Sunday, September 30, 2012

Obama 48.7%, Romney 44.6%

Real Clear Politics on Sunday evening

Good Night

Ohio Poll - Obama 51%, Romney 42%

Ohio would be the clincher for Obama. Ohio is an early voting state as well, meaning that people will be sending in ballets even before the debates begin on Wednesday.

The Columbus Dispatch: Dispatch Poll: Obama widens lead as balloting starts

The Collaborative Economy

CS Monitor: Rent or own? The new sharing economy values access over ownership

Christie - 'Poll Truthers' FOS

Iowa Moving Towards Obama

Politico: DMR poll: Obama 49, Romney 45

'Life Of Pi'

trailer

Obama 48.9%, Romney 44.6%

Real Clear Politics on Sunday morning

Have A Good Morning

Miro

The Onion - Netanyahu Feeling Like Trip To US To Start World War III Went Pretty Well

The Onion: Netanyahu Feeling Like Trip To US To Start World War III Went Pretty Well

Al Jazeera - Italy Opens First Ever Gelato Museum

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - Urgency At The U.N. Summit

Pacific islands are now disappearing, deaths from global warming are increasing, and to top it off economic powerhouse countries like China, India, Brazil, and South Africa are growing faster and also increasing their carbon dioxide emissions. The formula for an unmitigated disaster is in place.

The Star.com: Red flags at the UN summit about global warming
The South Pacific archipelago state of Kiribati has now seen some of its islands vanish beneath the waves. It’s a portent of worse to come.
Canadians rank second last of 17 countries surveyed for sustainable behaviour in a study by GlobeScan and the National Geographic Society. That’s not even pale green. Americans rated lowest.
Meanwhile, China may one day overtake America as the world’s leading polluter, with a population of 1.3 billion. The growth of other emerging countries including India, Brazil and South Africa, while positive, may compound the global warming problem.

The 'Skewed Poll' Conspiracy Theory

Amazingly even FOX News is part of the conspiracy. The latest FOX News polls has Obama winning by 5 points.

AlterNet: Why Right-Wingers Need ‘Skewed Polls’ Conspiracy Theory for Romney to Win -- And Even More If He Loses

'Sunny'

Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Good Night

Obama 48.9%, Romney 44.6%

Real Clear Politics on Saturday evening, and I might add that this is the biggest RCP lead for Obama that I've seen in recent weeks.

How To Create A Podcast

'MIT Architecture'

MIT Architecture from Paper Fortress on Vimeo.

Maddow - GOP Anti-Abortion, Forced Ultrasound

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Chris Hayes - The Republican Bubble Trap

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

CBS News - Momentum With Obama


Curious Statement From Ann Romney

Not only can Mitt put his foot in his mouth, so can Ann (um, her own foot not Mitt's). This is not a winning statement so to speak as she fears for Mitt's mental well being if he's elected. One almost gets the sense that she doesn't want any part of the job and this is a good old fashioned Freudian slip, an unconscious wish creeping out sideways so to speak. And yes I do admit that this is stupid armchair Saturday morning psychoanalysis. Still it is a curious statement.

Reuters: Ann Romney: biggest fear is for Mitt's "mental well-being"

Obama 48.7%, Romney 44.6%

Real Clear Politics on Saturday morning

Have A Good Morning

work by Simon Starling

The Onion - The Week In Review

Al Jazeera - French Budget Boosts Taxes On Rich

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - Human Activity Is The Primary Cause

Union Of Concerned Scientists: Human Fingerprints

The Big Boss

AlterNet: Is Karl Rove Losing It?

'Django Tribute'

Birelli Lagrene and company


Friday, September 28, 2012

Good Night

work by Susan R. Hall

Obama 48.7%, Romney 44.6%

Real Clear Politics on Friday evening. Right leaning Gallup has Obama up by 6%, and even Rasmussen has Obama up by 1%.

Only On FOX

Guardian UK: Fox News carries live video of man shooting himself after car chase

The Larger Romney Benefit

Guardian UK: Romney's failing campaign hurting Republicans in congressional races

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 13,437.13 dropping 48.84 points. CNN: Stocks end strong quarter on a weak note

Hardball - Poll 'Truthers'

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Daily Show - Starved By The Bell

TRNN - Black Financial And Fraud Report


More at The Real News

DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 13,422.96 down 63.01 points. CNN: Stocks fall on scary manufacturing data

Master Debater

Salon: 10 Reasons Why Mitt Romney’s Debate Prospects are in Trouble

Obama 48.6%, Romney 44.6%

Real Clear Politics on Friday morning.

