Time For Something Beautiful

Try these on full screen. Enjoy!

Palin's Pals

Talk about consorting with people who "see America differently" and who, to this day, continue to conspire against the United States of America!

Ayers plotted in the 1960's, then changed his ways, and has been a respectable professor for decades. It didn't occur to Obama to ask him if he had ever consorted with terrorists. How many people ask that when they meet new people?

I'm just amazed that the Republican base isn't bothered by this. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

Mitsuko Uchida and Schoenberg

I was going to post something accesible and sweet, but I couldn't help myself. One of my all time favorite Youtube clips. Warning, it's 12 tone. But such 12 tones. Besides, Mitsuko looks like some stylized Edo period woodblock, and who knew Schoenberg had such warmth?



Just under six minutes of Arnold Schoenberg, Concert No. 42.

Why are Economists allergic to Data?

We are in a financial crisis. Sigh. What to do? Well, as the presocratics discovered, and as Francis Bacon rediscovered, there's this thing called "Evidence." I want you all to spell it, then say it, then spell it again. The "Great Depression" (soon to be retitled Great Depression I, as opposed to our current Great Depression 2) had one economy that recovered faster than all the others. Which one? Sweden. The Swedish plan is well known. The US banks are near collapse, even with the infusion of 700,000,000,000 (how many zeros?) of your and my dollars. We (by which I mean Paulson) just is handing the money over, as far as I can tell, still without any sort of oversight. Do you remember any regulation being passed in the last week or two? This is soft-- stupid-- socialism. Really a form of capitalist theft.

How to do it right? In Sweden, they didn't mess around back in the '30's. They actually nationalized the banks, shook them upside down, figured out exactly what assets they had, cleaned them up, and then reprivatized. It worked.

Why can't we do that? The executives at AIG wouldn't get their manicures? How can we be such idiots? We're just buying tremendously overpriced assets. You and me, babe. To, as far as I can see, no particular good, except we'll make Warren Buffett even richer. His purchase of a zillion dollars of Goldman Sachs was essentially a bet on the stupidity of the American Congress. You see, Goldman can now sell its worthless mortgage-backed securities for a profit (from the previous valuation.) Buffett makes out like, well, Warren Buffett.

Perhaps this is just sour grapes. How come I'm not too big to fail? Where's may multi-billion bailout? Waaaaa!!!!

Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm...............Sweet! Troopergate Witness Flips Like A Pancake

An important witness in Palin's troopergate scandal changed her testimony. Initially she had denied that Sarah and Todd Palin had pressured her to deny a claim for her ex-brother-in-law, Wooten. But faced with perjury charges, Murlene Wilkes now acknowledges the Palins' involvement.

Interestingly, Wilkes held a big contract with the state of Alaska for Worker's compensation. Her bid for this contract was not the lowest received by the State, and Wilkes was under the impression that to keep this contract, she needed to deny Wooten's claim. Wooten's claim was suddenly denied.

Branchflower, the independent investigator, is due to release his report on Oct 10th. The McCain campaign has been doing its best to derail this investigation; last week 3 witnesses ignored their subpoenas, and seven more are expected to this week.

So this is cooperativeness and transparency Palin style. Fortunately, I think we can all see right through their obstructionist tactics-----as long as we're watching.

A Tax Expert And Legal Scholar Examines Palin's Taxes

Bryan T. Camp, a professor of Law, has analyzed the Palins' tax returns for 2006 and 2007. Here he points out five issues:

(1) The Palins did not report as income some $17,000 that Governor Palin’s employer (the State of Alaska) paid her as an “allowance” for her travel. Can they do that? Yes, most likely.

(2) The Palins did not report as income some $43,000 that the State of Alaska paid the Governor as an “allowance” for her husband and children’s travel. Can they do that? No, most likely not.

(3) The Palins deducted $9,000 on their 2007 return, claiming it was a loss from Mr. Palin’s snow machine racing activity. Can they do that? Most likely not, but more info could make the deduction o.k.

If any of the above issues goes against the Palins they then risk getting hit with the section 6662 penalty for “negligence or disregard of rules or regulations.”

(4) Can the Palins avoid the section 6662 negligence penalty by claiming that they reasonably relied either (a) on the W-2’s sent to them by their employer, which did not reflect either the $17,000 or the $43,000, or (b) on their tax return preparer H&R Block, or (c) on Mr. Olsen’s opinion letter dated September 30, 2008? The three reliance defenses are unlikely to succeed, but more info may make the (b) defense a good one.

