Sunday, January 31, 2010

Nick Gillespie Makes Libertarianism Look Pretty Good

Conservatism too...

Video embedded below.

Obama's 'Spending Freeze' Visualized

10000Pennies shows why Obama's 'Spending Freeze' is a fraud.

Video embedded below.



Past posts with 10000Pennies Videos:
Berman Post: Obama's $100M budget Cut Visualized
Berman Post: The National Debt Road Trip (Federal Deficit Visualized)
Berman Post: The Obama Stimulus: Predictions vs. Reality
Berman Post: Healthcare Plan Effects And Cost Visualized
Berman Post: Getting Beaten to Death by The 800 Pound Mandatory Spending Gorilla ... And Creating Another Gorilla
Berman Post: Why The Health Care 'Savings' Are Fake

Bees Can Recognize a Human Face

You know what this means, killer homing bees. That is right, bees trained to seek out and sting you. As laughable as it may sound, the next time a bee stings some crazy dictator/despot prepare to hear them blame America; or maybe Israel.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-01/tiny-bee-brains-could-serve-models-facial-recognition-systems

"Bees need not recognize human faces when going about their pollination business. Yet scientists have now found that they can train bees to recognize the arrangement of human facial features, by rewarding the classy striped insects with sugar. That could inspire new facial recognition systems, given that bees manage this feat with brains the size of a microdot.
...
It turns out that bees don't consciously recognize individual people, so much as the relative pattern that makes up a face. Researchers tested this by first training the bees to recognize simple faces made of dots and slashes, and then seeing if the bees could distinguish between two different faces. The bees passed the test.
"

Shoot First, Blog Later; Bloggers go Shooting With Texas Governor Rick Perry (R)

What are the odds my governor (NYC) will invite me down to a range? I am not holding my breath.

Video embedded below.

Google to Begin Phasing Out Support of Internet Explorer 6

Internet Explorer 6 users are not going to be happy about this news, but it has been a long time coming. There has been a growing collection of people saying that IE6 is holding the web back, and it seems that Google has had enough of it. Microsoft does not mind, but prefers you IE6 users upgrade to their latest version instead of jumping ship. I jumped ship a long time ago; and you can use this Massive List of Web Browsers as a launching point to discover if you will as well. Either way, it is time to dump IE6 if you are still using it.

http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/01/modern-browsers-for-modern-applications.html

"Many other companies have already stopped supporting older browsers like Internet Explorer 6.0 as well as browsers that are not supported by their own manufacturers. We’re also going to begin phasing out our support, starting with Google Docs and Google Sites. As a result you may find that from March 1 key functionality within these products -- as well as new Docs and Sites features -- won’t work properly in older browsers."

"White Goat" - Turns Office Paper to Toilet Paper Rolls

"White Goat", a new Japanese machine, turns your officer documents into usable toilet paper rolls. There is a 'green' sense here, but I think there is a larger security compartment. You think anyone could or would even try to reassemble your shredded documents once they have been turned into toilet paper, used, and flushed? Good luck with that.

Video embedded below.

"Who are The Young Cons?"

Video embedded below.



Past Songs:
Berman Post: "Young Con Anthem" - Conservative Rap
Berman Post: "Power of the Individual" by The Young Cons
Berman Post: The Young Cons - "The Problem"

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Obama Tries His Hand at Basket Ball Commentary

He does a pretty good job at it.

Video embedded below.

Limbaugh Busts a Move

Video embedded below.









Obama's 2011 Budget to Include Phantom Cap-And-Trade Revenue

Cap-and Trade (cap-and-tax) is unlikly to pass, but that apparently will not stop Obama from including the revenue it would have generated in his 2011 budget.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obamas-2011-budget-will-include-phantom-cap-and-trade-revenue-83075057.html

"A trade publication is reporting this afternoon that President Obama's 2011 federal budget proposal will assume receipt of billions of dollars in revenue generated from the cap-and-trade program even though that proposal appears now to be all but dead in Congress."

Hawaii Kills Same-Sex Unions

The Hawaiian legislature has shelved a proposal that would have allowed Same-Sex Unions effectively killing it. The report says that a slight majority of the overwhelmingly Democratic legislature would have voted in favor of the provision, but they did not have the vote because the representatives were concerned about not being reelected.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HAWAII_CIVIL_UNIONS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

"Hawaii lawmakers declined to vote Friday on a bill that would have allowed same-sex civil unions, effectively doing away with the measure.

State House leaders said a narrow majority of representatives would have voted for civil unions, but they decided to indefinitely postpone a decision on whether to grant gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits the state provides to married couples.
"

http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/92789

"A reader emails: “You might want to note that Hawaii is a one-party state; the state house of reps is 45-6 Democrat-Republican and the state senate is 23-2. Yes, your family has more members eating together at a breakfast than the Hawaii senate minority.”

I’m somewhat surprised to see that neither Andrew Sullivan nor his “underbloggers” have mentioned this yet.
"

Obama Administration Considering Action on The Bowl Championship Series (College Football)

I understand that there is a lot of controversy over the Bowl Championship Series, but you would think Obama would have more important things to do.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/01/29/obama.bcs.ap/index.html

"The Obama administration is considering several steps that would review the legality of the controversial Bowl Championship Series, the Justice Department said in a letter Friday to a senator who had asked for an antitrust review.

In the letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch, obtained by The Associated Press, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich wrote that the Justice Department is reviewing Hatch's request and other materials to determine whether to open an investigation into whether the BCS violates antitrust laws.
"

Obama Ups Spending on Nuclear Weapons

Obama is reportedly planning on upping the spending on nuclear weapons to levels higher then his immediate predecessor had. Should this be seen as Obama backtracking on his decision to defund the Reliable Replacement Warhead program. I will have to wait to see the request before opining further, but at first brush this is a much better idea then allowing our deterrent to deteriorate.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1247049/Nobel-Peace-Prize-winner-Barack-Obama-ups-spending-nuclear-weapons-George-Bush.html

"Barack Obama has allocated £4.3billion to spend on maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile - £370million more than what was budgeted by George Bush.

The budget will also be increased by more than £3.1billion over the next five years.

