Time To Hunker Down Even Further...

To live in a country lacking a moral conscience/compass.

To find people desperate to maintain relationships as the ship goes down.

2012.11.30

WTF: bacon-scented shaving cream.

Train derails in NJ.  Flamable fluoride spills.

Three dead at a Casper, WY campus: suspect used a sharp-edged weapon.

Bomb detonates at federal building back door in Casco; no injuries reported.

Rick Santelli in WSJ: to give in to the new 2013 rules and value-added tax that sticks it to the middle, Cost-Co introduces dividend compensation--barrow money (taking on debt) to get 15% tax intead of forty-something percent: Cost-Co’s Senegal has two million shares, his wife 85 thousand, $7-per-share paid to shareholders.  Any shame, anyone?  Govt. or corporate?  Anyone?

2012.11.29

“They despise those that work for a living.”  Mortgage deductions fenagling?  Trial balloons?

Oh, yeah— the people who write public policy know science; with “superstorm” Sandy (it’s a hurricane, remember?—this is what a hurricane does), climate change is a “national security threat.”  Such ignorant bastards.

Partial deregulation of Monsanto isn’t enough for the guy(s) that work in the govt. alongside the USDA for Monsanto— they want full deregulation.

Predicted a long time ago: nuke the moon?  Making recent headlines— they’re talking about it.

2012.11.28

We have interpolation.

TMJ:
Biting lips at bad angles.
Such nervous maintenance.
Stupid sound reproduction (with mouth).

2012.11.27

NYT: Japan raises military profile as China rises.

NYT: John McCain, Joe Leiberman and Lindsey Graham—the “Three Amigos,” no more, as Leiberman retires in Jan.

ME state revenues continue in the red.

2012.11.25

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle… But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical,  responsible, practical.  And they showed me a world  where I could be so dependable,  clinical, intellectual, cynical… I know it sounds absurd, (Won’t you help me) please tell me who I am—Supertramp, The Logical Song.

Reuters, Nigeria: suicide bombs kill 11+,injure 30+ at military church at Jaji barracks in Kaduna, where the Islamist sect Boko Haram is waging a campaign of violence, the military said.

Reuters, Cairo: Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi to meet senior judges Mon. to try to ease a crisis over his power seizure.

China’s first aircraft carrier: in an undated handout photo, a carrier-borne J-15 fighter jet is taking off from the Liaoning.

Reuters: Catalonia to test Spanish unity w. separatist vote.

Opposition flag raised: Syrian rebels take airbase in slow progress toward Damascus.

AP, China: there goes the neighborhood; development of a massive highway has ground to a halt as one family refuses to leave their home.

‘Kill List’ rule book may be coming soon to the White House.

2012.11.24

Whistleblower of toxic Chinese milk murdered.

Catholic Church self-destruction: Pope creates six new cardinals that aren’t European.

PowerBall jackpot not won; increases to record $425 mn.

We are all of want of love—and that’s it, period.

Coast To Coast AM guest Ted Dekker traveled the world, wrote thirty novels, and found the mortality rate in Indonesia (or an island) at 50%.  Someone with an obsession himself, he has gone through suffering as well.  Reward & punishment is very limited in effect.  What’s “good for society” isn’t necessarily good for the individual.  That ‘Eye for an Eye’ makes the world blind.

A nation that’ll destroy itself because of the ‘I’m not good enough’ mentality— the self-hatred.  We ‘don’t have a good enough house, car, etc.’  That hole is actually in the heart.  We secretly hate ourselves, deep down.

The statistics of our prison system, right now, are shocking.  Only about one in seven are in for a violent offense, yet the population in the last forty years has multiplied by seven.  Most are in for newer laws, such as drug possession or use, with no intent of harm.  We have some of the highest incarceration rates in the world; per capita, the U.S. is five times higher than Canada or any European country; 1% of adults in 12 mos. will be incarcerated, according to his research.  And with yet more strict, ‘conservative’ rules, the multi-billion dollar incarceration system doesn’t help the problem—it makes it worse.  We have wardens that do not allow any deviation from specific order.  Forcing prisoners to fight for their lives, the system only makes people that get out bitter.  It has also made a 70% return rate.

They are hurt.  They are wounded, he observed, and so they are looking for love.  They are looking for a fix to their lives.  Therefore, by merely incarcerating criminals and forcing them to live in the harsh environment of prison society is only exacerbating the problem and creating ‘monster factories’ which cause increased crime.  He dismissed a ‘bureaucratic solution.’  unless we love these prisoners, we’re never going to change.

It takes unconditional love for things to improve.  Even though religion is manmade and often there to teach self-hate, one thing is true: Love thine neighbor as thyself—as to not envy or hate.  To not hate yourself or anyone else.  The journey starts with ourselves.

2012.11.23

TX: fog produces 18+ car pile-up; 180 injured; 3 dead; police officer says he’s never seen anything like this.

