This is the best YouTube video I've ever seen (yes better than Charlie Unicorn). I know that Nuke already posted this on his blog, but I can't resist putting it on mine as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg&feature=related
This is just so uplifting to see this woman, singing her heart out, using her God given talent. It brings a tear to my eye...I've watched it 4 times already. I hope she wins!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Happy Tax Day!
Today, millions of Americans are rushing to get their tax returns done on time, or file for an extension. Meanwhile, President Obama gave his "shut up and pay" speech today, reminding us all how good taxes are. On the other side of the spectrum, right wingers were holding tea party's all over the country to protest the ever expanding federal government, and the confiscatory taxes that are to come.
While the President keeps hyping that he's going to give every American making less than $250,000 a tax cut, logical thinking Americans know that we are all going to pay more. If Obama raises taxes on those making more than $250,000, those people will either spend less, or look for new creative ways to hide their money. In spending less, demand will decrease for the products the over $250k crowd buys, and the people who make and sell those products will be forced to either cut back hours, or lay people off. Then all those people without jobs, or with reduced jobs will cut back, and pretty soon this cylce will deepen the recession into a full blown depression. So, while the Federal Government promises not to raise taxes on the less than $250k crowd, make no mistake, we all will pay more!
Oh, and while we're at it, the tea party's are a great idea. But where have they been for the last 20+ years while Washington spending has gone through the roof? While President Obama and his fellow liberals are breaking all records for spending (by a lot), none of the recent administrations have been fiscally responsible with our money. It's too bad it has taken a crisis the magnitude of Barack Obama to get people in this country to wake up to the fact that we have been spending our grandchildren and great grandchildren into debt, just so we can all retire at 62 with government funded social security and health care. Aren't we so proud of ourselves?
While the President keeps hyping that he's going to give every American making less than $250,000 a tax cut, logical thinking Americans know that we are all going to pay more. If Obama raises taxes on those making more than $250,000, those people will either spend less, or look for new creative ways to hide their money. In spending less, demand will decrease for the products the over $250k crowd buys, and the people who make and sell those products will be forced to either cut back hours, or lay people off. Then all those people without jobs, or with reduced jobs will cut back, and pretty soon this cylce will deepen the recession into a full blown depression. So, while the Federal Government promises not to raise taxes on the less than $250k crowd, make no mistake, we all will pay more!
Oh, and while we're at it, the tea party's are a great idea. But where have they been for the last 20+ years while Washington spending has gone through the roof? While President Obama and his fellow liberals are breaking all records for spending (by a lot), none of the recent administrations have been fiscally responsible with our money. It's too bad it has taken a crisis the magnitude of Barack Obama to get people in this country to wake up to the fact that we have been spending our grandchildren and great grandchildren into debt, just so we can all retire at 62 with government funded social security and health care. Aren't we so proud of ourselves?
Monday, April 13, 2009
Book Review: "Ender's Shadow"
We've been extremely busy lately, so my movie watching has taken a dive. However, given that I haven't been watching any movies, I have had time to read for an hour or so each night. My most recent reading is "Ender's Shadow". "Ender's Shadow" is a parallel book to "Ender's Game", both of which were written by Orson Scott Card.
"Ender's Shadow" follows the story of Bean, Ender's right hand man. Bean is another brilliant child who comes to battle school via a much different route. We first meet the diminutive Bean at age 4, living on the streets of Rotterdam. Through a set of circumstances, Bean meets a kind nun who recognizes brilliance in him, and eventually gets him sent to Battle School. Though Bean is easily smarter than everyone at Battle School (including Ender), he struggles to find his way, but eventually reaches prominence as a member of Ender's Dragon Army. In the end, Bean ends up being an invaluable aid to Ender in the battle against the bugger's.
Although I really liked "Ender's Shadow", I liked "Ender's Game" more. To me, Ender is the more compelling character. Ender is brilliant by any stretch, except when compared to Bean. However, Ender seems to be a much deeper character, with far more internal struggle than Bean. I believe this is why Ender is more likable, and why Ender was a better commander than Bean.
