Dear Hillary Clinton,
The quiet chatter has steadily grown into explicit calls for your bowing out of the nomination process. You have every right to stay in this race; I wholeheartedly agree with you. But when you are putting your ego before the good of this country, you are being extremely selfish. You continue in this race and you will become the Nader of the 2008 election.
Numbers don't lie. Unless Barack decides tomorrow to snort crack on the speech podium, he will undoubtedly be the Democratic nominee. You need to win more than 60% of the aggregate vote in remaining states. Bear in mind, the only state you achieved this goal is Arkansas, where you were the first lady. Not even New York gave you that margin. In other words, your chances of pulling this out are basically nil.
So the only thing your campaign is accomplishing is polarization of the Democrats, which directly benefits a flawed candidate like John McCain. Additionally, around 30% of your supporters say they wouldn't vote for Barack Obama if he became the eventual nominee. Through dirty politicking (and admit it please. Since Ohio and Texas, that's what you have resorted to), you've engendered all this bad blood WITHIN YOUR OWN PARTY. Fast-forward to November and realize that McCain can run ads saying you, a bellwether of the Democratic party, support McCain as president rather than the party's own nominee. You're doing McCain's job for him, and some of the damage is irrevocable.
Now, I understand why you're reluctant to throw in the towel. The media basically settled around you in 2006. You had the cash, the resume, and the name recognition. Unfortunately, the dynamo of the century came out of Chicago to rain on your premature coronation.
Do what's best for the party and America. Don't give John McCain, aka Bush 2.0, a free pass until the convention.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Donkey Kong Country 2 : an exercise in frustration
I recently went back home and found my old Super Nintendo. Ahhhh, the memories of Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong. The latter, especially, caught my eye as I rifled through the grey cartridges. I remember when the first one came out. It was a phenomenon. Pre-rendered graphics were a new thing back then and people were genuinely wowed by the visuals and the sound. The gameplay is still enjoyable 14 years later. The only major failing of the game is that it's a bit too easy. I can go through the entire game in an hour without a game over. After the first world, you can easily get 30 lives and just ride that for the entire game.
After ripping through DKC, I popped in the sequel. After the second world, the difficulty amps up considerably. I got my first game over in the middle of the third world. And it only got worse as I progressed. I just barely got 60% after beating the game this time around. It's MUCH harder to amass lives in this game and the secrets are better hidden. I was never a "hardcore" gamer, but I'm no casual gamer either. So it took me aback how much my gaming muscles have atrophied. What happened to my razor-sharp reflexes? My ability to figure out the puzzles? My file from 1995 is near 80%. The proof is in the pudding.
One level, in particular, really blazes my balls. "Animal Antics" in the Lost World is one of the hardest levels of any game I've ever played. The premise of the level involves using only your animal buddies. This is a problem because all of the animals (with the exception of the rhino and swordfish) are awkward to use in one way or another. The snake and parrot are the worst offenders. The worst part of the level is the area involving the parrot, whose controls for flight are difficult to master. Further, this area has turbulent winds flowing left and right in alternating fashion. When you're trying to navigate narrow paths, it's a huge pain in the ass. What's worse is that you have to kill some enemies to clear a path sometimes. When you shoot, his momentum pushes you back and can lead to you losing a life in these close corners.
I think this one level has led to atleast 15 game over screens for me. What sucks is that the midpoint save barrel is in the spider area , which is relatively easy compared to the parrot and snake area. The developers purposely did this to fluster gamers. Thanks a lot, Rare.
Despite this one level, the game is better than the first one. The gameplay is improved and the graphics are stellar. The best addition is Dixie Kong; you don't miss Donkey Kong with her around. It doesn't make it that much easier to navigate these levels, but it adds a certain level of fun when Dixie is spinning and floating around.
Well, next up is Super Mario World.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Indiana population trends
I've always been a closet stats junkie. There's something interesting about numbers to me. Anyways, this article from the Indianapolis Star (21 March 2008), details population trends in Hoosierland. Not surprisingly, Hamilton county (Carmel, Fishers) had the highest population growth and southwestern Indiana (where my parents live) has the highest death rate. The county they live in was explicitly called out for something I've known for a long time: new residents and young people are not moving to these counties.