Not so cheery holiday: woman stabs man in neck at Thanksgiving dinner.

Obit

NYT: actor Larry Hagman, 81, dies from complications of cancer.  Diagnosed with cirrhosis in 1992, in 1995 he was treated with a liver transplant after doctors discovered a tumor; in 2011.10, shortly before filming of the new Dallas, he announced that he had a treatable form of cancer.  I got caught by cancer.  He died off-set during the filming period of the “soapy saga.”  Born in Fort Worth, Texas, his mother was actress Mary Martin.  His father, Benjamin, was a lawyer whose clients included wealthy Texas oil men.  Hagman’s parents divorced when he was five; he was brought up in Los Angeles by his maternal grandmother.

When he came to Hollywood in 1964, he attracted notice that year as an interpreter (over the phone, in an intense scene) to the President (Henry Fonda) in the Soviet nuclear-war thriller Fail-Safe.  Shortly after, he sunk into the role of astronaut Tony Nelson, the male lead in I Dream of Jeannie, always plagued with problems, partly problems starting with Jeannie (Barbara Eden) and her relatives.  But it was Dallas (1978-1991) that ultimately made him a household name.  The “masterfully marketed” “Who Shot J.R. (Ewing)?” mystery brought in an est. 350 mn. viewers world-wide.  Spoiler: it was Kristin Shepard (Mary Crosby).

Larry Hagman is survived by his wife, Maj Axelsson, of over 57 years and two children (Preston, Kristina) and five granddaughters.

2012.11.22

Thanksgiving.  Wal-Mart opens 8 p.m.  Strike set for Black Friday—unsanitary working env., low pay.  ‘Blue’ laws restricted the opening until midnight in ME, MA and another state.

Geoelectromagnetic shift: some scientists believe the North pole will become the South.  The Russians identify 35 diseases occurring all over the world due to the magnetic field.

Movie: Origin of Lacrosse

Crooked Arrow isn’t just an underdog story—it reflects the origin of lacrosse, a Native American sport.  The purpose: to entertain the creator, by being your best self, win or lose.  The movie is low budget, but many people converged for the final showdown after the coach (or asst. coach) renegs on casino plans to bring back the playing field, and honor the game.

PG-13, not neutered— the not-so-attractive kid in jock strap, and references, such as ‘having no balls’ if you can’t go into the woods.  Mistranslations in the language make for some extra laughs (i.e., instead of V-cut, ‘vagina dodge’).  The acting isn’t superior, but it’s worth watching.  Grade: B.

Obit

AP TV’s delightfully dorky chef “Mr. Food,” Art Ginsburg, 81, dies at his Weston, FL home, of pancreatic cancer—the silent killer.  Known for his catch-phrase, Oh! It’s so good, his popularity peaked in 2007, appearing on 168 stations, compared to nine in 1980.

Growing up in the meat business to eventually start his own catering company, the Food Network chef made his television debut in 1975 in upstate New York.  Art Ginsburg was a warm, gregarious man who knew that food was more about love and sharing than a fancy ingredient, said friend Rachel Ray.

2012.11.21

6.1-mag. quake hits central Chile; authorities say no damage or injuries reported.

Movie: I Will Leave, But No One Will Leave Me

The ‘good ones’ are often in for life… The Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006), by Dito Mantiel, is a movie that managed to put his disjointed book into a working screenplay.  And it is scary real.  In the poor neighborhoods of New York, where kids grow up forced to fight, this immediate group are a bunch of troublemakers.  And then our main character, Shia Saide LaBeouf as the younger Dito, is threatened by a violent kid, supported by younger brothers with no conscience, for not liking this kid spray painting graffito on private property—the garage door.

As the older version (Robert Downey, Jr.) states, two kids will die.  And then he abandons his parents after his father has a seizure, returning over a decade later to be confronted by the truth, told by his past girlfriend.  Chaning Tatum and Eric Roberts played Antonio.

The acting, the interplay, the dance of life—it’s all here.  Grade: A-.

2012.11.20

Diplomacy pushes Gaza “peace momentum” forward; Clinton calls for truce after more Israeli deaths.

“World powers” to meet in Brussels to map out plans regarding Iran.

CSM: in historic move, blasphemy charge against Pakistani girl, Rimsha Masih dropped.

Church of England votes against women bishops.

Argentina: Fernandez faces her 1st general strike.

4 men w. Ca. ties accused of making arrangements to join up w. al-Qaida for training arrested.

No further comment: Hostess, union fail to reach deal in mediation.

Kevin Clash, 52, the guy behind Elmo, resigns in wake of scandal.

California sells out of first pollution permits.

Biz:

HP accuses Autonomy of wrongdoing, takes $8.8 bn. hit over ‘inflated’ acquisition.

Benetton’s mannequins spy on you while you shop.

Store gives away free groceries after registers stop working.

