Over-the-Counter-Culture

You gotta dance with them what brung ya.

2010-10-16T17:09:00.005-04:00

When it was announced that Pat Gallivan had won the Republican nomination for the New York State Senate 59th District, Pat's political patron, longtime senator, Dale Volker crowed "The people in Albany are excited."

And indeed, they must be; "the people in Albany" have invested pretty heavily in Pat Gallivan. Today I received the above mailing. Was it from somewhere in the 59th district? Lancaster or Warsaw, maybe? Was it from the fine folks in Geneseo or Canandigua? Orchard Park, or Attica, perhaps?

Nope. Albany.

"The people in Albany" are so happy to have Pat Gallivan working for them that they are willing to spend thousands of dollars on big glossy mailers for him. So before we cast our votes this November, let's remember that before a potential Senator Pat Gallivan takes his first vote, he has been bought and paid for by the same Albany insiders that have run our state into the ground.

Ognibene deve finire-- All Good Things Must End...

2010-09-16T15:14:00.004-04:00

No, this post will not include multiple intersecting time-lines, but it will have multiple intersecting campaigns for governor of New York.

Crazy Carl Paladino has triumphed in the New York Republican Gubernatorial primary. Either his voters are very dumb or very sophisticated.

It seems that Crazy Carl's running-mate [first name] Ognibene was defeated by Rick Lazio's running-mate [first name] Edwards. (As neither of these men has any chance of ever being elected lieutenant governor, I'm not bothering to search for their first names.) This sets up a situation where Paladino is running with Edwards on the Republican line, Edwards is running with Lazio on the Conservative line and Ognibene is running with Paladino on the Taxpayers Party line. (I plan on writing a whole post on just how asinine a "Taxpayers Party" is in the future.) If this is all starting to sound like some sick mash-up of Twilight and The Jersey Shore, then you are giving far too much credibility to the class and intelligence of New York Republicans.

I have a hard time believing that people who would vote for Paladino are informed enough to have researched the relative qualities of Edwards and Ognibene and come to the conclusion that while they support Crazy Carl, they prefer Edwards due to his superior policy positions.

I don't even know if Edwards teabags.

This creates a legal conundrum whereby votes for Paladino as a Republican cannot be added to votes for Paladino as a Taxpayer-er(?), because the tickets are not the same.

So which team are you? Team Edwards or Team Ognibene?

The Carl that could have been

2010-08-13T13:23:00.005-04:00

Real estate developer Carl Paladino is running for governor of New York in the Republican primary and the newly-minted "Tax-payers Party." The Paladino campaign has wallowed about, embracing the most divisive issues, rhetoric and personalities of the Tea Party Movement and paleoconservative section of the Republican Party. In addition to a non-sensical platform, and rambling rhetoric, Paladino has alienated many potential allies by promising to "clean up Albany with a baseball bat" and defending his indiscriminate e-mailing of emails with bestiality and racist commentary. Carl's chances of being governor are pretty much slim to none, but it didn't have to be that way.

Thinking back to 2008 or so, I knew that Carl Paladino was a successful real estate developer. He used extensive connections in both the Democratic and Republican parties to secure sweetheart deals, and extensive incentives. Several of his projects were solid examples of the good that could be accomplished through public/private partnerships. I also knew that he forcefully used lawsuits for the public good, like removing the toll barriers on the I-190 when public officials like Dale Volker claimed it wasn't worth their effort. Paladino has been highly critical of the wasteful, cliquey and ineffective institutional business organizations in Buffalo.

Imagine if you will that Carl Paladino, instead of going off of the deep-end, campaigned as a successful businessman who could work with people of all political parties, a deal-maker who could accomplish where others could not, someone who was bold, forceful and forward thinking. He could have done it, but instead Carl Paladino decided that divisive, hateful, looney-tunes rhetoric was more valuable than actual policy positions and proposals to govern.

Dale Volker comes out of the closet

2010-04-01T16:03:00.002-04:00

After years of blaming all of his failures on "New York City people," Dale Volker finally explicitly blames the late budget on Jews, African-Americans and Latinos. It is long past time that Dale Volker stop embarrassing his constituents and be forcefully retired.

Out of touch.

2010-01-20T15:27:00.010-05:00

I haven't blogged in a while. My last post was a lament that the New York Senate had blocked marriage equality. I lamented especially that my senator, Dale Volker, voted to deny the rights of New Yorkers. With that in mind, I post the e-mail that I received TODAY (January 20th, 2010). Someone is very out of touch and needs to be out of a job!:

from Dale M. Volker
to xxx@gmail.com
date Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 1:34 PM
subject [NYS Senator Autoreply] Vote YES
mailed-by vox01.advomatic.com
hide details 12/2/09

Thank you for contacting your senator. Your email has been received and will be processed shortly.

A New York State of Blind

2009-12-04T19:43:00.003-05:00

As the state of New York slouches toward bankruptcy, it's industry sapped by silly and oppressive taxes, fees and regulation, its youth leeching out to Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Florida, jobs vanishing daily, I watched in horror this week as the New York State Senate took time instead of addressing any of these issues to explicitly DENY basic human rights to New Yorkers by voting down a law to extend the right to marry to all New Yorkers.

I, needless to say, am absolutely disgusted by this act. My disgust is only strengthened by the absolute cowardice of those who voted against marriage equality. Of the 38 cowards who voted against marriage equality, only one had the testicular fortitude and intellectual honesty to speak on the floor of the Senate to justify his vote.

My personal coward is Dale Volker. I have e-mailed, and called Dale to try to get an explanation out of him. I even sent him a message on facebook. No response. Nothing. Not a peep.

I'm including a photo of this hateful coward so that if you happen to see him, you can give him a piece of your mind, and maybe somehow try to get some sort of an incoherent jumbled explanation out of his addled brain as to why he thinks discrimination is ok.

(Tip of the hat to Buffalo Pundit from whom I borrowed the photo)

Freedom of Speech

2009-11-19T16:52:00.003-05:00

Does the First Amendment give one the right to falsely tweet "OMG F1RE" in a crowded theater?

Star Trek XII

2009-11-18T22:14:00.003-05:00

With Star Trek breaking the infamous Star Trek movie curse, whereby odd-numbered Star Trek movies tend not to be up-to-snuff (some claim Generations broke the curse, but I don't agree), it seems quite possible that Star Trek XII will also be totally awesome.

The interwebs are a-twitter with speculation as to which characters will make it into ST-XII. The ever wrathful Khan is a common request. Me? I want Guinan. Yes, one of the most heartful and fascinating characters is Whoopi Goldberg's bartender. But she's a The Next Generation character some of ou might exclaim. True, I reply, but she is also very very old at the time of TNG. But Whoopi Goldberg is older now than she was in 1994, and Guinan would be significantly younger in an Original Series era movie. True, but you forget one of the beautiful things about sci-fi-- the one sentence continuity fix. "El-Aurians have grey hair in youth and it darkens as they age," BAM, contiuity fixed.

So, what do you think? Should Guinan show up to pour Kirk some Saurian brandy? If not Guinan, what blast-from-the-past would ya'al like to see?

2009-11-09T22:11:00.001-05:00

Something interesting will be here soon.... I promise..... Feeling a little bit of a dam in the creativity dept. lately.

The real distinction between the classes.

2009-10-06T22:59:00.002-04:00

Those that own property and live by renting it out are paid AHEAD.

Those that sell products are paid AT THE TIME OF SALE.

Those that labor to produce are paid AFTER the FACT.

Table Manners

2009-09-28T22:05:00.002-04:00

If your family invited a distinguished guest over for dinner, and during that dinner, you were overtaken by emotion and insulted that guest, you would apologize not only to your dinstinguished guest, but also to your family, right? You're a little insulted that I asked that, because you are a civilized human-being, right? I thought so.

OP vote NO

2009-09-22T21:55:00.002-04:00

I am recommending a "no" vote in the referendum tomorrow in Orchard Park, NY to reduce the Town Board from five to three members. I have several concerns. One is that on a board where two votes constitutes a majority, no two members will be able to privately discuss business without violating Open Meeting Laws. This will make it nigh impossible for the Board to legally conduct business. Also, I believe that in such a small group, a permanent coalition of two will naturally form in most cases, making disagreements more vitriolic and personal than on a Board of five where coalitions are more fluid and less personal.

The savings the town will get from cutting two part-time jobs are negligable compared to the likely-toxic politics that will incapacitate the town for the forseeable future.

VOTE NO!

Buffalo: Charlotte, but nice

2009-09-11T11:07:00.003-04:00

Several Buffalo-based banks spent the last decade(s) growing smartly and slowly. Their intelligent controlled-growth was seen as un-sexy in the '90's and '00's. While a lot of other banks were wading balls deep into bad mortgages and posting incredible gains, M&T Bank, and First-Niagara followed the maxim of Aesop's tortise: "slow and steady wins the race." Now that other banks have stumbled, they are picking up the pieces, by becoming powerhouses in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Upstate New York, Baltimore and even Washington, DC.

With an already very large presence from HSBC (aka the biggest bank in the world), and considerable growth by M&T and First Niagara, it seems like Buffalo is poised to be a major second tier banking center. It will never be NYC, but it can be the next Charlotte. We've got lots of talent already in the banking industry. And there is something in the water that leads Buffalonians to the unsexy quality of moderation. So maybe Bank of America should abandon the shoot first and ask questions later Southern mentality and truck on up to Buffalo.