Hamilton County -- once again -- is the fastest-growing county in Indiana and the 23rd fastest-growing in the nation.
The state's five fastest-growing counties (the others are Hendricks, Hancock, Johnson and Boone, in that order) accounted for 64 percent of Indiana's total population growth from 2000 to 2007. Each county had more births than deaths in seven years, and together added more than 149,000 residents, said Matt Kinghorn, economic research analyst at Indiana Business Research Center, Bloomington.
A look at the gains and losses across the state and metro area:
Also of note in Indiana
Baby booms: Average birth rates in LaGrange, Adams and Elkhart counties were the highest among Indiana's 92 counties, topping 17 births per 1,000 residents between 2000 and 2007.
Researchers say those counties are home to much of the state's Amish population, which tends to have larger families.
Highest death rates: Three of the top five Indiana counties with the highest average death rates span the state's western border -- Vermillion, Knox and Sullivan.
Vermillion was tops, averaging 13.6 deaths per 1,000 residents between 2000 and 2007. Knox and Sullivan counties ranked fourth and fifth, following Fayette and Henry counties.
The western-tier counties had few newer, younger residents moving in and ranked among the highest in overall median age during the period.
Immigrant magnets: Tippecanoe and Monroe counties, home to two of Indiana's major university campuses, ranked among the top 5 counties in the state in the average rate of international migration -- people moving in from outside the U.S.
Tippecanoe County ranked first, averaging nearly six international migrants per 1,000 residents since 2000. Monroe County ranked fourth, with a 3.6 per 1,000 average. Rounding out the top five: Clinton, Elkhart and Noble counties, three areas where large industries may be magnets for foreign residents, researchers say.
The national picture
Seventy of the nation's fastest-growing counties from July 2006 to July 2007 were in the South, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday.
Just eight of the fastest-growing counties were in the Midwest (including Hamilton County); 22 were in the West.
Fastest grower: Arizona's Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, added the most people in that period -- 102,000, bringing its population to nearly 3.9 million.
Most populous: Los Angeles County held on to that title, with 9.9 million people, though its population dropped 2,000 over the year.
--- Star and news service report
Hamilton County -- once again -- is the fastest-growing county in Indiana and the 23rd fastest-growing in the nation.
The state's five fastest-growing counties (the others are Hendricks, Hancock, Johnson and Boone, in that order) accounted for 64 percent of Indiana's total population growth from 2000 to 2007. Each county had more births than deaths in seven years, and together added more than 149,000 residents, said Matt Kinghorn, economic research analyst at Indiana Business Research Center, Bloomington.
A look at the gains and losses across the state and metro area:
Also of note in Indiana
Baby booms: Average birth rates in LaGrange, Adams and Elkhart counties were the highest among Indiana's 92 counties, topping 17 births per 1,000 residents between 2000 and 2007.
Researchers say those counties are home to much of the state's Amish population, which tends to have larger families.
Highest death rates: Three of the top five Indiana counties with the highest average death rates span the state's western border -- Vermillion, Knox and Sullivan.
Vermillion was tops, averaging 13.6 deaths per 1,000 residents between 2000 and 2007. Knox and Sullivan counties ranked fourth and fifth, following Fayette and Henry counties.
The western-tier counties had few newer, younger residents moving in and ranked among the highest in overall median age during the period.
Immigrant magnets: Tippecanoe and Monroe counties, home to two of Indiana's major university campuses, ranked among the top 5 counties in the state in the average rate of international migration -- people moving in from outside the U.S.
Tippecanoe County ranked first, averaging nearly six international migrants per 1,000 residents since 2000. Monroe County ranked fourth, with a 3.6 per 1,000 average. Rounding out the top five: Clinton, Elkhart and Noble counties, three areas where large industries may be magnets for foreign residents, researchers say.
The national picture
Seventy of the nation's fastest-growing counties from July 2006 to July 2007 were in the South, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday.
Just eight of the fastest-growing counties were in the Midwest (including Hamilton County); 22 were in the West.
Fastest grower: Arizona's Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, added the most people in that period -- 102,000, bringing its population to nearly 3.9 million.