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - Insurance Company Celebrates 50 Billionth Fucking Over Of Customer

The Onion: Insurance Company Celebrates 50 Billionth Fucking Over Of Customer

Al Jazeera - 'Earlier' Versions Of Mona Lisa Causes Debate

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - Killing Heat

The Daily Beast: Climate Change Kills 400,000 a Year, New Report Reveals

Strangling Democracy

AlterNet: Bill Moyers Exposes the Stranglehold the Corporate & Right-Wing Alliance Has on Our Democracy

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 48 degrees and raining here in Upstate NY. I got a little soggy during my early morning walk, umbrella in hand. Some trees are already completely without leaves, while others still maintain their Summer-like green. There's a very curious article on CNN about how Romney's handlers are already trying to diminish expectations for Romney's performance during the upcoming first debate. This is a common thread with the Romney campaign where his handlers go about the business of pre-emptively and post-emptively cleaning up Mitt's inexactitudes. Obama is a very skilled debater and I fully expect him to gain the upper hand easily. I may even watch the thing live fully expecting to squirm more than I would during a top rated horror film.

  At 8:20 a.m. futures are moderately lower, the dollar is mostly up against major world currencies, and the price of oil is ever so slightly higher per barrel. The market is poised to open lower.

  Not much of a change here from yesterday's and many previous days' reflection on the state of the investment world. Spain is repeatedly in focus and that country's economic crisis remains in the investment headlines. Allegedly more data will be coming through the pipes which will give more detailed understanding of how money is not flowing in Spain.

  Notice that my favorite data, consumer confidence, is on tap. I still find the term to be something of a car wreck meets the objectively cold calculations of accountants. Are you confident in your consumption Mr. Consumer.

CNN: Stocks: Spain in focus
Spanish banks will receive auditors' results of stress tests, which will give investors a clearer view of the area's economic struggles.
...Chinese investors continued to rally on the central bank's record injection of liquidity into money markets.
Investors were awaiting data on personal spending, manufacturing and consumer confidence.

'Cult Of Personality'

Living Colour

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Good Night

Obama 48.6%, Romney 44.6%

Real Clear Politics on Thursday evening.

Anti-Muslim Film Maker Arrested

AFP: Alleged anti-Muslim film maker arrested: prosecutor

Ancient Stream Bed On Mars

CBS News: Mars rover Curiosity finds ancient stream bed

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 13,485.97 gaining 72.46 points. CNN: Where Americans spend their money

Jim Graves

Jim Graves is running against Michele Bachmann. Consider giving his campaign a listen or even a donation. Right now the election is neck and neck.

Jim Graves

'Detachment'

trailer

The Daily Show - Sudden Wealth Syndrome

TRNN - Spanish Police Crack Down On Protesters Surrounding The Parliament


More at The Real News

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 13,479.59 up 66.08 points.

CNN: Jobless claims fell to lowest level since July
...359,000...

Maddow - Romney's Lies

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Obama 48.9%, Romney 44.9%

Real Clear Politics on Thursday morning

Have A Good Morning


The Onion - Gallup Poll: Rural Whites Prefer Ahmadinejad To Obama

The Onion: Gallup Poll: Rural Whites Prefer Ahmadinejad To Obama

Al Jazeera - New Wave Of Greek Protest Turns Violent

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - Wrecking The World Economy

And herein lies the answer for real action on global warming. That would be when it is firmly recognized by the elite powers that be that global warming is cutting into their profits.

Business Recorder: Global warming freezes world economy: report

Let Me Count The Ways

AlterNet: 6 Ways Mitt Romney's Getting His Butt Kicked
3. People Don't Like Mitt Romney

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 55 degrees with dark clouds here in Upstate NY. Saw the chiropractor yesterday and got readjusted as they say. Now if he could only readjust this old brain, wouldn't that be great! I see that Obama is allegedly opening up a little bit of a lead over Romney in Ohio and Florida. Why is it that every election boils down to how people vote in Ohio and Florida. There's something about the hopeless entrenchment of red versus blue that is horribly inadequate.

  At 8:10 a.m. futures are modestly higher, the dollar is mostly down against major world currencies, and the price of oil is up per barrel. The market is poised to open higher.

