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steve2470
steve2470's Journal
steve2470's Journal
February 27, 2012
Mitt Romney seems like a smart and careful guy, so why does he keep saying ridiculous things -- like Sunday's comment, "I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners" -- that only worsen the perception that he's a wealthy buffoon who doesn't understand the rest of us? We have four theories.
Theory 1: He's just that clueless. The most straightforward theory is that Romney is just a rich guy who's always been rich and has no idea how normal people talk and think. Example: "When it comes to his wealth, Romney is a clumsy rich guy who hasn't learned how to talk about these issues in public," MSNBC's Steve Benen.
Theory 2: He's authentic! This one's pretty straightforward, too: Romney just isn't ashamed of his wealth. He's not trying to hide it, it's just that all y'all class warriors expect him to try. Example: "I think everyone pretty much knows that Romney has made a lot of money," the National Review's Jay Nordlinger writes. "A few weeks ago, a Santorum campaigner-blogger on this site said that Romney was 'pretending he’s not rich.' Well, for a guy who’s pretending he’s not rich, he’s pretty loose with the Cadillac talk."
Theory 3: He's really bad at pandering. This theory is espoused by New York's Jonathan Chait. When Romney said his wife owned a couple Cadillacs, he was trying to pander to the auto industry to make amends for that "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" op-ed. The "I own Detroit cars" is a tried-and-true pander. But there's another pander that outranks it: the "I'm just as mad about the economy as you" pander. This misunderstanding the hierarchy of pandering also played out in Romney's remark about how even though he lost to Ted Kennedy in the 1994 Senate race, he was happy to have at least forced the Democrat to take out a second mortgage. Perhaps Romney was thinking, "I am before a conservative audience. Conservatives hate Ted Kennedy. They would love to know how I hurt Ted Kennedy." But he forgot that many in the audience might be in trouble right now for their own second mortgages.
Four Explanations for Romney's Endless Gaffes About Money
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/02/four-explanations-romneys-endless-gaffes-about-money/49200/Mitt Romney seems like a smart and careful guy, so why does he keep saying ridiculous things -- like Sunday's comment, "I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners" -- that only worsen the perception that he's a wealthy buffoon who doesn't understand the rest of us? We have four theories.
Theory 1: He's just that clueless. The most straightforward theory is that Romney is just a rich guy who's always been rich and has no idea how normal people talk and think. Example: "When it comes to his wealth, Romney is a clumsy rich guy who hasn't learned how to talk about these issues in public," MSNBC's Steve Benen.
Theory 2: He's authentic! This one's pretty straightforward, too: Romney just isn't ashamed of his wealth. He's not trying to hide it, it's just that all y'all class warriors expect him to try. Example: "I think everyone pretty much knows that Romney has made a lot of money," the National Review's Jay Nordlinger writes. "A few weeks ago, a Santorum campaigner-blogger on this site said that Romney was 'pretending he’s not rich.' Well, for a guy who’s pretending he’s not rich, he’s pretty loose with the Cadillac talk."
Theory 3: He's really bad at pandering. This theory is espoused by New York's Jonathan Chait. When Romney said his wife owned a couple Cadillacs, he was trying to pander to the auto industry to make amends for that "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" op-ed. The "I own Detroit cars" is a tried-and-true pander. But there's another pander that outranks it: the "I'm just as mad about the economy as you" pander. This misunderstanding the hierarchy of pandering also played out in Romney's remark about how even though he lost to Ted Kennedy in the 1994 Senate race, he was happy to have at least forced the Democrat to take out a second mortgage. Perhaps Romney was thinking, "I am before a conservative audience. Conservatives hate Ted Kennedy. They would love to know how I hurt Ted Kennedy." But he forgot that many in the audience might be in trouble right now for their own second mortgages.
February 27, 2012
The task force would look at the feasibility of Wyoming issuing its own alternative currency, if needed. And House members approved an amendment Friday to have the task force also examine conditions under which Wyoming would need to implement its own military draft, raise a standing army, and acquire strike aircraft and an aircraft carrier.
