Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Death Magnetic - Part II
This album is enjoyable if not taken too seriously, as lyrically I have no idea what's going on most of the time, and when I do, the lyrics seem inane. The best songs are "That Was Just Your Life" and "My Apocalypse." There is no epic on this album. That is, nothing on the album is as perfect and powerful musically as "For Whom the Bell Tolls" "Master of Puppets" or "Creeping Death". However, TWJYL is a great tune with no prior song in the Metallica catalog that it specifically reminds me of. My Apocalypse is very AJFA except with better production. In fact, it sounds a bit like a sped up "The Shortest Straw." "All Nightmare Long" seems to be popular with those craving for the 80s style of Metallica and viewed as representative of this new old sound of the band. However, the lyrics unabashadely border on the idiotic, and aside from the soloing I don't find this song all that remarkable . "Cyanide," also with silly lyrics, hasn't grown on me yet, but this may change. "Suicide & Redemption" is okay but I can't connect the music with the title. "Broken, Beat, & Scarred" is just a bit too plain. "Judas Kiss" has grown on me because it's so well structured (perhaps vying with TWJYL for that almost-epic) and contains a great solo, but the whole "bow down..." bit is quite annoying, as I can't decide whether the lyrics are meant to be serious or just metal-like, and too prominent in the song to ignore. "The End of the Line" isn't great but isn't bad either (a bit cheesy frankly with that whole "the slave becomes the master" bit). "Unforgiven III" is just a bit too silly with all that "golden treasure" talk. "The Day that Never Comes" is a bit derivative of One and the first two Unforgivens, and the first half of the song doesn't mesh with the second half. In conclusion, this album works for me for the same reason the song "Trapped Under Ice" works for me: I can't identify with the lyrics, but it sure is a good tune.
Monday, September 29, 2008
John Allison, CEO of BB&T, opposes the Bailout
http://media.gatewaync.com/wsj/pdfs/2008/09/allison.pdf
This letter was sent to every Senator and Representative.
Notably, Wachovia is probably a primary competitor of BB&T.
This letter was sent to every Senator and Representative.
Notably, Wachovia is probably a primary competitor of BB&T.
Heath Shuler Votes "No" on the Bailout
Having failed as an NFL quarterback, Heath has become a Congressman in rural Western North Carolina. He then hurt himself in the process of hearing (but probably not listening to) Pelosi shooting her mouth. Having gotten a boo-boo to his fragile feelings, he proceeded, as Barney Frank so eloquently explained, to help the other sensitive Congresspeople flush the American economy down the toilet. (Go to Slate's Trailhead feature for the House Roll Call and a link to the transcript of Pelosi's speech.)
Barney Frank
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/09/frank_mocks_gop.html
It's difficult to find anything the least bit funny about this whole bailout mess, but Barney finds a way.
It's difficult to find anything the least bit funny about this whole bailout mess, but Barney finds a way.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Classical Music and American Soccer
An Aarhus (Benny Feilhaber and Jerry White represent!) Orchestra conducted by Lance Friedel:
http://www.msrcd.com/1150/1150.html
I only listened to "An Imaginary Journey to the Faroe Islands" (as an MP3 purchased from Amazon). It's okay. I also intend to buy at least the Helios Overture. Nielsen is a similar composer to Sibelius (late Romantic with ever so small 20th Century influences whose music is close to that North European nature), but not quite in the same league probably. I do enjoy Nielsen's use of percussion.
Update: I now also have "Helios" and "Saga-Dream." I really like "Helios."
http://www.msrcd.com/1150/1150.html
I only listened to "An Imaginary Journey to the Faroe Islands" (as an MP3 purchased from Amazon). It's okay. I also intend to buy at least the Helios Overture. Nielsen is a similar composer to Sibelius (late Romantic with ever so small 20th Century influences whose music is close to that North European nature), but not quite in the same league probably. I do enjoy Nielsen's use of percussion.
Update: I now also have "Helios" and "Saga-Dream." I really like "Helios."
Debate
McCain, according to himself, has never been a good student. While Obama was preparing for the debate, McCain has been campaigning without interruption. This whole skipping the debate act to work on the bailout (where many have cast doubt on his ability to be helpful, or even to not interfere) reminds me of failing to study and then skipping school (with a decent excuse in hand) the day of the test.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Paulson and Bernanke
What I still don't understand about this whole bailout fiasco is where specifically this urgency to have the deal in place by Monday is coming from. What's so special about this upcoming Monday?
Have Paulson and Bernanke somehow created a market expectation that this (the bailout) would happen, thereby amplifying the adverse consequences if it doesn't?
I am confused.
Have Paulson and Bernanke somehow created a market expectation that this (the bailout) would happen, thereby amplifying the adverse consequences if it doesn't?
I am confused.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Is the bailout necessary? Is the bailout just? Plus, Wall Street est mort - so?