Three and 1/2 Endorsements

2009-09-10T23:37:00.005-04:00

It's that time again; time for me to stick my nose in other people's business and endorse candidates for political office.

First off, I have the easiest endorsement of the night, South Carolina Democrat Rob Miller. Miller is an Iraq War veteran and his opponent, Joe Wilson is an asshat.

Secondly, I am endorsing (gasp) Republican Dede Scozzafava for election to Congress from New York's 23rd District. Generally, I think that even a bad Democrat is better than the best Republican. But this race is different for a couple of reasons. First, the "Democratic" candidate is not a Democrat. I've got nothing against independents but this guy doesn't really seem to believe much in the values of the Democratic party, and on several social issues Scozzafava is to his left. There is a Conservative Party candidate as well, but we all know that electing "conservatives" will get you nothing but war, recession and deficits. I think that having a Republican voice in Congress to repeal DADT and to push for marriage equality is far more important than having another Blue Dog for Nancy Pelosi to wrangle.

I also am a true-blue New Yorker, and I think that it is best for our state to have voices in both caucuses in the House, and with only three Republicans representing us in there, we can't afford to lose another.

Lastly, I endorse Mickey Kearns in the Democratic Primary for Mayor of Buffalo, New York. To be quite honest I don't know that much about Kearns, but I do know that Byron Brown is a hyper-political empty suit of a mayor and he needs to go.

If Kearns should lose the Democratic primary, then my endorsement goes to fellow Cornellian Mathew Ricchiazzi who has had a lot of smart things to say during his campaign. I hear that Matt might be kicked off the ballot, but I say that I'd rather vote for a thousand "sure losers" who offer real positive change, than a thousand "sure things" that offer nothing but the same.

Losses that wil be felt

2009-08-25T16:58:00.004-04:00

Watching the coverage of people sobbing over the death of Michael Jackson, got me thinking. Are there any people who I don't know personally whose deaths will have a significant emotional effect on me. I realized that yes, there were a few people who have significant, usually symbolic, meaning to me, whose deaths will cast pall over me. Most of my list is pretty old, people whose significance is pretty well established. I don't really have a John Lennon or Kurt Cobain to add to the list. I think it's youngest occupant is almost 50 himself. So without further ado, for your pleasure, consideration and comment is my list:

Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins
Jimmy Carter
Barack Obama
William Shatner
Chuck Berry
Frank Buckles
Melissa Ethridge
Dolly Parton
Robert Plant
B. B. King
Zephyr Rain Teachout

Some of these people are firsts, some are lasts, but all are icons.

PS: This post will certainly be a number one hit on some really strange google searches

Update

2009-08-20T13:40:00.004-04:00

The battle for superiority has reached a fever pitch. My wife has declared her alliegence to "Space Oddity." Whilst I have declared for "Rocket Man."

My thinking is this; I concede that on a superficial level, "Space Oddity" is more appealing. It's rocking in the sincerest form of the word. It's more fun to sing while drunk. The bridge is mind blowing. The "dialogue" style is irreresistable ("Tell my wife I love her very much." "She knoooooows!") But the narrative of Space Oddity is simplistic compared to Rocket Man (although both rank in the 99th percentile of pop/rock song narratives). A man goes into space; at first the mission seems successful; complications develop; hope is lost. It's a straightforward story of life and death in space.

If Space Oddity is Michael Crichton lecturing on the folley of man, Rocket Man is Heinlein at his superlative best exploring the future of humanity spreading into space. That even in this brave new frontier, the banal needs of humanity creep in. The un-named Rocket Man's thoughts are essentially those of a 20th Century homebuyer- school district. "Mars aint a place to raise a kid; In fact it's cold as hell." And the philosophising Rocket Man is not the perfected hero that is Space Oddity's Major Tom; he complains of "All this science [he doesn't] understand; it's just a job five days a week." We are left with the tantalizing questions of how the Rocket Man spends the other two days.

Space Oddity is a straightforward short story; Rocket Man is a philisophical tretise. Space Oddity is O'Henry; Rocket Man is Plato. Both are masterful; both speak to the human spirit; both are beautiful; both are songs of the highest quality, but Rocket Man is better.

Things I've learned...

2009-08-18T13:15:00.007-04:00

If you are over the age of twelve, and you meet someone with an unusual name, there is no joke or pun that you can make up that they have not heard a thousand times. It's not funny and it's not civil. So, don't try; they will quietly thank you for it.

Ten points to the first reader who can name both weird-named individuals pictured!

PS: If you are younger than twleve it is your duty to work your brain to exhaustion trying to think of puns, jokes or word-plays that demean and emberass the wierd-named individual.

Who'd ya rather?

2009-08-16T23:35:00.004-04:00

The question has arisen in the sasiadizzle household, and I put it out to you, without editorial influence on my part: Which is the better song, Rocketman or Space Oddity?

Or if you prefer the Bill Shatner.

Cat Stevens and Joe Satriani

2009-08-14T11:04:00.003-04:00

So folksinger Yusef Islam (aka Cat Stevens) and guitarist Joe Satriani are both suing Coldplay for plagiarizing their songs in order to crap out "Viva la Vida Loca." I've listened to the Satriani song, "If I Could Fly" and there is no question in my mind that Coldplay listened to it and said, "hey how can we suck any soul and emotion out of this song and then add some annoying vocals?"

Legal opinions, though, say it will be very hard for Joe Satriani or Cat Stevens to win a plagiarism case, as they must prove that Coldplay listened to their songs before writing a song that sounds eerily similar. SO I propose two things: First, follow my example and listen to as musch Cat STevens anf Joe Satriani music as posible. It's easy to do. Buy their music on iTunes, listen to them on Pandora, request them on the radio. Secondly, I urge every band in the world to begin their own lawsuit against Coldplay. Normally I frown on frivilous lawsuits, but if we can distract them from crapping out another album in the near future, a great boon to humanity will be done.

Good Day and Good Listening

ART!

2009-08-04T20:57:00.002-04:00

The illustrious TARA NOVA will be showing her art and jewelry at Niagara Landing Wine Cellars in Cambria, New York this Saturday and Sunday from 10-6 and 12-6 respectively. In addition to fine and decorative art there will be wine. So come on down to the renowned Niagara Escarpment AVA for a good time.

If destroyers and canal barges are more your thing, the check her out at the Buffalo Indie Market sale, Canalside in Buffalo, NY.

ART!

Legislative buildings

2009-07-30T14:41:00.002-04:00

Arizona's accidental governor, Jan Brewer has proposed that in order to raise some quick cash, Arizona should sell its legislative office buildings and lease them back. While this might produce some quick cash, it is shortsighted in the typical Republican way, and is a sure way to cost the state in the long run.

I propose a better plan for my beloved New York: Abolish the State Senate and lease out their old offices to businesses. Not only would we save the cost of the senators and their staffs, but the state could make money over the long term from the leases on the new space in the Legislative Office Building. By keeping ownership of the space and leasing it, the state keeps the stability of ownership with the flexibility to use that space for its own purposes in the future.

I'll bet my own beloved Buffalo could make a pretty penny by leasing part of the art deco masterpiece that is City Hall.

For Rent?

Life...or Something Like it.

2009-07-20T19:05:00.002-04:00

Hey ya'll at the risk of sounding like Jim Anchower from the Onion, it's been a while since I rapped at ya. You see, a whole lot has been going on. Well, first I moved from DC to Buffalo. I started a new job. I'm looking for more permanent employment. I'm applying for a commission in the Navy Reserve. I'm looking for a new car and a new house. I really haven't had the time to have any real opinions. I promise, I will have some opinions or funny anecdotes sometime in the near future. For real.

Oh, here's one: Harry Potter was good, mmm'kay?

Albany Returns to Normal Levels of Dysfunction

2009-07-09T15:11:00.003-04:00

The Buffalo News reports that the last of the Democratic traitors will once again be voting for the Democratic leadership. We'll see how this plays out. If anything it seems like the useless Malcolm Smith will be gone. I have very low expectations for anything meaningful coming out of New York's government this year. Our only hope is for voters to throw a lot of these bums out in 2010.

New Website

2009-07-07T11:09:00.002-04:00

Gentle Readers,

Now that my blog has reached a critical mass of about three unique hits per day, I'm thinking of branching off and expanding the sasiadizzle empire. I've purchased a domain name and server space for a website that is my real name .com. I plan on using the blog to post more lucidly with timely, but transient information and thoughts, and using the website for more permanent ideas. Some of the ideas that I am tossing around are my ideas for reforming New York State government, the state of DCPS, or something else entirely. I'm putting the question before you, what should the new site be about?

-Mr. Sasiadizzle

Thoughts on the Boss

2009-07-05T23:40:00.005-04:00

When I was seventeen I didn't care for Bruce Spingsteen. But lately, his music has really been hitting a nerve with me, and I started to over-analyze it when I realized that Bruce Springsteen's music is largely about how great it is (and often how badly it sucks to be) seventeen. And by design a seventeen-year-old can't really appreciate the beauty of being seventeen-- although I'm pretty sure I understood how badly it sucked at the time. Now that I'm looking back almost a decade on that time, the Boss's music is that much more beautiful. I'm pretty sure that there is someone out there writing songs about how great it is to be 26 that I am just not appreciating, but I'll get to on the far side of 30...