  Investors are pleased with what appears to be something similar to quantitative easing occurring in China to stimulate that country's slightly contracting economy. Simultaneously the crap is really hitting the fan in the eurozone as massive protests continue over austerity measures in Greece and Spain. As we have said before, this is the economic diet for the unforeseen future. At some point the news will drift away from the eurozone economic crisis but not for a long time.

CNN: Stocks look for boost from Asia
The People's Bank of China has injected a net ¥365 billion ($58 billion) into money markets this week...
...yields on 10-year Spanish bonds shot up to 6.06% Wednesday after the leader of Catalonia called for early elections...
...report on durable goods orders...
...report on pending home sales...

'The Words That Maketh Murder'

PJ Harvey

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Obama Up In Ohio And Florida

NYT: Polls Show Obama Is Widening His Lead in Ohio and Florida

Good Night

Obama 48.9%, Romney $44.9Mill

Real Clear Politics on Wednesday evening.

Gallup has Obama with a 6% lead over Romney. Rasmussen has it tied!

'Burning Man 2012'

THE FIRE & THE ASH / BURNING MAN 2012 from Aaron Freeder on Vimeo.

Tragedy In NYC

Guardian UK: Homeless children in shelters on the rise in NYC but many are turned away
...the number of children in shelters would be even higher were it not for the fact that 65% of homeless families seeking admission to shelters are being turned away.

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 13,413.51 dropping 44.04 points.

CNN: Nearly one-in-five households have student loans

The Daily Show - Every Which Way But Lucid

Romney Ridiculed For Telling The Truth

Here we have Romney admitting that Obama did not raise taxes in the last four years and that of course is trouble. Now what does this say. The GOTP has of course been lying its fool head off since day one about Obama's administration and now their presidential candidate commits a "gaffe" by telling the truth! He went off his lying talking points!

Okay I am slightly revising my original prediction that Romney wins it in November. He could still win of course, America has no conscience about voting against its best interests, this has been shown time and time again. But now if he does win it will be while Obama holds a one point lead at the time of the election.

ABC News: Romney: Obama ‘Did Not’ Raise Taxes
Behind him, Ryan appeared to wince at the mention.

'Stench' Versus 'Gilligan'

Name-calling begins as reported rift opens between ‘Stench’ Romney and ‘Gilligan’ Ryan (via Raw Story )

Vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) has apparently “gone rogue” and is now openly mocking his running mate, former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) in front of reporters and staff. Ryan has gone so far as to nickname Romney “The Stench,” and top brass at the Romney campaign have taken to…

TRNN - UK's Poorest Families Hit Hardest By Recession And Austerity


More at The Real News

DOW Flat At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 13,456.86 down 0.69 points. CNN: Europe jitters weigh on stocks

Obama 48.7%, Romney $45.0 Mill

Real Clear Politics on Wednesday morning.

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - George W. Bush Returns To America After Spending 4 Years In The Himalayas

The Onion: George W. Bush Returns To America After Spending 4 Years In The Himalayas

Al Jazeera - Protesters Clash With Police In Spain

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - Slowing The World Economy

Times Live: Global warming slowing world economy 1.6% a year

The Parasitic Class

AlterNet: Romnesia: The Ability of the Very Rich to Forget the Context in Which They Made Their Money

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 57 degrees with dark clouds on the edge of raining here in Upstate NY. Shortly I will be getting neck and spinal bones cracked and pushed back into a better place - it's time to see the chiropractor. I am a fan of chiropractic medicine. I've been seeing this guy for several months and it seems to really be helping all kinds of "issues". Regarding Romney, how about this man's impertinence. He calls for a ban on political contributions from teacher's unions. You have just got to love it. When you clearly see a group a people that will not vote for you because you want to decimate their union, what do you do? Well you just dismiss them and establish laws that prevent them from expressing their rights as part of the voting electorate. Is this guy for real? This tape of him talking about dismissing half the population, clearly it has empowered Romney to not be secretive about anything. Of course the conservative chorus will be echoing this ridiculous sentiment all day long. Here's what I propose, if you are a conservative, move to a Red State and establish your own little country.

  At 7:30 a.m. futures are slightly lower, the dollar is mostly up against major world currencies, and the price of oil is down per barrel. The market is poised to open lower. Recall that on Tuesday the DOW plunged over 100 points.