Most populous: Los Angeles County held on to that title, with 9.9 million people, though its population dropped 2,000 over the year.
--- Star and news service report
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
China the bully
So I'm sure everyone has heard about the recent riots in Tibet. With the Olympics a few months away, China has a significant issue they must deal with before athletes from around the world touch down in Beijing. Unfortunately, China's preferred method of dealing with intranational problems is an ironfist, especially concerning its minorities.
The state-controlled media, as usual, is not being 100% candid with what is happening in Tibet. They have put most of the focus on property destruction and terrorization of the Han Chinese living there. Missing is a mention of the 50 years of Chinese intimidation, unfair treatment, and the systematic extermination of Tibetan culture. In fact, based on Tibet ALONE, China would be among the worst offenders of human rights since WWII.
China has always insisted that they have "liberated" the Tibetans. Seriously? This liberation must have been news to the Tibetans in the 50s. And judging by the periodic uprisings against China, I don't think the Tibetans took too kindly to the liberation. The Tibetan people have made this point abundantly clear : "We don't want you here and you really have no business being here". Tibet has a different culture, ethnic identity, and history from China. Add that to Beijing's hardline stance against Tibetan cultural expression and you can see why lingering, and multi-generational, resentment exists against the Chinese.
China does similar things in the Xinjiang province to tribal Muslims. During Ramadan, Chinese authorities stuff food down their throats as they try to fast in accordance with the tenets of their religion. That's plain disgusting. I know the PRC doesn't sanction religion, but is it really necessary to do something like that? It reeks of ethnic discrimination, in my opinion.
What's worse is that the West just sits there and takes China's blatant disregard for human rights. No-one has the balls to call out China because they have their hands in the economic pot, and are afraid China will slap their wrists if they speak out. The US, in particular, has been largely silent because China for the last 5 years has basically propped up the American economy. Bush's deficit spending has indirectly led to Chinese control of many American financial instruments. In other words, they have our government by the balls. In part, that's why I really admire Nancy Pelosi for visiting the Dalai Lama and speaking out against China. For once, consideration for human rights trumps politics.
When you consider the net effect of China's transgressions (in the modern era, no less), it's really a shame that China was awarded the Olympics. In many ways, the actions of the Chinese government are anathema to the spirit of the Olympics. China may be moving towards vaulting past America and Europe in economic terms, but they are still mired with Burma and Zimbabwe amongst the world's most egregious offenders of human rights.
The state-controlled media, as usual, is not being 100% candid with what is happening in Tibet. They have put most of the focus on property destruction and terrorization of the Han Chinese living there. Missing is a mention of the 50 years of Chinese intimidation, unfair treatment, and the systematic extermination of Tibetan culture. In fact, based on Tibet ALONE, China would be among the worst offenders of human rights since WWII.
China has always insisted that they have "liberated" the Tibetans. Seriously? This liberation must have been news to the Tibetans in the 50s. And judging by the periodic uprisings against China, I don't think the Tibetans took too kindly to the liberation. The Tibetan people have made this point abundantly clear : "We don't want you here and you really have no business being here". Tibet has a different culture, ethnic identity, and history from China. Add that to Beijing's hardline stance against Tibetan cultural expression and you can see why lingering, and multi-generational, resentment exists against the Chinese.
China does similar things in the Xinjiang province to tribal Muslims. During Ramadan, Chinese authorities stuff food down their throats as they try to fast in accordance with the tenets of their religion. That's plain disgusting. I know the PRC doesn't sanction religion, but is it really necessary to do something like that? It reeks of ethnic discrimination, in my opinion.
What's worse is that the West just sits there and takes China's blatant disregard for human rights. No-one has the balls to call out China because they have their hands in the economic pot, and are afraid China will slap their wrists if they speak out. The US, in particular, has been largely silent because China for the last 5 years has basically propped up the American economy. Bush's deficit spending has indirectly led to Chinese control of many American financial instruments. In other words, they have our government by the balls. In part, that's why I really admire Nancy Pelosi for visiting the Dalai Lama and speaking out against China. For once, consideration for human rights trumps politics.