For the following point, understand that Mr. Olsen is the Palins' tax lawyer.

(5) Does Mr. Olsen have any exposure to sanctions by the IRS because of his letter? I believe Mr. Olsen’s letter probably violates 31 C.F.R. section 10.35. If so, he would be exposed to possible sanctions from the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.

Just click on the link to read more. Bryan Camp has written a very engaging and accessible paper. He concludes:

In sum, Mr. Olsen’s letter may be a brilliant political ploy. But it is a sorry excuse for a legal opinion on the tax consequences of the travel allowance problems in the Palin’s returns.

I guess the Palins really are anti-tax.

A Mortgage Meltdown Discussion For People Who Would Rather Laugh Than Cry

A great spoof of pompous interviews.

How Facism enters the US--hint, it's wearing lipstick.

Don't you think attack helicopters look so much more, ah, unthreatening, when tricked out in pink bows? Don't you think the same is true of lipstick wearing pitbulls?

From the WaPo

Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."

The reception had been better in Clearwater, where Palin, speaking to a sea of "Palin Power" and "Sarahcuda" T-shirts, tried to link Obama to the 1960s Weather Underground. "One of his earliest supporters is a man named Bill Ayers," she said. ("Boooo!" said the crowd.) "And, according to the New York Times, he was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that, quote, 'launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and our U.S. Capitol,' " she continued. ("Boooo!" the crowd repeated.)

"Kill him!" proposed one man in the audience.

"Sit down, boy." "Kill him!" Is this the new face of America? I hide may head in shame.

In response, I propose "Goose Steppers for Sarah," using as our patron saint, John Cleese; whom I suspect is not a supporter.

Or, alternatively, "Fascist Barbie" --complete with bonus nickname "Klaus." Can't you just see her all tricked out in those adorable and tight-fitting German army costumes, with the ever-so sexy black leather jackboots, and that staple of Alaskan fashion accessories, guns!


No such outfit would be complete without the standard-issue German Army "Gott Mit Uns" belt buckle. How could any one among us disagree with such a sincerely held sentiment? Photoshoppers, anyone?

OK, I'm all upset, any soothing music suggestions?

Scurillous rumors: two can put on the high heels.

Sooo, Sarah says that Obama's palling around with terrorists, huh? I see Sarah Palin's accusation and raise her a troubled son.

According to the National Enquirer and The New Republic, Track Palin (Sarah's oldest) vadalized school buses and is (or has been) an oxycontin addict.

From Margo Howard, quoted in The New Republic.

It would have far more factual validity for Obama, or a surrogate, to publicize the fact that Track, the kid who joined the Army, did so because a judge told him it was that or jail due to his dealing drugs.

Besides, Sarah started it (I can call her Sarah, 'cause she's all folksy, yebetcha) by using her kids as political props at every possible occasion.

Lots of additional speculation here.

From the New York Times, some exculpatory info: though notice that Levi Johnston has now dropped out of High School and hockey.

In the end, hockey did not work for Levi Johnston. His grades slipped, he left school and he quit playing altogether.

The dream for Track Palin unraveled, too, starting when he separated his shoulder in Michigan. By March 2007, he was back with his family and that spring graduated from Wasilla High School. He had shoulder surgery, and the Avalanche offered him a playing slot, said the team’s general manager, Jamie Smith.

But that summer, Mr. Smith said, Track Palin called him and said that his shoulder was not better and that he was going to enlist in the Army instead.

Here's Ancorage TV on the subject:

Guess Sarah Palin can see Afghanistan from Alaska, too.

SAN FRANCISCO - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin called Afghanistan “our neighboring country” on Sunday in a speech that could revive questions over her tendency to stumble into linguistic knots. [Djinn here, or her tendency to not have a frickin' clue about geography]

Three days after a mostly gaffe-free debate performance, the Alaska governor fumbled during a speech in which she praised U.S. soldiers for “fighting terrorism and protecting us and our democratic values”.

“They are also building schools for the Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan,” she told several hundred supporters at a fundraising event in San Francisco.

From Reuters by way of Atrios.

Huh?