Calling all Gourmands, Foodies, and Drunks...

2009-07-02T13:24:00.003-04:00

I'm am hereby shamelessly plugging a new blog PEAKBAGGERS. Peakbaggers is run by a rising young brewer and sommolier in training, Adam Bystran. You can read about the new brews Adam is crafting as well as his recommended food and beer pairings. If you like food or beer you will like his site, bt if you like food AND beer (and I know you do) you will love his site. It's a great resource if you're having a party, want to expand your horizons or even if you are sitting alone in a darkened room sobbing. What are you waiting for? Hop to it!

PEAKBAGGERS

B.S. in Kenny Rogers Studies

2009-06-30T18:53:00.004-04:00

A B.S. in Kenny Rogers prepares the student for a wide variety of life situations. In addition to the normal fine arts, humanities and physical education requirements, students must take the following core courses:

KRS 101: Knowing when to hold 'em
KRS 121: Knowing when to fold 'em
KRS 141: Knowing when to walk away
KRS: 161: When to run

KRS 201: Survivin'
KRS 221: What to throw away
KRS 241: What to keep
KRS: 261: Making every hand a winner

Students will have plenty of time to visit the bursar after their dealing is done.

A Democrat and a rock-ribbed Upstater:

2009-06-29T11:49:00.004-04:00

As a Democrat and a rock-ribbed Upstater, I've been more than a little dismayed by Upstate's political situation. Today's New York Times had an article which dismayed me ever further. (And, yes, you can be a rock-ribbed Upstater and still read the Times!)

Pretty much, Upstate has failed think of itself as a unit with similar interests, and that is, to a certain degree, understandable. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse are different from each other and have different interests from smaller cities like Utica, Watertown, Rome, and these all have different interests from the rural areas.

Downstate, however has been a fairly unified voice. In part this is because on a state and national level, Downstate votes overwhelmingly Democratic. The Republicans that do get elected Downstate, Pete King and, recently Vito Fossella on the national level, and the Republicans in the State Legislature realize that to survive they need to work for the urban interests that are normally seen as the purview of Democrats. Working across the aisle is a pre-condition for surivival of the species Republicanus downstatus. Thus, on a national and statewide level, Downstate interests are represented fairly well in both the Democratic and Republican caucuses.

Upstate Democrats suffer from the fact that they are a tiny minority in their own party on the state-level. In part this is because, until recently, their were more Republicans in Upstate, and there are more people Downstate. Unfortunately, through gerrymandering and the aquiescence of the state and local parties, Upstate Democrats were concentrated into two Buffalo-based districts that have a long history of electing worthless boobs (see Stachowksi and Thompson). The rest of Upstate has been gerrymandered so that Democrats are massively deconcentrated into ineffective minorites (see these ridiculous districts: 59, 51, 61) The Ithaca area is divided between THREE Senate districts to prevent Ithaca area DEmocrats from electing one of their own. Buffalo suburbs are sucked into districts that stretch counties away into the countryside. What does this accomplish? Upstate elects a lot of Republican hacks who never face competition and cannot speak unequivicoly for any community of interest: rural, urban or suburban. And Democrats elect a small number of hacks who never face any Republican competition.

And because Upstate consistently elects braindead party machine hacks from both parties, BOTH parites are lead by downstaters. This is understandable to a certain degree with the Democrats, but the fact that the REPUBLICANS are lead by downstaters is mind-boggling. And members of both parties cling to their downstate leaders because they are party hacks whose interests are better served by service to party than to constituents. Upstaters very rarely are nominated for, much less elected to, higher office because there is so little intelligence or initiative and the party machines already have what they need from upstate and have little interest in running upstates for higher office.

More rant to come....

Tom Golisano, WTF?

2009-06-21T09:40:00.002-04:00

So, I've been meaning to blog about the disaster that is the NYS Senate for a long time now, but I haven't had the time to really give such a post the attention and care it needs. But I want to share the following which I have stolen ver batim from an excellent political site, politics1.com

FLORIDA. Sources tell Politics1 that billionaire businessman Tom Golisano -- a former three-time Independent candidate for New York Governor -- is now contemplating a Democratic run for Florida's open US Senate seat. Golisano, who owns homes in both New York and Florida, recently switched his residency to the Sunshine State. The New York Times also reported Golisano was the driving influence beyond the recent New York Senate leadership coup which three the body into turmoil. Governor Charlie Crist (R) contacted Golisano last week to seek his financial support for Crist's Senate campaign, but was politely rebuffed.

Tom Golisano, who just moved to Florida, who ran three times for governor of New York as an independent, who just spent millions to ensure the Democrats took the New York State Senate despite being a registered Republican, who then engineered a takeover of the NYS Senate by Republicans, a man who allegedly cut his girlfriend with a broken bottle and a tax dodger is thinking about running for Senator from Florida as a Democrat? WTF?!?!?

Trucking up to Buffalo....

2009-06-20T17:11:00.002-04:00

This is the weekend when we finally make the move to Buffalo. So much to do that blogging will be taking a backseat, even though I have so much to say about DCPS, grad school, and Washington in general. Stay tuned for my return TBD.

From the Mouths of Babes....

2009-06-15T19:46:00.003-04:00

Today was my last day of teaching, and it provided me with this absolute gem of dialogue, perhaps the last entry in the on-going series, "From the Mouths of Babes."

Walking past a TV on which "Golden Girls" is playing.

Male Student: Oooh the Golden Girls! That woman died, so sad.

Female Student: Betty White isn't dead. She in that new movie.

Male Student: Not Betty White, you stupid. Bea Arthur dead. So sad.

Female student: Oh

Something I can get behind:

2009-06-11T22:09:00.004-04:00

I can totally get behind the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Any show that starts out with a four minute musical montage set to Cheap Trick's "Surrender" involving a detour to a Victorian Doll Museum is a winner in my book. Thank the internets for hulu and Tivo so that the natural competition with the Daily Show and Colbert doesn't kill Conan off.

PS: Very nice art deco set design. Art Deco, now that's something I can ge behind.

The Sunset Belt

2009-05-31T09:58:00.003-04:00

No one should live in Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, or Nevada. One is a swamp and the others are deserts. And, of course, when I say no one, I really mean a handful of ranchers, miners, biologists and hermits should inhabit these places. Something along the lines of spreading the population of Maricopa County across these four states, but having them do something useful besides pave over everything and drink every drop of water they can get their lips on.

MSNBC.com just ran an article about how the changing economy will change the Sun Belt. Some of the main points were that Richard Florida called most of the Sun Belt a huge Ponzi scheme that was built on low taxes that would be financed by sprawling real estate development and flipping to immigrants. Once you bought in, your low tax life in a high growth region would simply be financed by new people buying in. Ooooops. (Oh, and we can't forget that income-tax-free Florida comes hat in hand to the rest of us every Hurricane Season.)

Another main point was that there is no money for schools in most of the Sun Belt, and states are trying to figure out whether to dedicate what little money they have left to Primary Education like humans would do, or to post-secondary education in order to spur economic development.

Sestak Throws His Hat Into the Ring

2009-05-27T19:21:00.002-04:00

Rumor is that Arlen Specter may have a serious Democratic opponent in Congressman Joe Sestak. I heartily approve.

Our wonderful world

2009-05-24T22:46:00.003-04:00

Quick, guess how many new species were catalogued during 2007! 100? 500? 1,000? Not even close; 18,516 new species were "discovered" in 2007. 75% of them were invertebrate animals, and a lot of them are pretty cool. We have an awesome planet!

And just in case you were wondering, this brings the total to 1.8 million distinct species that have been observed and recorded by humans. Scientists estimate that there are between 2 and 100 million different species on this planet.

Ugh.

2009-05-21T23:29:00.002-04:00

Grad School and the work of Sisyphus are a rough combo...

Two 2010 Endorsements.

2009-05-19T14:31:00.005-04:00

Although it's a bit far off, I have two endorsements I'd like to make for the United States Senate:

New York:

Kirsten Gillibrand. Kirsten is youngish and smart. I agree with her on guns and most other issues. A lot of people are giving her flack for perceived moves to the left since becoming senator, but I agree with her on her new-found positions, so I find no reason to criticize. Most of her potential Democratic challengers have very little to say beyond the fact that they feel that the New York City metro region is entitled to every position of political power in New York. They are wrong, and it's waaaay beyond time that Upstate gets a piece of the pie.

Pennsylvania:

My endorsement goes to: "Any Reasonable Democrat but Arlen Specter": Arlen Specter is a tool who thinks he's too important for America to loose. Since becoming a Democrat he has voted against the Democratic position on almost everything and has cynically called for "justice" to be served by seating Norm Coleman one day, only to say he "forgot which team he was on" the next day and disavow his previous comment. Some convictions there, Arlen! My personal favorite for the job is Allyson Schwartz, but there are plenty of Democrats in Pennsylvania and almost all of them are better than this empty suit.

Libertarianism is dead. Miss it. Miss it.