The announcement comes despite the American President declaring nuclear weapons were the ‘greatest danger’ to U.S. people during in his State of the Union address on Wednesday.
"

China Protests US Arms Sales to Taiwan

The US sold $6.4 billion dollars worth of weapons to Taiwan, and China is predictably unhappy about it. It is a an important move though, to show China we will not abandon Taiwan; the appearance of which could spark a major skirmish between China and the United States.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.eba0f1f44dc56eaae2cdf53db03b2f4e.661&show_article=1

"China on Friday protested the US decision to sell 6.4 billion dollars in weapons to Taiwan and warned of "serious" damage to relations and cooperation with Washington.

China's Vice Foreign Minister He Yafai made an urgent official demarche to the US ambassador in Beijing, Jon Huntsman, in the early hours Saturday local time, Wang Baodong, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, told AFP.
"

Friday, January 29, 2010

Jon Stewart on Obama's State of The Union And The Commentary on it

Jon Stewart satisfies all of your comedy needs on Obama's State of The Union the commentary on it from the critics, supporters, and everyone in between.

Videos embedded below.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Speech Therapy
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political HumorHealth Care Crisis


The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Speech Therapy - Post-Racial
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political HumorHealth Care Crisis


Past Related Posts:
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Live Blogging
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: GOP's Response to Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: McCain Mouthed "Blame it on Bush" During Obama's State of The Union Address
Berman Post: Justice Alito Shakes Head And Mouths "Not True" During Obama's State of The Union Address
Berman Post: The Cato Institute 'Torches' Obama's State of The Union Speech
Berman Post: Obama Responds to His Own State of The Union Address

Breitbart And Shuster on James O’Keefe's Arrest

Breitbart and Shuster spar over James O’Keefe's arrest. Breitbart said he was lied to to appear on the show, and O'Keefe has claimed vindication.

Video embedded below.

Pro-Lifers Outnumber Pro-Choicers 500-to-1 in ... San Francisco!?!

If Pro-Lifers can 'out rally' Pro-Choicers in San Francisco by a margin of 500-to-1, the anti-abortion movement may be much larger and stronger then currently thought. That or liberals have gotten two complacent and this embarrassment will jar them out of it and expect a much better showing next time around.

http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2010/01/26/pro-lifers-outnumber-pro-choicers-500-to-1-at-massive-s-f-abortion-rally

"Well, considering that San Francisco is the city that regularly votes in overwhelming numbers for Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer, two of the strongest abortion advocates in Congress, and that San Francisco is perceived as being among the most liberal cities in the nation, you would likely anticipate the pro-choice side to vastly outnumber the pro-life side at any rally.

You couldn’t be more wrong.

Because when the anti-abortion group Walk for Life staged a march in San Francisco last Saturday, January 23, they turned out an overwhelming and jaw-dropping 40,000 pro-life activists, who were met by a well-advertised counter-protest which managed to draw no more than 80 (that’s eighty, eight-zero) pro-choice advocates. 40,000 vs. 80 is a 500-to-1 pro-life advantage, something that seems inconceivable in the sex-positive liberal stronghold of San Francisco.
"

iPad

Video embedded below.



It is a nice concept with good specs, but you may be better waiting for the second generation. Could use a better name.

Andrew Klavan - "Liberal Fantasies vs. Reality, Can You Spot The Difference?"

Video embedded below.

Local Trends in Twitter

Trends in Twitter is a quick way to get a pulse on conversations. It is a snapshot of what the most Tweeted about topics are and to see what is important to a lot of people. If there is a drawback with it, that would be that it may be to encompassing. An event in NY may not be of much concern to those in California. Twitter has fully rolled out Local Trends allowing you to sub select trends in a specific area. It is easy to switch back and forth for you to get a pulse on the conversation in each area you care about. The number of locations is fairly limited at present, but Twitter is reported to be working to increase them. Give it a try.

http://blog.twitter.com/2010/01/now-trending-local-trends.html

"As Twitter evolves, and more people share what’s happening in their own world, we want to provide another way for people to discover topics that may be relevant to them. Last week we began to slowly roll out a new feature called Local Trends to expose what people are talking about on the state and city level, and today we've fully launched so everyone can use it."

How to Report The News (Video)

If you want to become a reporter in the 'standard' model of reporting; this tape should serve as a blueprint and a critic all in one.

Video embedded below. (Language Waring)

Osama Bin Laden Attacks America on ... Global Warming?!?

Do you think he knows that explosions generate heat? If he was serious on Global warming maybe he should try to splash the infidels with some ice water. I kid of course, but think Osama may have lost his mind (again); relative to how far gone it already was.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100129/D9DHDH582.html

"Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has called for the world to boycott American goods and the U.S. dollar, blaming the United States and other industrialized countries for global warming, according to a new audiotape released Friday.

In the tape, broadcast in part on Al-Jazeera television, bin Laden warned of the dangers of climate change and says that the way to stop it is to bring "the wheels of the American economy" to a halt.

He blamed Western industrialized nations for hunger, desertification and floods across the globe, and called for "drastic solutions" to global warming, and "not solutions that partially reduce the effect of climate change."

Bin Laden has mentioned climate change and global warning in past messages, but the latest tape was his first dedicated to the topic. The speech, which included almost no religious rhetoric, could be an attempt by the terror leader to give his message an appeal beyond Islamic militants.
"

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Obama Responds to His Own State of The Union Address

Video embedded below.



If you are confused; the second part of the clip; 'Obama's response', comes from Obama's response to Bush's State of The Union Address.

Past Related Posts:
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Live Blogging
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: GOP's Response to Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: McCain Mouthed "Blame it on Bush" During Obama's State of The Union Address

Berman Post: Justice Alito Shakes Head And Mouths "Not True" During Obama's State of The Union Address
Berman Post: The Cato Institute 'Torches' Obama's State of The Union Speech

The Cato Institute 'Torches' Obama's State of The Union Speech

The Cato Institute dissects Obama's State of the Union Speech, and just 'torches' it. Coming to you highly recommended by Glenn Reynolds

Video embedded below.