When you consider the net effect of China's transgressions (in the modern era, no less), it's really a shame that China was awarded the Olympics. In many ways, the actions of the Chinese government are anathema to the spirit of the Olympics. China may be moving towards vaulting past America and Europe in economic terms, but they are still mired with Burma and Zimbabwe amongst the world's most egregious offenders of human rights.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
New York
On a better note, I just got back from New York. NYC was amazing, to put it plainly. This was my first time there since 1993. I should have gone there in 2003 for my senior year trip, but my classmates went white water river rafting in West Virginia instead(yeah, they're from Southern Indiana, please forgive them. If it counts for anything, I didn't go to WV in protest). There's such a vitality in New York. Everything from the hustle-and-bustle of Times Square to the hipness of Soho to the overwhelming diversity everywhere you go, it all had a profound effect on me.
I went to New York expecting people to be jerks. I was pleasantly surprised to find, on the whole, that people were pretty gracious and outgoing. I struck up random conversations with lots of people everywhere I went. Sure, they aren't as nauseatingly nice as Hoosiers, but that's fine by me. Perhaps East Coast elitism is a bit overexaggerated (except for people from Boston)...
One thing I must especially commend New York on: the public transportation is spectacular. Although it is a little on the dirty side, I never waited more than 10 minutes for my train or bus. It runs like clockwork and it's 24/7. In addition, you can use your ATM card to add value to the Metrocard. Take notes, CTA...
Sure, the cost of living is astronomical, but I understand why everyone wishes they were a New Yorker. It's certainly a special place.
Bush's confident ignorance
I think this op-ed better expresses than I can my feelings on Bush's perplexingly upbeat attitude regarding the direction America is headed: (New York Times "Soft Shoe in Hard Times" Maureen Dowd).
Everyone here is flummoxed about why the president is in such a fine mood.
The dollar’s crumpling, the recession’s thundering, the Dow’s bungee-jumping and the world’s disapproving, yet George Bush has turned into Gene Kelly, tap dancing and singing in a one-man review called “The Most Happy Fella.”
“I’m coming to you as an optimistic fellow,” he told the Economic Club of New York on Friday. His manner — chortling and joshing — was in odd juxtaposition to the Fed’s bailing out the imploding Bear Stearns and his own acknowledgment that “our economy obviously is going through a tough time,” that gas prices are spiking, and that folks “are concerned about making their bills.”
He began by laughingly calling the latest news on the economic meltdown “a interesting moment” and ended by saying that “our energy policy has not been very wise” and that there was “no quick fix” on gasp-inducing gas prices.
“You know, I guess the best way to describe government policy is like a person trying to drive a car in a rough patch,” he said. “If you ever get stuck in a situation like that, you know full well it’s important not to overcorrect, because when you overcorrect you end up in the ditch.”
Dude, you’re already in the ditch.
Boy George crashed the family station wagon into the globe and now the global economy. Yet the more terrified Americans get, the more bizarrely carefree he seems. The former oilman reacted with cocky ignorance a couple of weeks ago when a reporter informed him that gas was barreling toward $4 a gallon.
In on-the-record sessions with reporters — and more candid off-the-record ones — he has seemed goofily happy in recent weeks, prickly no more but strangely liberated and ebullient.
Even though he ordinarily hates being kept waiting, he made light of it while cooling his heels for John McCain, and did a soft shoe for the White House press. Wearing a cowboy hat, he warbled a comic Western ditty at the Gridiron Dinner a week ago — alluding to Scooter Libby’s conviction, Saudis getting richer from our oil-guzzling, Brownie’s dismal Katrina performance, and Dick Cheney’s winsome habit of withholding documents.
At a dinner on Wednesday, the man who is persona non grata on the campaign trail (except for closed fund-raisers) told morose Republican members of Congress that he was totally confident that “we can retake the House” and “hold the White House.”
“I think 2008 is going to be a fabulous year for the Republican Party!” he said, sounding like Rachael Ray sprinkling paprika on goulash. That must have been news to House Republicans, who have no money, just lost the seat held by their former speaker, and are hemorrhaging incumbents as they head into a campaign marked by an incipient recession and an unpopular war.
