Political Views?

Are you a Repub or a Dem?
Liberal or Conservative?

Can you be a Liberal Republican?

What is a moderate really?

Are the two major U.S. political parties the same as they were 10 years ago?

As I pondered these sorts of questions I turned to the WWW for some answers. I found the following at Ask Meta Filter and is in line with what I've been taught:

Democrats: Socially and fiscally liberal
Lots of personal freedom
Government runs redistributive social programs
Concerned with equality over efficiency
Typically support higher taxes to support social programs

Republicans: Socially and fiscally conservative
Small government that enforces moral standards and protects markets
Low taxes and few redistributive programs
Concerned with efficiency rather than equality (although they argue that a high tide raises all ships)

Libertarians: Socially liberal, fiscally conservative
Small government that basically stays out the the way beyond enforcing contracts and protecting markets
Government doesn't regulate morality
Extreme personal freedoms

I sometimes wonder if the Republicans look more like Dem's used to look these days and vice verse.

I then went to the Political Compass and took the test which really doesn't tell you what you are. Merely, it helps you to reflect then paints you in one of four quadrants (left or right on the economic scale, and Authoritarian or Libertarian on the social scale). It was fascinating reading and I suppose it confirmed what I already knew, I'm a moderate. Just what does that mean?

Quote: On Beginning

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Content Distribution

hulu: Watch your favorites. Anytime. For free.

If you haven't heard of hulu, you will, give it some time. I think it will change everything TV/online marriage related. Hulu is a joint venture between FOX and NBC that allows you to go watch your shows, news, sports, or movies online with "limited commercial breaks." We've all seen this set up on NBC's web site or the CW's and whoever else is doing it, but hulu is taking the clearing house approach.

All that's missing as far as I see is TARGETED ads. That is, hulu should make me register, which I'm sure they will, it's still beta, and then my commercials won't be for feminine hygiene products or something else that no matter how great it is, I'm not going to buy it.

In the end though, Hulu changes TV and advertising, first slowly, then watch out. See Google with respect to Web search, maybe not that big, but "domain altering" for sure.

Facebook Privacy

I'll admit I was late to the social networking crazy. I think Fred Wilson, the NYC Venture Capitalist said it best: to understand these emerging technologies one must use them, and so I have and do. I'll go on to say that I like them, the Facebooks and MySpaces, and would prefer to see everyone I know on them. It a great way to share pictures and passively (or actively) keep in touch with the people you've come across over the years.

I'm pleased with Facebook's new feature that allows me to permit "friends of friends" to see photos that I've been tagged in. I like how specific the privacy is getting, I'll admit that I have no desire to use the social networking sites to advertise myself, rather, only to keep in touch, so adding these sorts of features makes that easy. For example, if someone has tagged my friend Joe in a photo, and I don't know that friend, if "friends of friends" for tagged photos was enabled in Joe's friends privacy settings I would be able to see good old Joe wherever he was.

Quote: Luck

I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. - Thomas Jefferson

Five Years of Iraq

Scions of the Surge Newsweek Iraq War Newsweek.com


The press has done a nice job reviewing the ups (?) and downs of the Iraq situation as 5 years have passed since its inception. This news week article tells the story of a company commander that could likely be replicated for any village or neighborhood in Iraq. The Americans are the glue that is holding Iraq together. The military, in the absence of any real strategic policy, has simply found a way to sustain and hold the country together.


Everyday, the U.S. Military is more glue like and the "how do we get out" question is hard to answer.

Brooks Breaks the Credit Crunch Down

The Bailout Artists - New York Times

Brooks always does a great job of presenting a very complex topic in a very simple to understand manner. Essentially, he is discussing the role the government should play in facilitating a free market. Is it a free market if the government facilitates it? I say so, and as much as I believe in Ann Rand style objectivisim when panic and irrational behavior positions to do deep economic damage the government should take steps to bring everyone back to reality.

In Brook's words:

We do seem to have reached some Bernanke-era consensus. In normal times, the free market works well. But in a crisis like this one, few are willing to sit back and let the market find its own equilibrium.

The Shows are Back!

After the WGA Strike: When Will Your Favorite TV Shows Return? - Ausiello Report TVGuide.com



How about the writer's strike? Nice to see that Hollywood is back in business. The link has got the details on your favorite.

Slum Tours

Heads Up: Poverty Tours - Slum Visits: Tourism or Voyeurism? - Travel - New York Times

The concept and idea of Slum tours has been around for awhile, 16 years, started in Rio, the article points out. There have been many a Discovery Channel special on them as well. The question I'll ask and answer is it participation or observation travel. I say observation, but to truly participate in these run down places where the rules aren't understood even after a few years of study. To participate you would need the language, and some connection.