  Investors are looking at footage of people going absolutely bonkers in Greece and Spain as the ugly imposition of austerity reaches the ordinary people and stirs intense disgust with their respective governments. Give Romney four years and you will see more of that here except it won't make it on national TV, it will only be known in the communities where it is occurring and to those willing to seek out that information.

  Essentially it's another day of fears over the messy and contracting world economy with China and the eurozone in focus.

CNN: Stocks plagued by 'nervousness'
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Greece in protest of new austerity measures. And, in Spain, anti-austerity protests in Madrid turned violent...
...China stocks continue to struggle on economic growth concerns.
...in the United States, reports are due on new home sales and mortgage applications.

'Isn't She Lovely'

Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Good Night

Obama 48.6%, Romney $44.8Mill

Real Clear Politics on Tuesday evening.

Disgraceful Impertinence From Romney

But it's fine for this guy to take massive donations from the likes of the Koch brothers. I see, it's billionaires only...

Raw Story: Romney suggests teachers unions should be prohibited from campaign donations

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 13,457.55 plunging 101.37 points.

CNN: Stocks slide to 2-week low

Indeed


'Il Progetto' Reviewed

My newest CD Il Progetto d'Amore got its first review from Franz at Vital Weekly in The Netherlands. Vital Weekly is a staple for new music in the world. The review was positive and he included me in his podcast. -
JIM SANDE – IL PROGRETTO D’AMORE (CDR by Labile Music) New music by guitarist Jim Sande, following ‘Particle’ (see Vital Weekly 519) and ‘Harvest Bell Ride’ (see Vital Weekly 724), and a return to his own (?) label Labile Music. The cover gives Sande credit for acoustic guitar, and I am sure that’s what we have here, but perhaps also a bit more? Maybe there are a few looping devices at work here? Well, perhaps not. I wouldn’t know, as I never managed to play guitar in any way. It seems however, compared with his previous works, that ‘the other’ instruments are no longer used here, no more piano, bass, clarinet, oboe or vibraphone. The production is still a bit slick, but it’s just one instrument. Nine pieces, almost thirty minutes of music, and the mood is still joyful, melancholic, moody, and happy: the whole spectrum of moods are captured in these fine tunes. It still has that cinematic quality, but perhaps it’s a bit more upfront, too demanding to work as a film score, but aspiring film directors should take this name down if they want a nice bit for their next film. Undemanding once again, but that’s of course no big deal. (FdW) Vital Weekly 849

Mars Rocks

Scientific American: Touchy-Feely: Curiosity Rover Prepares to Make First Contact with Mars Rock

Parasite Infected Bees

The Seattle Times: State's first case of 'zombie bees' reported in Kent

TRNN - Quadrillion Dollar Derivatives Market 20 Times Global GDP


More at The Real News

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 13,567.68 up 8.76 points. CNN: Stocks rise on housing data, consumer confidence

Obama 48.6%, Romney $44.9 Mill

Real Clear Politics on Tuesday morning

Have A Good Morning

The Onion - Romney Campaign Reboots For 72nd Consecutive Week

The Onion: Romney Campaign Reboots For 72nd Consecutive Week

Al Jazeera - Anger Over Afghan Girl's Flogging

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - Australia's Queenland Agriculture Under Threat


ABC News (Australia): Global warming threatens Qld agriculture sector: report

How Money Wins

AlterNet: Christian Right to the Rescue? How Clueless Romney Could Still Win

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is a crisp 47 degrees and it is sunny here in Upstate NY. We are on a course for Winter to arrive sometime next week! I swear it's getting cold a little too fast and by the way where is the alleged Indian Summer. Checking the morning numbers I see that Romney is right where he should be, down in the polls. Yes, we do not need Romney to come in and decimate the economy, enough of that for a while please. Dude wants to cut taxes on the rich, again, and that will stimulate the economy. Right, and just look at how effective that plan was under Bush 2. Still, the only lead over Romney that would set my mind at ease is something like 10 percentage points. That's a margin that would allow Obama to make his normal screw-ups and for Romney to take advantage of GOTP voter suppression techniques honed in 2000 and 2004.

