I wrote this before the trade policy inspired Obama-rant, but I still stand by it.
And by the rant that followed, that was posted one day ago.
I usually watch a little TV before work, as I don’t arrive till nearly 9:30, and a couple days ago I was watching this special on those sick Fs the Aryan Nations. They honestly think it is okay to kill children as long as they aren’t white. I don’t think any further argument need be made as to their level of sickness as a whole.
Tangent: watch Gangland, the best show ever. Each episode is a look at a certain gang, group of gangs, or famous gang members. Watch it, seriously. This show wasn’t Gangland, but it was a similar style and on right before it, though not a series.
Anyhow, back to business, you can’t watch these (will not use the word “people”) cretins for more than about 90 seconds before you start to hate them. Not just dislike, but hate them more than they hate minorities. Unbelievable. Well, the more of the show you watch, the more you start to get this smug little satisfaction that Obama is president. I was hoping it would be McCain, and I’m disappointed, but it has to be killing those punks. You’re thinking he’s not 100% African American by lineage, but I think that makes it even worse for them. Here he is, product of a black man and a white woman, leader of the land they’re trying to “cleanse”.
Look, I’m not an Obama supporter. I’m not much of a fan altogether, but my dislike arises mostly because I believe there should be zero tariffs or subsidies and a corporate tax of around 5%, and he REALLY disagrees. These differences aside, the thing I do like is that his being elected has to be the biggest Eff You the whole racial separatist movement has ever received.
Well, that or attractiveness of Halle Berry. I mean honestly, when one of the most beautiful women to ever live has the same parent mix as our president, that whole “purity” argument takes a pretty big hit. Not to pinch hit for the other team, but Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson ain’t a bad looking cat either, and he’s half black half Samoan. Of course that brings me to my hypocritically racist argument of whining it’s not fair he gets that racial combo while I’m stuck with a bloodline that looks like a European-only orgy. Alas, I digress…
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Free trade or bust
If Obama doesn’t back off the free trade infringements I’m gonna use my head to open beer bottles from now on. It will hurt less.
Look, I’m trying to work with the guy. I’m willing to be the team player, as the Governator suggests, but hopping on the isolationism wagon isn’t going to help anyone. Ever. Following the First World War, we learned that closed doors don’t prevent problems, they exacerbate them. We went the other way following WWII, and built two capitalist powerhouse allies from the Axis powers.
Now we’re talking about institutionalizing “buy American” clauses, which is one giant leap for setting up trade blocks. Thanks Mr. President. Could you please arrange for some resource wars while we’re at it? Subsidies and tariffs weren’t enough, now we’re eying the triple crown of bad economic plans.
Worse than the trillions at stake is the damage to the world in all the intangible ways. Free trade is the only force out there consistently working for world peace. Government giveaways fatten the pockets of whatever warlord gets there first. Peace marches change nothing other than to help those walking feel better about themselves. The United Nations alters lingo so it doesn’t have to get involved in genocides, contrary to the founding principal the organization was built upon, cowards hiding behind a legal definition.
Independent investment only goes where it can make a profit, thereby not being grabbed by the corrupt or wasted on unsustainable projects. It only goes where it has a chance to take root, grow, and blossom. You know, like subsidized sugar in Florida….
Look, I’m trying to work with the guy. I’m willing to be the team player, as the Governator suggests, but hopping on the isolationism wagon isn’t going to help anyone. Ever. Following the First World War, we learned that closed doors don’t prevent problems, they exacerbate them. We went the other way following WWII, and built two capitalist powerhouse allies from the Axis powers.
Now we’re talking about institutionalizing “buy American” clauses, which is one giant leap for setting up trade blocks. Thanks Mr. President. Could you please arrange for some resource wars while we’re at it? Subsidies and tariffs weren’t enough, now we’re eying the triple crown of bad economic plans.
Worse than the trillions at stake is the damage to the world in all the intangible ways. Free trade is the only force out there consistently working for world peace. Government giveaways fatten the pockets of whatever warlord gets there first. Peace marches change nothing other than to help those walking feel better about themselves. The United Nations alters lingo so it doesn’t have to get involved in genocides, contrary to the founding principal the organization was built upon, cowards hiding behind a legal definition.
Independent investment only goes where it can make a profit, thereby not being grabbed by the corrupt or wasted on unsustainable projects. It only goes where it has a chance to take root, grow, and blossom. You know, like subsidized sugar in Florida….