A Palin supporter explains:

I like Sarah because she portrays herself as a real person. That’s what kind of politicians we need. So she’s not quick with answers…which the press seems to be jumping on. So what. She’s managing a state that one has to be physically & mentally aware–to live in. That’s smart.
I haven’t heard alot of complaints from Alaska about
political blunders by their politicians. Coming from Alaska to the mainland of the U.S. is enough to make most anyone slow their speech down and look surprised.
The U.S. rates pretty high on the BEST PLACE TO LIVE chart. Let’s listen to her.

I'm afraid I can't add anything to that.

Track to Seek New 'Connections' in Afghanistan?

Palin has been making a lot of noise recently accusing Obama of 'palling around' with terrorists.

Margo Howard points out:

It would have far more factual validity for Obama, or a surrogate, to publicize the fact that Track, the kid who joined the Army, did so because a judge told him it was that or jail due to his dealing drugs. I have a strong hunch, however, the Obama people would never get into that.

I know that Obama has called on his supporters to leave the children of candidates out of the fray. But the way Palin uses her son's enlistment (on Sept. 11th, no less) as a political prop should make it a reasonable story to cover.

Can Jodie Holland Stay Here All Night?

About half of a brand new song, but such a song. Reminds me of Hole's version of "He hit me and it felt like a kiss." Listen if you dare....

Obama, even more wonderful than you thought.

Here's a story from Norway; 23 years ago, Obama, without much money himself at the time, paid $103.00 in overweight charges for a woman travelling to Norway--she had no one to contact and was trying to decide which of her possessions to leave. She has now stepped forward.

From the Norwegian paper VG, by way of Leisha's Random Thoughts.

Mary lacked money to fly home to Norway – he saved her love

ÅSGÅRDSTRAND (VG): Mary was a newlywed and ready to move to Norway, but was stopped at the airport because she didn’t have enough money for the trip. Then a stranger turned up and paid for her.

Mary Menth Andersen was 31 years old at the time and had just married Norwegian Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold with him. But first she had to get all of her belongings across to Norway. The date was November 2nd, 1988.
At the airport in Miami things were hectic as usual, with long lines at the check-in counters. When it was finally Mary’s turn and she had placed her luggage on the baggage line, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.
-You’ll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said.
Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.
-I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, says Mary.

Although she explained the situation to the man behind the counter, he showed no signs of mercy.
-I started to cry, tears were pouring down my face and I had no idea what to do. Then I heard a gentle and friendly voice behind me saying, That’s OK, I’ll pay for her.
Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.
-He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?
Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man.
-He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.

The piece of paper said ‘Barack Obama’ and his address in Kansas, which is the state where his mother comes from. Mary carried the slip of paper around in her wallet for years, before it was thrown out.
-He was my knight in shining armor, says Mary, smiling.
She paid the 103 dollars back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker* in Chicago, and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.
In the spring of 2006 Mary’s parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.
In a letter to Mary’s parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped ‘United States Senate, Washington DC’, Barack Obama writes**:
‘I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me of what happened at Miami airport. I’m happy I could help back then, and I’m delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes. Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States senator’.
The parents sent the letter on to Mary.

Palin falls on face in Heartland, hope for US rises.

From the Iowa Independent

With weird winks and homespunisms, Palin worked in several “you betchas” and “darn rights” and even a “shout out” to family in an effort to appeal to just folks.

As a small-town Iowan I didn’t find it genuine at all. She actually talked down to us, figuring that references to hockey moms and the hackneyed phrase “Joe Six Pack” and her self-application of the word “maverick” would hold more sway than a discussion of the issues. Details do matter — something the last two weeks and the current two wars have shown Americans.

On energy policy, one of the more important issues in Iowa, Palin could not explain GOP presidential candidate John McCain’s repeated votes against wind power, ethanol, and the renewable energy that have been so vital to the economy around here. She didn’t even give it the old college try.

Instead, as her party’s chief cheerleader, Palin corrected Biden on the — err… — cheer. It’s not “drill, drill, drill” but “drill, baby, drill,” Palin noted gleefully.

What? You want an explanation for the picture? Oil spills coat birds in oil. When you, drill baby drill, you will produce the occasional oil spill. If you are a lucky penguin rescued from an oil spill, someone might put a sweater on you to keep you warm while you recover from your oil bath. I realize there are no penguins in Alaska, but they are representative of all the harmed wildlife, just 'cause they're so darn cute.


Thanks, CultureKitchen