Past Related Posts:
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Live Blogging
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: GOP's Response to Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: McCain Mouthed "Blame it on Bush" During Obama's State of The Union Address
Berman Post: Justice Alito Shakes Head And Mouths "Not True" During Obama's State of The Union Address

Justice Alito Shakes Head And Mouths "Not True" During Obama's State of The Union Address

The moment came when Obama was denouncing the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and 'explaining' his concerns on why the decision was bad. Justice Alito shook his head and mouthed "not true" expressing that Obama's interpretation was incorrect. Justice Alito was right; Obama's interpretation was wrong.

Video embedded below.



Past Related Posts:
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Live Blogging
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: GOP's Response to Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: McCain Mouthed "Blame it on Bush" During Obama's State of The Union Address

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Last week the Supreme Court overturned a rule that prohibit corporations from spending money on political campaigns in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. It was a 5-4 decision with Justices Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and Kennedy in the majority and Justices Stevens, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor in the decent.

The Cato institute explains what the rule had meant.

Video embedded below.



Obama is vehemently apposed to the decision calling on Congress to overturn it legislatively. I agree with the Cato Institute. The Court made the correct decisions and struck a blow in favor of free speech.

http://www.scotusblog.com/2010/01/analysis-a-new-law-to-offset-citizens-united

"President Obama ordered his aides on Thursday “to get to work immediately with Congress” to develop “a forceful response” to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case. In a statement, the President denounced the decision, saying it “has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics.” It was obvious, therefore, that he was interested in working with Congress to overturn the decision, or at least to narrow it significantly.

Unless he has in mind an amendment to the Constitution, however, it is most unclear at this point whether the lawmakers could do anything — or much of anything — to cut down on “special interest money” in American politics. This was a constitutional decision, laying down (essentially for the first time), a sweeping free-speech right in politics for “special interest” bodies of all types with the concept of “speech” clearly embracing spending money to influence election outcomes. If individuals have considerable freedom to express themselves politically, corporations, labor unions, and other “special interest” entities now do, too.
"

McCain Mouthed "Blame it on Bush" During Obama's State of The Union Address

McCain was caught on cameras mouthing "Blame it on Bush" during Obama's State of the Union Address; in apparent criticism of Obama's tactic of blaming our problem on past action/inaction.

Video embedded below.



Past Related Posts:
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Live Blogging
Berman Post: Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Berman Post: GOP's Response to Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud

Democrats in The Senate Pass a $1.9 Trillion Debt Ceiling Increase

It is hard to believe that the Democrats are serious about fiscal responsibility of cutting spending when they push through a $1.9 trillion increase to the National Debt Ceiling. It was a strait partly line vote without recently elected Senator Brown (R) because he has not been seated yet.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9DGSHEO0&show_article=1

"The Democratic-controlled Senate has muscled through a plan to allow the government to go a whopping $1.9 trillion deeper in debt.

The party-line 60-40 vote was successful only because Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown has yet to be seated. Sixty votes were required to approve the increase. The measure would lift the debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion. That's about $45,000 for every American.
"

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

GOP's Response to Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud

Bob McDonnell's gave the GOP's response to Obama's State of The Union Address. Here is the word cloud of his prepared remarks.

Picture embedded below.



Created with http://www.wordle.net.
Speech text from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/27/politics/stateofunion/main6148483.shtml.

Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Obama's State of The Union Address Live Blogging

Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud

This is the word cloud of Obama's State of the Union Address.

Picture embedded below.



Created with http://www.wordle.net.
Speech text from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/01/obama-state-of-the-union-speech-text.html.

GOP's Response to Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud
Obama's State of The Union Address Live Blogging

Obama's State of The Union Address Live Blogging

Here are my 'first brush' thoughts as he is speaking. (live updates) (click refresh for updates)

[See also Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud and GOP's Response to Obama's State of The Union Address Word Cloud]

Starts out by blaming Bush. No surprise here; also tiring.

He helped 'save the day'; could have been much worse, but is still pretty bad.

People tired of partisanship, pettiness, and shouting.

What the American People deserve is that Democrats and Republicans come together and work out our differences.

The American people are resilient.

Very hopeful of Americans future; never more so that is tonight.

Need a government that matches the American peoples decency.

ECONOMY
We all hated the bank bail out (including Obama)
Said he would do what was necessary, not what is popular.
Without it economy would be much worse
Made the bailout more transparent and accountable
Recovered most of the money spent on the banks; most but not all
To get the rest he purposes a fee on the biggest banks
Banks can afford it, just a modest fee.
Pushed better unemployment benefits, made healthcare cheaper, cut taxes
Have not raised income tax at all
Two million Americans owe their job to bailout (construction workers, teachers, cops)
Another 1.5 million more to be added by the end of the year, all thanks to Stimulus
Economists on the left and right say bill helped.
For every success their is also heartbreaking story

Jobs must be our number one focus
Calls for a new jobs bill
Americans businesses are the true engine of job creation.
Government can create the climate for businesses to expand.
Start with small businesses.
Banks are lending again but mostly to big companies.
Take 30 billion from money banks have repaid and give it to small businesses.
New small business tax credit for those that hire or raise wages.
Eliminate all capital gains on small businesses.

New high speed railroad and clean energy, give rebates to energy efficient homes.
Cut tax brakes for companies that ship workers overseas and give them to domestic
House already passed a bill that includes some of these steps.
Calls on Senate to do the same.

Wants a job bill on his desk immediately.

Can not afford another expansion like the one of last decade.

Does not accept second place for the United States of America.

Serious financial reform.
Not interested in punishing banks, just wants to protect economy.
Must guard against recklessness by giving people the information they need.
Can not allow banks to take risks that jeopardize the economy.
Will veto bill unless it contains real reform.

