I saw an item on a shelf today that puzzled me. A pair of women's socks, manufactured by a company called Eros.
Really? Eros brand SOCKS?
Eros?
Socks?
I wish I had remembered to take a picture.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
And also...
Last night, I finished Buzzie Bavasi's remarkably self serving memoir, "Off The Record". Although I guess a non self serving memoir would be somewhat rare, wouldn't it?
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Hear That? It's The Brain Drain...
“The consequences of it are going to be a massive brain drain of senior talent from those companies that have taken TARP money to those companies that have not.” [Donald Straszheim, managing principal at Straszheim Global Advisor]
Unintentional comedy alert!
1) If you've taken TARP money, you have run your company into a ditch. How much brains did that take?
2) If you have run your company into a ditch, you think that makes you a candidate for other companies who aren't in the ditch?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again-to quote Douglas Adams, first against the wall when the revolution comes.
Unintentional comedy alert!
1) If you've taken TARP money, you have run your company into a ditch. How much brains did that take?
2) If you have run your company into a ditch, you think that makes you a candidate for other companies who aren't in the ditch?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again-to quote Douglas Adams, first against the wall when the revolution comes.
What I've Read
Already breaking my promises, here are the books I've recently finished:
"Baseball: The Golden Age" by Harold Seymour
"The Home Run Heard Round The World" by Ray Robinson
"Baseball When The Grass Was Real" by Donald Honig
"Baseball: The Golden Age" by Harold Seymour
"The Home Run Heard Round The World" by Ray Robinson
"Baseball When The Grass Was Real" by Donald Honig
Is there really any objection?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/business/04pay.html?_r=3&partner=rss&emc=rss
Hard to believe anyone objects to restricting executive pay for bailout cash recipients. If you want your pay uncapped, give us our money back!
Hard to believe anyone objects to restricting executive pay for bailout cash recipients. If you want your pay uncapped, give us our money back!
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
"Airliner"-the ITunes Shuffle Meme
Courtesy @aubs (aubreysabala.com), the ITunes Shuffle Meme. Put your ITunes on Shuffle, and write down the next song that pops up as the answer to the question.
What do your friends think of you?
"I've Got A Feeling", The Beatles
A feeling they can't hide. Oh Yeah.
If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
"Ebony and Ivory"(Live), Paul McCartney
I've always been a harmonizer.
How would you describe yourself?
"This Little Girl of Mine", Ray Charles
Huh?
What do you like in a guy/girl?
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer", The Beatles
Murder convictions are always a turnon.
How do you feel today?
"Patience", Guns and Roses
If you say so.
What is your life’s purpose?
"Hoodoo Man"(Live), Eric Clapton
What is your motto?
"You Can't Count On Me", Counting Crows
Eerie.
What do you think about very often?
"The Long Run", The Eagles
F*&king eerie.
What is 2 + 2?
"Candy's Room"(Live), Bruce Springsteen
Now we're back to meaningless.
What do you think of your best friend?
"The Unforgettable Fire"(Live), U2
What do you think of the person you like?
"The Battle of Evermore", Led Zeppelin
I can't say that I like that.
What is your life story?
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl", Jet
Tru dat.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
"Fuel"(Live), Metallica
Uh....what?
What do you think of when you see the person you like?
"Glass Onion", The Beatles
It is true that "nothing is real". However, my wife is not the walrus. Koo Koo Ka Choo.
What will you dance to at your wedding?
"High Water", Rush
Uh, no.
What will they play at your funeral?
"Begin the Begin", REM
Ironic.
What is your hobby/interest?
"She Moves On", Paul Simon
Uh oh.
What is your biggest fear?
"Seek and Destroy"(Live), Metallica
I guess I wouldn't mind being sought. Unless I owe you money.
What is your biggest secret?
"Zoo Station", U2
A bit surrealist, eh IPod?
What do you think of your friends?
"Too Late Too Late", Metallica
That's a little bit funny.
What will you post this as?
"Airliner", REM
Neat.
What do your friends think of you?
"I've Got A Feeling", The Beatles
A feeling they can't hide. Oh Yeah.
If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
"Ebony and Ivory"(Live), Paul McCartney
I've always been a harmonizer.
How would you describe yourself?
"This Little Girl of Mine", Ray Charles
Huh?
What do you like in a guy/girl?
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer", The Beatles
Murder convictions are always a turnon.
How do you feel today?
"Patience", Guns and Roses
If you say so.