2009-05-17T22:32:00.002-04:00

As a lover of freedom, I am at heart a libertarian, and I believe that as little government as needed is usually best. The problem is that there are nearly seven billion people on this planet. The idea that the freedom to swing ones fist ends at someone else's face is falls apart in a hot crowded planet. Your freedom to drive an Escalade infringes on my freedom to breath clean air. Your freedom to put chemicals on your lawn infringes my freedom to drink clean water. Externalities that may seem trivial-- the carbon footprint of one indulgent person-- multiplied billions of times over makes a serious problem. The issues of fist swinging that were so clear in the 19th century and before are now so muddled that we now must give up some of our freedoms. I look forward to the day when three billion of us can someday live in peace and liberty, but until then...

From the Mouths of Babes....

2009-05-13T17:55:00.006-04:00

So one of the things we are encouraged to do, is talk to elementary students about college on a pretty regular basis, so that children know that it is a viable and often preferred option. And recently I was polling kids on where they might like to go to college and what they might like to study, and I got a pretty good list of college choices: Georgetown, Howard, Maryland, Texas A&M, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Virginia Tech... etc. Then one of my children piped up:

"Don't be silly, Mr. Sasiadizzle, none of us are going to college. Everyone knows the world is going to end in 2012!"

Either he's a follower of the Mayan religion or a devout fan of the X-Files. Either way, I like the cut of his jib.

Amaaaaaazing Etymologies....

2009-05-12T20:39:00.002-04:00

Friends, it's now time for the next installment of our ongoing series: Amaaaazing Etymologies where we explore the weird and wacky origins of our crazy language.

Today's word is SINISTER, which has it's root in sinistre, which means "left." Even today the word for "left" is sinistra in Italian. While the word itself comes from Latin, the concept is Greek. When Greek augurers looked for signs, those that were to their left were considered inauspicious, or sinister. One of the more common signs used to divine the future was birds. So the next time, you see a bird to your left, it may portend something sinister....

Star Trek....

2009-05-10T17:43:00.003-04:00

Star Trek is the movie of 2009. It is a great character-driven adventure story, with drama, humor, great special effects, and some sex appeal to boot. If you are a trekkie, so much the better. But if you are a casual sci-fi fan or haven't experienced Star Trek before-- Hell, if you have a pulse-- you will be blown away.

FACT: Star Trek had me crying within the first ten minutes.

FACT: Star Trek made me laugh more than the Simpsons Movie.

FACT: Star Trek made me jump out of my seat and yell expletives (in a good way) at least thrice.

FACT: Uhura is a stone-cold fox.

FACT: If you are a trekkie there are a few "winks" that will either have you whispering "cool" or lol'ing.

OPINION: Kirk, Spock, Uhura, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, and Pike were all perfectly cast. These are all beloved characters (except poor Capt. Pike) and their new embodiments were pitch perfect. The new cast brought the soul of the original cast but added new twists and flavors.

OPINION: Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu were all criminally under-utilized in the original series and most of the movies, but are much more featured to the movie's benefit.

OPINION: Even if you have never heard of any of these characters before, you will not be overwhelmed by the large cast. Think of the first X-MEN, with a cast of like 25 major characters where they all were introduced and developed without seeming thin or crowded (except for perhaps the paltry screen-time given to Storm...)

OPINION: Star Trek will rock your socks.

But it was not perfect:

DOWNER: I was under-whelmed by Eric Bana as Nero the villain.

DOWNER: Star Trek maybe played a bit too space-opera and not enough sci-fi

DOWNER: This movie leaves a Vulcan shaped hole in my heart-- the planet not the species

What are you doing, go see it

Now.

Formatting...

2009-05-08T22:50:00.002-04:00

I know everyone is waiting with baited breath the read my STAR TREK review, and I should post it tomorrow.

I usually write my posts using SAFARI as my browser, and I'm logged in on FIREFOX now and I've noticed that the formatting is different. Some places that I thought I was making a visually pleasing or interesting layout look pretty shitty on firefox, which is the browser I'm assuming most people are using to read this blog. If anyone has got any advice regarding this issue, I'm all ears. Unless I can figure something out, I'll probably switch to writing my posts from firefox.

Maybe I should make my next poll a browser poll. You Chrome pioneers can weigh in against the IE slugs.

Sasiadizzle out.

OMFG!!!! STAR TREK!

2009-05-07T16:17:00.004-04:00

I'm leaving to see STAR TREK in five minutes. It's going to be awesome!

(PS: I do believe this movie will break STAR TREK SYNDROME odd movie curse)

Amaaaaaazing etymologies....

2009-05-06T21:26:00.007-04:00

And now we continue our multi-part series, AMAZING ETYMOLOGIES, where we explore the amazing origins of the words that make up our wacky language. Cappuccino, the delicious beverage made of coffee and frothed milk comes from the word "capuchin" which means hood. It is the name of an order of monks who wear brown hoods that are said to resemble the "hood" of brown foam over coffee. Bonus fact: the etymology is the same as the capuchin monkeys, who also appear to have on hoods.

Things that weigh heavily on my mind...

2009-05-05T21:00:00.003-04:00

Friends, welcome to a new feature on my blog "Things that Weigh Heavily on my Mind," where I will explore some things that weigh heavily on my mind.

Today I discuss a great fear of mine. I fear that someday I will be driving along going through the radio stations looking for something good, and just as I turn to the smooth jazz station BAM! I get sideswiped and die. It's not really the fear of death that weighs heavily on my mind, but the fear that smooth jazz will play on my car radio as my corpse lies in the car, and as the paramedic tries to find my pulse, he exclaims, "dammit, another Kenny G fan gone before his time."

Unsolicited endorsements...

2009-05-02T17:22:00.006-04:00

I'd like to present an un-compensated endorsement for something I've been using lately: pandora internet radio. Pandora is a free service that creates "radio stations" that play songs based on an artist or song that you like. Their playlists are vast and eclectic within the style you suggest.

Also, two stocks that I think are currently very undervalued and offer a great opportunity are: First Niagara Financial Group and M&T Bank. Both of these banks largely stayed out of the mortgage mess, and have been using the current economic downturn taking advantage of some pretty smart growth opportunities by buying banks or branches of banks that played stupidly in the last several years. They've been expanding deliberately and intelligently, unlike what Citi and BoA tried to, but have seen severe stock depreciation because they have been, unfairly I think, painted with the same brush.

DC-CAS

2009-05-02T14:39:00.001-04:00

Thanks be, the DC CAS is over. We even dusted off some of our science and social studies materials this past week!

WTF?!?!?

2009-05-01T21:14:00.002-04:00

Brett Favre may be wearing purple come this fall.

In a related story, the Rolling Stones are planning another world tour.

Last Year's Zeitgeist.... Hillary and Barack

2009-04-30T19:35:00.002-04:00

So a class discussion about Reconstruction was hijacked by a severe case of LAST YEAR'S ZEITGEIST when we somehow got sidetracked into a really in-depth conversation about the relative merits of Hillary Clinton versus Barack Obama, with some really fervent partisans on both sides. I was didn't have the heart to clamp down on it because some of the kids felt so strongly and were surprisingly civil with one another! Go figure.

An Amendment to the Laws of the Internet...

2009-04-28T22:05:00.003-04:00

I propose that Godwin's Law, while normally in effect for all internet discourse, is not in effect for any discussion of watercolor painting.

The Post

2009-04-27T21:17:00.003-04:00

Interesting article in the Post today. Two things caught my attention. One, is that the Post is unsure of why there are so many first and second year teachers in the meat-grinders that are the poorest schools, and that the Post can't really analyze data from DC because it's so messed up. Great.

I can only say that the one-size-fits all obsession with the DC-CAS scores will continue to drain experienced teachers away from poorer schools, because they just aren't willing to risk their careers by trying to serve those most in need instead of waiting for retirement at what the article describes as a "cream puff" school

Last Year's Zeitgeist: Indiana Jones and the Search for Spock

2009-04-25T09:09:00.007-04:00

Friends, welcome to this installment of my ongoing series: Last Year's Zeitgeist. In this installment, I will both condemn Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and made a bold call for another Indy flick to be made. More? Oliver Twist wants more, you say?!? Please, sir, may I have another I say.

While our sample size is a still small, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the Indiana Jones franchise suffers from Reverse Star Trek Syndrome (RSTS). For those of you out of the loop, Star Trek Syndrome was named, of course, for the Star Trek movie franchise. The disease causes odd numbered movies to range from "suck" to "meh" while even numbered movies range from "yeah" to "fuck yeah." Indiana Jones just suffers from a variant of this debilitating disease. So instead of painting Kingdom of the Crystal Skull with the same brush as The Phantom Menace, realize that it's not George Lucas or Stephen Speilberg's fault; they just can't help it.

To wit:

Raiders of the Lost Ark = Fuck yeah
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom = Meh
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade = Fuck Yeah
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull = Suck
Indiana Jones and the TBD = Fuck yeah???

Ladies and gentlemen, we're due for some "fuck yeah." so let's not hang up the fedora and whip just yet.

And now, what really happened:

2009-04-24T22:10:00.005-04:00

Friends, I am beginning what I hope will be a long series of posts, where I re-examine a famous moment in history to find what really happened.

On the final day of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin looked at the seat of the President of the Convention, George Washington. Upon the back of the seat was engraved a sun on the horizon. Franklin remarked, "During the course of these proceedings I have often gazed upon that chair and wondered whether it was a rising or a setting sun. I am now confident, upon the conclusion of our labors that it is, indeed, a rising sun."

