Hate hate hate hate spam

I really hate all this weirdo spam that I'm getting. Are people really stupid enough to fall for this stuff? Sheesh.

I really appreciate her

I really appreciate this certain friend of mine. She's so much fun to be with, and she's sweet as well.

Obama's tax plan

I really don't like Obama's taxation plan. Oh sure, it sounds good. It sounds good to say that we should distribute some of the wealth to the poor.

The thing is, it's foolish. Money is not a zero sum game. Any economist knows that society should be creating wealth. When the economy is sluggish, the government should attempt to encourage the spread of businesses and the creation of new jobs. When business owners are taxed too heavily, that can't happen. You've got to reduce the risk and increase the potential rewards.

And Obama's tax plan will do the opposite.

Creepy swing dancer guy

There's this guy who attends the swing dancing events that I frequent. He obviously loves to dance, but he's way over the top in his appreciation. As a friend of mine said, this guy is a real weirdo.

Fella, you don't have to make orgasmic faces when you're dancing. And you certainly don't have to press your face up close to your partner's face, grinning as though in sheer ecstasy. It's creepy and weird. It's also extremely inappropriate.

Oh, and don't lift women into the air when you're dancing with them for the very first time, especially if they are novice dancers. It's stupid.

Go away, fella.

Quantum of Solace

"Quantum of Solace." That's an interesting name for a James Bond film. I rather doubt that Ian Fleming would have come up with something like that. I like it.

Oh, and I think that Daniel Craig has the right look for Bond. This is not the sort of role that should go to a prettyboy.

Darn it!

Darn it! Darn it! Darn it!

It's my day off, and yet once again, I have to show up and put in a few hours. Oh, and I can't get a whole lot done at home, thanks to being interrupted. Darn it.

Cardio compliment

I've been taking a cardio bootcamp class at my gym, and I received a compliment this week... or at least, I interpret it as a compliment.

The instructor wanted us to partner up for some coordinated punching and some kicking exercises wherein we balance ourselves off against the other person. As I was looking for a partner, she motioned me to join her up on the stage and demonstrate the moves to the class. I guess she was confident that I would do the moves correctly. That was kinda nice.

Had to work on my day off

I was kinda bummed today. I was supposed to take the day off, but then I got a call asking me if I could come in to work for a while. I wound up staying there for three hours.

So much for a day off. I really wanted to use more of that time working on some home projects. I'm talking about home maintenance and some little techie projects that I have going on the side.

Rats.

Old Filmation cartoons

I've been watching some old Filmation superhero cartoons -- Hawkman, Green Lantern, the Teen Titans, the Atom, the Flash, and the Justice League. I got to watch these through some Netflix DVDs.

These cartoons were really, really cheesy. One of the Teen Titans cartoons was actually kind of amusing, but you can tell that they were all made in a woebegone time.

Oh, well.

The Lovely Bones

I've been listening to the audiobook adapation of the bestselling novel, The Lovely Bones.

As it turns out, it wasn't about DeForest Kelley at all. What a ripoff.

Cute smart Jeopardy lady

This post reminded me about Larissa Kelly, the demure young dynamo who created a minor sensation on Jeopardy a few months ago. Ms. Kelly was one of the winningest contestants that Jeopardy has had in a while, though she didn't come close to Ken Jenning's record.

Unfortunately, she wasn't able to make it to the Tournament of Champions. Too bad.

Dawkins and Science

I was reading some comments by this one fella on the net -- a die-hard Richard Dawkins fan. This fella had become unhinged upon hearing that a good number of philosophers and other scholars -- including various atheists -- complained about the logic employed by Richard Dawkins in his book, The God Delusion. These scholars said that Dawkins employed poor philosophy and engaged in revisionist thinking on matters of history.

As I said, this fella became positively unglued. He hollered (as best he could over the 'net), "If you don't agree with Dawkins, then you must reject all of science! And if you do that, then you had better walk away from your computer right now, since you have no business using the fruits of science!"

Boy. Talk about extreme.

Why won't any economist defend McCain's economic policies in a northern California debate?

I came across this question in a discussion thread on the net. The OP clearly implied that this means that no economist would want to defend McCain's economic policies. Of course, that's a naive view.

One knowledgeable economist posted the following reply, which I really liked. In this posting, MR means "marginal returns" and AVC means "average variable cost."

When marginal revenue is below average variable cost, a competitive firm will produce no output in the short run. Here, output is debating De Long.

Suppose you're a McCain-supporting economist. Why would you debate De Long? You would if doing so would get you something - like increase your candidate's chances in the election or your influence in the Republican party - and it wouldn't cost you much.

But whilst a McCain-supporting economist might well continue to support McCain and perhaps bag Obama on his shortcomings, it would be foolish to debate De Long, because:

You stand to gain little or nothing because even if the election is winnable, it's not being fought on economic policy issues as debated amongst economists in California.