What is your life’s purpose?
"Hoodoo Man"(Live), Eric Clapton
What is your motto?
"You Can't Count On Me", Counting Crows
Eerie.
What do you think about very often?
"The Long Run", The Eagles
F*&king eerie.
What is 2 + 2?
"Candy's Room"(Live), Bruce Springsteen
Now we're back to meaningless.
What do you think of your best friend?
"The Unforgettable Fire"(Live), U2
What do you think of the person you like?
"The Battle of Evermore", Led Zeppelin
I can't say that I like that.
What is your life story?
"Are You Gonna Be My Girl", Jet
Tru dat.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
"Fuel"(Live), Metallica
Uh....what?
What do you think of when you see the person you like?
"Glass Onion", The Beatles
It is true that "nothing is real". However, my wife is not the walrus. Koo Koo Ka Choo.
What will you dance to at your wedding?
"High Water", Rush
Uh, no.
What will they play at your funeral?
"Begin the Begin", REM
Ironic.
What is your hobby/interest?
"She Moves On", Paul Simon
Uh oh.
What is your biggest fear?
"Seek and Destroy"(Live), Metallica
I guess I wouldn't mind being sought. Unless I owe you money.
What is your biggest secret?
"Zoo Station", U2
A bit surrealist, eh IPod?
What do you think of your friends?
"Too Late Too Late", Metallica
That's a little bit funny.
What will you post this as?
"Airliner", REM
Neat.
Larry Kudlow, Professional Parrot
I checked in on CNBC and saw Larry Kudlow and a female anchor I did not know doing a segment about Barney Frank. Representative Frank had apparently had a meeting with reporters about the legislative agenda he planned to pursue in 2009. After some back and forth with the reporter on the scene, Kudlow snorted "if I may editorialize...how about lowering tax rates?"
Of course, for conservatives like Kudlow, lowering taxes is the solution to everything, including psoriasis and the Yankees' infield defense. But Larry? We tried it your way. It didn't work.
***
(I'm starting to think I should do something like that, to alert my 12 readers to a shift of tone, topic, or mood, so they won't think I'm schizophrenic.)(And yes, I know that schizophrenia is not split personalities, it is the split between the patient and the real world. On second thought, maybe I am schizophrenic.)
***
A woman I had a life threatening crush on in high school recently asked me(on Facebook, which is increasingly looking like a bad idea) how my life was. I didn't say this,(I said something equally full of wiseassery), but what I should have said was this:
My life is basically being an actor in a play that I have never read, in a place I have never been, in a language that I do not speak, with people I have never met before. In other words, my mental life is just basically the following phrases-
What? Who? Me? Now? I dont understand. When? You want to say that? OK. You mean now? Oh, I see. Yes. Really? Huh?-over and over again.
I've used this analogy before, and it's pretty close to the mark. I will continue to use it, I suspect, until someone pries it out of my skull with forceps. I think that Phil (philnugentexperience.blogspot.com) and Miss (butyoucancallmemiss.blogspot.com) will understand what I'm talking about with this analogy better than anyone.
Of course, for conservatives like Kudlow, lowering taxes is the solution to everything, including psoriasis and the Yankees' infield defense. But Larry? We tried it your way. It didn't work.
***
(I'm starting to think I should do something like that, to alert my 12 readers to a shift of tone, topic, or mood, so they won't think I'm schizophrenic.)(And yes, I know that schizophrenia is not split personalities, it is the split between the patient and the real world. On second thought, maybe I am schizophrenic.)
***
A woman I had a life threatening crush on in high school recently asked me(on Facebook, which is increasingly looking like a bad idea) how my life was. I didn't say this,(I said something equally full of wiseassery), but what I should have said was this:
My life is basically being an actor in a play that I have never read, in a place I have never been, in a language that I do not speak, with people I have never met before. In other words, my mental life is just basically the following phrases-
What? Who? Me? Now? I dont understand. When? You want to say that? OK. You mean now? Oh, I see. Yes. Really? Huh?-over and over again.
I've used this analogy before, and it's pretty close to the mark. I will continue to use it, I suspect, until someone pries it out of my skull with forceps. I think that Phil (philnugentexperience.blogspot.com) and Miss (butyoucancallmemiss.blogspot.com) will understand what I'm talking about with this analogy better than anyone.