Is the bailout necessary?
http://thecurrent.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/not-buying-it.php
Is the bailout just?
http://www.slate.com/id/2200604/
Wall Street is dead - what result? http://www.bmacewen.com/blog/archives/2008/09/how_big_how_bad_is_it.html
Friday, September 19, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
David Einhorn and Joseph Stiglitz
The perspicacious Einhorn (an outspoken hedge fund manager with a philanthropic streak) on the root causes of the credit crisis:
http://www.designs.valueinvestorinsight.com/bonus/bonuscontent/docs/Einhorn_Speech.pdf
Stiglitz (an economics professor at Columbia) on what's to be done going forward:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/17/stiglitz.crisis/
Interesting reads, both.
Eric Posner on the (il)legality of the AIG takeover by the Fed
All glee aside (born out of my being directly affected by this mess), over at the Volokh Conspiracy (a libertarian blog presided over by various luminaries of the legal profession), Eric Posner (Judge Posner's son and an eminent lawyer himself) has the following to say (edited):
The AIG Deal.
True, the Fed statute says that loans can be issued with conditions. As a commenter asks, what loan doesn’t have conditions? But the Fed statute does not say that the Fed can purchase businesses, and it seems reasonable to interpret the statute to forbid the Fed to purchase businesses. So here’s the question, is the AIG deal a purchase or a loan? I suspect the deal is a loan in form but a purchase in substance. Unfortunately, the details are not available, but the press accounts suggest that the Fed is receiving AIG equity (more precisely, the option to obtain equity) as collateral for the loan but that it’s going to exercise the option more or less automatically. Here’s an analogy. Suppose that I lend you $100 and we agree that all of the equity in your business will be collateral for the loan. The contract provides, however, that you must pay me interest of a gazillion dollars, due one second after closing, and that if you fail, that counts as a default, whereupon the collateral is mine. The parties use the loan form but substantively a sale occurs. A court would almost certainly interpret the transaction as a sale, not a loan, if tax or other legal consequences turned on the distinction. If the AIG loan is like this, then it’s illegal. So: why aren’t our rule-of-law friends yowling?
Update: more on this here.
The AIG Deal.
True, the Fed statute says that loans can be issued with conditions. As a commenter asks, what loan doesn’t have conditions? But the Fed statute does not say that the Fed can purchase businesses, and it seems reasonable to interpret the statute to forbid the Fed to purchase businesses. So here’s the question, is the AIG deal a purchase or a loan? I suspect the deal is a loan in form but a purchase in substance. Unfortunately, the details are not available, but the press accounts suggest that the Fed is receiving AIG equity (more precisely, the option to obtain equity) as collateral for the loan but that it’s going to exercise the option more or less automatically. Here’s an analogy. Suppose that I lend you $100 and we agree that all of the equity in your business will be collateral for the loan. The contract provides, however, that you must pay me interest of a gazillion dollars, due one second after closing, and that if you fail, that counts as a default, whereupon the collateral is mine. The parties use the loan form but substantively a sale occurs. A court would almost certainly interpret the transaction as a sale, not a loan, if tax or other legal consequences turned on the distinction. If the AIG loan is like this, then it’s illegal. So: why aren’t our rule-of-law friends yowling?
Update: more on this here.
Videira plays the first half in reserve match at Killie
From the Hamilton Academical official website:
Accies Reserves drew 1-1 at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock last night, Tuesday. Stuart Taylor had fired Accies into the lead on the hour mark while Donovan Simmonds equalised on 90 minutes for the home side on a very wet night. Accies lined up - Murdoch, Casement, Gibson, Evans, Taylor, McQueen, Lyle, Videira (Carrigan 45), Thomas (Kirkpatrick 74), Ettien (Grady 82), Corcoran. Manager Billy Reid was pleased with the display and the good football we played.
Accies Reserves drew 1-1 at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock last night, Tuesday. Stuart Taylor had fired Accies into the lead on the hour mark while Donovan Simmonds equalised on 90 minutes for the home side on a very wet night. Accies lined up - Murdoch, Casement, Gibson, Evans, Taylor, McQueen, Lyle, Videira (Carrigan 45), Thomas (Kirkpatrick 74), Ettien (Grady 82), Corcoran. Manager Billy Reid was pleased with the display and the good football we played.
Ownership Society
With the government's acquisition of AIG, this Administration has effectively positioned itself to the left of China. Unfortunately, I can't confirm whether the Chinese government owns the China Life Insurance Company (the second biggest insurer in the world after AIG), a stake in which I can buy on the market. But, importantly, Yao Ming is their spokesman. Which entrepreneurial athlete is going to be AIG's spokesman, huh? (Manchester United is now sponsored by the United States, hehe.)
