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Greer Trice › Comments
PayPal Denies $450 of Unauthorized Charges - http://chris.pirillo.com/2008...
Brenda Young, LPH™ and his dog P™, Michelle and 16 other people liked this
PayPal are the single worst payment processor the world has ever seen, and they have deliberate policies of corporate thievery which totally screw their customers. It took me three years to cancel my account with them, and that was only possible after the registered credit card expired. $450 is nothing. Some have been taken for tens of thousands.
- John Samuelson
Please see http://www.paypalsucks.com/ for many examples.
- John Samuelson
OK, so Apple messed up their security, they charged the wrong man, and shipped the increadibly valuable giftcards for content licensing. However, PayPal has to pay the bill for Apple's mess. And this would cost PayPal some real USD 450, while Appla would have lost the some licensing income it was not entitled to in the first place. This is not to say that PayPal should not be a LOT more prepared to protect their customers. However, Apple is much more to blame. Hey Apple, give that man his money back!
- Andrey Andreev
from twhirl
According to PayPal accepting their ToS (Terms of Service) in effect means you waive your rights to credit card consumer protection laws if you want to use their service, and that you may not issue a chargeback for unauthorized use of your credit card and PayPal account, or if you do, then they have the right to limit your account. Is this legal? We don't know. But it's how Paypal operates. See my credit card waiver page for more information.
- John Samuelson
I have a 2 posts about PayPal difficulties that I experienced lately and I get overwhelmed with negative reactions from Dutch PayPal users. Accounts are frosen and the users can't do a thing about and little reaction from Paypal.
- Erno Hannink
Yeah, reading this it's really hard to see how PayPal is the villain. If they were responsible for the $450, it would give "preauthorized" Web site owners little incentive to beef up their security or audit their systems. After all, PayPal would be on the hook for any problems that arose. I'd think differently if PayPal's system had been compromised, resulting in a loss.
- mrshl
This post seems off target to me. Apple is the company that currently has $450 of his money. Why would PayPal be responsible for paying him back?
- Dan T
That seems like the correct course of action on Paypal's part, to have Apple reverse the charge and not Paypal. If Apple is the cause of the issue (admittedly) then they should have no problem reversing it. Unfortunately, instead of authorizing each transaction, he used a pre-approval option that allows Apple to directly take out the money without his authorization, otherwise it would have likely been resolved much sooner and more easily than this.
- cmiper
PayPal sucks. Heard HORROR stories from my business friends. A lot of top people at PayPal have gone on to great business positions, but they've always sacrificed customer service (from what I heard). (1) I leave as little money as possible in my PayPal accounts (2) Do NOT connect PayPal to any bank accounts with serious money in them. Open a new bank account just for PayPal. PayPal has been known to suck $5-10K back from a bank account. They are not a bank, and not subject to the usual regs!
- Mitchell Tsai
A real CC/Bank gives you an EXTRA layer of protection & added clout when negotiating with a seller. Not only will I take you to court, my bank will reverse the charge. You forfeit that with PayPal (something to consider with all these business ideas for internet money-handling) and with Debit Cards. I've had a bad credit-reversal argument with Washington Mutual concerning my Debit Card (only $99, but it's the principle). Now I use disposable $25 debit cards for internet nonsense (& hotel reservations).
- Mitchell Tsai
Maybe if enough people raise hell about this, they will snap out of their pipedream and realize that a potential exodus of millions of customers and dollars would not produce a net gain, and that their petty fretting over pittances could cost them a real fortune.
- david beckwith
Err, but what other choice do I have?
- Yuvi
That is why I keep my PayPal account "Un-Verified", use a card with VISA on it for member protection and only when I go into a selling streak do I verify to an bank account specifically for that use, with minimum funds in it. Say $20. PayPal can do things to me as they wish. When they have, I called VISA, told them what happened and they handled the situation within a few hours as matter of fact.
- Greer Trice
There is a great saying I once heard "You may agree to waive anything you please, but that does not change the rule of law". The quote was from the California Department of Labor, in reference to System Administrators being subject to overtime as opposed to what their employment agreements state. So PayPal can say what they wish, fraud is fraud.
- Greer Trice
I once had a huge problem with eBay and it was semi-combined with Paypal. Paypal came to bat, for me, and offered to pay eBay, on their own, to resolve the situation. Ironic considering they really are one-in-the-same, but my eBay seller account needed immediate action and only Paypal had a customer service telephone option. I've decided to limit my connections with them.. to limit my own personal liability.. because of what I've read.. for many years, now.
- Heidi Jeffers Thibodeau
pls i need your help about credit card.. pls i need credit card to register in. in one site
- kola
Mortgage defaults hit record in state, Bay Area - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin...
Daniel Rowley, Julie Bovee Hill, Helen Sventitsky and 14 other people liked this
"(04-22) 19:41 PDT -- In an ominous sign that foreclosures may soon surge, the number of mortgage default notices in California and the Bay Area rose to record levels in the first quarter of 2009, according to a report from a real estate information service. Such notices typically precede foreclosures by a few months. The huge rise in defaults means that scores of bargain-priced bank-owned properties could inundate the struggling real estate market during the key spring and summer selling season. "Given that foreclosures undermine price stability, this calls into question how likely it is that price stability is around the corner," said Andrew LePage, an analyst with San Diego's MDA DataQuick, which released the report Wednesday. Mark Hanson, managing director of the Field Check Group, a Menlo Park research firm specializing in mortgages and housing, said the downward pressure on prices will be significant."
- Thomas Hawk
from Bookmarklet
Not good. Yikes.
- Robert Scoble
Sometimes it's awful to hit "Like" on a post. This is one of those times. I second Robert's "Yikes". Hold on tight.
- Rob Schieber
Yeah I think it's a combination of an area that's incredibly house-poor, and property taxes hitting us in april 10th.
- anna sauce
Residential value is all perception based, so stability is tenuous. The thing to watch is commercial real estate, as it continues in decline and crashes it heralds the next wave of decline.
- Greer Trice
"A particularly toxic period appears to have been August through November 2006 which had more than a 9 percent default rate. Of the 2.1 million loans made in 2007, it's 4.6 percent - a percentage that's likely to rise significantly during the rest of this year."http://www.dqnews.com/Article...
- Steve
And the so called Obama moratorium on foreclosures was lifted in March. I know I am not yet ready to call a bottom.
- Steve
Frank: California led the nation in overpriced housing. So the problem will be bad here. Plus our economy is really sputtering, many people didn't keep their skills up to date and now are on the street. Working for big companies for a decade or more encourages employees to specialize on jobs that aren't really needed anymore. Then when those companies downsize those employees are on the street with expensive houses to try to pay off. Not gonna happen.
- Robert Scoble
I think it's great for those who consciously stayed out of the market - and may soon be bargain hunting. Way further to go yet, though.
- Anthony Citrano
Great point about corporations and specialization, Robert. That usually gets ignored when talking about problems with the economy.
- Robin Barooah
When you live in a snowy place, you start to think to yourself, "How much would I pay to make this cold and snow go away." Then you start to think, "How much would I pay... per sq ft?" My new price metric is price / sq ft per available outside day. Then CA real estate doesn't seem so overpriced. In Boston, we can only go outside comfortably 6 months a year.
- Nathan Wenzel
Nathan: exactly. (tangent: Boston has a lot of smart, creative people, and I miss my funky place there on FP Channel.) But I don't miss the weather. Anyway, I think your metric is very sensible.
- Anthony Citrano
When I think my apt in SF is overpriced, I compare my old rent, per day, to the hotels 1 block over, and it's not so expensive.
- anna sauce
what should I have for lunch???
I am heavily engaged in Iron Chef Los Altos - Battle Salad!
- Greer Trice
Privatizing Success, Socializing Failure: FAIL - http://radar.oreilly.com/2009...
Greer Trice, Daniel Rowley, David HC Soul and 8 other people liked this
Hmm. Part of what's going on is that we see very few systems that are actually geared to promoting success. Instead, successful actors largely tend to game the system to prevent competition, and subsequent successful actors have to route around the gamed system in some way in order to succeed. This of course perpetuates the cultural myth that you're talking about here.
- Michael R. Bernstein
There is not the same level of accountability between risk and reward. Look, when things are going well, you always hear about who gets credit for it but yet when things go south, all of a sudden the cash flow is fungible. BULLSHIT.
- ld
Come on Tim, the prols are used to getting it sticked to'em; if you're not part of the elite in the US the system is not for you
- Bob Sonin
Good post Tim.
- Greer Trice
Hulu: We're evil, and proud of it - http://friendfeedlinks.com/show...
Rob Sellen :o), Tyson Key and Greer Trice liked this
Alex Baldwin, yep!
- Greer Trice
what is your favorite XBOX game? - http://brightkite.com/objects...
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Noooo. no Xbox!
- Greer Trice
Greer I got it for free :)
- Anne Haynes
OK I MADE THAT COFFEE TOO STRONG. HELLO MONDAY
Varun Shenoy, Nate Pilling, Lainie and 9 other people liked this
HELLO BWANA
- Shey, Jamaican of FF
silencio :)
- Holger Eilhard
Strong Coff-ay= Good!
- Greer Trice
Bwana Caffeine .... I like the sound of it!
- Charlie Anzman
HI SHEY. HOWS IT GOING. HELLO EVERYONE ELSE
- Bwana ☠
BWANA. COFFEE. KOKO LIKE. WANT.
- B. Hatin
MOSTLY CORRECT
- Bwana ☠
Was that the special weasel vomit coffee? http://bit.ly/1EMtmc
- Stephen Pierzchala
I AM WELL BWANA. STRONG COFFEE == GOOD IDEA FOR MONDAY.
- Shey, Jamaican of FF
I say just add more milk. 1/2 and 1/2 if you've got. Edge on, blaze on with inspiration!
- John McElhenney 2.0
You know you are drinking that coffee, staring at the nearest wall knowing you can run up it and flip backwards :) Do it!
- Joe Dawson
T-HERE IS N0 SUCH THING AS TO-O MUCH COFFEE OR COFF-E-e THAT IS TOO STR0NG.
- Sparky, a big deal
Barney Frank just announced that he's going to hold hearings in Congress next week on a bill to advance $25 Billion to bail out the U.S. auto industry.