  At 8:00 a.m. futures are modestly higher, the dollar is mostly up against major world currencies, and the price of oil is up per barrel. The market is poised to open in slightly higher territory. Investors and basically the rest of us are still contemplating the eurozone financial meltdown saga and the global market contraction. What can we say, every week we read of a new plan of action, a new promise, and a new initiative on solving Europe's crumble. With each new invention, the market percolates, and with each realization of inadequacy, the market flounders. So, in my mind the major lesson is the recognition again and again that index movement is a moment to moment reactive mega-event. Fundamentally the problem with that is all parties including all invested people around the world want soaring returns and then conflicting or colliding with the need for returns is the deep extensive need for some breathing space and retooling. Essentially there is no room in the above formula to move out of carbon based fuels, force feed renewable energy, and try to live with the already extensively elevated CO2 PPM that we have right now and that will continue to radically alter the globes temperatures and a uncountable number of events within the mechanism of our environment. Mega-global warming here we come.

CNN: Stocks: Choppy trading ahead
Worries about Europe's problems have caused the euro to keep sliding against the dollar, while the dollar has fallen versus the British pound and Japanese yen.
In the United States, investors awaited reports on home prices and consumer confidence.

'Night And Day'

Sylvain Luc and Florin Niculescu

Monday, September 24, 2012

Supremely

Vermin Supreme is running for President of the USA in 2012. If elected, he is promising a pony for all. Here he is pictured with his trademark boot on his head. Certainly the name is appropriate for the office...

Slip, Slip, Slipping Away

NYT: Why Romney Is Slipping

Good Night

Obama 48.6%, Romney $44.9 mill

Real Clear Politics on Monday evening

'Putty Boy Strut'

Flying Lotus - Putty Boy Strut (Until The Quiet Comes, new album out October 1st/2nd) from Warp Records on Vimeo.

Romney - Send Uninsured To The Emergency Room

Chomsky On GOP Candidates And Global Warming

This is a few months old but is still relevant. Chomsky's outrage is spot on.

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 13,558.92 dropping 20.55 points.

CNN: Global growth fears weigh on stocks

Reich's Latest

Robert Reich: What Mitt Romney Really Represents

New Respiratory Virus

BBC: New 'Sars-like' coronavirus identified by UK officials

TRNN - Will Obama, The Fed's QE3 Or Romney's 'Smaller Government' Create Jobs?


More at The Real News

DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 13,558.79 down 20.68 points.

CNN: Global growth fears weigh on stocks

Obama 48.4%, Romney 44.9%

Real Clear Politics politics on Monday morning.

Have A Good Morning

work by the outstanding Portia Munson

The Onion - 48 Syrian Civilians Massacred During Claire Danes’ Emmy Award Acceptance Speech

The Onion: 48 Syrian Civilians Massacred During Claire Danes’ Emmy Award Acceptance Speech

Al Jazeera - Afghanistan Recovering From Years Of Drought

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - CBS News Summation Article

CBS News: WHY IT MATTERS: Global warming

Obama's Hurdles

AlterNet: Obama Looks Strong: But World Events He Can't Control are Election Wild Card

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 41 degrees and semi cloudy here in Upstate NY. It's been chilly lately, no doubt about that. Actually the temperatures seem to be cooling down faster than usual. On a personal note, my new CD 'Il Progetto d'Amore' is now available globally - iTunes, and I'm happy about that. It's a complicated little collection of music that took me almost two years to make. On a different note, clearly if the same polling numbers and such that exist today were to somehow magically transform to one month from now, Obama would be the clear cut winner. I am not willing to bestow winner on the Obama campaign yet remembering all too well how GW Bush was victorious in 2000. At the time I was 100% positive that Gore would win, and I will never put my eggs in one basket so to speak ever again. Romney is not doing a whole lot to compel people to vote for him, yet he remains relatively close to Obama in projected polling points. Obama is a fine debater, and one suspects that he will at least hold his ground.

  At 7:30 a.m. futures are moderately down, the price of oil is down, and one might presume that the dollar is mostly down against major world currencies. Right now the market is poised to open lower.

  Investors are getting disappointing economic reports out of eurozone economic giant Germany. With Germany hitting the skids and the rest of the eurozone in tumble control, the overall health of the global economy is in serious question. We already know this but the new piece of info here is Germany's latest poor business climate index report.

  Curiously there is a sense that the US economy is maintaining it's stubbornly slow but steady recovery and it's not exactly moving towards recession. The rest of the world, now that's a different story and how the two shall interact is the question of the month and months to come.

CNN: Stocks weighed down by growth worries
... Germany's business climate index falling to its lowest level since February 2010.
...choppy days as worries about a global growth slowdown persist.

