Occupy This Blog

From my FB status this AM:

the occupy movement is a good idea in theory, It's annoying that my marginal tax rate is higher than some making more money than they know what to do with, It's annoying that tax loop holes exist that allow corporations that make a pile of money here to not be taxed here, I'ts annoying that some pay absolutely nothing to the cause, but trying to get the rich to throw in more of their money to the cause by sitting around a park like a bunch of hobos looking for a handout is like trying to explain how terrible McDonald's is while plowing through a McRibb

I kind of want to expand on this rant a bit.  It is no secret that the tax code/structure in this country is totally f'd.  I see three big problems as I stated simplistically above: Multi-billion dollar corporations make a killing in the US w/o paying a dime in taxes due to loop holes.  Proportionally, folks making lifetimes worth of money don't pay near what I pay, the famous example: Warren Buffet says he has a lower marginal tax rate than his house keeper.  And finally there is a large percentage of people who pay nothing, or virtually nothing, into the system.  Among other things, all of these things need to be addressed to get our country's revenue stream back up to what it needs to be.  Spending has to come down no one disputes that, but revenue has GOT to come up as well.  It's business basics folks, cutting operating expenses is nice, but at some point revenue has to be adjusted up as well.  

Occupation folks... I'll say it.  You are not revolutionaries.  You are not visionaries.  You are not  representing the so called 1%.  What you guys are doing is ruining it for everyone and giving the whole process a bad name and bad image.  You spent too much time on Twitter following 'revoulutions' in other countries... to put that in perspective though those countries were at about a 3 and the people were trying to get them to a 5 as far as quality of life is concerned.  The US is probably at about a 7 on average... so hate to break it to you but as you sit in your camp on your iPhone no one feels too sorry for you.  Bumming around a park for weeks not working, not trying to find work, not contributing to a solution through action is only exacerbating the problem.  The rich feel like they already pay too much into entitlement programs and by turning yourselves into hobos in a park you are only angering them further.  Change in this arena is not going to happen through this kind of demonstration or protest.  It's bigger than this.  It is a fundamental flaw in our government as a whole where politicians in Washington are more concerned with covering their own ass and securing their own job for the next term that they honestly could care less about the people.  Face it, the Federal Government is now a business.  They are a real estate conglomerate (landlord) and we all pay them rent (taxes).  President is the CEO and the Congress is the Board of Directors.  They "represent" the shareholders, but in reality they want a payout for themselves and position next term.  Until this problem gets fixed and elected officials actually start acting like elected representatives of the people then nothing is going to change.  

This is the kind of change that SHOULD be the focus of protests etc. rather than the pity party that is taking place now.  A stand like that would really address the problem rather than a consequence of the problem.  

A rant I know... but as I've said before, the political process today really frustrates me and when I here interviews and read things from and about the 'Occupy' protests it angers me because I get the impression that many have no idea what they are even doing there or what they are even protesting.

Rant over...

Grammy's

So I watched the Grammy's last night after a several year ban on the program due to my disappointment with winners.  I was intrigued this year however because there were several performances that I thought would be very good, and let's face it it's all about the performances now, the occasional award is handed out merely to keep up appearances.  Several observations before I rant....

1. Bob Dylan.  You are a legend.  You were exceptionally great in your day, an inspiration, and an icon; but please stop.  That performance was painful to watch.  It's time to hang up the harmonica collect some lifetime achievement awards, swear at kids on your lawn, take naps, etc. etc. etc.
2. J-Lo and Marc Anthony... I'm really unsure if that was an actual fight or a scripted ruse, but it made me uncomfortable.
3. Dr. Dre is the amazing.  That CD will be pre-ordered on iTunes
4. Eminem... was awesome.