Brian, Gordon Saunders, Karoli and 5 other people liked this
Bummer. :(
- Jason Shultz
from twhirl
I don't think that it's going to gain the political momentum to pass in the end. I still predict GM files Chapter 11 by Christmas. There's already a bad taste in people's mouths about the last bailout and I think politically most people think that we just ought to let the automakers fail.
- Thomas Hawk
Without preconditions, we may as well just burn the money. Its just putting off the obvious - the present business model is not working.
- jcunwired
Ever done it? It can be a lot of fun!
- Greer Trice
Lucky for the automakers, Frank, Feinstein, Pelosi and their ilk would never even consider listening to the people that they represent...
- MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)
Instead of funding bad companies, let put money in new tech like Tesla. I would rather give them a huge loan to take over GM's manufacturing and build electric vehicles.
- CW™
I agree with JC. I just called my senators and representatives to encourage them to not support the bailout. Of course, I'm not a lobbyist so why will they listen to me?
- Jason Shultz
from twhirl
Even if they get the money, would you buy a GM car after all this talk of bankruptcy? I doubt many car buyers would feel optimistic about warranty support and resale value.
- Steven Cains
They should do what the IMF and World Bank do -- loan them money at crazy interest rates and then put officials on their boards to make sure they're following all of their crazy rules
- Shey, Jamaican of FF
Capitalism doesn't work when you remove the disincentive to do stupid things. GM should fail b/c they're not competitive. Fail or become competitive. Who will be next in line for a big-government handout?
- Dave Roth
@Dave In principle, I agree. But it's hard to swallow thousands of people losing their jobs.
- Shey, Jamaican of FF
@Shey It is. Let this be a lesson to others: own your own retirement, don't count on anyone else (read Social Security) to take care of that for you.
- Dave Roth
Let them fail. The automakers failing IS capitalism "working". They do not produce a product people want at a price people will pay - so they fail. That isn't an indictment of capitalism but a example of why it works. Capitalism is the business version of natural selection. Of the auto makers aren't truely free players though - in many places, for instance, their ability to deal with...
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- Soulhuntre
from twhirl
I can swallow it. Innovation and Creativity can arise from the ashes of failure. No longer constrained by the fear of losing their jobs, many will take the opportunity to fulfill their dream of creating something of their own. At least, that's the terribly optimistic view.
- Jason Shultz
from twhirl
even if they fail and run out of money they got hard assets like plants, They'd go through the usual bankrupt reorganizing and still be around in some form. If the banks fail they don't have the hard assets, all they got is people's confidence, and that can't be regained easily (at least thats what I got from my insane macroeconomics professor who ranted on this yesterday)
- BCK
Do not like!
- AJ Kohn
hearings are going to be on next Wed. I suspect they'll carry them live on CNBC.
- Thomas Hawk
all the cable news networks will probably carry them, and of course they're good old CSPAN
- BCK
More details on what Barney Frank is proposing here: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps...
- Thomas Hawk
"`Where does this stop?'' Bachus said. ``We started with financial services, we went from banks to insurance companies,'' he said. ``Does it end with manufacturing? What about retail?'' In addition to passing through the Democratic-controlled House, any legislation must be approved by the Senate, where the minority Republicans can stall legislation through endless debate. There, the top...
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- Thomas Hawk
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday she wants ``immediate action'' to give automakers additional assistance as shares of General Motors Corp. yesterday hit their lowest level since 1943 and analysts say the company faces possible bankruptcy. President George W. Bush hasn't yet said he would approve any further aid to those companies.
- Thomas Hawk
I can't add to this convo except to say I don't approve of this bailout, even though a lot of people are going to lose their jobs. Like other people already said, this won't teach failing companies to take responsibility for their mistakes.
- Cheryl Jones
No, but it does allow the government to keep its friends happy, by giving them our money.
- Ian May
Let's just give every failed industry a key to Fort Knox.
- Michael Tefft
@Michael I'll be first in line at the door.
- Jason Shultz
from twhirl
All of this bailout shit.... I'm still not seeing fuck-all of what's in it for ME. Do I get shares of any of these companies in exchange for my financial support? Do I get any kind of ownership or control or reward? Screw these companies. Let them burn, and let's get our economy back DOWN to where it's apparently meant to be. It's not even a house of cards; it's a house of ... pudding. Rotten, rotten pudding.
- abacab
Sure, Michael. I'll go right into the buggy-whip industry, then.
- Ladybug Heather
This makes me sick to my stomach. http://www.npr.org/news... They are losing because they are bloated. Get Lean or die
- Christian Burns
The 460,000 retirees and $1500/vehicle in health costs mentioned in the NPR story above are a big part of the problem. I wonder how much it would cost for the government to assume responsibility for supporting those 400K+ folks?
- Ken Sheppardson
looks like Obama wants to help them. It will be interesting to see how this plays out this week.
- Thomas Hawk
"It's a good night to be an American," Maryam Scoble, on the evening of her first vote.
Susan Beebe, Alex Kapranoff, Sarah Perez and 38 other people liked this
Now watch her people be handed to hell in a handbasket.
- Trevor Carpenter
That's some serious bitterness, Trevor. Just watch and wait. I don't think any one of us knows exactly what will happen.
- Victor Ganata
Way to keep hope alive there, Trev.
- Kevin Leroux
Trevor is very close to earning a block. It's time to end the partisan crap.
- Robert Scoble
I'm going out of my way to follow people (like Trevor) who push my buttons politically. I don't want my mind to live in a political echo chamber.
- Daniel J. Pritchett
What a great election to have voted for the first time. Congrats, Maryam!
- Trish R
I appreciate Trevor's opinion even though I don't always agree with him (in fact I think we are polar opposites on many issues), he does definitely bring up issues that generate interesting conversation. But the bitterness will get old rather quickly. If we really want to rebuild America so that it truly represents most everyone's interests, the bitterness, bickering and bi-partisanship must be put aside. We will have to agree to disagree on some topics, even hot button ones such as abortion.
- Jeff P. Henderson
Daniel, I totally agree. I have never seen Trevor call anyone names, he has rational arguments and deep convictions. Although I disagree with many of his beliefs, I appreciate his opinion. It's boring to be around people that always agree with you.
- Michelle Martinez
OK I am missing something? Why is Scoble in a handbasket going to hell? Or is that some new marketing label the Chinese Ministry of Tourism is using to draw more visitors to Shanghai?
- Greer Trice
Greer: sitting next to me is a guy. I think he was talking to his daughter about his wife, who is going to China with him. He says into the phone "I'll keep her from going down the wrong alley." That got me to think "can you show me where that alley is?" :-)
- Robert Scoble
Robert, what was the wrong that was contained in the alley? Shopping? Or actual Chinese people living regular lives? Not to mention an outstanding bowl of something. . .
- Greer Trice
I wish all consumer electronics buyers would come to China and see the impact of the pollution here from making things for you.
Kamilah Gill, Susan Beebe, Melanie Reed and 32 other people liked this
Hah!!! Al Gore went to china and they laughed and mocked him.
- tony
Yes, but gadgets are soooo good!
- Morton Fox
The 60 Minutes piece was shocking. The pile of monitors and the river of ash was just wow
- Rodfather
Can someone link to the 60 minutes special?
- Patricia
So it's our fault? :)
- Bwana ☠
We used to make things in this country (and we have the Superfund sites to prove it). I'd like to have the manufacturing back, but could do without the pollution. Are we smart enough?
- Jason Wehmhoener
@Jason yes smart, but our government is moved by $ and so is business so they'd sneak away with as much as they can get away with.
- Patricia
I also saw that piece on 60 Minutes. It made me sick. People are exploiting other people and the environment for short-term profits.
- imabonehead
They could get away with less if we were willing to regulate. We can't regulate because we're told it increases the cost of business too much to compete in a global economy. We need to pay more for safety and health regulated local goods for the health of our economy and our environment, but we can't even pay our personal debts as it is. Are we smart enough?
- Jason Wehmhoener
so how are you liking Shenzhen? Have you seen blue sky yet?
- clarke thomas
@imabonehead, that's everywhere. The problem is, consumers want cheap prices, food that last longer, etc. It's a vicious cycle.
- Patricia
@Jason The cost of doing business in America would increase the costs of those products. While you'd surely sell to people who are environmentally friendly and/or very "Buy American" for the most part, people will buy what gives them the most bang for their buck. See the auto industry for examples.
- EricaJoy
Yes, Erica, I agree. It's a very dangerous situation.
- Jason Wehmhoener
The pollution is bad, but the U.S. wasn't limited in its pollution as it cranked through the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th/early 20th century. It's tough to crack down on others when we had our period of excess. Agree it is a problem though.
- Hutch Carpenter
the general populace in any western country is greedy before they are 'green.' Though China does take greed to a new level.
- clarke thomas
yeah its like climbing to the top of a heap, and then yelling at all those climbing behind (some of which you climbed over) to "stop climbing up as you are damaging the heap".
- Michael Neale
Curious - is anybody interested in helping drive change on this? If so, how?
- Patricia
Excellent point, Hutch(@bhc3)
- Micah Wittman
And don't forget the pollution associated with transporting it across the planet, typically by air, one of the worst transportation polluters. I have been to China and the pollution in most of SE Asia is pretty dismal (as it was in the UK in the 19th century and the US in the 20th). Buy less. Be happy.
- Kenley Neufeld
I remember seeing some footage a while back of children picking through the batteries in China, it made me feel shocked and sad!
- Joe Dawson
I'm mostly a buy less / be happy kind of guy, but I'm planning to replace the TV I got 9 years ago (secondhand – I don't know how old it was originally) to go from CRT to LCD. I'll probably put the old TV into the guest room but eventually I'll have to send it somewhere for recycling. I certainly hope new TVs travel by container ship and not by air! Why would profit-driven companies use expensive air transport instead of cheap ship transport?
- Amit Patel
We can't change China. We can change our own spending habits, and we can change our own laws.Can we figure out how to encourage American manufacturing while protecting labor rights & the environment? If we really don't know how to do our thing without complete and total dependence on China, then we're in trouble in more ways than one. I know the status quo is that we "can't compete" with their lax regulatory environment, but the situation is unsustainable.
