" which passed 357-66 in the house and 98-1 in the senate.  I think maybe even more in the forefront as a "what the hell was I thinkning" example would be the  "Iraq Resolution" which passed 296-133 in the house and 77-23 in the senate.

It seems to me that bipartisanship is just the powerbrokers on either side of the aisle coming to an agreement.  While that sounds good in theory.  I know personally I alway get a little uncomfortable when I find myself agreeing with people I tend to always disagree with.  I find this usually means I being caught up in an idea, not anything substatial. 

I've decided I could care less about bipartinshipship.  When someone starts talking about a new party, then they can have my attention.