2012.11.19

Weekend B.O.: the unenchanting Breaking Dawn Part II gets $414 mn. while Lincoln gets under $30 mn.

2012.11.18

Assiut, Egypt: train hits school bus, killing 49+; over 50 bet. 4 and 6 were on board.

Fedl. investigators say that warning signals were activated when train hit parade float Thu, killing military vets.

2012.11.17

Admin. wants to eliminate IRAs, replace them with govt.-based/union retirement money.

People that have been around Petraeus see him as a no-guts politician.

Thu’s train accident kills four (more) war vets; candle light vigil planned.

2012.11.16

USA Today: one month after Monster Energy drinks were linked to 5 deaths, the FDA is investigating 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations linked to 5-Hour Energy drink.  While soft drinks are regulated, and are not allowed to contain more than 71.5 mg of caffiene, Consumer Reports says 5-Hour Energy has 212 mg per shot; a Starbucks Grande (16 oz.) is 330 mg.  American University assoc. psych. prof. Laura Juliano says there is a real risk of caffiene poisoning/intoxication.  Symptoms of caffiene intoxication range from nervousness to cardiac arrythmia; more extreme cases include psychotic symptoms and seizures.

Foiled movie theatre shooting in Missouri: a man in his 20s thought he didn’t have enough ammo, went into Wal-mart, where police were on to him.  The target title: the last Twilight installment (has premiered).

18,500 layoffs, bankruptcy declared at Hostess due to strike(s); Richard Trumpka points the finger at Bain Capital/Romney, even though the figures surrounding all this are Ds.

2012.11.15

Today marks the Islamic new year.

Reuters: rockets hit near Tel Aviv, Gaza death toll rises to 19.

Reuters: Pakistan to consider releasing former Taliban 2nd-in-command Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Reuters: Iran may step up underground nuclear work soon, say diplomats.

Reuters: Chinese Communist Party names conservative, older leadership; ‘long-anointed successor’ Ji Xinping, plus Li Keqiang and Wang Qishan.

Reuters: Spain suspends home evictions for most ‘needy’; recession ‘highlighted’ by the suicide of a woman.

Reuters: Irish govt. to clarify abortion rules after an Indian woman’s blood poisoning death.

AP: BP employees charged with manslaughter.

CSN: Where did 180 Russian websites go?  A restrictive new internet law signed by Putin have blacklisted more than 180 sites.

U.S.:

Report, 2001 Court transcript: TN Rep. and physician Scott DesJarlais admitted to sexual affairs w. patients, supported wife’s abortions.

Reports: James Holmes tried to harm himself in jail.

AT&Tree: FCC requires AT&T to put up another cell tower to cover gaps; AZ residents angered.

ME: final report due on DHHS computer glitch.

Dad Dan Urbano buys kids a pet cat after they win Facebook bet: 1,000 Likes.

Spo., Ent.:

‘Fastest man on four legs’ Kenichi Ito sets new mark on monumental Guinness World Records Day.

Hope Solo married Jerramy Stevens 11.13, just one day after an alleged assault that took place while they were planning their wedding.

Liz Lemon (30 Rock) to wed to “Criss Chross” (James Marsden).

Sam Atkinson Waterston (Cambridge, MA native; Law & Order, canceled 2010) turns 72; Ed Asner (Up; Hot in Cleveland), 83.

Movie: One of Your Friends Works for the Mafia

Brooklyn Rules (2007, City Lights Pictures, LLC; disc ©2007 Nailed L.P.), written by Terrence Winter (for Bill Bertrand), stars Freddie Prinze, Jr., Scott Caan, Jerry Ferrara (Entourage), Mena Suvari (American Pie), Alec Baldwin, Christian Maelen and Monica Keena.

This decent (and bloody) R-rated movie is about three friends that grow up in Brooklyn with three different paths in life.  Michael Turner (Prinze, Jr.) sees a future in Law, Bobby Canzontri(?) (Ferrara) would try out for the Post Office, and Carmine Mancuso (Caan) would have a history with Caesar (Alec Baldwin) and the Philly mob.

Good and bad, the mafia angle would be laid out in front of Michael, as a “hick” vet that cut off a “Gook” ear for a necklace would have his own ear cut off by Caesar in front of Mike just because he pushed his business card.  A kid that quits while he’s ahead, some of the ‘righteous anger’ would rub off on him.  Defensive tempers flare, and the returned threat of psycho/sore loser Gino (Maelen) would catch up to them—a threat that would no longer be held back by Caesar after changes occur within the ranks under John Gotti.

Michael does his best to stay out of it, and would have to restart his relationship with Ellen (Suvari), a fellow classmate.  Bobby, the Wheel of Fortune and movie quiz genious would have a tough time with forms, but would manage to spend the time bringing down the price of an engagement ring for Amy (Keena).