Need to encourage American innovation, especially in energy.
Need more insensitive
Build new nuclear power plants
Open offshore areas for oil and natural gas development
Invest in biofules and Clean coal.
New energy bill to incentives clean energy.
Wants bipartisan bill in Senate
Clean energy economy will lead the world and must be America
(even if you do not believe in global warming)
Must export our goods - double exports over the next two years.
Seek new markets aggressively / must enforce rules
Expand free trade

Create competition between our schools.
Best anti-poverty program is a world class education.
Wants bill to revitalize community colleges.
Increase tax credit.
Students have to pay only 10% of salary on loans
No debt after 20 years or 10 if enter public service.
University's have to cut cost

Expand credit for those that start a nest egg

Still need health insurance reform to relive burden on middle class families
Took on healthcare not for politics but for those hurting.
Micheal Obama tackling childhood obesity
Those that have insurance can keep plan, reduce costs
Bring deficit down by one trillion over two decades.
This is the best approach so far
If you have a better one let him know.
Do not walk away from reform, finish the job for the American people.

Not enough to dig us out of a financial hole by itself.
America had surplus at the beginning of the decade, projected deficit of eight trillion when he took over. Economic downturn added another three trillion before he walked in the door.

Took officer during a crisis, policies to save country cost another trillion. Was the right thing to do. Time for the federal government to tighten belt.
Starting in 2011 spending freeze for three years on discretionary spending (no medicare, social security, medicare or defense), will enforce by veto.
Identified 20 bullion dollars for next year.
Stop tax cuts for those making more then 250k per year.

Costs from before he took office will still need to be dealt with. Calls for bipartisan commission to come up with solutions. Senate blocked bill, so he will issue and executive order to create it.
Restore pay as you go law.
Freeze will not take effect until next year when the economy is stronger.

Face deficit of trust. Must end influence of lobbyist, and make government more transparent. That is what he came to Washington to do.
Time to require lobbyists to disclose contacts, put strict limits on donations.

Supreme Court reversed law that will open floodgates of special interest spending.
American elections should not be bankrolled this way.
Calls for a bill to overturn decision.

Calls on Congress to pass earmark reform; both parties.

Calls on Congress to publish all earmark requests online before the vote.

Did not think the fact of his election would bring post partisanship; are some philosophical differences.
Must stop perpetual campaign, end to zero-sum-gain mentality.
Must stop obstructionism.

If Republicans are going to insist that a super majority to govern is required then responsibility to govern falls on you as well. Do not just say no to everything. Show the American people we can do it together.

Will be addressing House Republicans this weekend. Wants to make it a monthly meeting with both House and Senate.

SECURITY
All of us love this country and are committed to its defense.
Reject false choices and leave behind division; do what it takes to defend out nation.
Made substantial investments in security, filling unacceptable gaps shown by failed Christmas bombing.
Training Afghan security forces so our troops can begin to come home.
Supporting the rights of all Afghans (men and woman).
Confident we will succeed.
Responsibly leaving Iraq to its people; ending the war, combat troops out by August.
Will continue to partner with the people, but the war is ending and all of our troops are coming home.

We have a responsibility to support the troops when they come home.
Largest increase for veterans in decades made last year, improving the VA, making national commitment to support families.

Threat of nuclear weapons.
Seeks a world without nuclear weapons, but will maintain our deterrent.
Wants to secure all nuclear materials within four years.
North Korea and Iran are being isolated. Iran will face growing consequences for developing nuclear weapons.
Engagement for common security.

Our destiny is connected to the rest of the world.
We take these actions because they are right. That is why we are helping rebuild Haiti.
Support human rights around the world. America will always stand on the site of human dignity and freedom.
Our greatest source of strength is our ideals.
Must continue to renew promises of justice and equality.

Calls for repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (allow gays to serve openly in the military).
End pay discrimination between genders.
Fix broken immigration system.

American values make our country great.
Americans are loosing faith that government and corporations reflect these values
Campaigned on 'Change', Americans are no longer sure we can or he can deliver
Never said it would be easy or he could do it alone.
Refuses to play it safe or point fingers to make it through to the next election.
Instead will do what will make the country better. Only reason we have gotten as far as we have is because generations of Americans have not been afraid to take risks.

Administration has had set backs, some deserved, but nothing compared to the American people.

Fundamental decency lives on.
Refusal to accept failure continues.

Finished a difficult year, new decade is before us.
We do not quit, must carry the dream forward.

End

QUICK THOUGHTS:
New Nuclear Power Plants - great.
Off Shore Drilling - great.
Greater Openness and Transparency - would be great but I am not holding my breath.
Earmark reform - how about just calling for an end to pork barrel earmarking.
New Bank tax - horrible.
New Jobs Bill - just a masked stimulus; could go either way depending on what it does.
New tax cuts - great.
Letting tax cuts expire - horrible.
Ending Don't Ask Don't Tell - as long as the military believes that it will not compromise national security (on unit cohesion; for the rest good).
Spending Freeze Next Year - right idea (cut spending, fiscal responsibility), poor execution.
Continuing to push ObamaCare - bad.
Call for bipartisanship - good, but again I am not holding my breath (though this is not all Obama's fault).
Revitalize infrastructure - good.

Obama's 'Spending Freeze' is a Fraud

Charles Krauthammer explains it about as succinctly as you can. What is not included in this video, though I have seen him make the point on a few of the cable shows, is that the freeze could be seen perversely as an increase. It is freezing rates that were greatly increased this year from last year and the freeze would have the effect of maintaining that level when it really should decrease. Freezing high levels of spending seems meant just to give the appearance of fiscal responsibility. What we really need is a reduction in spending. Granted a freeze is better than an increase, but a freeze at this level is still fiscally irresponsible.

Video embedded below.

Mark Halperin - 'Thin-Skinned' Obama Says 'Press Is Against Me'

In fairness, Halperin says that past presidents felt the same way at various times in their administration. Then again, I think at least one of those past presidents could have made a much better case that it was just stating the truth. Obama certainly has his detractors in the media, but saying the press is against him is laughable.

Video embedded below.

Obama Defunds the Moon Mission

Despite great strides being made in researching the moon such as finding water, Obama has allocated no money for the program that was supposed to bring humans back to the moon by the end of the decade. This does not doom humanity to live out its days stuck on earth, nor mean that we will not live to see humans walking on the moon again. It does mean that if we do see man walk on the moon again it is more likely to be a private venture or a foreign country (India, China...) then NASA.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-no-moon-for-nasa-20100126,0,2770904.story

"NASA's plans to return astronauts to the moon are dead. So are the rockets being designed to take them there — that is, if President Barack Obama gets his way.