In this case, I tend to think the observation is good, we as a society need to know what is going on around us, good or bad. Change begins with awareness. I also tend to think it's a boon for the slums as there are chances to see wares, etc.

Sinking the Fallon Ship

Final reflections on the Fallon article in Esquire (Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog)

I've been waiting to blog Admiral Fallon's (the military's former central command commander overseeing the Middle East) retirement until we heard a good recap from Barnett. Barnett's article in this months Esquire was specifically mentioned by the New York Times as the straw that broke the camels back with the Bush Administration and Fallon. I'm intrigued by this because I have always been one one hand, amazed by the depth of Barnett's thinking and on the other in strong agreement with his ideas.

What Barnett points out is that his article highlighted the debate between the military and the administration and possibilities in and with Iran. Something that is generally kept very quite. I for one, agree with Barnett, this debate needs to be very public. This policy effects everything the military is currently doing and I think we can all agree that the American people need to weigh in on this. Naturally, the Bush administration knows where everyone's weight will be as far as terse talk with Iran. Goodness, we can't possibly be serious enough about entertaining new Iranian policy to oust Fallon.

Krugman's Face-Slap Theory

The Face-Slap Theory - New York Times

I've been enjoying Krugman's ongoing comparison of FED actions really being ways to face slap the business marketplace. I think too often people think that the FED is this holy body of policy makers when in reality they control interest rates by control the amount of money they loan banks in the short term, like over night or for about a month. This in turn allows the bond markets create the actual rate. Sure, things like HELOC's and credit cards a based on the FED's prime rate, but that happens because the bond market allow it.

What's concerning when reading a column from a very well respected economist like Krugman is that he is legitimately concerned that the face slaps might not work. Rescission is one thing, maybe a healthy side of a long growing economy, but depression, that might be another story. Interesting times are these in the financial world.

Crisis in South America?

Crisis Over Colombian Raid Ends in Handshakes - New York Times

Did you know there was a crises in northern South America? The international and specifically American media has been rather significantly overlooking some serious goings on down there. And sure, I link to a NYT article above, so it's being covered, but not to aggressively. Indeed, defense, in general, seems down in terms of news coverage.

That said, take a look at what's going on down there: Tank battalions massing on boarders, Hugo's involved, of course, and FARC kingpin's getting whacked left and right. And of course the Colombian and American governments have been playing nicely (who doesn't like a rich uncle?) for years and years. Makes you wonder what exactly the nature of U.S. involvement down there might be. I think it's safe to say that at least a few American tax dollars are at work right now.

Quote: On Positivity

“I will never attend an anti-war rally. If you have a peace rally, invite me” – Mother Terresa

Book: The Secret

The Secret, Rhonda Byrne

3/9/08

The Secret is perhaps best summarized in an entirely separate work, the Strangest Secret, which is an audio presentation by Earl Nightingale where he demands “you must control your thoughts.” Rhonda Byrne then explains by controlling your thoughts and ensuring that they are of a positive nature, anything, in any aspect of life, is achievable. More specifically, The Secret explains that like things attract, so positive, can do thoughts create positive outcomes while negative thoughts would create that negative reality.

The secret is powerful and if one were to incorporate these ideas into everyday life it would indeed be an unstoppable force. The reality is obvious; if you’re feeling happy you are thinking happy thoughts. What is exciting is to realize that one can use one’s feelings to understand what one is thinking. Further, one can use ones more readily controllable thoughts to affect ones feelings.

The Secret teaches us to understand today, create tomorrow, but allow the universe to positively influence us as we project positive energy. My favorite line was likening life to a road trip, at night, from San Fran to New York City. You know where you’re going, but you can only see 200 ft in front of you. Life must be taken as it comes though we can provide it direction. You must stay on track, but deal, positively, with the bumps that come along the way. We must be thankful for all that is presented to us because it defines us.

The book goes on to apply the concept of positivity to health, relationships, abundance, thankfulness, and ultimately life. Indeed the point is to be happy now, feel good now.

Notes:

On Thoughts and Creation:

• Nothing can come into your experience unless you summon it thought persistent thoughts.
• What are you summoning?
• Careful, the thoughts of doubt are powerful too.
• Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions
• Use Vision boards as ways to visualize your goals
• Your power is in your thoughts, “Remember to Remember,” live in the present

On Feelings and their power:

• Our feelings let us know what we’re thinking
• Our feelings are feedback mechanisms to us about whether we’re on track or not, whether we’re on course or off course
• Bad feelings are a warning from the universe
• You’re getting exactly what you’re feeling about, not so much what you’re thinking about
• Make a list of Secret Shifters, things to employ when you’re not feeling good or the way you want to

How to live the secret:

• What do you want; take time to write that down, you must be clear about what you want.