- Jason Wehmhoener
Jason: it's not just their lax regulatory environment, it's that they are way lower cost, way faster, have way bigger scale, and have now an ecosystem and a platform that is going to prove to be very difficult to compete on. I think we need to totally change the game. How about we get rid of all coal plants and go completely nuclear and solar? That will give us expertise in a new place, and infrastructure that will let us compete head on with them. But we only have five year window to do something that big.
- Robert Scoble
I don't think it's possible for us to do that inside of 5 years, the whole trnsmission lines need to be updated to work
- Justin Yost
Maybe a huge part of the problem ties to our desire to look important by having stuff. It drove our credit card problem, mortgage problem to a degree, so it only makes sense that it's creating this mess too. Less is the new more. :)
- Patricia
Robert, not sure where you get the "five year" figure. Also not convinced that energy leadership is sufficiently game changing. Lax environmental and labor regulations really are a very large part of the larger scale, lower cost and higher efficiency. Capitalism works "better" when you put corporate interests above human interests. It's a simple fact. We probably need to alter our expectations as a culture. We should place more value on local production and less on global consumption.
- Jason Wehmhoener
Justin: China is building a new coal plant every few days. We need to start and start in a big way. This needs to be our moon shot.
- Robert Scoble
Jason: because China is evolving SO QUICKLY it is unreal. The last time I was in Shanghai the TV Tower was the only building on that side of the river. Today there's an entire major city there with dozens of skyscrapers. That's in 12 years. So, that's where I got the five year window from. China will take away our air supply if we wait longer. Literally.
- Robert Scoble
@scoble, I agree that we do need to do so, and we do need to start yesterday, I just don't see anything happening political will isn't there, consumers ignore while prices are low, no one is willing to take the hit to do so, and even if everybody was onboard, I don't see the whole transmission grid being rebuilt inside of 5 or even 10 years
- Justin Yost
None of these buildings existed 12 years ago except for the TV tower. http://www.flickr.com/photos... Now, look out 12 more years. How much else is China going to do? A LOT.
- Robert Scoble
I'm all for an energy moon shot. I agree that it is essential. I just remain unconvinced that it is "the answer". We need to change the game on so many fronts, it's pretty overwhelming to ponder, especially when you encounter nothing but resistance to any suggestion that our spendthrift culture needs to alter its values.
- Jason Wehmhoener
Values will only change with a large-scale change in circumstance. And what are our circumstances? Unemployment at 6.5% and energy is cheaper again. Values stagnate. I wish we had put a $3 floor on gas prices, like so many 'liberal communists' had suggested.
- Christopher Galtenberg
Jason, it's not the answer. It's a start on a process. China is taking a 50 year approach to rebuilding their country. We need to do the same thing, but even bigger scale and with international support.
- Robert Scoble
Hey, there's the long-term view, cool. I like the sound of "50 year". When we can look past the next quarterly earnings report we'll be getting somewhere.
- Jason Wehmhoener
@Robert Scoble Their plan is strategic, to gain a large market share in manufacture of consumer goods giving them economic leverage over their traditional adversaries in the West.
- Greer Trice
@Jason Wehmhoener - Yes, the ONLY way we will be able to achieve a sustainable anything is to regress as Dr. Patel said in Robert's interview. Sustainability by its very definition demands that you take a long term view in planning, operations, purchasing and disposal. Locally we ban bottled water, buy carbon credits, and drive a hybrid. All band-aid fixes to our sagging economic bubble. .
- Greer Trice
We have nationally become a society of entitled consumers. We need to look inward for solutions. It is not a short-term fix, it is not an easy row to hoe. It means manufacturing onshore, using local talent which in reality is available, just not at the delightful rates you can import it. The way to "Fix" the economy and achieve sustainability is to start from yourself and work outward from there.
- Greer Trice
Thank you Robert for bringing that out. I recall seeing the pictures of chinese citizens wearing masks years ago while sitting in a doctor's office for (immunology and complex allergies) MCS. They called people like me "canaries" because of the canaries that coal miners used to carry into the mine to warn them of poisonous gas.
- Melanie Reed
I was also selected by a scholarship program to go to China as a student IT representative this year (in May) but had to turn it down because of the pollution content there.
- Melanie Reed
Greer, I agree, well said. However, "yourself" isn't going to be sufficient either. We all need to make this change. It's personal, but we need to support each other in this effort, so it's also collaborative. We need a supportive atmosphere for change. I'd like to stop hearing "it's impossible" when the subject comes up. I do see attitudes shifting, so I'm hopeful.
- Jason Wehmhoener
I almost went to China but couldn't go at the last minute because of SARS :(
- Kamilah Gill
What put the final nail in McCain's election coffin? The RIAA endorsing him.
Chris Loft, Roberto Bonini, CW™ and 8 other people liked this
He made several mistakes. 1. Not having a clear, consistent, theme. Obama always had one: change. 2. Palin. It became more clear over time that she wasn't ready and, worse, was plain mean and was too far to the right. 3. Economy. Saying "fundamentals are sound" right when the stock market is blowing up was idiotic. 4. Imagery. Six weeks ago I thought McCain had taken control of the...
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- Robert Scoble
Scobles, I like to think it was Dick Cheney's endorsement that finally did it. :) My opinion honestly is that the overall strategy of negative campaigning is exclusionary. Every week McCain's campaign was alienating some group of Americans just to try to smear Obama. After a while, not only did those smears become unbelievable, but it was easy for Obama's campaign to scoop those disaffected folks up.
- Phil G
I thought it was Dick Cheney endorsing him ;) Seriously, though, as I've said to others, the Republicans could have run Baby Jesus and Ronald Reagan in 2008 and lost. There was just too much going against them. Barack Obama's win wouldn't have happened without George Bush's disastrous Presidency.
- John Craft
Phil, you have a point. One of my favorite journalists predicted an Obama v. McCain race a year ago, because they were the only two candidates in the field who came across as authentic. But once McC got the nomination and the RNC took control, he seemed to lose himself, lost his authentic voice. His concession speech last night, that was authentic McCain, without the RNC electioneering BS. So it may not have been the final nail, but I think that it was the fatal flaw in McCain's campaign.
- Ladybug Heather
Did they? WoW, I could not wade through the Obama is this, Palin is that stuff to see that. . .
- Greer Trice
I'm surprised the RIAA endorsed him, they've had Joe Biden in their back pocket for years.
- Thomas Hawk
Thomas: they hedged their bets...money and power do not discriminate or take sides...both parties freely feed at the trough....
- Live4Emma (L4S)
Dunno, but that Cheney endorsement was positively heaven-sent :)
- Richard ¿digame? Walker
For me it was a trifecta of Palin, the RNC and that Smile. I'm a Christian and a Republican but voted pretty much a straight Democratic ticket, because I'm man enough to admit we need hope and change. I think McCain's a good guy and a good senator but we need Clinton's and Reagen's as our president and I think Obama has shown he can play at that level.
- Shawn McCollum
Talk to Obama, Yes we can! http://www.igorthetroll.com/blog...
- Igor The Troll יִצְחָק
McCain's defeat was mostly because the GOP has abandoned conservatives. The election should flush out the Country Club Republicians and hopefully bring the GOP back to real, Reagan style, conservativism. Small government, low taxes, personal freedom.
- Robert Hafer
I think it's the opposite, that the GOP clung to an idea of a shell of what it used to be, and seemed oblivious to the big problems that their old philosophy didn't have the substance to address
- Christopher Galtenberg
This election was lost for the GOP from the get go! Anti Bush Fuck Up! Period!
- Igor The Troll יִצְחָק
Except Reagan wasn't a real conservative either
- Michael W. May
@Robert - I agree with you, but only to a point. Rather, I think the attributes of "conservatism" are in the process of changing. The moment social policy trumped economics, security & federalism as the hallmarks of the conservative agenda - this would be post-Reagan and probably post-Newt but pre-W, "conservatives" unwittingly began to look very much like hypocritical socialists in sheep's clothing. The result has been a tremendously conflicted Republican base and brand.
- Forrest Cox
@Robert the statement about the fundamentals in the economy being right made by McCain was correct at the time. You are mistaking the stock market which is only a part of the economy with the whole economy. I don't think that America has still reached the technical definition of economy in recession as indeed at the time your economy was still growing, slowly but growing. There are more parts in the economy than the markets and the financial sector. I think now you are either below 1% growth or going negat
- Cibeles
People mistake the markets with the whole economy, and the markets and the financial system are only a PART of it, so the markets going down as painful as it can be for someone having shares doesn't mean the economy is crashing per se, you need more things to happen like the crisis in the automotive sector to start really dragging an economy down. Believe it or not you might not still be in recession, or at least what economists consider recession. Ireland for instance IS in recession already
- Cibeles
I don't think he had much of a chance from the beginning. He was going to lose given the anti-republican and anti-bush feeling
- Bindu Reddy
Republicans in 2008 said to highly educated people: "we hate you." We're going to try to win by spreading our hate. Final results: 58 to 40.
Michael Hart, david beckwith, Alex Scoble and 12 other people liked this
The highly educated people slapped back yesterday. Did you see that almost the entire South went for McCain? Real divide still exists there.
- Robert Scoble
The entire south goes republican regardless of who's running. Which is ironic, given the lower income levels here means they invariably get screwed by trickle down economics.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
South still red (no neck jokes) - BUT-- VA, NC, FL (to the extent it is part of the South) all went Obama. That sounds like erosion to me-- maybe
- Doug Haslam
from twhirl
Dave: Texas went for McCain. I'm talking about electoral college.
- Robert Scoble
@Doug - I was thinking about those states (as I am in FL). Can they be considered to have "turned blue" when the margins in those states were only by 1 or 2 percentage points? Will it hold up in a year? Four years?
- JA Castillo
Voters with a post-graduate degree went for Obama 58 to 40 percent and they were 17% of the total. The Republican party is becoming the home of the yahoos and the people left behind.
- Jay Rosen
Robert, the divide exists everywhere. It is just a matter of degree. It isn't about education. It is about control. I don't want to sound like I am defending McCain voters, I'm not. The difference in education isn't the cause, it's a symptom. People that spend large amounts of money and time in colleges and universities have different values than those who choose not to... doesn't make them stupid... inferior... or worse.