When the White House releases his budget proposal Monday, there will be no money for the Constellation program that was supposed to return humans to the moon by 2020. The troubled and expensive Ares I rocket that was to replace the space shuttle to ferry humans to space will be gone, along with money for its bigger brother, the Ares V cargo rocket that was to launch the fuel and supplies needed to take humans back to the moon.

There will be no lunar landers, no moon bases, no Constellation program at all.

In their place, according to White House insiders, agency officials, industry executives and congressional sources familiar with Obama's long-awaited plans for the space agency, NASA will look at developing a new "heavy-lift" rocket that one day will take humans and robots to explore beyond low Earth orbit. But that day will be years — possibly even a decade or more — away.
"

More at http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/92628.

Turkish Dissidents Organize a 'Virtual Protest Walk'

If you are fearful of government reprisals for protesting, a virtual protest may be the best way to go. You need to cover your digital tracks, but that seems a lot easier and safer then marching on the streets. It is exactly what Turkish dissidents must have thought when they organized a 'virtual protest walk' to protest government censorship. It also has the added benefit of making it easier for people to attend. Instead of needing to travel to the protest location, people all over the world can log on from the nearest computer or any device with full internet access and with a few clicks add their voice to the movement in a way that is easy to visualize.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/visualize_dissent_turkish_users_protest_censorship.php

"The "virtual protest walk," our source said, is being staged to protest Web censorship. "Thousands of Turkish users gathered on virtual Taksim Square of Istanbul to protest censorship. When prostestors achieve the target number, they will walk to Ankara, pixel by pixel, to the parliament house."

The virtual protest uses Google Docs' "anyone can edit" function. Each protester is able to edit the document and put her or himself on the map. Our source tells us that since the map can be edited by anyone, "it also becomes a social game, with people moving and editing others' position."



See the protest in action here. Users around the world are invited to join in and express their support for Turkish Web users and their disapproval of Internet censorship.
"

Newsday Only Has 35 Paying Subscribers

After a $4m website redesign and launch putting content behind a pay wall Newsday has accumulated only 35 paying subscribers in three months. The net gross from those subscribers in less then $10k. Not included in the obvious significant loss is the likely drop in ad revenues to their site with a decrease in web traffic. Content providers thinking of following suit would be wise to learn from what must be considered Newsday's mistake.

http://www.observer.com/2010/media/after-three-months-only-35-subscriptions-newsdays-web-site

"So, three months later, how many people have signed up to pay $5 a week, or $260 a year, to get unfettered access to newsday.com?

The answer: 35 people. As in fewer than three dozen. As in a decent-sized elementary-school class.
...
The web site redesign and relaunch cost the Dolans $4 million, according to Mr. Jimenez. With those 35 people, they've grossed about $9,000.

In that time, without question, web traffic has begun to plummet, and, certainly, advertising will follow as well.

Of course, there are a few caveats. Anyone who has a newspaper subscription is allowed free access; anyone who has Optimum Cable, which is owned by the Dolans and Cablevision, also gets it free.
"

Obama - 'The Big Difference Between 2010 And 1994 is me'

Obama reportedly indicated to someone concerned that 2010 would be a political blood bath for the Democrats equivalent to 1994 that it would not happen this year because of him. That is to say that Obama thinks he is the big difference that will save the Democrats. If Obama had not failed to save two Governorships and a Senate Race the Democrats might be more comforted.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0110/Berry_Obama_said_big_difference_between_10_and_94_is_me.html

"Rep. Marion Berry's parting shot, published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette [no link, subscription only] offers a warning to moderate Democrats and border state moderates — warning of a midterm bloodbath comparable to the 54-seat D-to-R swing in 1994.

But the jaw-dropper is Berry's claim that President Obama personally dismissed any comparison between Democrats now and under Bill Clinton 16 years ago — by saying his personal popularity would bail everybody out.
"

James O’Keefe Arrested

James O’Keefe, the man behind blowing the lid off of ACORN, was arrested for entering Senator Landrieu’s office (New Orleans) for the purpose of interfering with the office’s telephone system. Some are jumping to the conclusion that he was going to participate in a wire tap. I do not know what is in O'Keefe's head, but I doubt he would be stupid enough to record himself committing a serious crime. It appears as if he was working on another sting of sorts, but until more information is given it is hard to say more then that. He may be in some serious legal trouble, and you can count on the 'left' pouncing on this after the black eye he gave ACORN.

http://biggovernment.com/2010/01/26/wait-until-the-facts-are-in

"MSNBC and other “news organizations” are even billing this developing story as “Watergate”. What do Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow know? And when did they know it?

I’m sure they would like to believe O’Keefe is stupid enough to try to “wiretap” a sitting U.S. senator in broad daylight during office hours, while recording the entire sequence of events on his cell phone camera. And they’d like you to believe it, too.

But there is absolutely no allegation in the criminal complaint that “wiretapping” or “bugging” is any part of this case, just the charge that O’Keefe and the others entered Sen. Landrieu’s office in New Orleans “for the purpose of interfering with the office’s telephone system.”
"

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Felix Baumgartner to Jump From 120,000 Feet

That is no typo, Felix Baumgartner plans to break the record for the worlds highest jump which has stood for five decades jumping from 120,000 feet with little more that a parachute and a prayer (and a body suit or else he would die long before he jumped). The reason; just to see what will happen. The research could help in developing orbital escape pods. There is little debate that if he makes the jump he will set a number of records, but there is one minor debate. Joe Kittinger, the current record holder, is thought by some to have broken the sound barrier during one of his jumps, but most of the source I found say that he never hit mach one.

Video embedded below. (via)

First Movie Made By Entirely by Chimpanzees

This will air on the BBC. A glimpse into the mind of a chimp.

Video embedded below.

Airborne Laser Destroys a Missile in Flight

The successful test firing of the Advanced Tactical Laser a stationary target, moving target, and airborne target has been surpassed with a successful airborne strike on a missile in flight. This test means we could be getting close to the end of having a viable working prototype which would then be only a funding pitch away from this system being implemented as a missile defense shield. Given Obama's comments on a missile shield, that funding is far from certain.

Video embedded below.