Unlike typical mafia films, violence isn’t central to the theme, but the suspense doesn’t let down; you don’t entirely know what’s going to happen next.  This film is more about family.  It’s well-acted and doesn’t curse you out of the theatre.  However, it doesn’t go very far in either direction.  Grade: B+.

Also Recommended (it has a plot): The Hunter, starring Willem Defoe.

Obit

Actress Lucille Bliss, 96, dies of “natural causes” in Costa Mesa.  Born in NYC, after getting vocal work for stepsister Anastasia in Cinderella, she became a regular voice actor.  Bliss was the voice behind “Smurfette” and Elroy Jetson.  While having a roles in features like 101 Dalmatians, and Robots (2005), Katy Perry played Smurfette in the recent “Smurfs” movie(s).  Outside the animated world, she had a role as Gal Baby in The Night Before (1988, Keanu Reeves as Winston Connelly) and played Jane Katz in Whacked (1997).  Her TV roles include Stat and Nurses in 1991, and a one-time guest spot on Nash Bridges.  She appeared in Funnyman (1967) as “the Girl of 1,000 voices.”

2012.11.14

The vanishing Hopi, on Coast To Coast AM

The Hopi traditions are being lost; the kids are going off into the cities, forgetting the language.  The rituals aren’t praciced as much—it’s become more difficult to keep up.  Some see a pole shift and the end of the fourth world (the current) in their life time, which puts us into the fifth world when the calendar cycle ends.  Wars to appear around Egypt—Arab Spring as a center.

Science is slowly coming around to the ideas and views of the ancients (the stories are not ‘just made up’).  Quantum physics is already in agreement with a lot—the world isn’t as mechanical as classic physics would like to believe.

‘Anu’ in Anunaki means ‘ant.’

Movie: Any and All Dirty Tactics To Win

The Candidate (2012) is an R-rated movie that stars Will Farrell and Zach Galifianakis as two southern candidates, pitted together, with the Mochs brothers (allegory of the Koch brothers) in the background promoting one, then the other.

The often-drunk Democratic candidate (Farrell) would do all he can to look American.  Dylan McDermitt(?) plays an international fugitive that would help the effeminate (and somewhat repressed) Republican opponent (Galifianakis ) “not suck” once he’s thrown into the race.  After an entirely new look (and then some), every tactic in the book would be used until one of them finds out that Chinese factories would be built right in the state.  An adultery sex tape would made and used by the same candidate, bumping him up in the polls (among males).

Aided by SNL’s Jason Sedeikis, the Farrell character would be caught accidentally calling a religious family to solicit a mistress, as well as accidentally punch a baby and a famous dog.  Of course, with the pol. leanings of the writers, things get “red-neck” out of control, the outsourcing problems come down to the Brothers, “finally, we can start taxing billionaires,” and regardless of intent, bowing to Chinese workers is “racist.”  Those leanings, in line with many movie reviewers, led to several A-/A grades.  I’m just going to say that this movie is well-acted, and give it a B.

2012.11.13

Reuters: first coordinated general strike across Europe against austerity measures.

Reuters, Italy: hundreds evacuated over flooding; 3 die after their car fell off a collapsed bridge in Tuscany.

AP: radical cleric Abu Qatada released from jail after court rules he could not be deported to Jordan.

‘Guru’ swindler of French aristocrats Thierry Tilly gets 8 years; he befriended his way in, stole, got caught.

TSA: yes to snow globes, maybe to cakes and pies.  And large water bottles are still banned?

Already in trouble, Hostess shuts 3 after workers set up picket lines.

Angered by Obama’s win and her spouse not voting, Holly Solomon runs over him with their car.

Reuters: Petraeus, Allen supported FL woman’s sister in custody spat.

Geneva auction: two-of-a-kind Archduke Joseph Diamond fetches record $21.5 mn.

S. Africa: 4 paintings stolen at Pretoria Art Museum, a tip sends police hundreds of miles away to a cemetery; the $2 mn. heist makes just one possible in the global, annual stolen art sales, where billions of dollars are made.

2012.11.12

There are more women in this country with driver’s licenses than men.  50/50 (starring Joe Gordon-Levitt) was on to something.  I’m part of that statistic… pathetic.

John McAfee, responsible for the popular McAfee anti-virus software is wanted in Belize, where his new company QuorumEx is HQ’d, for an alleged murder; selling his shares w. the software Co., he has had drug problems for some time.

After getting hit at Golan, Israel fires “warning shot” on Sun., at Syria, another for 2nd straight day, despite truce efforts.

Reuters: Angela Merkel (Germany), in anxious Lisbon, hails austerity drive; “critics” fear the new bailout loan will only deepen the debt crisis.

Reuters: France eyes Libya oil investment, unfreezes wealth fund of $2 bn. in assets.

More BBC execs step down after programming show allege child abuse by a politician and a former host.

Tower of London locks changed after security breach, keys stolen; houses queen’s Crown Jewels.