- Steve Olson
It isn't erosion. We have to be careful to see this for what it truly is. Not a mandate for the President-elect Mr Obama, but a measure of the dissatisfaction of the American people. The first year in office will be quite a challenge for the new President.
- Greer Trice
Elephant in the room is our aging populace and how each age group voted. *IF* the Obama administration can move the country in the right direction and actually bring some sense of civility and unity to politics I believe they'll solidify the young to middle-age groups as they mature. This means an ever shrinking minority of older and entrenched voters.
- AJ Kohn
Look at the county maps. It was urban vs. rural across the country
- Stephen Foskett
and from one Republican to all of you, let us start referring to him as "Senator Obama, the President-elect", followed simply by "Mr. President" if your opportunity ever presents itself. I see that as a good foundation to build some civility.
- Greer Trice
@stephen - generally, yes, specifically, no. Take a look at the intermountain west for rural areas going for Obama. And even in rural areas that didn't tip for Obama, he did surprisingly well.
- Todd Harris
These kind of statements are what make me even more disappointed with the state of our society. It intones that there are no "highly educated" Republicans. Divisive and hateful. I consider myself a highly educated conservative, yet have no desire to spread hate.
- Jeremy Hall
Reality-based Americans exist in every sector, region and state, and they are of different minds about politics and parties. But there is no question what signals they received from these two candidates: McCain's wild shifts (the emergency generator model of campaigning) and Obama's steadier style were meta-cues. Magical thinking was just a larger part of the Republican coalition continuously under assembly during Decision O8. Voters knew that and sorted accordingly.
- Jay Rosen
The state of the Union has been completely fouled up, I agree with that. I think most voters are simply fed up with how things are and figure it is time to give the other side a try. I don't think most voters are as smart as you give them credit for. Voting this go around was much more emotional than analytical.
- Jeremy Hall
True @Jeremy Hall. I too am fed up. We need significantly less talk, and a bit more action. @Jay Rosen, I agree, reality based Americans are the foundation of our republic. Let us not continue our devolution into something akin to 2004 Iraq. It is time to breath deeply, and again, now sit down and get back to work, things are a mess.
- Greer Trice
Lumping the vote together into States misses the underlying point of the numbers, the differences in the South are much the same as in the North, just flipped around a little. Around 7% made the difference, that and the most effective getting out of the vote that's ever been seen in any democratic state. As efficient as any one party state machine.
- Simon Lucy
@ Simon Lucy I agree. It has been wonderful to see so many people get up off of their behinds and take some action for our country. Voting is not a right in America, it is a responsibility of citizenship!
- Greer Trice
Think about this: a completely Northern ticket won major states in the South: VA, NC, FL (certainly the northern half is in the South) I think it's a sign of progress. But clearly there's more work to do.
- Victor Ganata
The Republican Party deliberately, openly and stridently declared war on educated elites in America. And now they are going to have to finish the war they started.
- Sean McBride
"Well educated Conservatives" realized that McCain was no conervative. They didn't have a choose that reflected their position.
- Robert Hafer
@Sean - Am I hearing you correctly? A socialist complaining about a war being waged against elites? By the supposed party of old, blue-blooded money, no less? The mind reels...All joking aside, the populist streak in McCain's base of support was strikingly "unconservative" - it will be extremely interesting to see how non-unionized blue-collar Americans vote over the coming decade.
- Forrest Cox
An incredible story of how a Napali teacher hooked his remote mountain village to the internet - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1...
Roberto Bonini, Aaron Krug, Paul W. Swansen and 8 other people liked this
from the BEEB.
- Zee.
from Bookmarklet
Cool!
- Greer Trice
i bloody spelt Nepal wrong....idiot.
- Zee.
It would be great to see more of this around the world.
- Paul W. Swansen
I read "Napali hooker" - I was wrong.
- Soulhuntre
from twhirl
Lawrence Summers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...
Russellreno, Jeanine W., Mrsth and 5 other people liked this
The man likely to take over running the Treasury from Sec. Paulson in Obama's administration.
- Thomas Hawk
from Bookmarklet
Interesting choice.
- Greer Trice
If Obama makes too many high-level appointments of neoconservatives, or people who are closely tied to the neocon agenda (like Rahm Emanuel and Lawrence Summers), both he and the Demcratic Party will very quickly find themselves embroiled in the same difficulties that brought down Bush and the Republican Party.
- Sean McBride
@Sean McBride - That is the great danger of American politics in the 21st Century. What has been espoused by both sides would likely be derailed by the reality of the Presidency. Truthfully, has Congress or the White House succeeded in accomplishing much in the realm of governing in the past fifteen year, or has it simply reacted to each emergent crisis an entire phase too late to prevent or mitigate them?
- Greer Trice
Greer -- one could argue that the White House (Bush) was highly pro-active in creating problems (like the Iraq War) while the Congress was utterly incompetent in reacting to these problems. Rahm Emanuel, by the way, was one of the key Democrats who helped enable the Bush/neocon agenda in Iraq and elsewhere. It is a bad sign that he may serve as Obama's chief of staff.
- Sean McBride
Phil Weiss: http://tinyurl.com/655afq "Part of Obama's perplexing obeisance [to the Israel lobby] could have something to do with Obama's Illinois compatriot, Rahm Emanuel, the Karl Rove of the Democratic party, chairman of the democratic caucus and the congressional campaign committee - he's basically the guy who tells the other democrats who the candidates going to be and who tells...
more...
- Sean McBride
@Sean McBride - I agree. I think the two party system has been hijacked by these insiders. We are hard pressed to find a candidate who may be a great President, the likes of Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, F.D.R, D.D.Eisenhower, J.F.K., Richard Nixon or Ronald Reagan. Each of these provided leadership that resulted in accomplishment to the betterment of the country. My hope is also my concern, that we will simply see more of the same from the new administration.
- Greer Trice
Greer - will Barack Obama be able to stand up to the enormous pressure being applied on him by a few special interests that control both major political parties? His early appointments will tell the tale. The mentions of Summers and Emanuel are not encouraging. But perhaps Obama will provide a few surprises.
- Sean McBride
i wouldnt mind Summers. He has original ideas and is not afraid to go against the flow.
- Hayk H.
I'd love to see some purposeful exclusion of some of the same-olds that will hamper fresh thinking, but it seems pretty unlikely, which makes me worry--more than a little bit--about many of Obama's promises of change.
- abacab
He managed to create quite a to-do at Harvard. I like his outspokenness and his mental sharpness, but he appears to be intimately hooked in to the neoconservative political network. Neocons are now trying to hijack the Democratic Party in precisely the same way they hijacked the Republican Party (and ran it into the ground).
- Sean McBride
Him or Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel? Alledge reports of celebrating the victory while shouting "die" to his enemies while motioning with his steak knife. Mrs. Clinton... more than bitter towards him.
- Mrsth
Wandering Light: Stolen - http://kevingerman.blogspot.com/2008...
 |
"In May, Turner and I traveled to Burma together in hopes of telling the story of the people affected by Cyclone Nargis. We were both a little paranoid about the military and he suggested that we bring only one computer with us for downloading and filing. I had no reason to distrust the man and so I brought my computer and left it and the images unguarded. While the trip was a tremendous learning experience, it seemed to leave a sour note between us. Fast forward to October 28. I emailed the UNICEF Photo of the Year competition Southeast Asia nominator asking him about the submission deadline. The following morning I received a phone call from the nominator asking me if my name was Kevin German. He then asked me if my name was also Lee Turner. I said no and that he was my friend. He said Turner had submitted a story about children living on the Burmese border. And after looking at my web site, one of the images Turner submitted appeared to be the same image below."
- Thomas Hawk
from Bookmarklet
Gnarly.
- Greer Trice
Video Tape of Oakland Unified School District Police Chief Art Michel's Altercation with Photographer - http://thomashawk.com/2008...
Johnny Sewell, Helen Sventitsky, Nils Sandin and 9 other people liked this
this videotaped altercation between Oakland Unified School District Police Chief Art Michel and Tribune photographer Jane Tyska is very troubling on many levels. I'd encourage you to watch the short videotape yourself but be warned that the police chief uses a lot of profanity in it.
- Thomas Hawk
direct link to the video here: http://link.brightcove.com/service...
- Thomas Hawk
It's hard to tell exactly what started this altercation but it doesn't appear the officer handled it very well. Even if she did do something wrong.
- Paul Wade
yeah, there is clearly an imbalance of power here. A shaken female reporter who I highly doubt is going to try to incite a "riot," vs. an overbearing cop. Even if the cop was in the right though there is no reason why a cop should use that type of anger or profanity with anyone. It's highly inappropriate and I hope he's forced to apologize for it and is disciplined.
- Thomas Hawk
The officer abuses his power, seems to lie, threatens the reporter who is not confrontational, while he appears to be ignored by his colleagues (are they used to this behavior?). His apologizing would not be enough for If he does this when in camera, in a public confrontation with lots of people nearby, how can his word ever be taken if he were one on one and not in public view ?
- David HC Soul
Unbelievable that people like that are allowed to be in positions of authority. He deserves to be permanently demoted.
- Becca
There seem to be way too many people in law enforcement that clearly are not qualified. Just being able to yell, cuss & intimidate a female reporter who is cooperative does not qualify anyone.
- Johnny Sewell
Quite emotionally charged isn't he? I wonder what really happened? The man deserves investigation of his actions to start. Termination if he is at fault and criminal action if indicated. The reverse is also true, he should receive appropriate disciplinary action for his conduct, but if the member of the press did commit some illegal act, then appropriate legal action should be taken in her case also. From this one clip the only thing you see is a very upset man.
- Greer Trice
This may be taken poorly but I humbly suggest that in the weeks after this election is done that we all try and treat each other with more respect than was often displayed in the weeks leading up to tonight.
Glen Campbell, B.A., Ryan Kuder, Carmen and 45 other people liked this
Just sayin'.
- Akiva Moskovitz
/me goes and kicks Akiva in the shin...how's that for respect! ;) I <3 Akiva.
- Alex Scoble
Hugs all around!
- Yolanda
STFU Akiva and finish that dubstep joint. jeez!