Copenhagen Climate Conference Cost American Tax Payers Over $400k

Update: Misread the article, it actually cost over a million dollars not including any expensive from Obama going. End of Update:

While the massive spending the Government has undertaken recently it is hard to really care about an amount less then a half million dollars, but it is important to note that this cost was for just two days and barely a hundred people. It comes out to roughly $2,200 per person per day for a conference that ultimately failed despite Obama's best efforts. This is our money, our tax dollars, and even one wasted tax dollar is something that should not happen.

Video embedded below.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Pope Calls on Priests To Blog

The Pope Called on Priests to use new communications technologies to 'spread the good word'. That means you could see a influx of clergymen trying their hand at social media. Next time you are in church the sermon might end with a "you can keep in touch with us on Facebook at / Twitter at / subscribe to our blog at ...". That may already be the case, and may have been for a while now, but the person running it may soon actually be the priest.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20100124_44th-world-communications-day_en.html

"The theme of this year’s World Communications Day - The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word – is meant to coincide with the Church’s celebration of the Year for Priests. It focuses attention on the important and sensitive pastoral area of digital communications, in which priests can discover new possibilities for carrying out their ministry to and for the Word of God. Church communities have always used the modern media for fostering communication, engagement with society, and, increasingly, for encouraging dialogue at a wider level. Yet the recent, explosive growth and greater social impact of these media make them all the more important for a fruitful priestly ministry."

Google Rolls Out Feed Reader Tec That Does Not Depend on a Website's Feed

Feed Readers are a great time saver and makes it easy to scan through a lot of websites. The main drawback or problem with feed readers is that they require the websites to have a feed. If it does not then you are out of luck. Not anymore.

http://googlereader.blogspot.com/2010/01/follow-changes-to-any-website.html

"Feeds make it easy to follow updates to all kinds of webpages, from blogs to news sites to Craigslist queries, but unfortunately not all pages on the web have feeds. Today we're rolling out a change in Google Reader that lets you create a custom feed to track changes on pages that don't have their own feed.

These custom feeds are most useful if you want to be alerted whenever a specific page has been updated. For example, if you wanted to follow Google.org's latest products, just type "http://www.google.org/products.html" into Reader's "Add a subscription" field. Click "create a feed", and Reader will periodically visit the page and publish any significant changes it finds as items in a custom feed created just for that page.
"

Steven Crowder - Marines Invade Haiti

Steven Crowder pokes fun at the difference between perception and reality of our Marines. There are few armed forces you would rather see if you are a civilian the the US military.

Video embedded below.



Past related posts:
Berman Post: Haiti Smashed With Strongest Earthquake in Over Two Hundred Years
Berman Post: 500,000 People Could be Dead in Haiti From the 7.0 Earthquake
Berman Post: Twitter Helping Haiti
Berman Post: 7.0 Earthquake in Haiti Kills More UN Personal Then Any Other Single Incident Ever
Berman Post: Google And Facebook Join The Effort to Help Haiti
Berman Post: Chaos Reigns in Haiti
Berman Post: Obama to Write The Cover Story For Newsweek
Berman Post: Obama's Cover Story For Newsweek
Berman Post: Obama, Bush, And Clinton Join Forces to Help Haiti
Berman Post: ClintonBushHaitiFund.org
Berman Post: Bodies Line The Streets in Haiti (Video)
Berman Post: Women Survives Being Trapped For Six Days in Haiti
Berman Post: 6.1 Aftershock Rocks Haiti
Berman Post: US Military Ordered to Stop Handing Out Food Aid in Haiti
Berman Post: Hugo Chavez - 'US Weapon Caused Haiti Earthquake'
Berman Post: Trapped Under the Rubble in Haiti, There's an App For That

95% of Email is Spam

It may come as no surprise to you that a significant percentage of your email is spam, but it may surprise you that it is a full 95%. The good news is that the vast majority of spam is diverted from your inbox by spam filters. The bad news is that spammers are compensating and those annoying messages are still getting through.

http://thenextweb.com/2010/01/24/95-email-spam-4-annoying-1

"You perhaps thought that it was 99%, but no. A full 5% of email actually hits an inbox, meaning that it was not shot down over the lake by a spam filter. This five percent number for ham is a fall of some 16.6% from the previous tested period, when it was a full 6% of email.

Given the trend it would seem that two things are happening: spam filters are improving, and that spammers are just sending more spam messages to compensate.
"

Obama Used a Teleprompter to Talk to Sixth Graders?

Picture seems to indicate such, but I would think (hope) that Obama needed the teleprompter for some prepared national remarks as apposed to just talking to some elementary school kids.

Picture embedded below.



Past Teleprompter Posts:
Berman Post: Obama And The TelePrompter
Berman Post: Obama Has a Teleprompt Blunder on St Patrick's Day
Berman Post: BaracksTeleprompter.blogspot.com
Berman Post: Obama's Teleprompter Blunder on St Patrick's Day Was Actually a Joke?
Berman Post: Obama "I Jumped The Gun" (Referring to The Teleprompter)
Berman Post: Biden Goofs on Obama After His Teleprompter Broke
Berman Post: Today Show Comments on Obama's Teleprompter Habit
Berman Post: Another Teleprompter Shatters
Berman Post: "Obama's Home Teleprompter Malfunctions During Family Dinner"

Nanny State Declares War on Gatorade

This is part of the 'Are You Pouring on The Pounds' campaign which I thought was restricted to soda until I cam across this poster in the subway. You do not have to be able to read Spanish to understand the message. What happen to letting people live their lives as long as it did not effect others?

Picture embedded below.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Roxxxy - "The World's First Sex Robot"

You knew it had to happen eventually. I am actually a bit surprised it did not happen sooner. 'First' may depend on your definition of "Sex Robot", but unless you are waiting from some really futuristic sci-fi cyborg that you would not be able to tell is not human, this should be safe to count.

Video embedded below.

Osama Bin Laden Claims Responsibility For The Failed Christmas Flight Bombing

Osama Bin Laden has released a tape claiming responsibility for the Al Qaeda connected suicide underwear wearing Christmas day bomber (for which the system worked and did not work). I could add 'Al Qaeda connected' because he was singing like a Canary before being officially changed and being told he had the right to be silent. He subsequently calmed up was offered a deal and pleaded not guilty. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab seemed proud of his connection to the terrorist group and said there were more like him on the way.