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/wyoming-house-advances-doomsday-bill/article_af6e1b2b-0ca4-553f-85e9-92c0f58c00bd.html
(I thought this insanity deserved posting here also lol )
Wyoming House advances doomsday bill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101616504The task force would look at the feasibility of Wyoming issuing its own alternative currency, if needed. And House members approved an amendment Friday to have the task force also examine conditions under which Wyoming would need to implement its own military draft, raise a standing army, and acquire strike aircraft and an aircraft carrier.
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/wyoming-house-advances-doomsday-bill/article_af6e1b2b-0ca4-553f-85e9-92c0f58c00bd.html
(I thought this insanity deserved posting here also lol )
February 23, 2012
A FORMER Facebook employee who used to filter out offensive content, has leaked the website's secret rule book which includes blocking mild nudity but allowing images of death and disfigurement, as well as racially charged comments.
Aggrieved Moroccan-born Amine Derkaoui, 21, was paid $US1 an hour by oDesk, a third-party content-moderation firm used by Facebook.
He has revealed the social network giant tells staff to delete all forms of sexual activity, even simulated activity where there was nothing explicit on show.
But deep wounds, excessive blood and "crushed heads, limbs etc" are allowed, "as long as no insides are showing".
Former Facebook censor says crushed heads are OK, earwax photos a no-no
http://www.news.com.au/technology/amine-derkaoui-reveals-crushed-heads-are-allowed-on-facebook-but-ear-wax-photos-will-be-deleted/story-e6frfro0-1226279007764A FORMER Facebook employee who used to filter out offensive content, has leaked the website's secret rule book which includes blocking mild nudity but allowing images of death and disfigurement, as well as racially charged comments.
Aggrieved Moroccan-born Amine Derkaoui, 21, was paid $US1 an hour by oDesk, a third-party content-moderation firm used by Facebook.
He has revealed the social network giant tells staff to delete all forms of sexual activity, even simulated activity where there was nothing explicit on show.
But deep wounds, excessive blood and "crushed heads, limbs etc" are allowed, "as long as no insides are showing".
February 21, 2012
What do Republicans/conservatives say when confronted with 9/11 happening on Bush's watch ?
I never talk to them or read their crap (except in corporate media), so I have no clue. Thanks for your time.
February 20, 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - Sporting his signature sweater vest and telling stories of his coal miner grandfather, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has struck a chord in the Rust Belt that is helping propel his once long-shot candidacy.
Although he is a millionaire, Santorum has found a common touch that has helped put him atop opinion polls in the industrial states of Michigan and Ohio and raised serious doubts about whether longtime front-runner Mitt Romney can win the Republican nomination to take on President Barack Obama in the November 6 election.
Santorum's portrayal of himself as the blue-collar Republican has managed to overshadow Romney's jobs message in a part of the country troubled by unemployment.
In conversations with nearly a dozen voters preparing to cast ballots for the former Pennsylvania senator in the Ohio and Michigan primaries, not one person volunteered that Santorum was the best candidate to revive American industry.
*end of excerpt*
I despair for my country.
For Santorum voters, he's a candidate like them
http://news.yahoo.com/santorum-says-obama-agenda-not-based-bible-011457960.htmlCOLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - Sporting his signature sweater vest and telling stories of his coal miner grandfather, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has struck a chord in the Rust Belt that is helping propel his once long-shot candidacy.
Although he is a millionaire, Santorum has found a common touch that has helped put him atop opinion polls in the industrial states of Michigan and Ohio and raised serious doubts about whether longtime front-runner Mitt Romney can win the Republican nomination to take on President Barack Obama in the November 6 election.
Santorum's portrayal of himself as the blue-collar Republican has managed to overshadow Romney's jobs message in a part of the country troubled by unemployment.
In conversations with nearly a dozen voters preparing to cast ballots for the former Pennsylvania senator in the Ohio and Michigan primaries, not one person volunteered that Santorum was the best candidate to revive American industry.
*end of excerpt*
I despair for my country.
February 18, 2012
WASHINGTON — Rising gasoline prices, trumpeted in foot-tall numbers on street corners across the country, are causing concern among advisers to President Obama that a budding sense of economic optimism could be undermined just as he heads into the general election.
White House officials are preparing for Republicans to use consumer angst about the cost of oil and gas to condemn his energy programs and buttress their argument that his economic policies are not working.