- Carlos Ayala
me too with the hugging and the loving and the respecting and the kissing... wait, what?
- Zulema ◕ ◡ ◕
from fftogo
Here, here, Akiva. I throw down the gauntlet by proposing that we make out. You game?
- Derrick
STFU, AKIVA!
- Mona Nomura
Aww, Akiva, you're so cuddley! I mean - hey! He's trying to trick us with peace and love - get him!
- WorldofHiglet
TEE HEE *MAUL*
- Akiva Moskovitz
+1 Mona...humor?
- Hutch Carpenter
Why start now? :)
- Steven Perez
hear. hear..
- Mitchell Tsai
Well said Akiva, let's go back to kitty pictures instead. ;-)
- Kol Tregaskes
Peace should return to FriendFeed. Don't worry, Akiva. I kept many people I disagreed with, as long as no one got ugly about it.
- Kamilah Gill
Well, that didn't last long. http://friendfeed.com/e...
- Glen Campbell, B.A.
Not long at all: http://friendfeed.com/e...
- Mark Wilson
My plea along these lines: http://friendfeed.com/e...
- Ladybug Heather
I hate people. [charlie brown angst cloud above head]
- Akiva Moskovitz
Amen Akiva
- Shey, Jamaican of FF
{{{{{{{{{{ Akiva }}}}}}}}}}
- Ladybug Heather
Okay, {{{{{{{{{{ Shey }}}}}}}}}} Heck, {{{{{{{{{{ EVERYBODY }}}}}}}}}}
- Ladybug Heather
More Respect. Sure. Just don't argue with me, OK?????? LOL
- Ian May
So many people got ugly about it, that is the problem. It is NOT a red thing, it is NOT a blue thing. It is a stench filled refrigerator that was left full of food when the power went out the first night of your week long vacation in Hawaii thing. The only way you can stop it, is to stop yourself.
- Greer Trice
I agree with @Ladybug Heather in her plea post.
- Greer Trice
I'm starting a trip to Shanghai today. - http://www.dopplr.com/travell...
xero, Morton Fox and FFing Enigma (aka Tina) liked this
I'll be there from November 5th until November 9th. See more in my Dopplr profile.
- Robert Scoble
Hey, did you get an Offbeat Guide for Shanghai? http://www.offbeatguides.com/destina...
- David Sifry
from twhirl
I know how you feel about the election Robert, so will you be coming back from Shanghai?
- Michael McGimpsey
from twhirl
If you're already in Shanghai, come to Sasha's tonight for the post-election hangover party. Ping @danwashburn for more info!
- John Biesnecker
looking forward to shanghai with you and rocman. NOT looking forward to 14 hour flight to get there. nice to know we're on the same flight though so if i run out of peanuts, i can eat some of yours. heh.
- Christine Lu
We're on our way. Our flight leaves at noon and we get there at 6 p.m. Thursday evening, Shanghai time.
- Robert Scoble
Have a safe trip. Enjoy!
- MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)
Fun! Have a great time!
- Greer Trice
Jealous. I was there in April. An AMAZING city. Get someone to take you to one of the PC Malls. They're like Fry's on crack. Seriously. And try to go to the Cloud 9 bar on top of the Hyatt. Tallest bar in the world (89th floor, I think), and the view is stunning. Enjoy your trip! :-)
- Josh Bancroft
Ahhh shouldn't you be on your way already? Ha!
- Greer Trice
Greer: I leave in a few minutes for airport. Our flight is in three hours.
- Robert Scoble
safe flight Robert
- Zee.
ni hau
- Josh Haley
Enjoy the trip.
- Norm McKenzie
The smile plastered on my face faltered a bit this morning when I drove past a neighbor's house. They've put a sign in their yard, spray-painted in black: RIP USA. I know feelings are raw on the other side but...
david beckwith, Morton Fox, Warner Crocker and 13 other people liked this
Jesus God, I'm sorry you have to live there. Jason, note, again.
- Cyndy
Carla, the sentiment where I live is along those lines. It's going to be a frustrating few months hearing nothing but blah blah terrorist blah blah un-American blah blah liberal fascist pig blah blah. I'm already tired...
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
why do you live there then, Tina?
- mjc
My neighbor a few doors down hasn't looked me in the eye since we put up the Obama yard sign a few weeks ago. It's sad. We saw her at the polls yesterday and she pointedly ignored us again.
- Daniel J. Pritchett
You need to go knock on their door and use the old conservative line "Love it or leave it!"
- Jason Carreira
MJC: because I love the area and my family's here. It's not really any better when I've gone up north: people treat me like I'm stupid because of my accent.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
I feel the same way. People here are crying and saying the U.S is dead.
- Trish R
Like Tina, I don't feel I have been able to fully enjoy this win. As soon as we heard the great news and decided to leave the "all party supporters" election party last night, I was already overhearing "I'm moving to Canada!" and a racist joke. I am so happy and very hopeful for a better day in this country, but I am hurting from the horrible things people are saying.
- Carmen
Oh, man...where was this?!
- JA Castillo
It's why I so desperately want to move. I know they're not alone in their sentiment unfortunately. And I did have to strongly tamp down the urge to go knock on their door.
- Carla Thompson
There are people like this in California too. These kinds of attitudes will go away eventually.
- Robert Scoble
Ugh, I'm sorry. But it's up to us to not respond to that in kind but instead work toward unity and get America on the right track.
- AJ Kohn
Sad to see poor losers. If McCain had won I certainly wouldn't have done anything like that. In fact my son asked me what I would do if McCain won. I told him "I'd do the same thing if Obama won. I'd get on with my life." Can't cry over spilled milk.
- Mlibrarianus
Things like this never seem to really go away though. They color and tinge everything that goes after and the experience always seems less satisfying.
- Todd Hoff
Tina, I also have an accent and people outside of the south don't treat me like I'm stupid If they think I'm stupid, they cover it up well. I want to move, because the attitudes and beliefs that were brought out in this election make me not want to be associated with the people here anymore. I even heard someone make what they thought was a joke this morning, saying "Now we really do have a bastard in the white house." That makes me sick.
- Trish R
That is crazy, especially given that they probably support Bush
- Michael VanDervort
Unfortunately there is a complete lack of civility. There is no one party affiliation to attribute it to. The problem is voiced in the comments above. "The other side". As long as that is what we espouse, then we will continue to be divided and distracted from the real issues of war, domestic economy and eroded civil rights..
- Greer Trice
Trish - oh that's awful. :( Luckily our neighborhood and area of town is "blue" and that helps, but there are still haters all around. Hubby and I have already discussed that if we keep hearing these awful, disgusting things from people that we should move. I can deal with the accent comments.
- Carmen
Once peaople realise that the things they have been told about Obama (like he's a terrorist, he's not American (for shame), he's a communist etc.) were, in fact, lies, the sore feelings will subside.
- Chris Nixon
Carmen, I agree with you, I'm rather have my accent poked fun at than continue to endure this garbage, which I think is only going to get worse. This campaign seemed to give a green light to this behavior. I'm not sure the election being over will bury it again.
- Trish R
@JA you likely won't be surprised to hear that this is in Texas. I live in the most Republican county in the state. But I hope to remedy that soon...
- Carla Thompson
@Carla - would that be just outside of Austin? My little brother was telling me that where he lives is considered to be one of, if not the most conservative areas in Texas. He lives in Round Rock...
- JA Castillo
Chris, unfortunately many people don't WANT to know those are lies. It doesn't matter what the RNC and McCain have told them, they *want* to believe those things are true. And when you want to believe something, logic and facts are not likely to sway.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Wow, the comments make everything seem hateful however no one even mentions the real crux of the problem. The real problem is our government has been hijacked before Obama and McCain even raced. Neither one of them will really change our current nosedive into communism because they are the puppets and are controlled by others. It is a shame every one is being hateful to each other when what we need is unity and love to make it through the times ahead. Try not to let their comments affect you cause they are
- Lisa
This poem fits in nicely with this discussion: http://friendfeed.com/e...
- Daniel J. Pritchett
just scared of the tyranny they see gripping our nation. Heck, I'm scared because now I know after studying for over a year that our whole government is corrupt. Try to understand why they are saying what they say, it is fear that speaks.
- Lisa
@Tina: I'm ok with people underestimating me due to my Alabama accent. I'm still quite confident in my abilities and surprising people is always fun.
- Daniel J. Pritchett
@JA I live in Round Rock actually and yes, it is very conservative. However, we are making real inroads here. Lots of Obama signs around. McCain carried the county but only by ten percent and we elected a Dem. to the state house for the first time in a long time.
- Jeff Jones
@JA nope Collin County, right outside of Dallas. It's pretty bad up here.
- Carla Thompson
The farther you get from any city in Texas (i.e. civilzation), the worse it's going to get.
- Cyndy
The reason I mention the accent isn't that it bothers me so much as the fact that it points out people everywhere in this country make assumptions whether it's right or wrong. In this event it's an assumption about me b/c of where I live, rather than an assumption about someone else b/c of their party/what they look like/their name.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
I felt the same way in 2000 after Bush v Gore. Unfortunately, I was more right than wrong. We can hope this time will be different. We certainly have a different kind of man in the White House than George W. Bush.
- Jimmy Walker
They should listen to McCain: 'I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together...' http://www.cnn.com/2008...
- Bruce Lewis
from fftogo
Somber reminder that the election is just one more step in a very long journey. (well, giant leap, maybe). Many steps have led to this moment. Many more lie ahead. We'll get there.
- Michael Markman
I'm compelled to share some stats from Austin for SOME reason. 50% of registered voters voted early. 66% voted straight party Dem. Several races on our ballot didn't have a Republican challenger. =D
- Shellee
Time makes a difference. In a few years, the dire predictions will prove to be unfounded if Obama does as well as supporters expect. In time, much of this resentment will dissipate into acquiescence or support.
- Jimmy Walker
I HATE TAXES
shayne catrett liked this
Me too!
- Greer Trice
not gonna do, wouldn't be prudent, i just refuse now to create a start up and make millions so i'll be taxed more!
- shayne catrett
NBC2 News Online - Feds investigating sheriff after 'Hussein' remark - http://www.nbc-2.com/article...