Osama's claim of responsibility seems to show that he is still alive and at least some what keeping up with current events.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100124/D9DE5B8G0.html

"Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the attempt to bomb a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas in a new audio message released Sunday threatening more attacks on the United States.

A senior U.S. intelligence official in Washington said there is "no evidence whatsoever" that bin Laden had any involvement on the Christmas Day attack - or even knew about it beforehand. The message suggests the al-Qaida leader wants to appear in direct command of the terrorist group's many affiliates around the world at a time when some analysts have suggested he is mostly a figurehead.

In the minute-long recording carried by Al-Jazeera Arabic news channel, bin Laden addressed President Barack Obama saying the Christmas attack was meant to send a message similar to that of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroic warrior Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a confirmation of the previous messages sent by the heroes of the Sept. 11," he said. "America will never dream of security unless we will have it in reality in Palestine," he added.

"God willing, our raids on you will continue as long as your support for the Israelis continues."
"

Private Long's Murderer Admits Ties to Al Qaeda, Calls Shooting a "Jihadi Attack"

Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad, the man that gunned down Private Long, has admitted ties to Al Qaeda and says the shooting was meant as a terrorist attack. This will not come as a surprise to many, but there were some hold outs.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583613,00.html

"The man accused of killing one soldier and wounding another outside an Arkansas military recruiting center has asked a judge to change his plea to guilty, claiming ties to Al Qaeda.
...
Muhammad has called the shootings justified retaliation for U.S. military action in the Middle East. He told The Associated Press in a telephone interview last year that he doesn't believe he's guilty.

The New York Times, which first reported the letter on its Web site Thursday, said Muhammad described himself in the letter as a soldier in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and called the shooting "a Jihadi Attack."
"

Past related posts:
Berman Post: Soldier Gunned Down at At Military Recruiting Center in Arkansas
Berman Post: Obama Silent on Long's Murder
Berman Post: John Gibson - 'If O'Reilly is Responsible For Tiller's Murder Olbermann is Responsible For Long's Murder'
Berman Post: Daris Long Interviewed on His Son's Death
Berman Post: Obama Issues a Statement on Long's Death
Berman Post: Media's Double Standard on Long And Tiller Murders
Berman Post: Muslim Woman Crashes Remembrance Ceremony For Long
Berman Post: Private Long's Murderer Confesses, Claims he Was Justified

Obama 'Singing' The "Taxman"

Video embedded below.

White House Advisers Give Three Different Numbers on 'Saved or Created' Jobs

The most cynical view of the discrepancy between three top Obama advisers coming up with three different numbers of 'saved or created' jobs on the same day is that they could not agree on which made up number to use. It does not help that the range is from 'thousands and thousands' to 'more then two million. It may be the most cynical, but it is also the most logical; three of the top people came up with numbers that had a range of two million for what you would think would be a pretty strait forward question. The truth is that they do not know; no one knows, which may really be the whole point. It looks pretty amateurish though that they can not get on the same page and work with a consistent 'estimate'.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31914.html

"White House advisers appearing on the Sunday talk shows gave three different estimates of how many jobs could be credited to President Obama’s Recovery Act.
...
Valerie Jarrett had the most conservative count, saying “the Recovery Act saved thousands and thousands of jobs,” while David Axelrod gave the bill the most credit, saying it has “created more than – or saved more than 2 million jobs.” Press Secretary Robert Gibbs came in between them, saying the plan had “saved or created 1.5 million jobs.”
"

More at http://hotair.com/archives/2010/01/24/wh-fumbling-the-obamacare-message.

HP to Bring 3D Printers to The Masses

Affordable 3D printers to may be coming to a store near you soon. That is really all the information that is available with both 'soon' and 'affordable' being up for debate. Taking a total stab in the dark; I would agree with the less then $15k and say within the year for fear of being beaten to the punch by a competitor. It will have to drop significantly below $15k for me to consider purchasing one, but I will hopefully find a way to get my hands on one just to see what it can do.

http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-01/hp-will-market-somewhat-affordable-3-d-printers-masses

"3-D printing is finally hitting the mainstream. Hewlett-Packard, maker of many of the ubiquitous inkjet and laser printers adorning office spaces everywhere, plans to broadly market a printer that can turn out three-dimensional models from computer aided design programs. It can be yours at the highly ambiguous price point of somewhere less than $15,000.
...
HP hasn't mentioned an exact price or precise release date for their commercial 3-D printer line, but Stratasys, the company that will build the printers for HP, released a small, consumer-oriented 3-D desktop printer last year for about $15,000, so it's safe to assume HP will retail its hardware for less.

What's less certain is the quality of the printing.
"

Full Body Scanner Fails to Detect a Bomb

The Full Body Scanner being talked about to bolster airport security (which may run afoul of child pornography laws) appears now to be an expensive flop waiting to happen. on a German TV show the scan failed to detect a bomb and number of other contraband items. Admittedly it was not a perfect test, but the scanner admitted the fairly easy work arounds to beat the test. We are about to spend tremendous amounts of money to implement a system we already know will not work. Instead we should learn from the Israelis and graft parts of their system on to ours.

Video embedded below. (via)



"A demonstration of a full-body scanner on German television last week revealed that the device, which uses infrared technology, was able to detect little more than a cellphone, a knife, and the girth of the man walking through it.

The problem? He was also packing a bomb.

“Admittedly, he only faced the scanner from the front and not from the side,” wrote computer security pro Bruce Schneier. “But he also didn’t hide anything in a body cavity other than his mouth — I didn’t think about that one — he didn’t use low density or thinly sliced PETN, and he didn’t hide anything in his carry-on luggage. Full-body scanners: they’re not just a dumb idea, they don’t actually work.”
"

If You Printed Twitter...

You have to take a step back to appreciate the amount of information generated on Twitter. Considering it is generated in 140 character or less 'bites' it is pretty staggering.

Picture embedded below.