Okay, now that that is done, let me tell you why I hate the Grammy's and may never watch them again.  It's because they are stupid and no I'm not going to hate on Lady Antebellum, I actually kind of dig that song.  Arcade Fire.  Seriously?  Arcade Fire winning Album of the Year?  Now, virtually unheard of people upset folks all the time in the Grammy's so that's not the part that necessarily angers me, well it does, but that's not what angers me most.  Arcade Fire won Album of the Year, THE biggest award of the night for the BEST Album... of the Year.  What I don't understand however is how they can win the Best Album of the year, beating possibly my favorite album of all time Eminem's Recovery, but yet Arcade Fire didn't even win Best Alternative Music Album; that honor went to the Black Keys.  So you don't have to be a genius to see my confusion... Arcade Fire didn't even make the best Alternative Album... but yet they made the Best Overall Album?  I think the guys that run the BCS moonlight as the Grammy People in the off season.  That is the only plausible explanation.  You know who should be really pissed?  the Black Keys.  I mean hell they beat Arcade Fire head to head at their own game, I think they should claim Album of the Year.  Do I think Eminem should have won?  Absolutely.  But I wouldn't have necessarily been as disappointed in the people who run the award show if it would have went another way.  I just really don't see how you can justify a process that turns out results like this, that are so clearly outside the realm of rational.  Congrats... I probably won't watch in 2012, I'll just catch the performances on YouTube or DVR.

Midwest Airlines

In the twisted Tim Burton-esque merry-go-round that is the American airline industry I took another turn through crazy town when I was informed by the wonderful Midwest Airlines ticketing agent that they no longer offer standby as an option, but for $50 I could get a seat on a flight.  Wha??  So in an attempt to clarify I conjured up every ounce of sarcasim I could find at 8:30 in the morning, and weaved it into my bank examiner voice and said, "so... if I undersand you, I have a ticket for a flight at 3:00 today, and you're telling me that if there is an EMPTY seat on the 10:30 flight today, a seat that will remain empty when the plane leaves this airport, that I can't have it unless I pay $50?".... to which she responded "that is correct sir."  Hey airlines, how about you make money by doing some sound business, not by shaking your customers down Goodfellas style for a nickel here and a dime there.  I'm not expecting a hand out here, like free shipping or a discount, I just want logic.  I mean I though your baggage fees were assinine, but a $50 fee to sit in an empty seat, that takes the cake.

"We know you have a choice in travel.." Yes, yes I do and Midwest, you have now moved to the bottom of my choice list.

Grab Your Coffee... This May Get Long

Sports Illustrated writer and ESPN contributor Selena Roberts just penned a book A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez based on interviews, previews, leaked chapters, articles, hype, etc. the book paints a particularly unfaltering picture of the home run hitting Yankee.  I think the book is garbage.  First and foremost let me be clear, I'm not disputing the so called "facts" of the book, did he?, didn't he?  We already know he cheated for a time period, he admitted to that publicly.  Which is more than we can say for some other former players who have just as much "credible" evidence linking them to steroids.  My problems, and what I think is garbage is with the book in general, essentially I have a problem that this book was even written in the first place.

My biggest gripe is that the book was penned without the permission of A-Rod.  The man has a family, he has kids.  None of us are perfect (including Miss Roberts) and I would image that if we look back on our lives we will all find some transgressions that we are not particularly proud of.  Now imagine someone takes those, bundles them up in Microsoft Word and prints a book, now that book will be in every Barnes & Noble in America for your kids to read, your kids classmates to read.  It sickens me that people continue to profit off of someones trials and tribulations with complete and total disregard for how it may affect them and their families.  And she's touting this like she discovered Watergate.  Guess what he already admitted he cheated.  Move on.  How many times over the next year do you suppose his kids are going to have to deal with questions about their dad's b#%ch t$#s?  Kids can be cruel, so I'm guessing more than a few, but hey Miss Roberts is getting a lot of face time on the networks, ink in the press, and is sure to make a lot of money.  It's one thing to report the news, to report fact, but to fill a book chuck full of all a man's transgressions; which you got from "anonymous" sources, without his permission, and for all involved to peddle it for profit is a pretty cold thing to do.