Traditional Interpretation: Franklin was concerned whether the young nation would long remain whole under the weak and decentralized Articles of Confederation, but was confident that the nation, represented by the sun, would rise in prominence and flourish reorganized and reinvigorated by the new Constitution.

What really happened: Ol' Ben Frank was usually so hammered that he didn't know whether it was day or night, much less what day it was. For posterity's sake Alexander Hamilton and Charles Cotesworth Pinkney forcibly sobered Franklin up for the signing of the final draft, and he felt the need to point out that he resented being up before noon on a Friday.

Why the Teabaggers are wrong....

2009-04-19T11:09:00.003-04:00

While I count myself among those who believe that our government spends too much and often frivolously, I need to come out in opposition to the Teabaggers that have been dominating so many news cycles with their dross. The Teabaggers are citizens of the freest and greatest nation on Earth. Instead of patriotically embracing that nation and the ideals of that nation, they choose to frame their protest in the trappings of Revolution, with only the thinnest veil in their threats of violence.

The patriots who were responsible for the Boston Tea Party did not enjoy the freedom that todays Teabaggers disdain. The patriots of the Boston Tea Party did not have elected representation nor an effective recourse to petition their government. Now, if the people of the District of Columbia-- the last bastion of tyranny in North America-- were to rise up against their oppressors from Texas and California and Utah and Vermont and the other 46 represented states and commonwealths then I would support the powdered wigs and the garb of the minuteman. But to compare the Fox News watching troglodytes of the modern Teabagging to Sam Adams and Paul Revere is a farce.

Not in any form have I seen a call to an electoral recourse for the concerns of the Teabaggers. Not one voice calling for candidates to begin campaigns for office. Nor is there even the traditional Republican campaign to impeach our new Democratic President. In a nation of laws, the Teabaggers call for extra-legal solutions.

Yes, I want spending cut. Yes, I was displeased when I finally hit "send" on my tax return and saw how much of my money was siphoned away from me. Yes, I hate that work is taxed more than mountains of accumulated wealth. But there is not tyranny in the land (excepting 61.4 square miles). It is insulting to the Patriots who risked their lives and property for the call of freedom for the Teabaggers to wrap themselves in their memory over what amounts to a squabble over the effective rate of taxation.

So I say vote and protest and editorialize and march, but stop the drama queen demagoguery; it's downright un-American.

Taxation without Representation is Tyranny! Taxation with Representation is Life.

The Devil in the blue pants or How I learned to stop worrying and love the budonkydonk

2009-04-18T13:08:00.006-04:00

I have to admit that I am a regular reader of George Will, because of all the conservative op-eds that saturate our dead-tree media his is the only one to have an occasionally witty turn-of-phrase or even make a little sense here and there. But in his most recent sartorial editorial, he decries the number one threat to America: BLUE JEANS???

I read so you don't have to: Blue Jeans are a threat to America because you can't make class differentiation. Blue jeans should only be worn by gold prospectors and cattle ranchers, George Will once wore a pair of jeans to a birthday party because he had to.

All this is from a man obsessed with watching men wearing pajamas.

Oh and insert your own cheap shot about the bow-tie because I just can't bring myself to do it.

Real Men.

2009-04-16T16:24:00.005-04:00

Hey FOXNEWS, give it up! Everyone knows that real men drink loose tea! Tea bags are for grandmas and wimps! Loose tea's got balls.

Religion and Pirates.

2009-04-13T15:40:00.005-04:00

It appears one of the major tenets of Pastafarianism is false. For those of you outside of the loop, Pastafarianism is a religion that believes that life was created by the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and that there is an inverse relation between global temperature and the number of pirates in the world.

Lately, we have seen both an increase in mean global temperature and the prevelence of pirates. Can this be a sign of the end times? Or could the Flying Spaghetti Monster be testing our faith in his noodly appendage?

Happy Dyngus Day!

2009-04-12T21:14:00.004-04:00

For those of you outside of the loop, Dyngus Day is a Polish holiday-- the day after Easter. Traditionally, boys throw water at girls they like and the girls reciprocate by hitting the boys with pussy willows. I hear that libations, dancing and music may be involved as well...

Dyngus Day!

Prison Reform

2009-03-31T17:23:00.002-04:00

There's been a lot of talk lately about prison reform and I couldn't be happier about some of the buzz. Senator Jim Webb has been pushing hard for a re-evaluation of our policies with several speeches and op-eds. The Washington Post also printed this article about possible closures and what they would mean to small Upstate towns that house prisons.

Being from Upstate I have often heard the tired cry that weakening sentencing laws and therefor having fewer prisoners would be bad for the Upstate economy. Rarely is it discussed whether weakening sentencing laws (particularly the onerous Rockefeller Drug Laws) is actually sound public policy.

Here is my proposal. Along with legalizing marijuana and eliminating mandatory minimum sentences in New York, the legislature should also pass a bill which gives civil service points to prison employees applying for similar work in public schools or the State University of New York system. Economic incentives can be offered to private schools that hire former guards as campus police officers.

Not only does my proposal offer sensible solutions to an intensely costly system (in lives and treasure) but also offers a real symbol that education rather than incarceration is the priority of the Empire State.

Excelsior

The Sasiadizzles are moving to Buffalo!

2009-03-29T11:35:00.002-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that this blog, and its author, and its author's wife, and the author and his wife's cats, and many of their belongings will be relocating to lovely Buffalo, New York. In case you haven't heard of Buffalo, let me tell you a little bit about it. It is Heaven on Earth. You should move there too, but only if you're good enough.

Here are some good things about Buffalo:

Unlike many places, Buffalo has four distinct seasons which each offer differing opportunities regarding recreation. There is real snow in winter, which makes everything bright and cheery, unlike the dull gray of winters elsewhere. There are flowers and buds and rains that run warm and cool in the spring. Summers are tempered by the cool water of lake Erie, so that they never scorch too completely. And fall is a panoply of color. Buffalo fact- the air tastes differently during each season, but you really only notice it when the seasons change and it sends a tingle up and down your spine.

More to come....

PS: The blog really won't be relocating, as a blog really doesn't have a physical presence, but it will be re-focused.

Sasiadizzle in the real world

2009-03-25T13:37:00.002-04:00

This blog is claiming to co-host an event at Busboys and Poets Thursday March, 26th from 5:00-7:00. There will be a reception for up-and-coming visual artist Tara Sasiadek. It should be a great time.

Where: Busboys and Poets (14th and V street NW, DC)

When: Thursday 3/26/09 5:00-7;00

How: Stylishly

Why we should let GM die...

2009-03-23T12:04:00.004-04:00

I've already blogged that we should let General Motors and Chrysler either figure things out on their own or die. My argument was that hundreds of innovators would swoop in to pick up the pieces and put them to far better use than their current owners.

While this was a venture capital start-up using lots of internet "new money." Imagine what people of lesser means could do if they could start their companies off the carcasses of GM and Chrysler on the cheap:

Tesla Motors is already producing electric cars. Apparently really good electric cars. And they are using market segmentation to their benefit, instead of trying to appeal to the least common denominator and pleasing no one like the VOLT is almost guaranteed to do.

American Gods

2009-03-22T00:44:00.002-04:00

American Gods by Neil Gaiman should be made into a movie. Here is the cast list as per my wife and I:

Shadow: Duane "the Rock" Johnson

Mr. Wednesday: Brian Cox or Timothy Dalton

Mr. Nancy: Denzel Washington or Sidney Poitier or Harry Belafonte

"Low Key" Lyesmith: Vigo Mortensenor John Travolta

Jaquel and Ibis: and Alan Rickman

Internet: Vincent Kartheiser

Laura: Parker Posey

Hinzelman: Matt Frewer

Mad Sweeney: Michael Hogan

Media: Tricia Helfer

Sam/Hitchhiker: Camilla Belle

More to come....

Chuck Grassley has some good ideas....

2009-03-17T19:22:00.004-04:00

Professional old man, Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made two incredible statements today.

In the first, he accused AIG executives of "so suckin' the tit of the taxpayer." So if you felt something amiss under your shirt today, it was just American Insurance Group.

In his second quote, he said:

“The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them if they’d follow the Japanese model and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say I’m sorry, and then either do one of two things — resign, or go commit suicide.”

Brilliant idea! Now if only those bozos who voted in favor of the Iraq War would man up. If Chuck "tit sucker" Grassley finds himself in need of a sword, I've got one that I would be glad to let him borrow.

MAN UP CHUCK!

PS: We're still waiting for John McCain to make good on his 2006 promise of suicide too. Where's the straight talk, Mac?

Something right in the world today:

2009-03-15T20:08:00.002-04:00

Cornell University was awarded a well-earned 14th seed in the NCAA tourney.

GO BIG RED!

Stewart slams Cramer?!?!?!?

2009-03-14T13:34:00.003-04:00

Please people. I'm sick and tired of seeing bloggers with headlines like "Stewart slams Cramer!" or "Watch John Stewart totally own Jim Cramer!!!!!!!1." Leave that sort of irresponsible hyperbolic mis-reporting to the "traditional" media outlets. John Stewart didn't "slam" Jim Cramer" or "totally pwn" him. Stewart did what he always does; he offered a well-reasoned and highly articulate critique of Jim Cramer, CNBC, and the leaders of American capitalism. The goal was not to tear apart Cramer, although he really deserved it. Steward did not wear gloves and used a vast array of incriminating tapes, as well as a few F-bombs. But he did not slam Cramer.

