11/05/08 12:54 - 58ºF - ID#46556

It's amazing how much cooler . . .

. . . candidates get when they lose.

Comments on McCain sparked this, but I also remember watching Dole on Letterman after he was defeated and thinking he may have one if he acted more like that.

Gore got a lot more friendly after he got beat--grew a beard, put on weight, smiled more, and started talking about global warming more.

Maybe the conventional wisdom about how to behave in a campaign isn't so wise!

Permalink: It_s_amazing_how_much_cooler_.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: football

11/04/08 03:50 - 67ºF - ID#46521

YLDS Election Day Special

Permalink: YLDS_Election_Day_Special.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: football

11/04/08 12:20 - 51ºF - ID#46505

When Obama wins . . .

. . . you can thank/blame the Steelers, for beating the Washington Redskins.

. . . Or McCain, for speaking at halftime with EMPTY SEATS and DISINTERESTED PEOPLE behind him. Hey John--this race is televised!

Did you see this? It's like he wants to lose!

(Sorry I can't share it--ABCnews.com is all messed up.)

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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: politics.

11/03/08 08:26 - 53ºF - ID#46486

Obama is working hard and spending $

A make a daily stop at post-gazette.com Go there today, just to see the ad that jumps at you.

I have never seen an ad like that at that site.

It's interesting that my home state is in play. It has been blue state for the past two elections (at least). For a really good analysis on the crazy electoral dynamics of PA, check out This American Life:

Vote tomorrow. Root for the Stillers tonight.

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Location: Buffalo, NY

11/01/08 03:14 - 47ºF - ID#46461

comment became a post

I told tiny that my comment was too long and became a post, so now I have to back it up.

But I was lying.

The party was fun. Now I have to begin my novel.

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Words: 36
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: politics

10/31/08 01:26 - 58ºF - ID#46450

Redistribution of Wealth

I know that some people are coming out against it, but I have to think that in reality, they are not. If you are not in favor of "redistribution of wealth," than why do you work/invest/by/sell/trade? If you hope to receive an inheritance, than you expect your parent's wealth to be redistributed to you. If you have an interest-bearing bank account, then a borrowers' wealth is being redistributed to you. A lottery ticket is redistributing many small pieces of wealth, in the hopes of receiving a large redistribution.

Most people, when they say this, really mean that they prefer a "market-based" redistribution of wealth. Most of the time (because some people enter a market with advantages), in a completely open market, wealth becomes re-distributed by becoming concentrated. A concentration of wealth is the opposite of what is commonly referred to as "spreading the wealth around."

Nobody wants their wealth to be redistributed into somebody else's concentration, but everybody wants their concentration to grow.

If people do not think they will enjoy their wealth, than people will lose the incentive to work. Sometimes, high taxes discourage them from working. Other times, a market out of control discourages people, (as in "I owe my life to the company store.") Both must be checked.

I could go on regarding the different ways that tax policy encourages the re-distribution of wealth in different directions, but that isn't my point right now. My point is: everybody wants wealth redistributed. The only question is, how?

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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: film

10/29/08 05:13 - 37ºF - ID#46408

Mean girls

It's not going to be a big party (like Friday) but some friends are gathering at my house to watch mean girls tomorrow night (Thurs). Call my cell for the address: 510-7086.

I really like this movie. On the surface, it's a teen film, but underneath it is a study in Girard's understanding of the scapegoat, and how religion is born out of memetic imitation and the violence to which it leads leads.

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Location: Buffalo, NY

10/28/08 09:32 - 39ºF - ID#46382

For Jim, James and Janelle.

Another flim short from my favorite improvisers.

And, for Mom and anyone else who might be offended: Yes, this film includes a dirty word.

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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: football

10/27/08 09:10 - 43ºF - ID#46374

It's monday . . .

and that means it's time for another episode of "Yinz luv da Stillers."

PS Next week the game is on ESPN. (e:twins), can I bring beer and make use of your big screen HD with cable? Or should I invite people to meet me at the thirsty buffalo (opening tomorrow!)

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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

10/27/08 10:04 - 41ºF - ID#46363

I wanna be sedated

After being motivated by (e:jim) (and my wife, my mom, my co-workers, and my general state of disorganization), I sought treatment for ADHD, which I have had for as long as I can remember. Up until this point, I just worked with it/around it. Now, I have Stratera on my team.

I'm not usually one for taking drugs (or even vitamin pills) but I am curious to see what is going to happen.

Also, I need to eat better and exercise more. I am working on that one.

james writes at 11:41:43 10/27/08 - Comment #41014: Diet and exercise help with a variety of problems.

But then, some people who eat worse and don't exercise have no problems what so ever.

I know that to battle my depression I can't miss a gym day, I can't eat lots of sugar, I can't stay inside all day, I can't do a laundry list of things. Thankfully, most of these things I can't do aren't very good for me anyway. But, before cognitive therapy I couldn't do other things, like be in a large crowd for too long, be by myself for too long, be with other people for too long. That is debilitating and getting a little medication to help is no crime.

So, I wish you luck on your adventure. I hope you have a good outcome.

mrmike writes at 10:47:16 10/27/08 - Comment #41013: I renewed my Bikram Yoga for another month. In the two and half weeks of going & still getting used to it, and the backaches are gone, it's helping with what's left of the Bell's Palsy and I actually lost six pounds that stayed lost. I like the program because it's not competitive, along the lines of the "Do the best you can" mentality. I think the regularity of that or anything (not a runner myself) can be a good outlet.

drew writes at 10:29:23 10/27/08 - Comment #41012: Once upon a time, I was an athlete, and even when I swam over 2 hrs/day, I was still affected.

But I am going to step up my running, because it is good for me in general, even if it doesn't do much for my brain.

paul writes at 10:23:24 10/27/08 - Comment #41011: Okay, I don't think I have ADHD although I usually am working on 1,000 tasks at once - so this is just a tip for better concentration, not a cure for a disease.

Have you tried upping exercise alone. Since I started being more active (gym, running to/from work) it has changed my life in a lot of ways. No more headaches, crohn's is in check, less body pain in gerneral and much better at relaxing, concentrating and handling stress. The only thing is if you try it after the pills you could never know how much affect each one was having. And then you might give credit to the pills where exercise was due credit.