Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
His Name was Samuel
Lost is officially over. A very good show, tedious at times, frustrating at others, but still an overall good experience.
I myself enjoyed the finale. I had made peace with the idea a few weeks ago that we were not going to get answers to all our questions. The finale did a pretty good job of reminding people that the show ultimately was about characters and not the location.
That being said, some answers are nice to get. Obviously we didn't want the laundry list approach that we got in Revenge of the Sith, but an answer here and there was good (closure on Rose, Bernard, and Vincent for example). Rumor has it that the additional 20 minutes of footage that will be on the DVD will contain a couple of answers. I don't know if the name of the Man-in-Black was to be part of that, but I read a post that had that info. That post has been removed so I don't know how accurate that info is. Still, it makes for a good post title.
I am sad that Lost is gone, but I enjoyed it and maybe I'll even think about picking up the DVDs someday. But I think some time will have to pass before I go down that road.
I myself enjoyed the finale. I had made peace with the idea a few weeks ago that we were not going to get answers to all our questions. The finale did a pretty good job of reminding people that the show ultimately was about characters and not the location.
That being said, some answers are nice to get. Obviously we didn't want the laundry list approach that we got in Revenge of the Sith, but an answer here and there was good (closure on Rose, Bernard, and Vincent for example). Rumor has it that the additional 20 minutes of footage that will be on the DVD will contain a couple of answers. I don't know if the name of the Man-in-Black was to be part of that, but I read a post that had that info. That post has been removed so I don't know how accurate that info is. Still, it makes for a good post title.
I am sad that Lost is gone, but I enjoyed it and maybe I'll even think about picking up the DVDs someday. But I think some time will have to pass before I go down that road.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Get Your Own Dirt
This news item reminded me of this joke:
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!"
But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!"
But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Anti-Incumbency?
There were a number of primary races but four in particular seemed to be played up more than the rest.
The first was the Republican nomination in Kentucky. In that, Rand Paul (son of Ron Paul) defeated Trey Grayson. Grayson had been recruited by Mitch McConnell and was seen as more representing the establishment while Paul is the darling of the Kentucky Tea Party and has no specific political experience (aside from what he got helping his father).
The second race was the special election to replace the late Jack Murtha (D-PA) in PA-12. In that race, Mark Critz (D) defeated Tim Burns (R) by 8 points (53-45). PA-12 is heavily Democratic but it went for McCain in the general so the message is mixed. Mr. Critz did make a big show of opposing key points of Mr. Obama's agenda so his record for the remainder of the term will likely make or break him come November when he faces off against Mr. Burns again.
Also in Pennsylvania, Arlen Spector was knocked out by Joe Sestak in the Democratic Senate primary. This is being spun as part of the anti-incumbent movement but the particulars should be examined here. Mr. Spector had been a Republican for 29 of his 30 years in the Senate and then flipped because he knew he was probably going to lose to Pat Toomey in the Republican primary (Toomey won easily). That doesn't breed a lot of loyalty even if you do have the backing of the White House and the DSCC. Plus, if one actually takes a deeper look at the polling, Mr. Sestak was polling better against Mr. Toomey anyway. So why not go with him rather than the old turncoat?
The final race of interest was the Democratic Senate primary in Arkansas. Blanche Lincoln was facing a challenge from the left in the form of Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. Ms. Lincoln earned more votes (barely) but failed to achieve 50% of the total so a runoff will be held on June 8 to determine who faces off against John Boozman. This may be an open purity test by the Democrats as neither Ms. Lincoln or Mr. Halter have cracked 40% in the polls. In that case, Democrats may be saying that if we're going to lose, we're going to lose with the candidate we like rather than squishy middle of the roaders. We'll have to see who gets that remaining 10% of the vote in three weeks.
All in all, I think the mood is not so much anti-incumbent as it is a strive for purity. Both sides are purging the party of both those who have been in Washington a long time and those seen as middle of the road folk. I think drives of more conservative candidates is being paralleled by drives for more liberal candidates. The gap between the sides is getting wider, not narrower.
The first was the Republican nomination in Kentucky. In that, Rand Paul (son of Ron Paul) defeated Trey Grayson. Grayson had been recruited by Mitch McConnell and was seen as more representing the establishment while Paul is the darling of the Kentucky Tea Party and has no specific political experience (aside from what he got helping his father).
The second race was the special election to replace the late Jack Murtha (D-PA) in PA-12. In that race, Mark Critz (D) defeated Tim Burns (R) by 8 points (53-45). PA-12 is heavily Democratic but it went for McCain in the general so the message is mixed. Mr. Critz did make a big show of opposing key points of Mr. Obama's agenda so his record for the remainder of the term will likely make or break him come November when he faces off against Mr. Burns again.
Also in Pennsylvania, Arlen Spector was knocked out by Joe Sestak in the Democratic Senate primary. This is being spun as part of the anti-incumbent movement but the particulars should be examined here. Mr. Spector had been a Republican for 29 of his 30 years in the Senate and then flipped because he knew he was probably going to lose to Pat Toomey in the Republican primary (Toomey won easily). That doesn't breed a lot of loyalty even if you do have the backing of the White House and the DSCC. Plus, if one actually takes a deeper look at the polling, Mr. Sestak was polling better against Mr. Toomey anyway. So why not go with him rather than the old turncoat?