You stand to gain little or nothing by defending McCain's policies, because either McCain's going to lose or you're going to want him to change them after the election. Either way, you don't want to be tied to them. And you certainly can't go into a debate conceding that whilst you support the candidate you don't support his policies.*

An example: McCain's call for expenditure cuts. If you're a conservative economist, you think one of three things about this:

1. It's a bad idea at the moment when the economy is about to go or has gone into recession (you're a conventional economist).
2. It's a good idea even now, but totally inconsistent with the mortgage bailout stuff (you're a neo-Mellonite).
3. It's good as far as it goes, but irrelevant because there is no crisis anyway (you're a real business cycle type).

So the conservative economist will want to avoid supporting McCain's positions and look to have influence in the unlikely event of a McCain administration or try to build something from the wreckage if he loses. Some, of course, have decided their fixed costs are well and truly sunk and have bailed entirely.

So, like I said, MR<\lt>avc.

Review of Christi Taylor: Totally Cool Step DVD

So I borrowed a copy of this DVD, Christi Taylor: Totally Cool Step from the library. It's a step aerobics video, and I don't recommend it unless you're an advanced stepper and are already familiar with the moves.

Kathy Smith is great because she breaks her moves down, allowing the viewer to see what she does. Christi Taylor's workout looks interesting, but it's not at all easy to digest.

It's that day

It's the anniversary of that day. Of that tragic, tragic day.

I remember that when this happened, I had just started working for a company that was already suffering from the collapse of the Internet and Y2K bubbles. We had just laid off about a third of the staff. Then this happened.

Boy.

The Giving Tree

Do you remember Shel Silverstein's children's book, "The Giving Tree"? I was surprised to read some very negative reactions to the book recently. "Why does this tree keep giving and giving to this little boy, taking nothing in return?" They thought it was a horrible story.

I disagree. In fact, I agree with one Internet poster's remarks, in which he says,

You definitely get a different spin on the book after you have kids.

There's a reason the story's called The Giving Tree and not The Taking Boy. The tree, not the boy, is what the story is about. I think some folks lose sight of that because we're used to humans being the central characters in our stories. The boy is just a necessary element to tell the story of the tree. Focusing on him too much makes you lose sight of what the book is really about.

When I was younger, I remember feeling that the kid was just a greedy bastard and the tree was a total doormat and an idiot. Now, I have a kid, and I think I understand: the tree (metaphorical parent) is willing to give every bit of itself for the boy (metaphorical child). What makes the tree happy is being with the child, and there's nothing the boy can take from the tree that will decrease that happiness.

Before I became a dad, I always heard about parents who didn't have enough money to feed the whole family, so they'd go hungry and give everything they had to their child so she could eat. I never understood that. Now, I think I know why people would gladly suffer for their kids. She really does mean the world to me, and I would give every part of myself for her. And I'd be happy.

Francis Y

Speaking of despicable people, Francis Y had a nasty habit of starting rumors about people. He loved it. Even an innocent conversation between a boy and a girl was grist for his rumor mill.

Why do some people take such a perverse delight in inventing rumors?

Rodney, you were despicable

I try to focus on the positive; I really do. I think that's important when you're in a high-stress job. However, there are still times when I find myself flashing back to some unpleasant memories.

For example, today I wound up thinking of Rodney, this incredible jackass that I knew from high school. To give you an idea of how despicable he was, he once snuck up behind me during a class study session when the teacher was away. He clamped his hands around my neck and squeezed... hard. The blood was cut off from my brain, and my vision started to fade. I nearly blacked out. We were in the back of the room, so the other students didn't see us, or if they did, they must have thought he was just playing around.

He eventually did loosen up, before I could pass out. When I complained, he said, "Come on! It's just fun!"

Yes, Rodney. I trust that you'd also find it fun if someone were to squeeze your neck to within an inch of your life. If I were a more mean-spirited person, I would actually wish such a fate on you, but I won't. I do hope that you've grown up and changed your ways; after all, we all do stupid things when we are young. If you haven't though, then more's the pity.

Dang, Buck Owens is good

I just watched an old episode of Tony Orlando and Dawn in which some of the old Hee Haw gang cast members were the guest stars. Hee Haw was pretty dumb and their jokes were extremely lame, but on Tony Orlando's show, they were much funnier.

Grandpa Jones is always pretty darned good. He's fun. However, Buck Owens really caught my attention. Man, that guy is talented!

I'm not a big country music fan; however, his rendition of Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree was absolutely amazing.

Sarah Palin, Bristol, and taking the high road

I read the following comments from one self-avowed liberal regarding this whole Bristol Palin kerfluffle. I think that his words are worth heeding.

I'm a liberal, and an unabashed Obama supporter.

That said, this is how they'll beat us.... Judging this woman's quality as a mother based on a few datapoints, gleefully repeating idle internet gossip, eventually forcing the disclosure of a family matter that was none of our f***ing business.

This is how they'll win. Drag us down to their level and beat us with experience. Stick to policy, McCain's judgment and age. Leave Palin alone. Any attack on her--however well-founded--will be seen as picking on a defenseless hockey mom.

She's the bait, and we're taking it.