Let's all take a pause and be thankful that at least we have one comedy show doing the work that CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS should be doing themselves.

So go change those headlines to something better representing the truth. "Stewart offers well-reasoned and highly-informed critique of media and financial markets." Thank you.

Casini

2009-03-13T21:27:00.003-04:00

Glamorous!

I'm sick and tired of hearing about casini as a form of economic development. Except for Vegas (a city which has no rights to exist) I can't think of another place in America that has seen any real development from casino gambling. And don't say Atlantic City, 'cause Atlantic City is a shithole. Places that have casini: Hogansburg, NY; Rancho Mirage, CA; Detroit, MI; Verona, NY; Lincoln City, OR. Soon the Mississippi will cease to be a navigable artery of commerce it will be so congested with riverboat casini. Detroit called one of it's houses of gambling Greektown as a reference to gamblers taking it in the a$$. Stay classy, Detroit ;)

This is an industry that produces no product, and no real service. It is a funnel from the poor to the rich. Yet place after place in America thinks that a casino is the way to CREAT JOBS and balance the ledgers of local and state governments. Sure there might be short term benefits to building a casino. Construction jobs occur of front (jobs that actually produce something of value from labor). Some jobs at the casino are created. In the long run, though, building acasino will crowd out investment in real production of goods and services. Money spent at casini essentially evaporates. Very little is left in the host community in the form of wages or consumption.

Building a casino is a short term solution that hampers long-term economic growth. It is a classically short-sighted, simplistic solution to long-term complex economic issues. So it's obvious why they are so politically popular.

It's kinda like leveraging your assets 30-1 in the hopes that the market will continue to grow at an even and rapid pace.

A Tale of Two Administrations

2009-03-11T22:53:00.005-04:00

When faced with economic crisis in 2001, the Bush administration encouraged Americans to go shopping. When this proved ineffective at rectifying what ailed the economy, the Bush administration pushed through tax rebates using borrowed Chinese money to encourage Americans to buy Chinese-made energy-guzzling flat screens and cheap plastic shit. It was typical "if it feels good, do it" Republican philosophy. There was a short uptick in the economy followed by crash.

Now, we have to deal with the results of that crash, and the Obama administration proposed among other things, this:

They put forward a wide-ranging plan for regional networks of high-speed rail linked together by traditional rail networks. The East Coast megalopolis extended past DC all the way to Savannah (with a link to Montreal!). All the major burghs of the midwest linked by a hub at Chi-town. And, my personal favorite, the Empire State Express linking NYC to Buffalo along the storied route of the Erie Canal. This is an investment in meaningful 21st century regional infrastructure (Richard Florida probably shat his pants when he saw this)--a way of reducing our dependence on expensive and dangerous foreign fossil fuels.

Two concerns. High-speed rail is too slow. We really should be building at least one of these lines as a bullet train or mag-lev. Not only will this create extremely fast routes but it will be an important investment American companies involved in these fields-- fields where we currently trail the Germans, Japanese and even Chinese. Secondly, the New York-Buffalo route should extend all the way to Toronto-- ask Richard Florida.

NO to T.O.

2009-03-08T21:17:00.002-04:00

Count me among the many people who think signing Terrell Owens can only backfire on the Bills. Owens doesn't have the skills. He's an ass, and he's going to blow our salary cap. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Deep Thoughts....

2009-03-01T16:17:00.001-05:00

Do Kentuckians think that the grass is always bluer on the other side?

The True Rainbow Coalition...

2009-02-28T09:58:00.010-05:00

Much noise has been made about the fact that the Republican Party has recently elected Michael Steele, an alleged African-American as its leader. This is pretty big deal for a party
that attracts very few non-white voters and hasn't had an African-American in Congress for some years now.

The Democrats, on the other hand, draw their support from a wide spectrum of Americans. A term that Jesse Jackson popularized was "Rainbow Coalition" describing an appeal to Americans: white, black, brown, yellow or red. There is one hue though, that the Republicans are taking a lead in, ORANGE.

While I cannot think of a single Orange-American in the Democratic caucus, the Republicans have elected one, John Boehner, as their House Leader. Governor of Florida and potential Presidential candidate Charlie Crist is also an Orange-American

I implore the Democratic leadership not to dismiss this as empty symbolism and to reach out to Orange-Americans in all future elections.

The Future of the GOP?

Retrocession is so in right now....

2009-02-22T17:04:00.006-05:00

"Drill, baby, drill!"
This man hates freedom, but loves glamour shots

Professional dick-weed, Representative Louie Gohmert has proposed two bills in Congress. The first would exempt District residents from paying federal income tax on income earned in the District as long as the district is without a vote in Congress. Nice and condescending and designed to trip up the DC voting rights movement. This bill should still be passed as long as it is retroactive. I'm sure the check is in the mail, Louie.

The second dick bill Gohmert has proposed would retrocede the District to Maryland. This bill ignores the wishes of the people of the District and the wishes of the people of Maryland to honor hundreds of years of separate history.

In response to Gohmert's bills, I have one of my own. I propose a bill to retrocede Texas to France. Louie already sounds French, anyway. If the Texans find my modest proposal too gaulling, we could also retrocede them to Mexico, Spain or the Confederate States of America.

Black Biography Month?

2009-02-20T21:19:00.003-05:00

Why is it that almost all of the emphasis of Black History Month is placed on individuals? Real black history is social events, social movements, the lives of people common and great. History is an aggregation of experiences, not the stories of the exceptional.

More Geographic Schadenfreude...

2009-02-15T13:48:00.002-05:00

I've already been smugly gloating over the utter collapse of the economy of Florida. I need to add to my list another pair of places I really really hate: Charlotte and Las Vegas.

Charlotte's boom economy was based on the growth of the very banks that were feeding the frenzy in Florida. They grew too big too fast and on a foundation literally made of sand. Their tasteless and senseless sprawl mimicked that of their idiot brethren to the South.

Las Vegas is a huge fucking city in a goddamn desert. You'd have to be a fucking moron to build a city in a goddamn desert. Not only is it a huge city in a goddamn desert, it is a city whose major economic activity is completely unproductive, but uses a disproportionately large amount of water. I once had a layover in the Las Vegas airport and I was physically ill by the time I left. The sound and sight of the slots was alternately numbing and jarring. I was saddened at the sight of slot zombies shuffling about.

Now I'm just waiting for the fall of Phoenix to fill out my list of stupidest goddamn places in America to live that did really well in the last twenty years but will inevitably collapse because of their own ignorant shortsightedness (TM).

Florida

2009-02-12T21:34:00.002-05:00

I have long thought of Florida as one giant Ponzi scheme. It is a state with no real economy beyond real estate, and as such has no income tax. The government largely relies on taxes on real estate transactions and tourism. Florida has more in common economically with Saudi Arabia than the rest of America. It is a place that does not rely on the work and ingenuity of it's people. Saudi Arabia depends on oil; Florida depends on speculation and rent seeking. The New Yorker just had a great article detailing what a hell-hole Florida is. (note to self, hyperlink article)

Education

2009-02-11T21:10:00.002-05:00

If it's not on the test, it doesn't matter.

If you ever present any information that does not look exactly like an NCLB assessment, then you are the anti-Christ.

A message from the District of Columbia Public Schools.

Amazing Etymologies!

2009-02-08T19:47:00.005-05:00

Along with "Last Year's Zeitgeist", I'm piloting another new feature for this blog: Amaaaaaaazing Etymologies, where we examine the amazing origins of the words that make up our amazing mutt language.

Today's Amaaaaaazing Etymology is "dollar." When the founders of our nation were looking for something to call their money, they chose not to go with the very British, "pound." But whence came the word "dollar?" Well, believe it or not, it comes from the name of an Austro-Czech town by the name of Joachimsthaler. Joachimstha

ler, had very rich silver mines in the seventeenth century, a time when the rest of Europe was busy debasing its coinage. The people of Joachimsthaler kept it real, as in real silver, so a coin from Joachimsthaler became known as a standard on which other coins were measured. And because Joachimsthaler is really really hard to say or write, this was eventually shortened to "thaler" in everyday speech. From the German-Czech spelling of "thaler" it was just a short jump to the modern English, "dollar."

And that's today's Amaaaaaaazing Etymology.

Way better than having the queen's face on all your sickles, knuts and galleons....

Last Year's Zeitgeist.... First Edition

2009-02-07T17:47:00.005-05:00

I'm a slow thinker. Ideas stew for a long long time before I find my inspiration; for that reason, I'm starting a column called "Last Year's Zeitgeist." In The Dark Knight, the Joker's true destruction lies not in the murder committed by his own hands or those of his henchmen, but in the destructive choices he forces others to make. He takes idle parlor games (maybe I should change the name to "Last Century's Zeitgeist...) and tests them on live subjects. The most devious of these is placing bombs on two separate ferries and the detonator for each ship on the opposite ship. The Joker then tells each of the ships' complement that it can save itself with the destruction of the other. He lets the people decide who will live and who will die.