This guy is apparently under investigation for saying Obama's full name at a rally. This is crazy man
- Bwana ☠
It is crazy.
- Greer Trice
Not Everyone Should Own a Home - WSJ.com - http://online.wsj.com/article...
Paulo Elias, Hillary Hartley and Anne Haynes liked this
Interesting take from an Aussie- "Maybe only a friendly foreigner could say this. But America needs to realize that not everyone can own a home."
- Andy Kaufman
Fact. The problem is the social engineering of the public toward a feeling of material entitlement.
- Greer Trice
How journalism failed America at a most critical time - http://www.howardowens.com/2008...
Nicholas James, David Finch, David Muir and 44 other people liked this
An absolutely brilliant post
- Mo Kargas
...or do we need to become better critical thinkers?
- Mona Nomura
@Mona that's definitely the sentiment I get
- Mo Kargas
It is shameful the lack of integrity and objectivity current "journalist's have. They certainly didn't teach that when I was in Journalism school.
- Paul W. Swansen
the misinformation in general has been awful. On the BBC radio this morning all they were talking about was huge growth drops in the UK. Actual result was 0% - hasn't really changed. Scare tactics.
- Steven Livingstone-Pérez
from twhirl
Great article. There is no such thing as journalism anymore, just partisan cheerleading.
- Spencer
I find it curious that he thinks objective journalism is elitist. Wouldn't the alternative of journalists as gateways to truth be elitist as well?
- David Wynn
I was surprised that someone wrote this. The fact that very few journalists have attempted to explain what the bailout was supposed to do is depressing. They are the ones who can get information into people's hands. Scoble complained about this in a post yesterday, basically few people (even on FF) have any idea of what is really going on.
- Rob Diana
@Rob, this article explains clearly the reason guys like Scoble don't know what is going on. He's not a political or economic expert, so he is feasting off the words and thoughts of the press lapdogs who only tell him one thing.
- Morgan Warstler
"This Account Has Exceeded Its CPU Quota" Looks like journalism isn't the only failure today :)
- Kevin D. White
I just got to the article without any problems. Maybe just a temporary issue.
- Rob Diana
Re: W. Lippman: He elevated objectivity to a professional moral code, that reporting and writing should be neutral. It was not the role of the reporter to interpret. He should merely regurgitate the facts as observed or offered up by official sources. Lippmann did not trust a singular human to exercise critical thinking about complex issues.
- Mattb4rd
Now I see it. Very interesting article.
- Kevin D. White
cpu quota error is back
- adolfo foronda
Morgan: the reason I don't know anything is I'm reading you. Thanks for noticing.
- Robert Scoble
Sorry Robert, was using your message from yesterday as an example and I got trolled.
- Rob Diana
Paul: I did a brief stint as a journalism major, but dropped it (in favor of geology) when I discovered the degree to which the department was encouraging the sort of feeding-frenzy sensationalism that dominates the current news media. I couldn't stomach the open advocacy of corruption.
- kris. nuttycombe
+5 Robert!
- jcunwired
I agree with the change in journalism and objectivity, however American new media is traditionally muck-raking going back to the founding of our country. Today's protected journalist is defined as someone who works for an "acknowledged major media source" which is bunk and eliminates us. . .Who is right? US.
- Greer Trice
I don't agree. I think the real problem is that most journalists don't understand economics, policies, etc., yet have to do segments/articles on the topic. They brought in experts, but couldn't avoid making their own commentary/coverage, etc. In my opinion, the blogosphere did the same kind of damage because in the same way, many spoke without having the experience/history/knowledge on the topic to do it. It's really common in media all across the board.
- Patricia
@Scoble. Dude it ain't personal, you are tech blogger, I said this before...watching you go a mile wide is watching you go an inch deep. Again it isn't personal. Also, you are a video guy, MAKE A :25 second TV ad, and I'll let people all over the country run it on TV. Tell them to vote, or tell them to vote for Obama, or tell them to go outside and play with their kids.
- Morgan Warstler
Morgan: I'm also a human being who has a minor in economics, who managed a retail store in Silicon Valley for a long time, who used to go to a fundamentalist church, who has run four marathons, who has interviewed more than 1,000 people and not just in the tech industry either and traveled the world a lot more than some of our VP candidates have. To try to put me into a small box like "tech blogger" is just plain wrong.
- Robert Scoble
I liked it in more then one way.
- CW™
Yeah, Robert's been blogging about a lot more boring stuff than tech lately. Just sayin'!
- Alex Scoble
You're a dad too.
- jeneane sessum
Jeneane: and a husband. And a photographer. And someone interested in the world who reads more than almost anyone I know. But, Morgan tries to say I'm just a lowly tech blogger. Grrrr.
- Robert Scoble
And he's a brother, an uncle and someone who knows his way around a BBQ (generally...there was this one time...oh never mind).
- Alex Scoble
Yeah, my brother is a lowly video interviewer, not a tech blogger...get your "lowlies" right.
- Alex Scoble
I have thought journalism has been failing us for more than 10 years.
- Lindsey is Fierce!
Alex: I'm getting a lot better at BBQ. :-)
- Robert Scoble
If you think journalism has been failing, you aren't listening or reading the right journalists. CNN/Fox News/MSNBC is not journalism.
- Alex Scoble
@lindsey, that's because so much of it is biased and controlled, by companies, publicists, etc. The fact that idiots are in the media at the rampant rate they are says it all. I can't even watch Fox at night with the idiotic female 'experts' it has on it.
- Patricia
@ Alex Scoble, unfortunately, this is what the main stream public sees as journalism.
- Wizetux
@Wizetux it's worse than that. A good chunk of the public doesn't watch any news at all. Which is one reason why we're collectively in the problem we're in.
- Robert Scoble
@Robert, well, I actually feel that we are in this problem because two years ago, actual financial advisors were telling people in these bad "Balloon" mortgages to actually walk away from their homes as viable solutions to their problems.
- Wizetux
Last year, Jim Cramer from Mad Money, was telling people to walk away from their homes. http://housingdoom.com/2007...
- Wizetux
Jim Cramers track record is as good as flipping a coin, not impressive, there are better out there.
- adolfo foronda
There is a lot of loose talk about the degree to which the mainstream media's efforts to be objective ultimately undermine the quality of journalism. That's true to an extent. But what's not being said is that the rise of alternative media has actually exacerbated the problem. National outlets find themselves under siege from all sides whenever they report anything that's perceived as remotely critical. In fact, healthy skepticism is almost always dismissed as bias by partisans.
- Kevin Pedraja
The problem with journalism today is more the news agenda, if a story fits an agenda it gets pushed through with little scrutiny. "America falling apart" stories fit the agenda an so aren't examined. "Victory in Iraq" stories don't fit the agenda and are put under the microscope, or not run at all. Dan Rather and the Bush service forgeries are a good example. Rather wanted them to be real, so overlooked obvious fakery.
- Robert Hafer
Bandai's Luminodot: Lite-Brite HD For Big Kids - http://gizmodo.com/5049940...
Henry McBride, Royce Mathew, Greer Trice and 3 other people liked this
"For those of us who grew up sticking colored plastic pegs into a black board, Bandai Japan has gone all the way and brought our favorite toy up to its full potential—this is the Lite-Brite we always knew we wanted. The Luminodot packs a super-dense 70x50 grid, which accommodates 3,500 light pegs on a slick HDTV-looking frame. And as shown by the appropriately hallucinogenic demo video (skeletons riding donkeys, etc), its programmable backlight animation function makes the perfect pixel-art canvas."
- CW™
from Bookmarklet
Man, the ten year old me wants that B-A-D!
- Greer Trice
The political topic that must not be discussed in USA - http://scobleizer.com/2008...
Duncan Riley, Grant Bierman, Derek Karchner and 31 other people liked this
I'd rather talk about science, education, immigration policy, technology policy, and innovation than all the stuff that's flowed through FriendFeed lately.
- Robert Scoble
thanks for bringing this up. how about both? politics and science - here's a thread to Obama's answers to the 14 science questions - http://bit.ly/2orSkj - i would link to McCain but he hasn't answered the questions yet.
- ~C4Chaos
I'm listening to this video again and realizing just how much I like talking to smart people. This woman (Judy Estrin) is on the board of directors of Walt Disney Co and FedEx. I wish SHE were up for VP!
- Robert Scoble
So why don't you talk about those things, Robert? You have a voice, you can certainly start conversations that you are interested in having.
- Alex Scoble
Alex: watch the video. I talked about those things with Judy for 40 minutes yesterday and am sharing that talk with all of you.
- Robert Scoble
yeah, thanks for posting the vid and elevating the discussion. i do enjoy listening to smart people. that's why i ride with FORA.tv - http://fora.tv/myfora/c4chaos :)
- ~C4Chaos
Awesome.
- David Risley
What is intriguing to me is how FriendFeed and other social networks will or won't impact this election,
- Lorraine Ball
@Lorriane. look again. they already have :) http://bit.ly/3SYjGQ - also, ever heard of the Triple O? - http://tinyurl.com/ohweb
- ~C4Chaos
Robert, if I could give you a 5 star rating on Friendfeed, I would. Great work!
- Mike Lewis
@Brian, exactly. that's why as cool as the Chevy Volt is, i can't shake the feeling that it's a product of hypocrisy -- 12 years later and they can only show a hybrid car with half the mileage of EV1 which is pure electric? please. for more context see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...
- ~C4Chaos
Brian: our corporations reward people who look at this quarter and next. That's where that kind of thinking came from. Alex is the smarter of my two brothers. But he's also a bit more argumentative. Ben is a charmer. He's done very well in business because he understands how to get people to like him.
- Robert Scoble
Robert I like your expertise in this area of innovation. You have a keen talent for it and an good eye. Your article sparked thoughts for me as well. I'm a connection seer. I see connections sometimes where some don't and this challenges me to explain them. And when I read your article I thought of Mozart. His symphonies are perfectly balanced: if you take anything away or add to it, they are diminished. This is how I see the human race and one of the reasons I see the challenge to innovation is...
- Melanie Reed
Actually, IQ wise, Ben is the smartest of all of us from what mom told me. He does say some really odd things in political discussions though.