Friday, December 19, 2008
OPEC = Still weak
Another insane week in energy. OPEC trimmed another 2 million barrels per day, but did anyone care? Not so much. Frankly, this thrills me. I’m giddy over here. OPEC is angry about falling prices, OPEC cuts production, prices fall $3.50 yesterday and $4 today. I feel like Shaq on stage at a Miami nightclub. “Kobe, how’s my ass taste? OPEC how’s my ass taste?” I’m not even going to dignify their “news flashes” any more. From now on, they will be called supply ‘cutes’ as they are clearly not worthy of the name ‘cuts’. The 600 pound gorilla in the room remains demand, but it’s looking more and more like the rest of the room is empty: there’s just King Kong.
Speaking of King Kong, it is official that Brock Lesnar is the biggest star in the UFC. Though they were only his first three fights in the organization, he was the most purchased PPV name in the organization’s roster. Apparently the economy isn’t so bad for Zuffa, as Lesnar’s last fight, where he took the title from Randy Couture, was the 2nd biggest UFC event ever. Even more importantly, of the 10 most purchased PPV events of 2008, 7 of them will have been UFC events, assuming the card on the 27th qualifies, a lock given the talent on that card.
Speaking of that card, we’ll be watching it, most likely at the parents’ house. Possibly the first UFC card with a legitimate three main events, this is the second most talent to ever compete at one event on North American soil, only behind this year’s debut of Affliction. Forrest Griffin defends his Light Heavyweight title against Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson faces the man who beat him twice, Wanderlei Silva, and is looking to earn a shot at getting his belt back, and Minotauro Nogueira defends his interim Heavyweight title against Frank Mir, with the winner meeting Man-Bear-Pig Lesnar in 09.
Speaking of King Kong, it is official that Brock Lesnar is the biggest star in the UFC. Though they were only his first three fights in the organization, he was the most purchased PPV name in the organization’s roster. Apparently the economy isn’t so bad for Zuffa, as Lesnar’s last fight, where he took the title from Randy Couture, was the 2nd biggest UFC event ever. Even more importantly, of the 10 most purchased PPV events of 2008, 7 of them will have been UFC events, assuming the card on the 27th qualifies, a lock given the talent on that card.
Speaking of that card, we’ll be watching it, most likely at the parents’ house. Possibly the first UFC card with a legitimate three main events, this is the second most talent to ever compete at one event on North American soil, only behind this year’s debut of Affliction. Forrest Griffin defends his Light Heavyweight title against Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson faces the man who beat him twice, Wanderlei Silva, and is looking to earn a shot at getting his belt back, and Minotauro Nogueira defends his interim Heavyweight title against Frank Mir, with the winner meeting Man-Bear-Pig Lesnar in 09.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Zombie killing goodness
It’s official; I am geeking out over here. I just got Left 4 Dead for my 360, and I followed the purchase with an Xbox Live account. k1nggame, if interested. I know, you didn’t know there were still people with the system without the account. They were few, and are one fewer today.
Anyhoo, the game is absolutely ridiculous. Just nasty. You and up to three friends are survivors battling the endless zombie hordes. And I mean endless. Gone are the days of Resident Evil 2 oh-my-goodness-there-are-five-zombies-in-the-room. Try 50, including several freak zombies (more on them later). You mow through the sprinting spawn with machineguns, pistols, and shotties blazing. Sprinkle in a few pipebombs and Molotov cocktails for good measure and you have yourself a party.
The wargy is nice, but where the game really shines is the cooperation needed to survive. Where other FPSs are basically living embodiments of the “Army of One” mantra, in L4D standing alone will only lead to you dying alone. You simply cannot face the hordes by yourself, it isn’t possible. A huge part of success is built into saving your friends when they get pinned under one or more of the undead horde, and believe me, someone will get tackled and mauled. Actually, everyone will, but the difference between victory and defeat is whether those happen at the same time or not. Your bud gets knocked down you gotta clear em off and get em up.
Beyond the game of get-me-up is the simple need to cover each other, back-to-back. When you’ve got 20 zombies running at you from each direction and your shotgun only holds 8 rounds, a friend is a good thing to have. Three friends is even better.