'Hungaria'

Django

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Good Night


MTP - 'We Are A Nation Of People Dependant On Their Government, And That Is What Barack Obama Gives Us.'

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Reuters - Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan Calls GOP Crazies

Paraphrasing - "The biggest threat to the world economy is the fact that the GOP has been hijacked by extremists."

William Kristol On FOX News - 'The Obama Team Has Turned (The Bush Financial Meltdown) Around Pretty Well'

William Kristol, neoconservative and editor of the Weekly Standard, states on FOX News no less - "...Bush was president during the financial meltdown, the Obama team has turned that around pretty well..." It is an admission that is virtually unheard of coming from the likes of a major FOX News talking head, someone that all other FOX News talking heads bow and defer to regularly. Kristol continues and talks about alleged 'weakness' in Obama's foreign policy as some sort of angle that Romney can capitalize on. Recall that Romney is being tutored by other Bush 2 era neoconservatives. These are the same people that forced a war in Iraq, and we know how well that worked out. No, in this clip Kristol is stumping for a return of the neocons to run American foreign policy using the same slash and burn, shock and awe mess except this time the object is Iran.

Obama 48.1%, Romney 44.8%

Real Clear Politics on Sunday morning. Once again if you factor out partisan Rasmussen and Gallup, Obama leads by 4% to 5%. Rasmussen and Gallup have it tied.

Have A Good Morning

work by Portia Munson

 

The Onion - Fearless Man Bravely Ventures Out Into U.S. Economy

The Onion: Fearless Man Bravely Ventures Out Into U.S. Economy

Al Jazeera - US Prisoners Work On Space Programme

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - MIT Study On Rainfall

India Times: Global warming to affect rainfall

Oil Rush

AlterNet: The North Dakota Oil Fracking Boom Creates Clash of Money and Devastation

SNL - Weekend Update

'Le Poinçonneur Des Lilas'

Angelo Debarre Quartet

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Good Night

Sexist Insults Women Face

Click the link and watch the film this young woman made while she simply walks the main streets in Brussels. 

Guardian UK: Belgium film on street harassment strikes a chord across Europe

Swing

Slate.com: Romney Falling Behind In Swing State Polls, Ground Game

AARP Repeatedly Boos Ryan For Vowing To Repeal ‘Obamacare’


The Daily Show - The Millionaire Gaffemaker - Mitt Romney's Bed Head

This is from Tuesday -

Il Progetto

I'm happy to announce the release of my new CD 'Il Progetto d'Amore'.

It's now available at CD Baby and soon iTunes and such.

Il Progetto

The Onion - 'What About That Whole Birth Certificate Thing?' Romney Suggests To Staff

The Onion: 'What About That Whole Birth Certificate Thing?' Romney Suggests To Staff

Al Jazeera - Climate Change Tops Chicago Priority List

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - The Hot Map

Global Hot Map:Global Warming Effects Around the World

Paul Ryan's District - Foreclosures, Plant Shutdowns, Increased Child Abuse, Increased Suicides, And That's Just A Start

AlterNet: Take a Look at What Paul Ryan Did to His Own Congressional District, and Be Very Scared for Your Country

'Light Through The Veins'

Jon Hopkins

Friday, September 21, 2012

Too Old To Party

CNN: Why Harvard MBAs overwhelmingly favor Obama
"...To many of these voters, the GOP really puts the Old in Grand Old Party. It's likely that this Party doesn't like to party. And boy, the Republican Party is super white. There's a cultural and generational gap."

DOW Closes Lower

The DOW closed at 13,579.47 dropping 17.46 points.

The Daily Show - Bill Clinton Extended Interview Pt. 1

TRNN - Is The Arizona Mexico Border A War Zone?


More at The Real News

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 13,622.47 up 25.54 points.

Romney's Imaginary Campaign

Nice summation article which helps to clarify the dissonance surrounding the election. Time.com: The Imaginary Campaign

Obama 48.3%, Romney 45.2%

Real Clear Politics on Friday morning

Have A Good Morning

The outstanding work of Portia Munson

The design is composed of real flowers.

The Onion - Romney Still In Hot Water After Reading GOP Platform Verbatim

The Onion: Romney Still In Hot Water After Reading GOP Platform Verbatim

Al Jazeera - Niger Sees Progress In Child Mortality Fight

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - Arctic Ice

Live Science: When Will Arctic Ice Completely Disappear?