Pedro Martinez
On the MLB Network's Hot Stove program, they were discussing the greatest pitching seasons of all time, and the panel was skeptical of Pedro's 1999 season being the top rated one on the list. In baseball, there is often this kind of attitude-anyone that we see or remember seeing can't possibly be the best ever.
But in 1999, Pedro Martinez posted a 2.07 ERA in a season when the league ERA was 5.02.
Suck on that.
But in 1999, Pedro Martinez posted a 2.07 ERA in a season when the league ERA was 5.02.
Suck on that.
Monday, February 02, 2009
'Ol Whatsisface Gets Busted
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/news/story?id=3878675
Apparently Olympic hero and All American Special Dude Michael Phelps was photographed smoking marijuana. Reminds me of the Eddie Izzard joke that recommends that performance debilitating drugs should obviously be allowed in Olympic sports.
Last night I watched the film "Juno" for the first time. I thought it was wonderful. The Ellen Page character was a little too precious and self assured to be a realistic teenager, but it was a really charming story, well acted and well written. I loved it.
Apparently Olympic hero and All American Special Dude Michael Phelps was photographed smoking marijuana. Reminds me of the Eddie Izzard joke that recommends that performance debilitating drugs should obviously be allowed in Olympic sports.
Last night I watched the film "Juno" for the first time. I thought it was wonderful. The Ellen Page character was a little too precious and self assured to be a realistic teenager, but it was a really charming story, well acted and well written. I loved it.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Apparently there was some sort of sporting event tonight....?
I managed to miss the first three quarters of the Most Important Game What Ever Was Played while helping my son finish his science project.
Fatherhood FTW!
Anyhow,
Stuff I Forgot To Say:
TTBOOK (To The Best Of Our Knowledge, a public radio program that is available as a podcast) was excellent this week-the topic was loneliness, an idea that one author linked to an ancient word, ascetia, (I may be misspelling that, but I don’t have Internet access right now to check.) meaning a sort of spiritual restlessness and revulsion to human contact-almost like a midlife crisis. I knew exactly what she meant, and as soon as I can look up her name I will probably buy the book.
Dan Carlin’s Common Sense was also extraordinary. Dan described letters and emails he had received that described him as “un-American” due to his opposition to America’s adventures overseas. Dan very neatly pointed out that his “radical” idea that the American armed forces should demobilize in peacetime is one that comes directly from the founders, and is thus as American as all get out.
The third wonderful podcast I listened to was Bill Moyers’ Journal, which had a long, pseudo military historical discussion about the bombing of civilians. They raised an interesting point-it hasn’t ever worked, really. At least, not on its own. The lone exception I can come up with is the atomic bombing of Japan-but that doesn’t really count because that was an utterly new weapon, and also not really the carpet bombing or precision strikes of the modern era. (I have Carlos Mencia’s voice running through my head right now, in an exaggerated, B movie Japanese accent-“they drop TWO BOMBS!”)
But think about it-even in the pre-airplane age, total war, intended to break civilian morale and thus bring their government to heel, never works, does it? The British in the Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, World Wars One and Two, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and even the current CIA Predator strikes-trying to dishearten doesn’t seem to work. It may assist in a military campaign sure, but in every case, to get anything done, you need to go in there with troops and seize territory and hold it.
It is pleasurable to seize upon a new idea, to learn something for the first time.
Fatherhood FTW!
Anyhow,
Stuff I Forgot To Say:
TTBOOK (To The Best Of Our Knowledge, a public radio program that is available as a podcast) was excellent this week-the topic was loneliness, an idea that one author linked to an ancient word, ascetia, (I may be misspelling that, but I don’t have Internet access right now to check.) meaning a sort of spiritual restlessness and revulsion to human contact-almost like a midlife crisis. I knew exactly what she meant, and as soon as I can look up her name I will probably buy the book.
Dan Carlin’s Common Sense was also extraordinary. Dan described letters and emails he had received that described him as “un-American” due to his opposition to America’s adventures overseas. Dan very neatly pointed out that his “radical” idea that the American armed forces should demobilize in peacetime is one that comes directly from the founders, and is thus as American as all get out.
The third wonderful podcast I listened to was Bill Moyers’ Journal, which had a long, pseudo military historical discussion about the bombing of civilians. They raised an interesting point-it hasn’t ever worked, really. At least, not on its own. The lone exception I can come up with is the atomic bombing of Japan-but that doesn’t really count because that was an utterly new weapon, and also not really the carpet bombing or precision strikes of the modern era. (I have Carlos Mencia’s voice running through my head right now, in an exaggerated, B movie Japanese accent-“they drop TWO BOMBS!”)