If only they could see things as the president does. Bush, who used his family connections to avoid Vietnam, told troops serving in Afghanistan on Thursday that he is “a little envious” of their adventure there, saying it was “in some ways romantic.”
Afghanistan is still roiling, as is Iraq, but W. is serene. “Removing Saddam Hussein was the right decision early in my presidency, it is the right decision now, and it will be the right decision ever,” he said, echoing that great American philosopher Dan Quayle, who once told Samoans, “Happy campers you are, happy campers you have been and, as far as I am concerned, happy campers you will always be.”
W. bragged to Republicans about his “considered judgment” in sending more troops to Iraq and again presented himself as an untroubled instrument of divine will. “I believe there’s an Almighty,” he said, “and I believe a gift of that Almighty to every man, woman and child is freedom.”
Although the president belittled the Democrats for their policy of “retreat,” his surge has been a temporary and expensive place-holder for what Americans want: a policy to get us out of Iraq.
“Has it allowed us to reduce troop levels to below where they were when it started?” Michael Kinsley wrote recently. “The answer is no.” Gen. David Petraeus told The Washington Post last week that no one in the U.S. and Iraqi governments “feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation.”
Maybe the president is just putting on a good face to keep up American morale, the way Herbert Hoover did after the crash of ’29, when he continued to dress in a tuxedo for dinner.
Or maybe the old Andover cheerleader really believes his own cheers, and that prosperity will turn up any time now, just like the W.M.D. in Iraq.
Or perhaps it’s a Freudian trip. Now that he’s mucked up the world and the country, he can finally stop rebelling against his dad and relax in the certainty that the Bush name will forever be associated with crash-and-burn presidencies.
Whatever the explanation, it’s plumb loco.
Everyone here is flummoxed about why the president is in such a fine mood.
The dollar’s crumpling, the recession’s thundering, the Dow’s bungee-jumping and the world’s disapproving, yet George Bush has turned into Gene Kelly, tap dancing and singing in a one-man review called “The Most Happy Fella.”
“I’m coming to you as an optimistic fellow,” he told the Economic Club of New York on Friday. His manner — chortling and joshing — was in odd juxtaposition to the Fed’s bailing out the imploding Bear Stearns and his own acknowledgment that “our economy obviously is going through a tough time,” that gas prices are spiking, and that folks “are concerned about making their bills.”
He began by laughingly calling the latest news on the economic meltdown “a interesting moment” and ended by saying that “our energy policy has not been very wise” and that there was “no quick fix” on gasp-inducing gas prices.
“You know, I guess the best way to describe government policy is like a person trying to drive a car in a rough patch,” he said. “If you ever get stuck in a situation like that, you know full well it’s important not to overcorrect, because when you overcorrect you end up in the ditch.”
Dude, you’re already in the ditch.
Boy George crashed the family station wagon into the globe and now the global economy. Yet the more terrified Americans get, the more bizarrely carefree he seems. The former oilman reacted with cocky ignorance a couple of weeks ago when a reporter informed him that gas was barreling toward $4 a gallon.
In on-the-record sessions with reporters — and more candid off-the-record ones — he has seemed goofily happy in recent weeks, prickly no more but strangely liberated and ebullient.
Even though he ordinarily hates being kept waiting, he made light of it while cooling his heels for John McCain, and did a soft shoe for the White House press. Wearing a cowboy hat, he warbled a comic Western ditty at the Gridiron Dinner a week ago — alluding to Scooter Libby’s conviction, Saudis getting richer from our oil-guzzling, Brownie’s dismal Katrina performance, and Dick Cheney’s winsome habit of withholding documents.
At a dinner on Wednesday, the man who is persona non grata on the campaign trail (except for closed fund-raisers) told morose Republican members of Congress that he was totally confident that “we can retake the House” and “hold the White House.”
“I think 2008 is going to be a fabulous year for the Republican Party!” he said, sounding like Rachael Ray sprinkling paprika on goulash. That must have been news to House Republicans, who have no money, just lost the seat held by their former speaker, and are hemorrhaging incumbents as they head into a campaign marked by an incipient recession and an unpopular war.