1. Ask, once, than listen
2. Believe you’ll get it, know that – Most of us have never allowed ourselves to want what we truly want because we can’t see how it’s going to manifest
3. Receive

On moving towards a secret centric lifestyle:

Most profound reality about living life, knowing where you’re going, but unable to see exactly how it turns out:

Driving a car at night, life is SFO to NYC, but you can only really see 200 ft ahead, be ok with that.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“All that we are is a result of what we have thought” – Buddha

“Pruning shears of revision” –Neville Goddard, 1954—“Each night replay the events of the day; if they didn’t go the way you wanted replay them in a way that thrills you.” --- This cleans up the frequency

On Thankfulness and gratitude

• Know gratitude, be grateful
• Praise and bless the things around you

On Relationships:

For relationships to really work we need to focus on what we appreciate about the other person, not what we’re complaining about

On Health:

Laughter attracts joy, rejects negativity and leads to miraculous cures

On Positivity:

• “I will never attend an anti-war rally. If you have a peace rally, invite me” – Mother Terresa

• Use I AM. I am received every good thing, I am happy, I am abundant, I am healthy, I am love, I am always on time, I am eternal youth, I am filled with energy every single day.

On life:

Joy, love, freedom, happiness, laughter. That’s what it is.

Be Happy now, fell good now.

Audio: The Strangest Secret

The Strangest Secret, Earl Nightingale

3/8/08

Earl Nightingale’s audio presentation of the Strangest Secret may be one of the most profound things one can experience and at the same time began the “motivational self-help” movement so many years ago.

He starts by explaining how man has stopped thinking. Then he defines success as “progressive realization of a worth ideal.” and explains to achieve this “we must control our thinking.” It is that focus on one solid foremost goal that allows one to achieve that which he desires. Those concepts are hugely powerful. To understand success and then understand how to achieve it is the key to enjoying life. Everything else is taken care of when these ideals are held strong and steady.

Notes:

• The Trouble is conformity
• Man who succeeds – “I’m going to do this and then does it” he decided to do it, deliberately.
• The key is to have a goal.
• We become what we think about. “Believe and succeed”
• Decide what you want
• Each of us is the sum total of our thoughts
• We are where we are because it is where we want to be, admit it or not
• “We must control our thinking”
• Why do you go to work? Successful people are working to a goal and doing what they want to do.
• Focus is key, you can’t wish for 100 other incompatible things equally and as strongly
• “As ye believe so shall it be done unto you” – Jesus Christ
• Make a goal card and carry it for each block of 30 days
• Look at the abundance around you
• Stop and think about what you fear, replace it with a positive goal
• Five of yourself more
• Go with this goal for 30 days; go as hard as you can. Act as though it were impossible to fail
• Goal Cards should have the sermon on the mount on one side and the goal on the other
• Don’t worry
• Success is in direct proportion to our service

Syncing Calendars

Official Google Blog: Google Calendar Sync

I use Microsoft Outlook, iGoogle with Google Calendar, and an iPhone. That equals three calendars that I want to be the same. MS Outlook is on the home computer, easy to use, I like it, it is sort of the main data storage place. The iPhone lives in my pocket, easy to access and look at, but not where I want to do a lot of data entry, though I will scheduled something on there occasionally. And then where ever I am, at work, a friends house, etc. Google Calendar is editable, usable, etc.

I tried Plaxo for syncing but it never really worked as a Microsoft Outlook plug in. I was just fumbling with it the other day. And of course, Google heard my frustrations and announced Google Calendar Sync for Microsoft Outlook today. It works great.

Now, Apple, Microsoft, or Google, hear this, why can't my iPhone sync over Wi-Fi or the Edge network every so often, why must I plug it in and sync via iTunes, which works fine, but cables seem so 90's.

David Ignatius - Wall Street Bank Run - washingtonpost.com

David Ignatius - Wall Street Bank Run - washingtonpost.com

Ignatius does an amazingly concise job of summarizing the problem in the Credit market right now. Banks aren't trusting each other and valuing a grouping of 10,000 home loans is near impossible. Further, the bail out is coming from the sovereign wealth money.

What I want to know is what do we think happens next? Naturally all speculation, and I think the American Economy will remain the most resolute innovative actor in the globalized marketplace, but boy, there is a lot of money in these credit markets.