In a closed-door meeting last week, Speaker John A. Boehner instructed fellow Republicans to embrace the gas-pump anger they find among their constituents when they return to their districts for the Presidents’ Day recess.
“This debate is a debate we want to have,” Mr. Boehner told his conference on Wednesday, according to a Republican aide who was present. “It was reported this week that we’ll soon see $4-a-gallon gas prices. Maybe higher. Certainly, this summer will see the highest gas prices in years. Your constituents saw those reports, and they’ll be talking about it.”
Rising Gas Prices Give G.O.P. Issue to Attack Obama
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/us/politics/high-gas-prices-give-gop-issue-to-attack-obama.htmlWASHINGTON — Rising gasoline prices, trumpeted in foot-tall numbers on street corners across the country, are causing concern among advisers to President Obama that a budding sense of economic optimism could be undermined just as he heads into the general election.
White House officials are preparing for Republicans to use consumer angst about the cost of oil and gas to condemn his energy programs and buttress their argument that his economic policies are not working.
In a closed-door meeting last week, Speaker John A. Boehner instructed fellow Republicans to embrace the gas-pump anger they find among their constituents when they return to their districts for the Presidents’ Day recess.
“This debate is a debate we want to have,” Mr. Boehner told his conference on Wednesday, according to a Republican aide who was present. “It was reported this week that we’ll soon see $4-a-gallon gas prices. Maybe higher. Certainly, this summer will see the highest gas prices in years. Your constituents saw those reports, and they’ll be talking about it.”
February 18, 2012
The recent signs of an economic turnaround haven’t made Nouriel Roubini too hopeful. He points to the ongoing Euromess, a slowdown in China and rising tensions in the Middle East, but also believes that domestic problems will hold back the United States:
FT’s Edward Luce agrees the US recovery will be “cold and grey.” I point to another factor holding us back. Floyd Norris is more optimistic.
Dr. Doom’s still gloomy about the U.S. economy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/dr-dooms-still-gloomy-about-the-us-economy/2012/02/16/gIQARCSoHR_blog.htmlThe recent signs of an economic turnaround haven’t made Nouriel Roubini too hopeful. He points to the ongoing Euromess, a slowdown in China and rising tensions in the Middle East, but also believes that domestic problems will hold back the United States:
(W)hile U.S. data have been surprisingly encouraging, America’s growth momentum appears to be peaking. Fiscal tightening will escalate in 2012 and 2013, contributing to a slowdown, as will the expiration of tax benefits that boosted capital spending in 2011. Moreover, given continuing malaise in credit and housing markets, private consumption will remain subdued; indeed, two percentage points of the 2.8% expansion in the last quarter of 2011 reflected rising inventories rather than final sales. And, as for external demand, the generally strong dollar, together with the global and eurozone slowdown, will weaken U.S. exports, while still-elevated oil prices will increase the energy import bill, further impeding growth.
FT’s Edward Luce agrees the US recovery will be “cold and grey.” I point to another factor holding us back. Floyd Norris is more optimistic.
February 17, 2012
Question about DNS queries
Hello all. I have OpenDNS.com, which enables me to regulate my son's internet surfing during study hours. On the opendns page for "all queries", some of the URL's I know he did and they are OK, some I did, and then the rest I'm not sure about.
I go to a lot of pages (here at DU for example) that contain links for Youtube, Facebook and Twitter. Here's my question: When you surf to a page with links, do all of the page's links do a DNS query or only some of them ? Thanks for your time.
Steve
February 16, 2012
For more than a decade, political opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have sought to unseat the fiery populist. Yet his rivals have proved to be their own worst enemy. They've bickered among themselves, waged electoral boycotts that played into Chavez's hands, and failed to show that they understand the plight of the country's poor.
But this past weekend, the opposition did the unthinkable: It coalesced behind a single candidate, Henrique Capriles, a youthful governor from the state of Miranda, to challenge Chavez in this year's presidential elections. It's a welcome development in a country in desperate need of new voices and policies.
Despite its vast oil reserves,Venezuela's troubles are mounting. The country is politically and economically divided. Unemployment is rampant and inflation has hovered near 30%. The country's homicide rate is among the highest in the hemisphere, with near-daily reports of killings and kidnappings. And even the president's most ardent supporters now concede that his "Bolivarian" socialist revolution is losing its appeal as voters tire of his constant campaigning and vitriolic attacks against opponents.