If only they could see things as the president does. Bush, who used his family connections to avoid Vietnam, told troops serving in Afghanistan on Thursday that he is “a little envious” of their adventure there, saying it was “in some ways romantic.”
Afghanistan is still roiling, as is Iraq, but W. is serene. “Removing Saddam Hussein was the right decision early in my presidency, it is the right decision now, and it will be the right decision ever,” he said, echoing that great American philosopher Dan Quayle, who once told Samoans, “Happy campers you are, happy campers you have been and, as far as I am concerned, happy campers you will always be.”
W. bragged to Republicans about his “considered judgment” in sending more troops to Iraq and again presented himself as an untroubled instrument of divine will. “I believe there’s an Almighty,” he said, “and I believe a gift of that Almighty to every man, woman and child is freedom.”
Although the president belittled the Democrats for their policy of “retreat,” his surge has been a temporary and expensive place-holder for what Americans want: a policy to get us out of Iraq.
“Has it allowed us to reduce troop levels to below where they were when it started?” Michael Kinsley wrote recently. “The answer is no.” Gen. David Petraeus told The Washington Post last week that no one in the U.S. and Iraqi governments “feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation.”
Maybe the president is just putting on a good face to keep up American morale, the way Herbert Hoover did after the crash of ’29, when he continued to dress in a tuxedo for dinner.
Or maybe the old Andover cheerleader really believes his own cheers, and that prosperity will turn up any time now, just like the W.M.D. in Iraq.
Or perhaps it’s a Freudian trip. Now that he’s mucked up the world and the country, he can finally stop rebelling against his dad and relax in the certainty that the Bush name will forever be associated with crash-and-burn presidencies.
Whatever the explanation, it’s plumb loco.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Just when you left her for dead...
I have to give props to Hillary Clinton: she's one resilient son of a bitch (yes, I know SOB doesn't apply to a woman, but you get what i mean by the expression). Apportioning delegates based on percentage of the vote is democratic, but a long and protracted struggle is now....becoming longer and more protracted. Meanwhile, John McCain is cackling in the corner and letting Hillary and Barack duke it out. John McCain can just sit back, fundraise, and ,most importantly, campaign for the presidency. Hillary and Barack are still campaigning for the nomination. You can immediately see the problem with this scenario for the Democrats.
A lot of my friends thought Hillary was done BEFORE the March 4th primaries. Although Barack capturing the lead in the delegates was huge, I didn't think Hillary would be done if she split Texas and Ohio. In addition, I didn't expect her to lose Ohio despite Obama's substantial gains. The demographics just overwhelmingly favor Hillary; trust me, I've lived in the heart of blue-collar Ohio in Cleveland for years.
In all honesty, I don't hate Hillary Clinton. I just favor Barack Obama. I think either candidate is better than John McCain when all is said and done. Actually, I don't doubt that Hillary can beat John McCain in a general election. But there is so much anti-Hillary sentiment with Republicans that I don't foresee her being successful with regards to any of her proposals. In contrast, Obama, in part due to his neophyte status, has a better chance of pushing through liberal legislation. There's no irrational vendetta against the guy like there is with Hillary. Is it fair? Of course not. In fact, I think most Republicans don't really know why they hate Hillary so much in the first place.
So we march on with neither candidate capable of a knockout blow. All I know is that I'm getting tired of this battle ("the most tired I've ever been" sic Troy Douglas Appel); someone please win already.
As an addendum, doesn't that pic just scream early 70s to you? What happened to Hillary? She went from a hippie wannabe to the most dedicated Lane Bryant pantsuits wearer ever.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
A Judd Apatow weekend
Well, just one more week until New York. I'm so stoked; I can't wait. The Met, Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Central Park...
The only problem is that a lot of work has to be done before I take my week off. Two experiments, immuno work, and loads of analysis are coming up. Yay. When I got back home Saturday and Sunday from work, I watched "Knocked Up" and "40 year old virgin" for the umpteenth time. I remember watching "freaks and geeks" back in the day and I can't believe how much the Judd Apatow comedic brand has expanded from those meager beginnings. This man couldn't even get a show to stay on the air for more than a season just a few years ago. Now he's the undisputed king of the hill.
I hope he directs another film soon. Enough of this producing shit already.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