The final race of interest was the Democratic Senate primary in Arkansas. Blanche Lincoln was facing a challenge from the left in the form of Lt. Gov. Bill Halter. Ms. Lincoln earned more votes (barely) but failed to achieve 50% of the total so a runoff will be held on June 8 to determine who faces off against John Boozman. This may be an open purity test by the Democrats as neither Ms. Lincoln or Mr. Halter have cracked 40% in the polls. In that case, Democrats may be saying that if we're going to lose, we're going to lose with the candidate we like rather than squishy middle of the roaders. We'll have to see who gets that remaining 10% of the vote in three weeks.
All in all, I think the mood is not so much anti-incumbent as it is a strive for purity. Both sides are purging the party of both those who have been in Washington a long time and those seen as middle of the road folk. I think drives of more conservative candidates is being paralleled by drives for more liberal candidates. The gap between the sides is getting wider, not narrower.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Another 7
Two days ago, the northern portion of the island of Sumatra was hit with a 7.4 earthquake. No deaths were reported but for those of you keeping track, this is now the 8th earthquake this year that has been 7.0 or greater. There have been another 66 earthquakes between 6.0 and 6.9.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
First Primary Results
Primaries were held in Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina last night. The results were pretty boring for the most part. Dan Coats (R) won out in Indiana to take on Brad Ellsworth (D) for Evan Byah's (D) Senate seat. Lee Fisher (D) will face Rob Portman (R) for George Voinovich's (R) Senate seat. Neither of these results are surprising.
Turnout was actually pretty abysmal in Ohio as most of the races were unopposed affairs. One might have thought that the Fisher/Brunner race might have peak the Dems a little bit, but that was not the case.
In OH-2 where I live, Ms. Schmidt (R) prevailed with 61.6% of the vote. Her closest competitor, Mike Kilburn, got slammed with only 22.3% of the vote. She will face off against Surya Yalamanchili (D) who snagged 40.8% against two other candidates. Mr. Yalamanchili was the dark horse in this one but benefited when his closest rival, David Krikorian, made a statement that someone with so obvious an Indian name could not get elected. This may be true or not, but it was seen as a racist attack and both men reaped the effects.
About the only interesting thing that happened was in the North Carolina primary. There, the incumbent, Richard Burr (R) was to find out whom he would face. However, North Carolina law stipulates that the primary race winner must have at least 40% of the vote or a run-off is held between the top two candidates. Elaine Marshall (NC Secretary of State) only secured 36.4% and thus must face a run-off against Cal Cunningham (27.3%) on June 22. Thus, Mr. Burr gets that much longer to plot strategy and raise money.
Next Tuesday (May 11) is the Georgia primary. A more interesting set of primaries will be held on May 18 when Arkansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania go to the polls.
Turnout was actually pretty abysmal in Ohio as most of the races were unopposed affairs. One might have thought that the Fisher/Brunner race might have peak the Dems a little bit, but that was not the case.
In OH-2 where I live, Ms. Schmidt (R) prevailed with 61.6% of the vote. Her closest competitor, Mike Kilburn, got slammed with only 22.3% of the vote. She will face off against Surya Yalamanchili (D) who snagged 40.8% against two other candidates. Mr. Yalamanchili was the dark horse in this one but benefited when his closest rival, David Krikorian, made a statement that someone with so obvious an Indian name could not get elected. This may be true or not, but it was seen as a racist attack and both men reaped the effects.
About the only interesting thing that happened was in the North Carolina primary. There, the incumbent, Richard Burr (R) was to find out whom he would face. However, North Carolina law stipulates that the primary race winner must have at least 40% of the vote or a run-off is held between the top two candidates. Elaine Marshall (NC Secretary of State) only secured 36.4% and thus must face a run-off against Cal Cunningham (27.3%) on June 22. Thus, Mr. Burr gets that much longer to plot strategy and raise money.
Next Tuesday (May 11) is the Georgia primary. A more interesting set of primaries will be held on May 18 when Arkansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania go to the polls.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Samaritan Passover
One of the Israel blogs I like to read did a profile of the Samaritan Passover. The Samaritans are a mixed breed of Jews and Gentiles (specifically Babylonians) that formed their own version of Judaism during Alexander the Great's conquest (331 BCE).
Anyway, they are apparently allowed to celebrate a Passover sacrifice that allows for the formal sacrifice of sheep (unlike the Jews). This apparently is a big deal with a lot of Jews and other outsiders coming to observe the event. The write up with pictures (a couple are a little graphic) is located here. From a cultural and religious point of view, its quite fascinating. You can also see how the desire is growing stronger among Jews in Israel to rebuild the Temple and resume a similar practice.
Anyway, they are apparently allowed to celebrate a Passover sacrifice that allows for the formal sacrifice of sheep (unlike the Jews). This apparently is a big deal with a lot of Jews and other outsiders coming to observe the event. The write up with pictures (a couple are a little graphic) is located here. From a cultural and religious point of view, its quite fascinating. You can also see how the desire is growing stronger among Jews in Israel to rebuild the Temple and resume a similar practice.
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