But think about it-even in the pre-airplane age, total war, intended to break civilian morale and thus bring their government to heel, never works, does it? The British in the Revolutionary War, the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, World Wars One and Two, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and even the current CIA Predator strikes-trying to dishearten doesn’t seem to work. It may assist in a military campaign sure, but in every case, to get anything done, you need to go in there with troops and seize territory and hold it.
It is pleasurable to seize upon a new idea, to learn something for the first time.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Been a long time...
http://tinyurl.com/dm5wry
This happened near my nominal supervisor's house. It seems that this kind of thing-taking hostages, people just going stark raving bananas-is going to just get worse and worse until we come up with a world economic system that is, you know, systemic. And economic.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39951
I wish I had heard about this before Friday, so I could have watched. Any unreleased, non public Bill Hicks is worth watching.
http://tinyurl.com/cj4u7s
Just in case you had any doubt that you were being screwed, the IRS reports that the richest 400 Americans had their tax rates fall by one third and their average income double from 2000-2006.
www.dancarlin.com
I really can't say enough good things about Dan Carlin. Always insightful, well reasoned, though challenging to listen to. Dan always makes you think and often makes you rethink things you thought you had decided.
Oh, by the way-the Red Sox reached an agreement to bring back Jason Varitek for the 2009 season. Hopefully, the agreement included agreeing that Jason would no longer hit like Marc Sullivan.
This happened near my nominal supervisor's house. It seems that this kind of thing-taking hostages, people just going stark raving bananas-is going to just get worse and worse until we come up with a world economic system that is, you know, systemic. And economic.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39951
I wish I had heard about this before Friday, so I could have watched. Any unreleased, non public Bill Hicks is worth watching.
http://tinyurl.com/cj4u7s
Just in case you had any doubt that you were being screwed, the IRS reports that the richest 400 Americans had their tax rates fall by one third and their average income double from 2000-2006.
www.dancarlin.com
I really can't say enough good things about Dan Carlin. Always insightful, well reasoned, though challenging to listen to. Dan always makes you think and often makes you rethink things you thought you had decided.
Oh, by the way-the Red Sox reached an agreement to bring back Jason Varitek for the 2009 season. Hopefully, the agreement included agreeing that Jason would no longer hit like Marc Sullivan.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Panic Urgently
http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2009/01/the-difference-between-panic-and-urgency.html
Posts like this depress me. I wish I worked for smart people like this.
Posts like this depress me. I wish I worked for smart people like this.
To borrow a phrase....
...first against the wall when the revolution comes...
http://tinyurl.com/bx75ev
Seriously? 18 billion dollars of our money for Wall Street bonuses in 2008? Are you nucking futs?
Their argument is usually that they need bonuses to retain "top talent". Really? If these are the top people, I think we need to go back to letting the monkeys pick the stocks. (I am referring to the example of random stock selection at times being equal to or superior to experts.)
http://tinyurl.com/6unxgt
This is kind of neat. The St. Petersburg paper has an online meter tracking President Obama's campaign promises.
www.historicaltweets.com
An amusing little site consisting of imagined Twitter messages from throughout history.
I don't know how Republicans are opposing the bailout. I really don't. These are your fellow Americans suffering here. You don't think it's a good idea? Well, we tried your ideas-they didn't work. We tried shoveling money into Wall Street and banks-it didn't work. At a certain point, you have to act like statesmen.
http://tinyurl.com/bx75ev
Seriously? 18 billion dollars of our money for Wall Street bonuses in 2008? Are you nucking futs?
Their argument is usually that they need bonuses to retain "top talent". Really? If these are the top people, I think we need to go back to letting the monkeys pick the stocks. (I am referring to the example of random stock selection at times being equal to or superior to experts.)
http://tinyurl.com/6unxgt
This is kind of neat. The St. Petersburg paper has an online meter tracking President Obama's campaign promises.
www.historicaltweets.com
An amusing little site consisting of imagined Twitter messages from throughout history.
I don't know how Republicans are opposing the bailout. I really don't. These are your fellow Americans suffering here. You don't think it's a good idea? Well, we tried your ideas-they didn't work. We tried shoveling money into Wall Street and banks-it didn't work. At a certain point, you have to act like statesmen.
Someone has too much time on their hands
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/obama_portrait_drawn_on_an_etchaske.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)