Think NeoCon

AlterNet: 9 Wall Street Journal Op-ed Writers Who Weren't Disclosed As Romney Advisers
 Good morning. It is 53 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. I am working through a bit of a cold, so I've got that sniffly, sore throaty type of feeling. I was shaking a lot of hands last Sunday and I suspect that's where I picked it up. Many have seen the photo of Romney with a heavy spray on tan speaking before a crowd of Latin American people. It's a funny idea for a photoshop comment, and I think that's what it is at least I sure hope so. Romney seems to 'adjust' with the meme of the day and this photo hits that point. All in all it needs to be noted that Romney's campaign people seem to be not quite as sharp and professional as Obama's. I think the American people deserve a little bit better from the GOTP. Perhaps Romney is trying to impress that he is a regular type of guy, unfortunately his leaked tape has squashed that impression.

  At 8:00 a.m. futures are modestly higher, the dollar is down against major world currencies, and the price of oil is higher per barrel. The market is poised to open higher.

  Investors are marveling at the new Apple iPhone 5. Man I wish I bought shares of Apple back when it was below $100 per share in the pit of the recession. Everybody does. Well for the people that did, kudos to you, nice investment.

  Otherwise the week has been ripe with major concerns about the quality of the global economy. The enormity of that issue is daunting. We suspect that the global economy will continue to be the focus for the upcoming period. On the other hand with recent reports on a slightly strengthening US housing market, the US recovery continues in a modestly positive direction, very modest.

CNN: Stocks: 3rd week of gains on the line
...World Trade Organization economists scaled back their forecasts for world trade expansion, though recent moves by central banks around the world to take action was cheered.
Apple's iPhone 5 goes on sale in U.S. stores Friday and is almost sure to be the company's best seller yet.

'The Modern World'

The Modern Lovers



Thursday, September 20, 2012

Obama 48.3%, Romney 45.2%

Real Clear Politics on Thursday evening. Remarkably even Rasmussen has Obama up by 2 points, Gallup on the other hand has it tied.

Good Night

Limbaugh On Male Sexuality

Psychologists - be my guest, have a field day with the shrinking Limbaugh.

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 13,596.93 gaining 18.97 points.

Obama 48%, Romney 43%

Reuters: Obama solidifies lead over Romney, ahead by five points: Reuters/Ipsos poll

In Or Out?

The Nation: Does Mitt Romney Even Want to Be President?

Democracy Now - Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Daily Show - Chaos On Bulls**t Mountain

The Daily Show - Chaos On Bulls**t Mountain - The Entitlement Society

TRNN - Netanyahu Inserts Himself In US Elections As Adelson Stands To Reap Millions If Romney Wins


More at The Real News

DOW Lower At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 13,569.25 down 8.71 points.

CNN: Mortgage rates at record low again

382,000

From CNN:
First-time unemployment claims fall by 3,000 to 382,000 in latest week, U.S. government says.

Obama 48.2%, Romney 45.3%

Real Clear Politics on Thursday morning. Note that conservative biased Rasmussen has Romney leading in the polls, the only pollster to do so. One might consider the possibility that Rasmussen's polling helps to make something like RCP's average appear tighter between the candidates than the race actually might be. A tighter race could possibly convince unwitting people that Romney really is viable.

Have A Good Morning

work by George Grosz

The Onion - Now That My Campaign Is Over, I'd Like To Talk To You All About The Church Of Latter-Day Saints

The Onion: Now That My Campaign Is Over, I'd Like To Talk To You All About The Church Of Latter-Day Saints

Al Jazeera - Down In Polls, Romney Steps Up Campaign

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming - The Disappearing Arctic Ice

The Vancouver Sun: Summer takes unprecedented toll on Arctic ice, prompting global warming fears

Romney's Race-Baiting And Bigotry

Fact one - race-baiting and bigotry is central to Romney's leak message. It could not be clearer.

AlterNet: 5 Ways Mitt Romney Has Stirred Up Race Resentment

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 43 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. Rather chilly out there this morning during my early hours walk. I had on the sweater, the fleece jacket, and the hat, shorts no longer seem like a choice option. The first day of Fall occurs on Saturday, keep that in mind. The Romney fallout continues. Meeting with some friends last night, the discussion fell back to Romney's ill advised but from the heart statements surrounding the poor people in this country. Friends were saying that even intellectually challenged people were going to get the message of this one. I'm not so sure, I tend to doubt America's ability to add 1 plus 1. I suspect millions of people out there who Romney was pointing his finger at, will be voting for Romney. And that in a nutshell is how America not only likes, but loves to vote against its own interests.