The obvious parallel to the Joker is Osama bin Laden. You may remember him as the number one enemy of America for a few months in late 2001- early 2002. Obama's real power lay not in his ability to knock down buildings or sink ships, but in the ability to force American's to make difficult decisions. We'd all like to think we would be willing to run into a burning building to save an infant. Normally, we are never faced with that choice, but philoso-villians, like the Joker and bin Laden force us into those choices. At first, Americans performed admirably, thousands of ordinary people rose to face the challenges of 9/11. They faced the concrete choices of bravery steadfastly. Some lived and some perished in the choosing.

But I said the true villainy wasn't in the knocking down of buildings or the hijacking of planes. It was in the choices we faced afterwards. It was when George Bush, Dick Cheney, a majority of the House and 99 Senators made the dubious and cowardly choice in sacrificing liberty for the illusion of safety. Luckily for Gotham (spoiler alert) they have a con in a jumpsuit and a man in a business suit with more backbone than our leaders. They escaped the Joker's plot without blood on their hands.

(And if this were still early 2008, I might put in a plug to have the businessman and the con run as a ticket for President and Vice President. I might even waste some time photoshopping a faux poster. But it's not early 2008; this was last year's zeitgeist.)

Das-hole

2009-02-04T21:25:00.002-05:00

Good riddance to Tom Daschle.

Daschle was never very good with ethics when as a Senator his wife was a very well compensated lobbyist for the airline industry (THANKS MRS. DASCHLE!). Then as an ex-senator he advised the medical-industrial complex on how to work the system to their advantage. Anyone who thinks a chauffeured limo is a "friendly gift" is too far gone to save.

We are all better off without him. Good riddance.

World Record Flash Mob!

2009-02-01T18:29:00.004-05:00

I forgot to claim credit for it earlier, but a few weeks ago I sent an e-mail out to a few friends, you can read the contents below:

Dear Friends,

I propose we bring back the flash mob in style! This January 20th, let's all meet at the National Mall and begin cheering at 12:00. It'll be totally awesome! Please forward this to all your friends!

Sincerely,

Sasiadizzle

PS: If you don't forward this to 25 people in 25 minutes, you will never be kissed ever again.

Personally, I was expecting about twenty or some people to show up and a couple of confused tourists, but this thing really caught on! I read that the Washington Post estimated about TWO MILLION people showed up-- I even heard the Barack Obama might have come too! Sweet!

Department of Redundancy Department

2009-01-28T19:04:00.002-05:00

I have blogged before lamenting the fact that DCPS requires its report cards to be filled out on carbon paper. I should have kept my mouth shut, because now my school is a pilot for the new online report card program. Great! Right? No, we now need to fill out our report cards online AND on carbon paper! Hooray for wasting my time DCPS, I wasn't planning on using it for anything anyway.

Nobama.

2009-01-25T16:16:00.003-05:00

To borrow from my fellow Cornellian, Bill Maher, NEW RULE:

Now that he is really the president, no more chanting, "Obama! Obama! Obama!" It was fun when he was just a skinny freshman senator with a funny name and no chance of winning, but now, he has the power, and love him, hate him, or somewhere in-between it's your job as an American to cast a skeptical eye at power and those who hold it. If you really feel the need to chant someone's name, I can provide a lengthy list of rock-stars, professional wrestlers or monster-truck drivers for you to adulate.

To sum: "Obama! Obama! Obama!" = Creeping Fascism

Too BIG to Succeed?

2008-12-26T12:54:00.002-05:00

Some people say that GM, Chrysler and Ford are too big to fail. I say they are too big to succeed. These giants are bound by the inherent inertia of large organizations and so cling to flawed models in both business and car design. Break them up! And don't just break them up by line. Making and independent Jeep company, or Pontiac company, or even Hummer company won't save the American auto industry. Take a hammer to them and find the natural cleavages upon which they will shatter.

Declare these vestigial beasts bankrupt and extinct and sell off the assets.

Do away with vertical integration!

Let small design companies make innovative designs to sell to the highest bidder. Let small, nimble and innovative manufacturers build better parts more efficiently through competition. Vertical integration allows any aspect of the design, manufacturing, distributing and sales process to bind the hands of all the others. When each component has to compete to work with the best producers in all the other fields, the producers and consumers win.

Thank You Fox News!

2008-12-25T10:05:00.003-05:00

Well, from where I'm sitting, next to a dessicating decorated spruce surrounded by mounds of wrapping paper, it looks like Christmas has once again won the war against it. Thank You to Fox News and Country music stations everywhere for once again lofting the banner high and championing the cause that is Christmas. It looked rough out there for a while: Democrats ascendant, a Muslim in the White House, but you stood resolute. To quote the Duke of Wellington, "It was a close run thing." Thank You and Merry Christmas.

I also want to bring up another cause. The War on Christmas has been raging for many a year now, and before that was the Cold War on Christmas, which required high mobilization rates. There are now many brave veterans of the War on Christmas, and by some fluke almost none of them have ever served in the "real" wars and don't fall under the auspices of the Veteran's Administration. And while I know many of these brave men and women would scoff at accepting aid from "Big Government," their wounds are often very deep and very real (those secularist militants at the ACLU go straight for the jugular). So as an alternative, please go to FoxNews.com and click on their DONATE button to support a brave veteran of the War on Christmas this year.

Merry Christmas to ALL.

Segundageniture?

2008-12-22T16:10:00.001-05:00

I think one of the big flaws with monarchy is concept of primogeniture, the idea that the first born inherits the throne. I propose that monarchy would have worked a whole lot better if they had adopted the concept of segundogeniture-- the second born gets the throne. There are two reasons I think this:

Parents make all the big mistakes on the first born. They kinda know what they're doing by the time they get to number two. He'll make a much more "balanced" king.
Big brothers/sisters already get to pick on their little brothers and sisters enough. They're usually physically stronger and more mentally mature. If they know that little bro or sis is gonna be sporting the crown, maybe they'll give a little deference. If not, then getting bullied a little bit might be good for little bro/sis. But use moderation, you don't want to mold a little Ghengis Khan.

*Disclaimer, I am a #1 son.

Brokeback Cabinet

2008-12-18T17:22:00.010-05:00

Something is definitely up with the Obama cabinet today. From today's Washington Express:

Yes, the headline does read, "Obama TAPS Salazar to HEAD Interior." Sorry, subtlety has never been a trademark of mine. And in case you were wondering whether Ken Salazar plays the role of Heath Ledger's repressed and introspective Ennis or Jake Gyllenhaal's sexually predatory Jack, Ken Salazar was photographed with Secretary of Agriculture designate Tom Vilsack:

Just couldn't keep his hands off the legendary Vilsack Ballsack...

Congratulations, also, to Tom Vilsack for being the first openly-Furry Cabinet member since Gideon "Cotton-tail" Welles served as Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy. I hope Salazar understands what he's gotten himself into:

It's funny because it's true...

2008-12-12T20:55:00.001-05:00

From, The Onion:

Your Boss. My Boss. Every Boss

Our data is our nation's most precious natural resource (sic)...

2008-12-11T21:40:00.003-05:00

I am suggesting that the new motto of DCPS be "Our data is our nation's most precious natural resource." I'm pretty sure that on an average day I hear the word "data" more than I hear "students" or "children." Data. Data. Data. Data walls, data logs, data sheets. Really, the whole system should do away with children. The data (which are what's important after all) can be simulated by computer. Captain Kirk might be appalled by our primitive ways, but I say it's the enlightened thing to do.

The children and teachers can stay at home. Students' test scores can be randomly generated. Different teachers will be modeled as using different methods in different environments. Some sweet multiple regression analysis will take place and the computers will tell us which student's learned what, and which teachers get merit pay and which get the boot.

PS: If I hear another DCPS employed PhD or EdD say "The data is..." or "The data says..." I am going to rend my clothes and live as a hermit.

And the Majority Leader's cojones Grew Three Sizes that Day....

2008-12-10T19:24:00.003-05:00

So it looks as if the deal between likely Democratic Senate President Malcolm Smith and the "Gang of Three Malcontents" is falling apart in large part due to Malcolm Smith:

A: Refusing to give Pedro Espada a lulu for the do-nothing "Majority Leader" job.*

-and-

B: Deciding that allowing a bill granting equal marriage rights to all New Yorkers is a Civil Rights issue and should not be vulnerable to backroom deals.

This is great. This sends a message that functioning government cannot be held hostage by a handful of self-serving bastards. It makes it likely that Upstate will have some real power in the Democratic caucus. And, it makes it clear that pass or fail, Civil Rights legislation will have the opportunity to make it to the Senate floor.

*During the recent unpleasantness, Joe Bruno jointly held the Presidency and Majority Leader's position, essentially making them the same. In my understanding, the power would reside with the President under the Democrats while the Majority Leader position would only be useful for picking up interns.

Personally, I don't care if the Gang of Three do bolt and join a Republican "majority." The consequences will be short-term. In two years, all three will be replace by real Democrats, and the Democrats will then have a real majority to work with. If Smith caves again, there will likely be only one Democrat in all of Upstate next election cycle, and a whole lot of phony Dems from NYC-metro, keeping a real workable Republican majority for a long long time.

No Offense.