Tourists swim in the streets outside iconic landmarks as rising waters submerge most of Venice.

CSM: will Brazil miss the goal with 2014 World Cup?  They had five years to get ready...

Sylvester Stallone tours Italy, meeting with the kids in the suburbs.

U.S.:

Secession petitions filed in 20 states; WH may respond to Texas’.

Jesse Jackson Jr. reportedly hires lawyer for possible plea deal.

AP: new problem for Sandy cleanup: tourist gawkers.

The puppeteer behind Elmo accused of sexual assault.  He may be heading to the border, said Obama during Sesame Street-Gate.

Yes, General Petraeus had an extra-marital affair with “GI Jane”—and, oh, her angry emails; would he have gotten his pension had this broken bef. his resignation?  This is in the news, and seems to be used as a ploy to distract from the Benghazi story—more “reason for him to not testify.”  For an investigation that started in the summer, it is revealed that members of a Libyan militia were taken prisoner.  A “story with a Fox News-bent”—the other ploy.  He gets a pay raise, while people throughout the U.S. get cuts…a lot of anger out there as well.  The “youth” may know about the affair, but have no idea who J. Chris Stevens is.

Ent./Hea./Sci./WTF?:

For Les Misérables, Anne Hathaway used oatmeal paste diet to lose 25 lbs—affected emotionally as well as physically; somewhat comperable to Christian Bale’s dramatic weight loss for underrated movie The Machinist.

Facebook “Farm Town” game helps woman find a new kidney.

New Zealand to not sign climate treaty Kyoto #2.

U.S. computer graphics scientist wins Kyoto Prize.

Fisheries nations set to discuss bluefin tuna.

Archaeologists discover Thracian golden jewelry.

Tentacled snakes born at National Zoo.

Race for city council tied when candidate’s wife doesn’t vote.

Man with Romney face tattoo “disappointed” w. election results.

2012.11.11

Veterans Day.  58,282 names are carved in black granite on the Vietnam wall.  Although they were forced into it by the draft, called “baby killers,” the Vietnam vets that survived were dishonored when they returned.  Honor them now.

13.4%: post-9/11 employment for veterans; that no. is higher than that of 1930 (during the “Great Depression”).  “We take care of our own,” says Pres. Obama.  18-24 the largest of the pie.

Paula Broadwell, his biographer and paramour/mistress, was sending harassing emails to a third person, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.  In the preface to All In: The Education of General David Petraeus (Penguin, published Jan.), Broadwell says she first met Petraeus in the spring of 2006.  David Petraeus has been married to Holly for 38 yrs., with two children; their son is serving in Afghanistan.

2012.11.10

She’s a lot like you; the dangerous type—The Cars.

AP: Guinea treasury chief assassinated as she was driving home, says med. official.

U.S. denies Russia return request for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Mag.-4.3 quake hits KY.

Obama wins FL by narrow margin: ~74K votes, 332- 206 Electoral College edge.

The “second disaster after the disaster”: donation oversupply at singular location(s) on account of the storm.

2012.11.09

Deval Patrick, who contaminated drug results and never inspected the drug Pharmacy that was responsible for the fungal meningitis outbreak, may replace Eric Holder?

Benghazi implosion: CIA Chief David Petraeus resigns to avoid questions by key Congessional committees.  Petraeus had a relationship with a Liz Warren aide.  Which do you think they take more seriously?  Ever heard of Paulie P.?

Election-delayed: Iran shot down an ally/U.S. drone.

Nikoula gets about a year in jail.

Mild second punch of winter weather keeps half a million in the dark for NY and NJ.

John Boehner sees short term budget fix.

Alfred Hitchcock month: Toby Jones in The Girl (HBO) and Anthony Hopkins in Hitchcock (out 11.23).

USA Today/Chuck Raasch on A suicide, the Wall, and finally, peace: “Alice Franks is a long-distance runner.  On Veterans Day nine years ago, while walking to the starting line of a 10-mile race along the Potomac River, Franks suddenly discovered she was in a place she had tried so long to avoid.  Before her was the Vietnam Veterans Memorial…  On Sept. 15, 1984, Jeffery Davis left his shift as a Washington, D.C., plainclothes police officer and, as he often did, went drinking.  After midnight, he walked to the Wall… the Bronze Star winner walked away into the night and shot himself with his service revolver.”  Davis, 36, was a husband, father and Army veteran.  He and his family were also casualties of the Vietnam War.

2012.11.08

Covering some of the same path as Sandy, a winter storm.

AP: Guatemala quake death toll 52+.

Reuters, once-in-five-years Chi-Com Congress: young-adults not impressed with “red” propaganda on Chinese airwaves.

Innocence of Muslims producer Nakoula Basseley Nakoula returned was to jail yesterday.

Post-election gun sales skyrocket.