  At 8:00 a.m. futures are modestly lower, the dollar is mostly up against major world currencies, and the price of oil is down per barrel. The market is poised to open lower.

  Investors are more than concerned about data that indicates an economic contraction occurring in American love child China and grand parent Europe. Is this something new? No, this has been in the air for some time and the notion that the global economy is in for a contraction has been weighing for some time now. After all, with the economic mess heaping up in the eurozone, what else is going to possibly happen but contraction.

  Notice that the indexes have started to get up over the peak of the hill. Is this the start of something big, well that's impossible to tell. But with the DOW approaching record levels and the economic footing not quite in the robust booming zone, the bull could be running out of steam.

CNN: Stocks: Global slowdown weighs on sentiment
... report on Chinese manufacturing...showed that manufacturing in the world's second largest economy ticked up slightly in September but still contracted.
...in Europe, where Markit's regional purchasing managers index fell to a 39-month low. It showed the fastest contraction of new business and services in more than three years...

'How Soon Is Now?'

The Smiths

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Take From The UK

Guardian UK: Mitt Romney's 47% gaffe makes him 100% unsuitable to be president

Good Night

From Carter To Romney

visaliatimesdelta.com: Jimmy Carter's grandson arranged Mitt Romney video's release

Pew - Obama 51%, Romney 43%

Pew: Obama Ahead with Stronger Support, Better Image and Lead on Most Issues

Maddow - '47%', Innate Victims, Irresponsibility, Romney's Taxes


Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Fret Away

The Hill: GOP frets Romney is blowing race

DOW Closes Higher

The DOW closed at 13,577.96 gaining 13.32 points.

CNN: Fund managers: U.S. stock rally is over

The Daily Show - The Millionaire Gaffemaker

TRNN - Thousands Protest On Occupy Wall Street’s One Year Anniversary


More at The Real News

DOW Higher At Noon

In the noon hour the DOW is at 13,605.36 up 40.72 points.

CNN: Housing recovery blossoms

Obama Responding To Romney's Leak Comments

NYT: Obama, on Letterman Show, Responds to Romney Comments

Obama 48.0%, Romney 45.4%

Real Clear Politics on Wednesday Morning

Romney is closing the gap. America likes Romney's message. It's 2000 all over again, believe me.

Have A Good Morning

work by George Grosz

The Onion - Romney Campaign Sends In Champion Of The Poor Paul Ryan For Damage Control

The Onion: Romney Campaign Sends In Champion Of The Poor Paul Ryan For Damage Control

The Onion: Romney Apologizes To Nation's 150 Million 'Starving, Filthy Beggars'

Al Jazeera - France's Louvre Opens New Islamic Wing

Al Jazeera - The Main Headlines

Global Warming 101

The Conservative Reaction To Romney

AlterNet: 10 Desperate and Depressed Conservative Reactions to Romney's 47 Percent Moment
8. It's Not Fair to Blame Romney For the Words Coming Out of Romney's Mouth
  Good morning. It is 53 degrees and clearing from after the rains here in Upstate NY. We really needed some rain and later on today we expect to see sunshine. Romney seems to be putting his foot in his mouth at an alarming rate. His leaked comments about people who pay no income taxes is extraordinarily shallow in light of the fact that it is in the red states, that would be Romney's base, where people are paying the least in income taxes. As I have mentioned on this blog numerous times, I support a two state solution - America and Red America. Conservatives can have it, please, just go away. Feel free to reinvent history, evolution, anything you want, just go away.

  At 8:00 a.m. futures are modestly higher, the dollar is up against major world currencies, and the price of oil is down per barrel. The market is poised to open in the mixed area although one suspects a more defined direction will arise as more data come through.

  Investors are pleased to see that Japan is planning on throwing out some stimulus money to kick its economy. Investors will also be parsing through data on the housing market and that will be telling.

CNN: Stocks to rise on Japan stimulus
The Bank of Japan said it would expand its asset purchase program by ¥10 trillion in an effort to stimulate its economy as global demand slows.
...the U.S. Census Bureau will release data on housing starts and building permits for August.
...existing home sales for August...