(Thanks to Unprofessional Foul via The Original Winger)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
McCain and Palin dive in the box
That's all I have to say about all the bullshit that's coming out of their campaign. I hope this most recent episode, involving lipstick and pigs, is a clever ploy by Obama to show how petty and inane the Republican candidates are. While Obama gives a speech addressing the importantce of making the electorate less retarded (better education of course!), McCain demands apologies (for using the same terms he himself used to describe Hillary's health policy). I think Barack may be too busy to be apologetic, even if he did "misspeak." By the way, while Barack was graduating in the top 10% at Harvard Law School, Palin was busy switching colleges, to the tune of six colleges in six years (twice at U. Idaho). The anti-intellectualism of the (national) Republican party is appalling. This cultural populism of theirs (which effectively says being ignorant is somehow an American value) threatens to destroy this country.
David Paterson may not be right that criticism of community organizing has racial connotations. But, "small town values" from Palin's speech is a not so oblique reference to "white values." American cities and American towns share American values which encompass hard work, faith, etc. Therefore, there is no principled way to distinguish between small town values and city values other than on the basis of race. (Are city inhabitants lazy? Many are plenty religious.) Black inhabitants of small towns will overwhelmingly vote Obama and Palin knows that nothing she could say would change that, so she wasn't speaking for them.
P.S. Apologies for using a soccer analogy when discussing a "hockey mom," but soccer is what's on my mind these days.
David Paterson may not be right that criticism of community organizing has racial connotations. But, "small town values" from Palin's speech is a not so oblique reference to "white values." American cities and American towns share American values which encompass hard work, faith, etc. Therefore, there is no principled way to distinguish between small town values and city values other than on the basis of race. (Are city inhabitants lazy? Many are plenty religious.) Black inhabitants of small towns will overwhelmingly vote Obama and Palin knows that nothing she could say would change that, so she wasn't speaking for them.
P.S. Apologies for using a soccer analogy when discussing a "hockey mom," but soccer is what's on my mind these days.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Death Magnetic - Part I
No, this is not a review of Metallica's new album (which I have heard not in the best sound quality and nevertheless liked). But, having read the lyrics to songs in said album, I can identify with pretty much every word having read this: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/04/politics/animal/main4414663.shtml
/ripping hair out, running head first into wall, ripping hair out, banging head against desk, puking, puking, puking...
Look, I sincerely respect McCain and am not 100% sure of Obama. But some statements, like a racial slur or McCain's quoted in the link, show such a lack of - forget judgment - marbles that make the speaker unfit for any public office, not just the presidency.
P.S. To bolster McCain's brilliant argument, it should be noted that Palin graduated from the University of Idaho which is located in Moscow, Idaho.
/ripping hair out, running head first into wall, ripping hair out, banging head against desk, puking, puking, puking...
Look, I sincerely respect McCain and am not 100% sure of Obama. But some statements, like a racial slur or McCain's quoted in the link, show such a lack of - forget judgment - marbles that make the speaker unfit for any public office, not just the presidency.
P.S. To bolster McCain's brilliant argument, it should be noted that Palin graduated from the University of Idaho which is located in Moscow, Idaho.
Palin
I read the transcript of her speech. I don't see what the big deal is: yes, it was a good speech, if quite mean-spirited. But she worked extensively with a senior speech writer, and had plenty of time to come up with those petty zingers (e.g. small-town mayor is a community organizer with actual responsibilities). By contrast, Obama's speeches are full of profound observations that have to underlie good policy. Those that continue to wrangle over experience are missing the point; this election is not about experience. After the debacle of the Bush presidency (and the sunny days of the Clinton presidency), this election is about intellectual heft. Given McCain's obdurate support for an idiotic war costing us in the trillions and causing a massive deficit, despite of being a great, great man he doesn't deserve a shot. Barack may have not done much, but he wasn't really in position to as a legislator, and I would rather entrust the future of this country to his keen intellect. We clearly need a better education system so we produce more competitive workers here, and a better immigration policy so we incentivize the best and brightest Indians, Russians, Chinese, Brazilians etc. to come here and contribute to our, rather than their country's of origin, economy. In his speeches, Obama shows he understands this.
Also, Palin didn't say anything of substance when it comes to her own policy views (in fairness, she was only offered the VP job a week ago), and may have flat out lied when discussing Obama's tax policy. She was also misleading with respect to her position(s) on the Bridge to Nowhere, but she is after all a politician and one could not expect her to omit a reference to it altogether (which would have been the honest thing to do).
Also, Palin didn't say anything of substance when it comes to her own policy views (in fairness, she was only offered the VP job a week ago), and may have flat out lied when discussing Obama's tax policy. She was also misleading with respect to her position(s) on the Bridge to Nowhere, but she is after all a politician and one could not expect her to omit a reference to it altogether (which would have been the honest thing to do).
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Charlie Davies: Should have been called in against Cuba and T&T
He scores consistently in Sweden (arguably equivalent in quality to MLS), he is not in the process of settling in at a new club (a la Adu, Altidore or, for that matter, EJ), and he has the pace which is EJ's best attribute. Plus, unlike Buddle, there is no suspicion that his goal-scoring exploits are a result of having world-class teammates at an MLS level or an aberration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)