Capriles represents a new style of political opponent in a country where old parties are largely viewed as corrupt. He defeated the president's handpicked candidate in his run for governor by emphasizing education and pledging to represent rich and poor alike. He's vowed to maintain programs for the poor put in place by Chavez and to pursue socially responsible capitalism. He's launched anti-hunger projects, and called for the private and public sectors to work together to raise living standards for everyone.
*more at link above*
LA Times Editorial: Henrique Capriles represents a new style of opponent to President Hugo Chavez.
http:///www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-venezuela-20120215,0,1896047.story?track=icymiFor more than a decade, political opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have sought to unseat the fiery populist. Yet his rivals have proved to be their own worst enemy. They've bickered among themselves, waged electoral boycotts that played into Chavez's hands, and failed to show that they understand the plight of the country's poor.
But this past weekend, the opposition did the unthinkable: It coalesced behind a single candidate, Henrique Capriles, a youthful governor from the state of Miranda, to challenge Chavez in this year's presidential elections. It's a welcome development in a country in desperate need of new voices and policies.
Despite its vast oil reserves,Venezuela's troubles are mounting. The country is politically and economically divided. Unemployment is rampant and inflation has hovered near 30%. The country's homicide rate is among the highest in the hemisphere, with near-daily reports of killings and kidnappings. And even the president's most ardent supporters now concede that his "Bolivarian" socialist revolution is losing its appeal as voters tire of his constant campaigning and vitriolic attacks against opponents.
Capriles represents a new style of political opponent in a country where old parties are largely viewed as corrupt. He defeated the president's handpicked candidate in his run for governor by emphasizing education and pledging to represent rich and poor alike. He's vowed to maintain programs for the poor put in place by Chavez and to pursue socially responsible capitalism. He's launched anti-hunger projects, and called for the private and public sectors to work together to raise living standards for everyone.
*more at link above*
February 16, 2012
What separates issues that are in the proper purview of politics from matters best left to individuals? I'd hate to draw that line for everyone, but watching Rick Santorum in the much-discussed interview above, I'm confident in declaring that he's put himself on the wrong side of it.
Barf.
Rick Santorum Wants Your Sex Life to Be 'Special'
(yes that really is the title in the article)
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/02/rick-santorum-wants-your-sex-life-to-be-special/253104/
What separates issues that are in the proper purview of politics from matters best left to individuals? I'd hate to draw that line for everyone, but watching Rick Santorum in the much-discussed interview above, I'm confident in declaring that he's put himself on the wrong side of it.
One of the things I will talk about that no president has talked about before is I think the dangers of contraception in this country, the whole sexual libertine idea... It's not okay because it's a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be. They're supposed to be within marriage, for purposes that are, yes, conjugal... but also procreative.
That's the perfect way that a sexual union should happen. We take any part of that out, we diminish the act. And if you can take one part out that's not for purposes of procreation, that's not one of the reasons, then you diminish this very special bond between men and women, so why can't you take other parts of that out? And all of a sudden, it becomes deconstructed to the point where it's simply pleasure. And that's certainly a part of it--and it's an important part of it, don't get me wrong--but there's a lot of things we do for pleasure, and this is special, and it needs to be seen as special. Again, I know most presidents don't talk about those things, and maybe people don't want us to talk about those things, but I think it's important that you are who you are. I'm not running for preacher.
I'm not running for pastor, but these are important public policy issues.
That's the perfect way that a sexual union should happen. We take any part of that out, we diminish the act. And if you can take one part out that's not for purposes of procreation, that's not one of the reasons, then you diminish this very special bond between men and women, so why can't you take other parts of that out? And all of a sudden, it becomes deconstructed to the point where it's simply pleasure. And that's certainly a part of it--and it's an important part of it, don't get me wrong--but there's a lot of things we do for pleasure, and this is special, and it needs to be seen as special. Again, I know most presidents don't talk about those things, and maybe people don't want us to talk about those things, but I think it's important that you are who you are. I'm not running for preacher.
I'm not running for pastor, but these are important public policy issues.
Barf.
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