If You Printed Twitter

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Olbermann Apologizes to Stewart For Being Over The Top

Olbermann apologized to Stewart for being over the top after Stewart slammed him for his comments regarding Brown (R).

Video embedded below.



Past related post:
Berman Post: Scott Brown vs Martha Coakley For Massachusetts Senate
Berman Post: Coakley Getting Nervous
Berman Post: Democrats Getting Nervous Coakley Will Lose
Berman Post: Scott Brown
Berman Post: Ed Schultz (MSNBC) - "I’d Cheat to Keep These Bastards Out" Talking about Brown (R)
Berman Post: Coakley Can Not Fill a Hall Even With Obama
Berman Post: Obama Heckled at Coakley Rally
Berman Post: Coakley And The Democrats Appear to be Falling Apart
Berman Post: Coakley And The Democrats Giving up?
Berman Post: David Shuster (MSNBC) - 'Massachusetts Has Lost Its Mind' Since Brown is Leading Over Coakley
Berman Post: Can Paul Kirk Vote After The Election Tomorrow?
Berman Post: Ed Schultz (MSNBC) Clarifies His 'Cheat to Beat Republicans' Comment, Double amount of Cheating
Berman Post: Democrats Put Out Press Release Complaining of Voter Irregularity ... Written Yesterday
Berman Post: Coakley Supporter Handing Out Absentee Ballets Telling People Who to Vote For
Berman Post: Brown (R) Projected to Win
Berman Post: Scott Brown (R) Wins Massachusetts Senate Seat
Berman Post: Coakley's Concession Speech (Video)
Berman Post: Brown's Victory Speech (Video)
Berman Post: Media Bias Shines Through During Brown's (R) Victory Speech
Berman Post: Stewart Slams Olbermann Over His Comments on Brown

Guantanamo Bay is Still Open

Guantanamo Bay is still open, now past the deadline/promise set by Obama; not that I am complaining. I disagreed with its closing, and thought the time frame was naive. No word on a new deadline.

http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/22/happy-guantanamo-closing-day

"In case you missed the nonevent, the military prison for suspected terrorists and other assorted "enemy combatants" at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, did not close today. It may be years before it does, assuming President Obama ultimately delivers on that promise. In any case, the policy of keeping people locked up indefinitely without trial will continue, supplemented by a policy of keeping them locked up even if they are tried and acquitted. The New York Times reports that "the Obama administration has decided to continue to imprison without trials nearly 50 detainees...because a high-level task force has concluded that they are too difficult to prosecute but too dangerous to release.""

Ghosts in The White House?

Looks like the reflection of a TV screen of the glass to me, but I am not sure there is a TV in that room.

Picture embedded below.

The 'Late Night War' as a Civil War Documentary

Video embedded below.

Secret Bible Codes Stamped on Some US Military Weapons to be Removed

ABC's story on the 'secret Bible codes stamped on some US weapons' which may have been old news, has led to the manufacturer voluntarily agreeing to stop adding the code. They are also offering kits to remove the code on weapons already in circulation.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article6997881.ece

"A defence contractor will voluntarily stop stamping references to Bible verses on combat rifle sights made for the US military.

In a statement released yesterday, Trijicon said that it is also providing free modification kits to remove the references from the telescopic sights already in use. The Marine Corps has purchased more than 200,000 Trijicon sights and the Army has bought about 100,000. The British Army is also using them in Afghanistan.
"

90% of IPv4 Addresses Have Been Taken

Nine out of ten IPv4 internet addresses have been assigned. Every devise that connects to the internet needs to have an address to work. The problem here is obvious, but the solution is not that complicated. Companies/governments need to switch over to the IPv6 protocol. Current estimates give them about three years to complete the transition or we could see some major problems.

http://thenextweb.com/me/2010/01/20/10-ip-addresses-left-unallocated

"90% of the IPv4 addresses in the world have already been used up.

IPv4 is an ancient Internet protocol which assigns an IP address to every device that needs to connect to the Internet. The way it’s structured allows for 4,294,967,296 addresses – not enough! With the majority of the current Internet traffic still operating on IPv4 and only 10% left (around 429 million), this means that anyone who is not yet connected might never be.
...
Before you start running around in panic, the world has seen a 30% increase in IPv6 allocations in 2009 so there might be hope that governments, vendors, enterprises, telecoms operators and you get to switch before it’s too late!
"

Matthews (MSNBC) Destroys Grayson (D) on Reconciliation Point

I am not as confident as Matthews that the Democrats are not going to try some procedural trick, but Grayson clearly has no idea what he is talking about.

Video embedded below.

Pants on The Ground (Song)

Video embedded below.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Youtube Gets Into The Rental Business

Google is opening up a new revenue model with Youtube, renting videos. All the pieces are already in place, except the last and arguably most important. They need to get content producers to agree to use Youtube as a platform to sell their content. With a huge audience, and consequently good money making potential, that should not be to much of a problem.

http://mashable.com/2010/01/20/youtube-movie-rentals-2

"The Google-owned video site debuted online movie rentals today on a very limited basis, allowing users to rent five different flicks from the Sundance Film Festival using their Google Checkout accounts."

http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2010/01/youtube-to-sundance-independent.html

"While YouTube has offered an easy and economical way for filmmakers -- as well as content creators of all kinds -- to instantaneously connect with fans around the world, many of them have told us that the ad-supported business model doesn't always meet their distribution and monetization needs. And so, we are excited today to announce our partnership with the Sundance Film Festival to make five films from the 2010 and 2009 festivals available for rent for U.S. users on YouTube starting this Friday and running through Sunday, January 31. In addition to these five films, a small collection of rental videos from other U.S. partners across different industries, including health and education, will be made available in the weeks ahead. We’re also excited to put out the call for more independent filmmakers to join the rental program as part of our "Filmmakers Wanted" campaign at the festival.

These are early days and in the coming weeks we'll also invite a small group of partners across other industries, in addition to independent film, to participate in this new option. Anything that brings more content to the YouTube community is a good thing. And making content available for rent will give our partners unprecedented control over the distribution of their work -- they can decide the price of their videos and the rental duration; they can decide when and where their content is available; and they can keep 100% of their rights.
"
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