- Alex Scoble
threatened. The human race is like that Mozart symphony; you can't diminish it, remove notes as with people, without innovation being lost. There is our potential thinking ability as an organism that has now been compromised when we do that. Could this be a factor in why the problems go unsolved longer than they need to or resolution missed entirely?
- Melanie Reed
Alex: you might check that out. I remember Mom saying you were smartest.
- Robert Scoble
@Alex and @Robert Well, I don't know you all but from what you've said here on this board and you ALL seem pretty darn smart in your own unique ways!! Very glad of you, each one. :)
- Melanie Reed
If I'm the smartest we are all doomed...DOOMED I say!
- Alex Scoble
liked it so much it was worth its own blog entry, now if he could help me with the education bit, that would be great. It is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of systemic change, education, business and politics to help out here.
- Dan Morrill AKA Techwag
People would rather have cheap, throw away products with short-lifecycles than spend money on something homegrown, invented, prototyped and manufactured in the U.S. If either party were to attempt to legislate tax benefits to businesses to transition to that they would face a funding drought. The tax system, Visa system, trade and tariff systems are corrupt. While on the surface they are helping business, dig deeper and you will see a master/servant relationship between business and legislators.
- Greer Trice
Go back to Scoble's interview with Chandrakant Patel at HP Labs. See what he said about innovation, sustainability and life beyond the next tweet. http://scobleizer.com/2008...
- Greer Trice
Revise our ridiculous patent laws and ENFORCE copyright statue of limitations. See Disney. More federal funding of 'Innovation Centers' (previously called Universities). Tax incentives to corporations that release products that innovate standards and offer royalty free utility to start-ups.
- Ryan
Science, technology and innovation? Ya mon, me too!
- Sally Church
Oh, Robert... you and your reverse psychology.... ;)
- Her Lindsay-ness
This already IS a topic that's widely discussed. There are entire blogs and lobby groups devoted to this political topic. I'm all about not talking about the sex lives of 17 year olds as a substitute for political discourse, but to make *this* your "real issue that no one's talking about" is just ignorant. Both presidential candidates have talked about innovation policy. Repeating the book's marketing that it's an under-attended topic is akin to blindly reprinting press releases.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
http://changethis.com/49... - 14 ways to get breakthrough ideas: "There's a lot of talk these days--especially in business circles--about the importance of innovation. All CEOs worth their low salt lunch want it. And they want it, of course, now. Innovation, they reason, is the competitive edge."
- Justin Long
Science Questions for Would-Be Presidents: Scientific American - http://www.sciam.com/article...
Allison Kipta, Anika, R. Ferguson and 10 other people liked this
"No one has ever complained that U.S. presidential candidates talk too much about science, and this year has been no exception. Nevertheless, science-related issues such as energy and health care, once viewed as sideshows, have taken center stage in this election. The candidates’ positions are often vague, but they are an improvement on past campaigns. Here are some follow-up questions that they invite."
- ~C4Chaos
from Bookmarklet
Good article. It highlights the differences yes, but gets to the truth of the matter which is that neither is green.
- Greer Trice
McCain looks like he's having second thoughts. Can you see Palin as our President? I'm having a hard time with that.
Jared B. Luther, bill giltner, Charlie Nichols Browning and 15 other people liked this
Looking at her track record in Alaska, I can see it much more easily than Obama
- Kevin A. Pierpont
If you are voting on experience your Obama rose-colored glasses must be on full BLIND mode if you want to play the experience issue. Go ahead and walk into that Republican trap--that's a debate the GOP would love to have.
- Andrew Leyden
Yes I can see it, she's done some great things as a governor, which is always better experience than being in the Senate.
- Zach Underwood
I find the choice laughable. Picking a VP that is currently under investigation is a blunder... http://www.ktva.com/ci_1002...
- Sidney
I agree, if you look at her track record she is a better choice for chief executive. . .
- Greer Trice
She supports creationism - unbelievable
- Dave Hodson
I can't imagine a luddite leading the US in the 21st century.
- Internet's Tad
I thought it was a clever move when I heard the news. But now that I heard her speak, I am not so sure.
- Dorai
She is very beautiful...maybe too beautiful?
- Cory Brown
Change? A person who's been in the senate longer than John McCain, or a person who's actually made changes as Governor?
- Richard
I'd love to have a beautiful president! One who was also a champion for progress, science and technology.
- Internet's Tad
@Richard but the change won't come from the VP seat...
- Sidney
Was she Miss Alaska or something one time? As a woman, I want someone who is smart, articulate and understands science and technology, not pretty looking. Puh-leaze!
- Sally Church
@aka Taylor I agree with your statement, but the democrats made such a big deal about VP Cheney, they can't go back now and say the VP seat is no big deal.
- Richard
Wow, have you seen the aftermath of the DNC in Denver? All the trash left behind by the environmentally friendly party?
- Richard
Pro-life. Creationist. McCain does love the right wing.
- Russellreno
I saw his buyer's remorse screaming:)
- Roney Smith
@Richard the point being the direction of the administration comes from the President not the VP. The VP can lend experience and does play a major role in the administration but to say the VP is going to make the change that is needed when the Presidential canidate is the farthest thing from change is pretty rose colored glasses..
- Sidney
the most conservative of Christians seem okay with his choice so far: http://rr-bb.com/showpos...
- Frederic
He did look uncomfortable about it. I thought it was just me
- Rahsheen ™, Coach of FF
Just a factual question--at about what point did he look uncomfortable (I was listening not watching and want to see for myself). Kind of curious now.
- Andrew Leyden
How does McCain differentiate himself from Bush and the last 8 years of misery to dissaffected moderates now?
- Sally Church
@Rod Bauer Good point. The trap is also for Biden. He has more to lose, especially if he puts his foot in his mouth.
- Andrew Leyden
Leo - There's nothing left to talk about. McCain has hit a home run and just sewed up the HRC voters that BO took a crap on by not even vetting her. Just out of spite, McCain just got a large number of HRC supporters on board who are resentful of BO.
- Alberto Lopez
@Alberto hahahahahhahah.... That's hilarious.
- jakebf
As my friend said, Palin might get the Hillary women who read Redbook and watch HGTV, but the Ms. readers might not jump ship. Wonder if that will be enough?
- Andrew Leyden
McCain didn't add any HRC supporters who can think for themselves.
- Internet's Tad
So when we hit reply by twitter it goes to Leo or the person who had a twitter in the comment? Sorry to pound Leo's twitter account if the first is what happens.
- Andrew Leyden
Tad++, he just got the irrational ones who would probably vote against Obama anyway because they are bitter about HRC being out of it.
- Rahsheen ™, Coach of FF
If Geena Davis can do it...
- Andrew Feinberg
Jake and Tad, I wouldn't underestimate the power of this. I know three pretty intelligent age-50+ women who have a smidge of misplaced feminism that forces them to consistently make choices based on gender over issue (and openly lambaste younger women who don't automatically side with women on the issue of the day). All backed Hill and are tepid to Obama, and I can see all three of them having an extremely hard time voting AGAINST a woman in November out of some kinda feminist guilt.
- Kevin Hessel
My first thought upon hearing: Who the fuck is she? And second thought: He really doesn't think he's going to win, does he?
- Rick Powell
@Andrew - A friend mentioned just that thing this morning.
- CW™
@rick - LOL
- CW™
An unknown, inexperienced "hockey mom"? Yeah, that's what we need.
- Todd
the dems could not have asked for a better gift than palin, talk about lobbing a softball
- adolfo foronda
i had no idea how diverse the twit army was. there really are a couple twits here.
- todd
People are underestimating Gov. Palin. Also, for a party that is looking for change and a fresh voice in Washington, how easily they write off what will be a fresh voice in Washington.
- Jim Bednarz
Sorry, but this choice is only about marketing. It's not about governing. (I stole that.)
- Rick Powell
McCain Chooses Palin as Running Mate - NYTimes.com - http://www.nytimes.com/2008...
bangjihyun, Anne Bouey, Sean McBride and 11 other people liked this
"In a surprise move, Senator John McCain chose Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate on Friday, McCain officials confirmed, shaking up the political world at a time when his campaign has been trying to attract women, especially disaffected supporters of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton."
- Bret Taylor
from Bookmarklet
Yeah, all those liberal Clinton supporters just look at gender. "Me vote woman, Woman, WOMAN!"
- AJ Kohn
"Palin describes herself as a "hockey mom" and an occasional commercial fisherwoman."
- Mike
A Republican friend of mine said that McCain probably just sees women as "walking boobs"
- Sean Davis
@Sean: There's such an easy pot-shot to take about McCain's first wife based on that comment.
- AJ Kohn
Republican in Mating 2.0
- A.T.
FWIW her husband apparently works for BP. http://www.ktuu.com/Global... Palin says, "A conflict could be perceived if my spouse's position was in a management position with an oil company. But, because it's a blue-collar, in-the-field type job, working in a facility as a production operator, separating the oil, the gas and water; it's not a management position where...
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- Philipp Lenssen
@Philipp well, as long as they don't see a problem it should be ok right? Riiiiiiiiiiiight. Because being the husband of the VP wouldn't do anything for his career with a major oil company at a time when energy and oil legislation is at the top of our nation's to-do list.
- Aaron Krug
No doubt female Hillary Clinton supporters will swarm to a candidate who is militantly anti-choice and who is aligned with the far right on this issue. :) What a miscalculation.
- Sean McBride
I am soooo excited for Biden/Palin debate...that is going to be the summer blockbuster we've all been waiting for...bombs, gunslinging, explosions! Ha!
- George Lee
from twhirl
Pick makes sense on a lot of levels (my preference was for Meg Whittman, for sake of full disclosure). She's an executive - something none of the other candidates / running mates have ever been - who has largely cut her teeth fighting Republican corruption and fiscal irresponsibility. That alone makes her an attractive veep. She's also had an actual job in the private sector, which certainly helps - Obama hasn't, and McCain / Biden have both been in government longer than not.
- Forrest Cox
Meg Whitman, no.
- Greer Trice
She's also extremely well versed in the energy issue, which will be a big one in the election. She's more pro-gay rights than most far-right christian conservatives, but is very pro-life, which will excite the base. She will also, by virtue of who she is (watch an interview and you'll get the picture), be incredibly popular with the base.
