3:10 to Yuma
To test the picture quality of a Blue-Ray high definition TV video disc, I watched 3:10 to Yuma. This western, starring Russel Crow and Christian Bale, has beautiful landscape photography that is much sharper on Blue-Ray than anything I have seen on TV before. The film itself was pretty mediocre except for the last 20 minutes, when it becomes psychologically interesting. Good and evil suddenly turn and you don
Reactions to the first Presidential Debate
I thought that McCain was very weak during the Republican convention. He exceeded my expectation today. He was quite good in separating himself from Bush. I don’t agree with McCain and I want Obama to win the presidency. But today’s debate was a tie in my view. Once again MCain proved that he can speak intelligently about foreign policy but simply recycles Ronald Reagan statement on the economy. The most interesting summary of reaction to the debate was published on Time.com.
John McCain: Drama Queen
I don’t remember a time in my life time were a non-violent event caused so dramatic a situation as the financial crisis that is unfolding in the U.S. right now. Mickey Kaus captures well on Slate.com the fickleness of John McCain:
Drama Queen: No convention today! ... OK, it’s on! ... The economy’s sound… No, wait, it’s going to fall apart unless I go to Washington tomorrow! ... We need a commission! ... We need to fire somebody! ... Get me Andrew Cuomo! ... I want ten more debates! ... But let’s postpone the one we’ve scheduled! ... Do you get the impression a McCain presidency would be a bit exhausting? ...
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JUICY BITS: Cheney Unchained
The best details from Barton Gellman’s new book on the vice president.
By Juliet Lapidos (Slate.com)
It’s often said on late-night TV that given Dick Cheney’s cardiovascular problems, George W. Bush is just a heartbeat away from the presidency. In his new book, Angler, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Barton Gellman suggests that this joke contains more than just a grain of truth. By immersing himself in details about national security and numerous other hot-button issues that the president was too lazy or too incurious to study, Cheney often managed to position himself as the real “decider.”
Continue ReadingMeet the real Sarah Palin
One of the reason John F. Kennedy was so popular were his great looks. I can understand why evangelical Republicans are ecstatic about the nomination of Palin. But why she is popular in the entire Republican party cannot be explained by her record. I suspect her good looks and her outgoing personality are an important factor. But now the vetting of Sarah Palin has started in earnest. The New York Times sent a number of reporters to Alaska to find out about her history as a mayor and governor. (Click on “More” to read the story “In Office, Palin Hired Friends and Hit Critics.”)The American people have re-elected George Bush after it was very clear what kind of administration he was running. It will be interesting to see whether they will elect someone to be a heartbeat away from the presidency who has so similar instincts as George Bush junior.
Hurrican Ike Makes Gigantic Waves
Image of Hurricane Ike on September 10, 2008, downlinked by the crew of the International Space Station, flying 220 statute miles above Earth.
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