Now, all this blood-letting joy so far is wonderful but limited. What really tacks on the next level of visceral goodness is the Versus mode, in which you can join the throngs. There are five “exceptional” zombies in the game, and you get to play four of them, though three with regularity. First is the Boomer, a fat, explosive, bile-spewing mass of ugly, whose bodily fluid attracts the horde. My least favorite to play, he can get the damage done but is too slow and unwieldy to be a party. Next is the Smoker, an ugly corpse with a tongue that shames that of Venom of Spiderman lineage. Basically he snipes with it like Scorpion in MK, dragging his victim toward him and away from his teammates. Of the three usual suspects, the Hunter is by far my favorite. Basically the zombie manifestation of the title-character of the Thief franchise, he stalks silently and then pounces on one of the survivors, ripping and tearing at their flesh. Without assistance, being pinned beneath one is death.
The fourth playable beast, more of a rarity to portray, is the Tank. Getting to be him is a rarity, which is fitting since it is momentous. He rocks it like a hurricane. Like against the office linebacker, the poor suckers never had a chance. You need a steady stream from the whole party to take down this silverback from hell. No truth to the rumor that it’s based on Brock Lesnar.
The final special zombie, who you can’t play, is the Witch. One on one means hasta la vista. You can’t beat her alone, unless you find something to climb quickly. In balance with her vicious attack (only the Tank is worse) she is the least aggressive of the undead. She sits there, crying like a child, until she is awakened. When she gets up, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Few game feelings are quite as satisfying as driving the survivors into the reach of the Witch with a well coordinated attack. Watch them fall as you pin them down one by one, their screams ‘singing in the rain’ of flying giblets of gore. Stanley Kubrick, eat your heart out.
Or perhaps a zombie will…
Anyhoo, the game is absolutely ridiculous. Just nasty. You and up to three friends are survivors battling the endless zombie hordes. And I mean endless. Gone are the days of Resident Evil 2 oh-my-goodness-there-are-five-zombies-in-the-room. Try 50, including several freak zombies (more on them later). You mow through the sprinting spawn with machineguns, pistols, and shotties blazing. Sprinkle in a few pipebombs and Molotov cocktails for good measure and you have yourself a party.
The wargy is nice, but where the game really shines is the cooperation needed to survive. Where other FPSs are basically living embodiments of the “Army of One” mantra, in L4D standing alone will only lead to you dying alone. You simply cannot face the hordes by yourself, it isn’t possible. A huge part of success is built into saving your friends when they get pinned under one or more of the undead horde, and believe me, someone will get tackled and mauled. Actually, everyone will, but the difference between victory and defeat is whether those happen at the same time or not. Your bud gets knocked down you gotta clear em off and get em up.
Beyond the game of get-me-up is the simple need to cover each other, back-to-back. When you’ve got 20 zombies running at you from each direction and your shotgun only holds 8 rounds, a friend is a good thing to have. Three friends is even better.
Now, all this blood-letting joy so far is wonderful but limited. What really tacks on the next level of visceral goodness is the Versus mode, in which you can join the throngs. There are five “exceptional” zombies in the game, and you get to play four of them, though three with regularity. First is the Boomer, a fat, explosive, bile-spewing mass of ugly, whose bodily fluid attracts the horde. My least favorite to play, he can get the damage done but is too slow and unwieldy to be a party. Next is the Smoker, an ugly corpse with a tongue that shames that of Venom of Spiderman lineage. Basically he snipes with it like Scorpion in MK, dragging his victim toward him and away from his teammates. Of the three usual suspects, the Hunter is by far my favorite. Basically the zombie manifestation of the title-character of the Thief franchise, he stalks silently and then pounces on one of the survivors, ripping and tearing at their flesh. Without assistance, being pinned beneath one is death.
The fourth playable beast, more of a rarity to portray, is the Tank. Getting to be him is a rarity, which is fitting since it is momentous. He rocks it like a hurricane. Like against the office linebacker, the poor suckers never had a chance. You need a steady stream from the whole party to take down this silverback from hell. No truth to the rumor that it’s based on Brock Lesnar.
The final special zombie, who you can’t play, is the Witch. One on one means hasta la vista. You can’t beat her alone, unless you find something to climb quickly. In balance with her vicious attack (only the Tank is worse) she is the least aggressive of the undead. She sits there, crying like a child, until she is awakened. When she gets up, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Few game feelings are quite as satisfying as driving the survivors into the reach of the Witch with a well coordinated attack. Watch them fall as you pin them down one by one, their screams ‘singing in the rain’ of flying giblets of gore. Stanley Kubrick, eat your heart out.
Or perhaps a zombie will…
Monday, December 15, 2008
Bush is a freakin ninja
Perhaps we've been wrong all along. For eight years now we've assumed Dick Cheney was pulling the strings and Bush was the marionette. Perhaps things have changed in the last few years, and when he was elected Bush but a student, but now he is the master. Whichever it is, it's impossible to deny the ninja skills.