2008-12-08T21:18:00.004-05:00

It's said that when British troops under the command of Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown, they were so confounded that they played a tune called, "The World Turned Upside Down." The events of this Sunday leave me equally confounded, and liable to sing this ancient ballad of woe. The Buffalo Bills, playing indoors in Toronto lose to the Miami Dolphins and go two consecutive weeks without a touchdown! I feel as if I have fallen into an alternate dimension where nothing is right. There are no airships.

PS: After reading up on "The World Turned Upside Down" I have learned that it was a riposte aimed against Oliver Cromwell who was at the time engaged in the Original War on Christmas (tm).

More New York Politics Garbage

2008-12-05T20:22:00.008-05:00

A Profile in Weakness:

Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith was being blackmailed by three "Democratic" senators who threatened to caucus with the Republicans (giving them control of the body) if Smith did not promise to keep a bill legalizing gay marriage off the floor for a year AND reward them with plum committee assignments. Lacking any backbone or common sense, Smith caved, inviting every craven malcontent to threaten a Lieberman any time they want anything. As a fifth grade teacher I know that a sure fire way to invite temper tantrums like the one this so-called "Gang

of Three" was throwing is to cave into the demands of the insolent child.

In caving, Smith has invited dissension, insulted loyal Democrats AND bumped

more senior Democrats from upstate from chairing important committees. During the campaign, Republicans argued that giving Democrats control of the Senate would give disproportionate power to Downstate interests. Smith has proven them right.

No committee in the new senate will be chaired by an upstater. No one from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Rome, Utica, Watertown, Niagara Falls, Jamestown, Utica, Binghamton, Ithaca, Elmira, Corning or points in between will yield a gavel. This is a sure-fire way for the Democrats to lose their tenuous hold on the senate by condemning these seats to the Republicans in future elections.

Smith should step aside and let someone with balls (or ovaries) take over the caucus.

PS: If anyone knows of serious Democratic challengers looking to primary the scumbags from the "Gang of Three" let me know so I can give a shout out. New York Dems have been pretty good in cleaning up their caucus in recent years.

Another Cheap Plug....

2008-12-02T20:10:00.003-05:00

If anyone needs to find the perfect gift for Chanakuh, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Solstice, Hannakuh, X-Mas, New Year's Day, Ramadan, Festivus, Inauguration Day, Pearl Harbor Day, or any other occassion: JupiterPsyche is the ultimate place to exchange money for quality handmade goods.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility...

2008-11-28T16:29:00.004-05:00

Now that the Democrats control the New York Senate for the first time in about a half century, they should do something bold. What bold move do you ask? Vote to abolish themselves. Streamline the legislative process. Make the legislative process more transparent. A unicameral legislature can do that.

Now that the Democrats control both houses, no one can claim that abolishing the Senate would emasculate one political party over the other. Keeping the Senate only serves to protect the personal fiefdoms of its occupants at the expense of New York and New Yorkers.

One State. One House.

Turkey day hiatus...

2008-11-25T22:06:00.001-05:00

Not that I've been the most diligent poster, but I do have to announce that I may be a bit out of the loop as I'm traveling for Thanksgiving. Happy warm wishes and other such maudlin crap to you, the loyal reader.

And the survey says....

2008-11-24T20:49:00.004-05:00

Top Ten Most Common Student Responses to a Request To Stop Talking:

10.) Huh?

9.) But (insert name) is talking too!

8.) Why you always picking on me?

7.) My dad's gonna come up here if you don't leave me alone.

6.) My mom's gonna come up here if you don't leave me alone.

5.) My uncle's gonna come up here if you don't leave me alone.

4.) My cousin's gonna come up here if you don't leave me alone.

3.) That's not the way you ask for something. You have to be nicer. Say please.

2.) What is you talking about?

1.) I'm not talking!

ATTN: MCARTHUR GENIUS GRANT AWARDS COMMITTEE

2008-11-23T15:42:00.006-05:00

A LIVE ACTION MUPPETS MOVIE!

I hereby propose the following as a preliminary cast list:

Statler and Waldorf: Tom and Ray Magliozzi of NPR's Car Talk
Ms. Piggy: Delta Burke
Kermit the Frog: Frank Oz
Fozzy Bear: Dom Delouise
Sam the American Eagle: Alan Alda or Fred Thompson
Rowlf the Dog: Wayne Brady
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker: John Hodgeman and Justin Long (AKA PC and Mac)
Sweetums: Charlie Daniels
Gonzo the Great: Hank Azaria or Dustin Hoffman

The list can go on and on. I realize that the idea is brilliant. What do you think of the casting choices? I've left a lot of really important roles uncast and I could use your help

Animal?
Dr. Teeth?
Rizzo?
Scooter?
The Swedish Chef?
All the Sesame Street Muppets?

More Unsolicited Advice

2008-11-16T15:34:00.002-05:00

So, Barack Obama seems to be ignoring my advice for him regarding his Cabinet, but there is some indication that he is taking my advice to appoint Hillary Clinton to some cabinet position. You're Welcome, Mr. President-Elect. If Senator Clinton were to become Secretary of State (and I wish I had thought of her for that position), it would create a Senate vacancy for New York's Governor, David Paterson to fill.

Paterson needs to make a philosophical choice before he can even get down to short list of potential appointees. Should he appoint a place-holder to keep the seat warm and represent New York's interests for two years-- someone who will then step aside for a completely new Democratic candidate to be elected. Or, should Paterson pick someone who will hit the ground running and will run for election in two years.

A place holder is someone who will be in the awkward position of being both a place holder and a lame duck. In this situation, you either need someone with great gravitas, or someone with a great personality to get stuff done. In terms of gravitas, former Governor Mario Cuomo jumps to the front of the pack. Despite being out of politics himself for a decade, he still oozes gravitas, and appointing him would possibly protect Paterson from a primary challenge by Andrew Cuomo, the former gov's son, who wants to be governor himself.

Thinking waaaay outside the box, one could appoint former President Bill Clinton, or former Republican Senator Alphonse D'Amato (this would be a sure way to lose the Democratic primary for Paterson).

Personally, if I were to go this path, I would appoint an Upstater from academia. Former Cornell President Hunter Rawlings would strike a dashing figure, or former UB President William Griener.

If Paterson were to appoint someone with the view that they would then run for a full term, State AG Andrew Cuomo has proven to be effective at his job, is a proven vote-getter, and has Washington experience as HUD secretary. Appointing Cuomo Senator would also keep him from monting a primary challenge. Former US Attorney and current New York State Commissioner of Criminal Justice Services Denise O'Donnell successfullyhandled a number of important and high-profile cases, and is a Buffalonian.

The problem with New York's Congressional Democrats is that they are either very new, very old, or represent districts that Republicans would stand a good chance of winning in an open election. An exception is Buffalo's Brian Higgins, who has proven to be a bit conservative on national issues for my tastes, but is a hard-working, and ingenuative problem-solver.

Oh, and there are a lot of people from NYC who might be able to do the job as well.....

The Odd Couple?

2008-11-16T15:00:00.003-05:00

Seems like there is a war a brewin' up between South Carolina's two Republican Senators. Jim Demint slammed John McCain, saying:

"His proposal for amnesty for illegals. His support of global warming, cap-and-trade programs that will put another burden on our economy. And of course, his embrace of the bailout right before the election was probably the nail in our coffin this last election. And he has been an opponent of drilling in ANWR, at a time when energy is so important. It really didn't fit the label, but he was our package."

All the things DeMint slammed McCain for sound a lot like the platform of South Carolina's other Senator, and huge McCain backer, Lyndsey "I swear it's a boy's name too" Graham. Graham just beat back an attack by a Democrat on a shoe-string budget trying to flank him from the right. South Carolina's governor, Mark Sanford also just blasted any attempt at moderation in the Republican party. I wouldn't be surprised if in six years, Sanford unseats Graham in a Republican primary. Till then I look forward to watching the Republicans engage in the heretofor Democratic tradition of circular firing squads.

PS: I realize that the picture is more of a Mexican standoff than a circular firing squad, but it was too cool to pass up.

Oh Saxby.....

2008-11-15T13:03:00.003-05:00

I came across a real gem today from the most loathsome member of the United States Senate:

"First of all, I hope Senator Stevens is successful in being re-elected. And assuming that he is, I intend to support any motion to remove him," said US Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) to Roll Call."

Sounds a lot to me like Chambliss is voting for the measure before he votes against it, making him a (gasp!) "flip flopper"!

To wipe this detritus out of the Senate forever, please support Jim Martin.

Bailout

2008-11-13T21:38:00.004-05:00

Can someone please tell me why my tax dollars should go to bail out Ford, GM, or Chrysler? Instead of redistribution, there's another way we can give money to these company, it's called SALES. Like many millions of other Americans, I have decided in recent years not to give my money to these companies because, honestly they make gas guzzling death machines that fall apart. Unfortunately Congress seems to think it knows better than I do and wants to give the "Big Three" my dough without the joy of driving 9 mpg.

I'm not completely deaf to the cries that the "American" auto industry employs x-number of Americans, but you know who else employs x-number of Americans? Honda, Toyota, VW, and every other auto manufacturer. The idea of bailing out these dinosaurs is a tired broken paradigm.

There's a joke in here about giving money and getting a Hummer, but I'm too disgusted to find it.