What concerned me most about "Ender's Shadow" was that, for a long time, it appeared that the brilliance of Bean, would diminish Ender, who I really liked from Ender's Game. However, Mr. Card does a beautiful job demonstrating how these 2 young geniuses compliment and enhance each other's natural gifts (Bean's a super genius, Ender is a super leader). Ender needs Bean's ingenuity throughout the book, and Bean needs Ender to figure out how to lead and best apply that ingenuity to specific scenarios.
While I really enjoyed both books, I would recommend reading "Ender's Game" first, and then "Ender's Shadow" if you have time.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Danger of Watching Golf
Today was the final round of The Masters. And, after over 5 hours of watching golf, the one guy who I didn't want to win, ended up winning. Therein lies the danger of watching golf. Only one person can win, and if you pick the wrong guy, or wrong group of guys, as I did today, then you end up disappointed.
If you haven't heard, the winner of The Masters was Argentina's Angel Cabrera. Cabrera won on the 2nd playoff hole over American Kenny Perry. While I have nothing against Cabrera (he seems like a really good guy), I typically root for American players. So, I was rooting for Phil Mickelson, Jim Furk, Kenny Perry or Chad Campbell to win. Perry and Campbell made the playoff, and Mickelson made an early splash before fading late.
The most exciting part of the day was the pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. They both started the day 7 shots behind the leaders, but after a front 9 30 (-6), Mickelson was only 1 shot off the lead. However, Phil, as he often does when in super aggressive mode, made some mistakes on the back nine and finished in 5th place, 3 shots off the winning score. Tiger got it close as well, but finished with 2 bogeys to end up 6th.
During the round, the CBS crew kept referring to the "rivalry" between Tiger and Phil (side note...overall, I thought CBS's coverage was terrible this year). If you've followed it, it's not much of a rivalry. As much as I like Phil, his 36 wins and 3 majors don't really stand up to Tiger's ~70 wins and 14 majors. I told my wife that the rivalry between Tiger and Phil is like the rivalry between a hammer and a nail. Occasionally, Phil will end up being the "bent nail" that annoys Tiger for a short period, but usually Tiger will end up pounding Phil. And Phil knows that...in a post round interview, he talked about how playing with Tiger is fun, even though he usually comes up on the short end of it.
Well, if that wasn't a rambling enough golf analysis...I don't know what is. Overall, it was fun to watch, but the ending was disappointing.
If you haven't heard, the winner of The Masters was Argentina's Angel Cabrera. Cabrera won on the 2nd playoff hole over American Kenny Perry. While I have nothing against Cabrera (he seems like a really good guy), I typically root for American players. So, I was rooting for Phil Mickelson, Jim Furk, Kenny Perry or Chad Campbell to win. Perry and Campbell made the playoff, and Mickelson made an early splash before fading late.
The most exciting part of the day was the pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. They both started the day 7 shots behind the leaders, but after a front 9 30 (-6), Mickelson was only 1 shot off the lead. However, Phil, as he often does when in super aggressive mode, made some mistakes on the back nine and finished in 5th place, 3 shots off the winning score. Tiger got it close as well, but finished with 2 bogeys to end up 6th.
During the round, the CBS crew kept referring to the "rivalry" between Tiger and Phil (side note...overall, I thought CBS's coverage was terrible this year). If you've followed it, it's not much of a rivalry. As much as I like Phil, his 36 wins and 3 majors don't really stand up to Tiger's ~70 wins and 14 majors. I told my wife that the rivalry between Tiger and Phil is like the rivalry between a hammer and a nail. Occasionally, Phil will end up being the "bent nail" that annoys Tiger for a short period, but usually Tiger will end up pounding Phil. And Phil knows that...in a post round interview, he talked about how playing with Tiger is fun, even though he usually comes up on the short end of it.
Well, if that wasn't a rambling enough golf analysis...I don't know what is. Overall, it was fun to watch, but the ending was disappointing.
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