Worse news that Liz Warren won—making national news, and to have power in the Senate Banking Committee.  [For 6+ years.]

New York City Mayor Bloomberg orders odd-even gasoline rationing, as people start to remove snow.

Gabby Giffords faces Loughner for the last time: the Aurora shooter is sentenced to 7 consecutive life sentences, plus 140 years in federal prison.

ABC News: PFC Bradley Manning, who’d allegedly stole classified documents for WikiLeaks, is reportedly willing to admit guilty to some lesser charges if the military will amend or strike some of the 34 charges against him.

TheBlaze: You’ll never believe which MSNBC anchor didn’t like Obama’s victory speech enough, saying, Enough dicking around.  I would like to see a united leadership here, not just a solo act.  Chris Matthews apologizes for his remarks...or was that the host that made these particular remarks?

2012.11.07

Welcome (back) to hell.  It looks like Jason called it right (or left).

AP: Guatemala president: mag.-7.4 quake off Pacific coast kills 39.

Reuters: Ghana mall collapse kills 4, traps dozens more; investigation ordered.

Reuters: Greek government defies crippling protests to approve more austerity.

Reuters: Czech PM Necas wins parliament confidence vote, passes tax hikes.

Why Your Taxes Are Going Up

Liz Warren beats Scott Brown.  Not country is not serious.  (This country is not being serious.)

Pol., Ent.:

ME: D majority in the House again, gay marriage passes.

FL: Allen West lost to someone who was, the past, arrested drunk.

TheBlaze: Chris Matthews same-sex quip: Christie ‘found love outside of marriage’ with Obama.

Steve Downes is the voice behind Halo’s Master Chief.

Gwen Stefani’s still has those abs; “The No Doubt singer looks even better onstage at age 43 than she did back in the ’90s.”

Like Enuck Thompson in Boardwalk Empire, but in the form of taking credit, Obama’s rubs it in during his reelection speech (and don’t tell me he believes this): out of the frustration, the hard work, (the key—) it’s self-government—what our nation was founded on.

Seeing the carelessness here in the U.S., the kind you see in Greece: people just want their pensions, and don’t care about the economic collapse.  The dividend tax will double at the end of the year, and that “fiscal cliff” is only days or months in front of us.

2012.11.06

Time for the Undead to Unvote.

National U.S. election: large turn out in a number of areas.  And...it looks like Dan Rather was wrong.  Romney lost.  Conservatives didn’t turn out.  It looks like more people want to play games.

Weather-wear: much of the mid-west is prepared for another 1900, while the “infrastructure investors” are not prepared.

75 R poll watchers kicked out in Philidelphia; most giving the order, Ds; after going to a judge, they were reinstated.

Health care law penalizes corporations that have over 50 employees.
Work hours for fast food chains reduced to 25 hrs.  One of the numbers was 40 hrs—so that to 25.  There you go— employees to get less pay as a result of the Affordable Care act.

Productivity is down; morale is down; slowdown in the U.S., Europe and Asia.  I think I can imagine people shooting themselves in the head— it’s bad.  It just gets dumber and dumber— people are basically tell me to defy logic!  These things don’t work!

Movie: Killer Brings Edgar Allan Poe’s Stories to Life…and Death

The Raven stars John Cusack as the dark story teller that lived and died in the 19th century.  But there’s a twist of Seven to it: someone close to Poe is killing people in the fashion of his fictional murder stories.  The movie is needlessly violent at times, portraying full death sequences, last breath and all, leaving little to the imagination.  While Cusack has resemblance to Poe (1809-1849), the focus of the screenplay isn’t all that great.  The word ‘okay,’ which didn’t exist until later, was left in the dialogue.  It’s watchable, but pretty much a time-filler.  Another fictionalized film would be mentioned on the disc: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer.  Grade: C+.

2012.11.05

Reuters: Suicide bomber kills 50+ Syrian security men, says opposition.

Reuters, New York: female Pakistani neuroscientist loses appeal on shooting conviction.

AP follow-up to acid attack: Pakistani parents honor-kill their own 15-yr.-old girl for ‘eying’ a boy; Mohammad and Zaheen Zafar recount from jail.

Reuters: Greece faces 48-hr. strike over austerity cuts.

Reuters, UK: David Cameron orders investigation over alleged Conservative Party member child abuse in Wales.

Much debris cleared from Sandy, lights still out for Santiago, Cuba.

AP, Anonymous movement: “Guy Fawkes night,” protesting on British Parliament, hundreds wear the mask.

U.S.:

Undertime: Health law pushes certain firms, such as the owners of Olive Garden, to shorten work hours, while adding new employees.

Jersey Shore cast to repay favor visit for Sandy victims—sans reality show persona.

Male toddler dies in Pittsburgh Zoo—14 feet over a railing into an exhibit of African dogs; one dog was shot.

Efforts going out in MI to change the state’s free/right-to-work status.

Looting is still active in Brooklyn.