- Forrest Cox
She has 5 kids, one of them with Downs Syndrome
- Josh Haley
Creationist... fail.
- Internet's Tad
What Tad said.
- cecily
Yeah, I vote with my uterus...truthiness
- Cheryl Allin
Well, I just phoned 3 female HRC supporters and they are all now voting Obama. They resent McCain's obvious tactic that they would just vote for a woman regardless and are all pro-choice. The surprise move may well backfire. "I am NOT voting for Dan Quayle 2" said one.
- Sally Church
She isn't a "working mother" or a "professional woman" - she's a "mama" (yes, it's how she refers to herself). Married / engaged male "red-state" voters now officially have no choice in who to vote for - they WILL vote for McCain-Palin, or they will sleep on the couch for the rest of their wed-lives...
- Forrest Cox
Sally, but were they anti-Obama before the pick is what I'd like to know. Some of them are scaring me.
- Cyndy
@Sean, @Abby, @Sally - I actually think McCain decided to write-off his chances of attracting HRC voters here - Whittman would have been the pick if he were seriously targeting that group. Palin was meant to excite the Conservative base (which she will) - remember, "core" conservatives aren't pleased that they're stuck with John McCain.
- Forrest Cox
@Forrest I don't think he wrote them off at all http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net/discuss...
- David Knight
Forrest -- your analysis makes a good deal of sense. It turns out that Palin is also pro-intelligent design and pro-creationism (and therefore anti-science): http://tinyurl.com/553wfz McCain is offering a bone to the far right, not to Hillary Clinton supporters.
- Sean McBride
Cyndy: One of them was, the other two neutral. Bill C's speech had them wavering and this morning's news had them switching.
- Sally Church
Forrest: ah but this is going to get complicated - my conservative friends are in shock he didn't pick Romney or Ridge so now they are wavering even though they dislike Biden. It's going to be a fascinating election that may go down to the wire again.
- Sally Church
@David - seems to me like a bunch of McCain supporters raiding an HRC message board. I'm not saying that Palin's gender didn't have anything to do with her selection. But her other credentials stand on their own and are probably better suited to current Republican circumstances than any of the other "political" choices save for perhaps Eric Cantor or Bobby Jindal. Again, it's easy to demonize Republicans for a lot of things, but who's being intellectually insulting here?
- Forrest Cox
@Sally - I'd chalk that up to the unfamiliarity factor (provided they really are "conservative"). She's actually more conservative than Romney (by a wide margin), and while she's not as far to the right as is Tom Ridge, I don't believe he was ever seriously considered. His primary credentials are security on nat sec, where McCain doesn't think he needs any help. But you're probably right, it is going to go down to the wire, again.
- Forrest Cox
@Forrest take a look at those post counts that board isn't getting swamped with new users. Palin is a good choice for McCain for a variety of reasons, one of which is attracting disenfranchised Hillary fans
- David Knight
You know, even without the VP pick, I still don't get the McCain allure. He supports continued and/or expanded US involvement in war and his tax plan caters to the rich. How exactly is that something a majority of Americans want? We're a nation drowning in debt with a currency in the tank. Is it just social conservatives hunkering down?
- AJ Kohn
@David - The point remains that her choice is one that was made to shore up the base. How many pro-life, small government, lower taxes, pro-drilling, anti-gay marriage legalization voters cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton for any reason OTHER than the fact that she was a woman? If those are the HRC supporters McCain was targeting, I'd posit that he had every reason to expect their votes in November anyways.
- Forrest Cox
Some of us believe that pulling out of Iraq on a timeline could leave it and the area in worse shape than the mess we've already made. Personally I'd prefer neither candidate push for more tax cuts, the sheer amount of money it's going to take to pay for SS and Medicare/Medicaid is frightening enough w/o creating more debt now. Plus it's hard for me to tell if they believe tax cuts will help or if they are trying to buy votes/donations.
- David Knight
@AJ - Actually he doesn't favor "expansion" of our involvement there - he just wants to win. He also was privy to the deal on a U.S. pullout, and rightly understood that the surge would lead to LESS emphasis on the War in the general election. Your tax analysis seems to ignore the notion that, by and large, MOST Americans want lower taxes: full stop. The class warfare thing plays less well on Main Street than most urban-dwellers would assume...
- Forrest Cox
might I point out that SNL is going to have a field day with this choice, since she looks remarkably like Tina Fey....
- Ronald
@Forrest: So, which candidate is more likely to engage in a war with Iran? Which candidate said we'd be in Iraq for 100 years? You're right, McCain does just want to win, that - to me - is the blind spot. Win at what cost? Both human and dollars. Sorry, the fact that everyone wants lower taxes doesn't not obviate the distribution of tax cuts by McCain. Imagine lower gas prices for those driving cars selling for over $60K. Where about in the heartland are you from?
- AJ Kohn
Forrest - what in the world does "winning" in Iraq mean? The Iraq War is already the biggest foreign policy disaster in American history -- there is no way now to recover the several trillions of dollars that have been committed to producing an outcome that is radically injurious to the American interest. The main beneficiaries of the Iraq War have been Iran, Muslim fundamentalists,...
more...
- Sean McBride
Forrest -- and I just discovered that Sarah Palin, the Republican VP pick, is also clueless about what John McCain means by "winning" in Iraq. The truth is, McCain hasn't the slightest idea of what he is talking about on this all-important issue and neither do any John McCain supporters.
- Sean McBride
Forrest: McCain's empty words about "winning" in Iraq: "U.S. forces will pull out of Iraq because they are seriously overextended, both financially and in manpower. They will also pull out because the rest of the world is starting to realize just how powerless the U.S. has become -- with its army bogged down in Iraq. In any event, it doesn't really matter when or how they pull out. The...
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- Sean McBride
Uh Oh... Could This Be True about Palin? http://www.dailykos.com/story...
- bill giltner
@AJ - I'm actually glad you mentioned Iran and the likelihood of conflict. I do believe, after all, it's the candidate of the left that has openly mentioned a desire to preemptively breach Pakistan's territorial integrity to find a man who may or may not be alive. For a number of reasons I'll not go into here, I believe an Obama election increases dramatically the chances we will spend the next 4 years in heightened states of conflict around the globe.
- Forrest Cox
@Sean - word limit notwithstanding, I'll try to be brief. We're drawing down our troops in Iraq. An Islamist government in Iraq is absolutely fine, so long as the populace has had a relatively fair say in granting that government power. The conflict has never been about Islamists per-se - it has been about normalizing asymmetrical threats (fanatical religion in a world of semi-secular states often manifests its discontent in the form of asymmetrical threats).
- Forrest Cox
Dictators too confront democratically elected states with threats that are difficult to deal with. Dictators who collaborate with fanatical actors are all the worse. In that sense, we haven't made the situation worse - we have, in fact, already won. Hence the drawdown. So long as that process is orderly, and thanks to the surge, it now can be, we are fine.
- Forrest Cox
Now for American power - perhaps Georgia has shown that the emperor truly had no clothes. I've written as much elsewhere, but now think that I was less than half-right. With the most powerful military the world has ever seen (both in absolute and in relative strength), a $10+ trillion economy that is still growing at 3% despite a financial catastrophe, and an extraordinarily dynamic population some 300 mm strong - I think it more likely the Emperor has clothes alright. He's just forgotten where they are.
- Forrest Cox
Forrest: you just claimed that we've already won the war in Iraq. Explain, using a rational cost/benefit analysis, how the expediture of several TRILLIONS of dollars to replace the relatively secular Saddam regime in Iraq with an Iranian-controlled regime makes sense. As William Odom, the former head of the NSA, remarked: the Iraq War is the biggest foreign policy disaster in American...
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- Sean McBride
Forrest: Why CIA Veterans are Scared of McCain http://tinyurl.com/5av7zn
- Sean McBride
The Iraq War in a nutshell: http://tinyurl.com/6ohj7l "A prominent international observer sent me this note this morning: The Bush administration is not even good at imperialism. Bush sacrifices American money and military lives to prop up a government allied with Iran in the hope of getting a few military bases and some oil contracts for its friends. Meanwhile the Maliki government...
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- Sean McBride
Tiny Norwegian Summer House by Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmsen [Apartment Therapy New York - 8/25/08] - http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny...
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jnman, Nir Ben Yona, Casey and 32 other people liked this
An itsy-bitsy house. -- As young architects in Norway, this house is one of their first projects and overlooks a fjord in Hardanger, Norway.
- Mitchell Tsai
from Bookmarklet
Thanks Jauder Ho for posting this http://friendfeed.com/e...
- Mitchell Tsai
"Pizza delivery in 30 minutes or it's free. It says it right here in the ad."
- Josh Haley
Wow, that looks perfect.
- felix
Um, where do you go to 'go'? Do you just hang your arse over fjord?
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Interesting, and I agree, where are the facilities. The photo staging has a teapot.
- Greer Trice
No wheelchair access? Darn. *closes cheque book*
- Timothy Griffin
It does have WiMAX,yes?
- Nicholas Kreidberg
Liking for the post itself but also for the phrase 'arse over fjord' from SB.
- Akiva Moskovitz
Nir Dremer, CW™, Jason Wehmhoener and 21 other people liked this
I like blue...
- Aline
That Jelly exhibit is very cool!
- Greer Trice
How long have you been using SmugMug?
- Matt
Great Picks!
- Michael Rowe
from twhirl
Matt, fairly new to smugmug, but really digging how their larger sized thumbnails display in friendfeed.
- Thomas Hawk
can you give some details on how you set-up these shots especially in the really low-light.
- Randy Ksar
Randy, mostly in low light I'm using a tripod. A lot of my shots from the Monterey Bay Aquarium are with tripod. The jellyfish there though are lit up enough that you should be able to shoot them handheld at 1600 iso though. A good tripod is mandatory for low light shooting in general though and a cable release so you don't have to screw around with the timer. I've got 2 tripods, a Slik and a Manfrotto. Best to pay up for a nice tripod vs. trying some of the cheaper off brands in my opinion.
- Thomas Hawk
oh and a huge tip with shooting the jellyfish. Shoot 1,000 frames of them. You'll end up with 5 or 10 that you really like.
- Thomas Hawk
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