As I mentioned, I've heard over and over about one of the biggest question marks and another of my big problems with the book is her use of "anonymous sources".  According to numerous reports the book is littered with these so called "anonymous sources" aka "I could have just made this up" or "This came directly from A-Rod himself", you don't know, because they were all anonymous, there is absolutely zero way to filter out and discern fact from fiction because you have no idea where this information is coming from.  The entire process has to be questioned.  Add to this the fact that Miss Roberts was one of the leaders of the pitchfork mob after the heads of the Duke lacrosse players and you really have to question the "sources" she uses and how she gets her information, as I recall from Googling articles, her and her sources were certain that these men were guilty; and we all know how that one turned out.  Read the following Jason Whitlock article for a pretty good discussion on this:

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/columnists/jason_whitlock/story/1175681.html

Because bottom line if someone knows they will be be veiled as "anonymous" I suspect that they may speculate a little bit more on what they know, saw, or thought they saw; their recollection of certain situations may be as clear as day, but tell that same person that their good name will be attached to ALL statements and they may not be as sure about what they saw, or remember.  In my opinion if they aren't sure enough and secure enough in what they are saying to sign their name to it, otherwise it should not be presented and touted as fact.

I guess this is part of a bigger frustration I have that sees millions being made on America's out of control voyeuristic obsession with so called "celebrities."  US Weekly sells millions of issues a week, just so we can look at pictures of these people, pictures.  I mean they have an entire section of pictures of celebs doing normal things "Brad Pitt picking up his dry cleaning" "Lauren Conrad drinking Starbucks" it's insanity.  At the end of the day what is it all for:  

Does it matter the exact dates he used steroids?  Does it really matter?  Is it going to change anything?  I believe the answer to all questions is a resounding NO.  He admitted that he cheated.  Let's move on.  If you really want a guaranteed clean up to the game, test players before every game.  Two strikes and your out.  First time, year long suspension.  Second time, lifetime ban.  I would bet that that would clean up the game in a NY minute.  If they knew that their meal ticket steak could be cooked and doused with A1 and that they had to pee in a cup almost daily no one would try.  But they won't ever do that, because no one is really that serious about cleaning up the game, not the players, not the owners, no one.  To them a little bit of controversy is good for the game, it keeps them relevant November through April, it's almost like to them the proverbial "black eye" is worth it.  Baseball needs another smooth hitting "white knight" to restore purity to the game.  Mr. Pujols better watch out, because now that A-Rod has been knocked off the pedestal I suspect your turn under the microscope is rapidly approaching.

Rant...News Ruined my Television Shows

Okay so let's get the embarrassing part of this post out of the way, I watch Grey's Anatomy. I said it there it is, lets move on to the rant.

First off I generally make it a point to avoid watching the news, in part because no mater where you watch it it is biased one way or the other, but mainly because it is nearly all negative and frankly down right depressing. Here's a typical news cast: crime, darwin, weather, crisis, crime, crisis, sports, crisis, weather, darwin, crime, crisis, weather. Weather in Chicago is terrible 75% of the year and my favorite teams are generally on the low end of the talent pool so even weather and sports offer me no sanctuary. But in an attempt to keep up since I've been on the road so much for work I began watching the news the last two weeks. And just yesterday for the second time in as many weeks, the plot line on one of my favorite shows was revealed thus ruining it for me. The first was last week's Kutner plot line on House, the second and most recent was the plot line to be incorporated into the season finale of Grey's Anatomy. I won't post it here and ruin it for you but I am now left knowing and will have no surprise at the ending. Frankly, it sucks. I will take some responsibility for the House one, because in fairness I DVR'd it and the news report was on the day after the episode aired. But still at the end of the day there was a hostage situation in the year 2009 A.D. involving PIRATES they were reporting on Kumar going to White Castle, I mean the White House.

There are Jack Sparrow wannabes out there cruising the 7 seas and they report on TV show plot lines. Texas is trying stir the pot by throwing around the idea of exiting the union and they interview a canine expert to assess the Obama's choice of first dog. Utter insanity people, it's like the whole news media conglomerate is on Crazy Pills.