The Lookout blog/Ron Recinto: Amazing story of survival after Toms River man leaves ‘farewell’ note.

Two major newspapers in the northeast endorse Romney: New England and Daily.

Springsteen/Bon Jovi benefit concert raises $25 mn.; but like the last major charity event, they might not know what to do with it.

Hecklers: disruption at Obama OH rally; Mark Cuban heckles ex-Mav Brendan Haywood during a game.

John Cusack may play Rush Limbaugh in new movie.  I don’t think Cusack could ever gain that much weight.

Ds declare ‘racist’ Tea party “over,” and Jay Z performs “99 Problems but a Mitt Ain’t One.”

Liz Warren (just like you) calls her $1.7 mn. mansion a “rescue home.”

To complain about the missing moderate R candidates… and never vote for them— A “Moral Imperative” to vote for the D.  Nevada’s Harry Reid ran around saying the Iraq war was lost before ‘the Surge,’ afterward ran around giving Obama credit for ‘its success.’  And Warren, like Reid, says she’ll reach across the aisle.  None of the Ds [on the left] are allowed to do that; of course, she is simply lying again.

Moonbat double-standard: you can get away with anything.
Bill Maher: If you’re voting for Romney, if your one of those people, let me say one thing to you.  Black people know who you are… [audience reaction, applause].  I’m kidding; what I meant to say is, ‘Romney cares.’

Obama, in response to boos from exaggerating the opposition stance: Don’t boo, vote. [applause]  Voting is the best revenge.  Romney: don’t vote out of revenge, vote for love of country.  And Charles Krauthammer brings up F. Scott Fitzgerald?  Does Barack Obama know who F. Scott Fitzgerald is?  Do any of the twitters/twits out there know who Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) is?

Movie: Magazine Staffers Do a Story on a Time Traveler

Safety Not Guaranteed (FilmDistrict, ©2012 Big Beach, LLC; Sony Pictures Home Video)
Rated ‘R’ for language, it stars Aubrey [Christina] Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni, Jenica Bergere, Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Mary Lynn Rajskub. …

Basically a realistic comedy with a surreal ending, the writing’s fine and the plot is condensed with a touch of science fiction…  The movie has originality.  Grade: B+.

» read the full review

2012.11.04

Million-puppet march over the weekend to “protect Big Bird.”  Most of PBS’ funding is from “Viewers Like You,” not from govt. grants.

Advisor David Plouffe appears: This Week (ABC) and Meet the Press (NBC).

Nat Geo: SEAL Team Six.

Movie: Weak Horror/Suspense Film

Rosewood Lane (Rose McGowan)...sucks.  The developers were overconfident with their experience.  The supposedly “supernatural paperboy” urinates through a fence hole into the eye of a DA looking out, with nothing to balance out the scene.  It’s just weak.  Grade: D+.

2012.11.03

Fall back overnight (2 a.m. Sun.), EDT to EST.

Division of Jerusalem: Israeli President Shimon Peres welcomes “courageous” words from Abbas—Reuters.

Israel: 3 Syrian tanks enter Golan DMZ.

AP: Taliban suicide bomber kills 6 in N.W. Pakistan; target was vehicle carrying regional head of a govt.-allied militia.

Somalia wants Ugandan troops to remain; capital hit by suicide bombers, killing 3, including a security guard, according to witnesses.

Australia: 12-yr.-old faces detention for hugging—banned at Adam Road Primary School.

AP: Pentagon puts out more details on Benghazi, lays out timeline, denies Fox News report; Tripoli team was “Delayed at the airport.”

Power sputters back on in NY; problems, FEMA ineptitude/corruption remain.

Gas shortages, Brooklyn: Courier Winston Alfred waited since 4:25 a.m., and was turned away after getting to second in line.

National election: three days remaining, nine swing states—give or take.

Health, Sci., Ent.:

PPH: with FDA investigating Ameridose, a major manufacturer, and low direct demand, a number of drugs are in short supply:

UPI.com: patients injected with fungal meningitis-tainted steroids struck w. second illness: epidural abscess.

Lila Ruiz, 4, faces 40th surgery for extremely rare muscle condition.

Video: Thousands of cockroaches invade HI neighborhood.

AP: Israel pushing ahead in medical marijuana industry.

Ars Technia: missing gamma rays were abducted by the first stars.

Elephant in South Korean zoo imitates human speech.

More nudity in film: Denzel Washington’s first nude scene in Flight as Whip Whitaker, a completely-sober pilot.

Entertainment Weekly’s Gleiberman gives Lincoln an A

EW’s Owen Gleiberman reviews Lincoln (2012, Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

Written by Tony Kushner (husband of EW’s Mark Harris), and directed by Steven Speilberg, it puts us into the final months of (Abraham) Lincoln’s presidency with a purity that makes us feel transported as though by time machine, wrote Gleiberman for his review.  [I]t is one of the most authentic biographical dramas I’ve ever seen.  And not a boring history lesson but grand and immersive, as Kushner had fun with Lincoln’s drive to pass the 13th amendment, with incendiary speech-making in the Senate; the screenplay is in part based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.