Regardless of where you stand on his politics, no normal president could have dodged a shoe like that. This needs further investigating.
Regardless of where you stand on his politics, no normal president could have dodged a shoe like that. This needs further investigating.
Monday, October 27, 2008
OPEC = weak
OPEC announces 1.5 million barrel per day cut, crude falls 3.50.
Let’s hear it for the artists formerly known as a cartel.
Let’s hear it for the artists formerly known as a cartel.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Economic Meltdown
Today as I drove through town, nearly half the stores were closed. The streets teemed with the unemployed; it was if 1/3 of the city was just walking around, 100,000 with nothing to do but loiter. Scarier still, people looked hungry. Like all they wanted was to work, and all they needed was a job, any job at all, so they could get food for their kids. Truth is, there was barely enough food on the store shelves, thanks to the drought in the Midwest, and people with jobs could barely afford it. I couldn't believe how bad the economy had gotten.
Of course, none of this happened. Well, not since the Great Depression was at its worst in the 1903’s. Since then, we haven’t had a really scary economic crisis. In lieu of actual suffering, now we make up our crises so we can over-react and buy the swill the media sells. We are a cowardly lot, and one that loves the drama.
The economy is in a recession. That’s a fact. A financial panic? Absolutely. An “economic meltdown?” No, not quite. Actually, not even close, though I ripped that tag directly from a headline. Unemployment is up to 7%, headed for 8. It will probably even hit 9. Of course, no one mentions that during the economic boom of the 90’s, most of Europe still had unemployment from 10-11%. That’s how bad unemployment is now, only 20% lower than Europe’s in the good times. So let it be written, American capitalism is a failure!
Actually it’s not. True, the stock market is down 40%. As Ronald Reagan said, "Never confuse the stock market with the economy." Though he and I have some different ideas about economic policies, he was right; they aren’t the same. The market moves in minutes and hours, and even in seconds. The economy moves in months and years, and even in decades. So with the huge drops in the market, you might expect some huge fundamental change in retails sales the month that preceded the crash. You’d be right, and today everyone “oohed” and “ahhed” at the 1.2% drop in September. That’s right, just over a 1% drop from the biggest consumer spending September in history and people think the end has arrived. For every 100 big screens that would have sold, one didn’t. For every 1,000 shirts that would have been sold, only 988 were bought. Oh, Lordy, kill me now.
We are not in the midst of a plunge either to mercantilism or to communism. We’re okay. Something around 90% of the country made the same amount of money this month that they did last month. Heavens to Betsy. Americans are still rich. Americans are still fat. Americans still run the world. Any one who says differently is selling something. More specifically, selling a newspaper.
Of course, none of this happened. Well, not since the Great Depression was at its worst in the 1903’s. Since then, we haven’t had a really scary economic crisis. In lieu of actual suffering, now we make up our crises so we can over-react and buy the swill the media sells. We are a cowardly lot, and one that loves the drama.
The economy is in a recession. That’s a fact. A financial panic? Absolutely. An “economic meltdown?” No, not quite. Actually, not even close, though I ripped that tag directly from a headline. Unemployment is up to 7%, headed for 8. It will probably even hit 9. Of course, no one mentions that during the economic boom of the 90’s, most of Europe still had unemployment from 10-11%. That’s how bad unemployment is now, only 20% lower than Europe’s in the good times. So let it be written, American capitalism is a failure!
Actually it’s not. True, the stock market is down 40%. As Ronald Reagan said, "Never confuse the stock market with the economy." Though he and I have some different ideas about economic policies, he was right; they aren’t the same. The market moves in minutes and hours, and even in seconds. The economy moves in months and years, and even in decades. So with the huge drops in the market, you might expect some huge fundamental change in retails sales the month that preceded the crash. You’d be right, and today everyone “oohed” and “ahhed” at the 1.2% drop in September. That’s right, just over a 1% drop from the biggest consumer spending September in history and people think the end has arrived. For every 100 big screens that would have sold, one didn’t. For every 1,000 shirts that would have been sold, only 988 were bought. Oh, Lordy, kill me now.
We are not in the midst of a plunge either to mercantilism or to communism. We’re okay. Something around 90% of the country made the same amount of money this month that they did last month. Heavens to Betsy. Americans are still rich. Americans are still fat. Americans still run the world. Any one who says differently is selling something. More specifically, selling a newspaper.
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