The biggest public attraction to the film is the resemblance of its lead actor to the 1865 U.S. President.  Day-Lewis looks so much like the photographs of Abraham Lincoln that you don’t have to squint, even a bit, to buy that it’s him.  His performance has a beautiful gravitas, yet there’s nothing too severe about it.

A master lawyer, infused with a poet’s passion that must delay the war’s end—without breaking the people’s faith, the Lincoln we see here is that rare movie creature, a heroic thinker.  Slamming on tables, pushing lobbyists to see his see his sense of justice through, with immense power —okay, this is where the revisionism starts to pop up— Lincoln is a stirring paradox, a dream of history as it might truly have happened.

2012.11.02

The Affordable Care requirement of having an RFID chip implanted in all newborns is not present in the current law, but may have been earlier on.

Staten Island/Manhattan diversion: generators are going not to the people who need them but to the celebrity band-aid thing with Bruce Springsteen.

Race to recovery: New York is in such an already-broken state that the elites say a Marathon may [be] the solution to relieve tensions.  Canceled: in the end, mayor Bloomberg didn’t want to cloud over...

High Trust, No Knowlege in Electronic Voting

Electronic voting machines in OH and NV found to go to another candidate—“calibration error” they say.  Calibration issue specifically at the candidate screen?

You don’t need hackers to fix a ballot, you just need the technician control—to own the company, for example.  2011 report: company related to Bain Capital has a great degree of control over machines in CO.  CO law: voting tally record to be off-limits for 45 days.

And now you have the push for smart phone voting—internet voting, doing all they can to make authentication difficult-to-impossible, the road to no chain of custody.

2012.11.01

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling turns 500.

Reuters: Syrian rebels kill 28 soldiers, several executed.

Reuters Insight: Putin’s Russia ‘more fragile than it looks.’

Reuters: Palestinian Pres. Abbas hints he has “no right” to return to his Israeli home.

Reuters, China: Ningbo citizen protest causes the suspension of a petrochemical project.

British millionaire Christopher Tappin pleads guilty in Iran missile scheme.

Islamabad: Pakistani mother kills daughter w. acid.

Sandy, Media:

Sandy NY Death toll over 37; 82+ overall; deaths include electrocutions and trauma from falling tree branches.

Large-scale looting in northeast U.S.: troopers deployed to gas stations.

Traffic backed up for miles: water cleared, most subways are now open again; however bridges are stalled.  Crowds waited impatiently for buses into Manhattan and tempers flared in gas lines.

NJ’s Springsteen, Bon Jovi join Sting in Sandy aid concert.

Halo 4 Soundtrack debuts, records set.

Salon.com, NBC and Fox News: unmistakable propaganda.  Some Fox News employees are part of the Romney campaign team; Salon.com has always been progressive-left propaganda; and NBC has now stooped to the point of “asking” children what it would be like if Romney wins, with the response, “we’ll go back to picking in the fields.”

Daily Mail (UK): Mass Looting in Brooklyn, Taking to Twitter

Some even made off with cash register(s).  Police and FDNY were overwhelmed as looters made off with goods, in broad daylight.  The just-take-it mentality, with excuses of “they’ve been taking from us,” and using twitter (we goin lootin), mobs organized to take what they wanted: TVs, liquor (passing bottles through the roof to get past heightened security), Kit Kats (a little ol’ lady for Halloween), pets (tweet: I just stole a cat…).  A mob of fifty could be seen in Coney Island, Brooklyn.  Fewer break-ins: people just went in and went out.

It’s not possible; Obama just visited there.  Organized crime/distraction-all: NBC News can pretend that this isn’t happening all they want.

Entertainment

USA Today/Susan Wloszczyna: Wreck-It Ralph is a Disney® game-changer, and a fast-paced comedy that would appeal to both joystick and Wii-remote gamers.  The cover features Ralph (John C. Reilly) sharing an adventure w. Vanellope Von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) in the Super Mario Cart-like racing game, “Sugar Rush.”  Many past characters made it to this 3-D animated feature, including Pac-Man and Qbert (with symbol-laden-expletives).  Newer composites include the HD “Hero’s Duty”, much like “Call of Duty” except family-friendly with a Prometheus resemblence with its Cy-Bug egg hatching.  Basically, it’s Disney on entertainment-enhancing steroids, notes Wloszczyna.

Blogosphere

Cristian Mihai has passed the 20K mark: 20,064 followers on 11.01 6:46 PM EDT.

Disclaimer:
Even though there are aims for accuracy here, only trust original sources.
You may request corrections, with source(s).  Obligations on accuracy exist as the information is used personally.