Diggapedia

There were times I wish he had said more and times I wished he said less, got emotional, but not too emotional.   Anywhay, here it goes: Obama the politician.   Firstly, anyone who can get elected president in the modern era must be a heckuva politician.   That being said, he really wasn’t tested during the first two years as he held strong majorities in the House and Senate.   However, he did lose the independents in the mid-term elections partly due to his aloofness and detachment from real issues such as jobs while delving into smaller matters such as the Professor Gates incident in Cambridge.   A strong close in 2010 as he solidified his base with DADT repeal to counter leaning to the center on the tax cuts deal. Obama the Commander-in-Chief.   While 50,000 troops remain in Iraq, combat activities have ended under his tenure, while gains in Afghanistan have been realized through a measured surge of combat troops.   While he can neither ta...

Instant gratification; it’s unavoidable and it’s here to stay.   Now, when it comes to patience, I am not known for well…having any, so I may be disqualified from offering any opinion.   Not that all instant gratification is bad, I like fast internet connections, microwave ovens, jokes that don’t take 30 minutes to tell, and movies-on-demand soon after their theatrical release.   But as a society we have merged instant gratification with no accountability (IGNA) creating the Four Loco equivalent of bad behaviors. -         Wall Street expectations that require quarterly performance at the expense of long term health. -         Bonus plans tied to short term profits, not long term objectives. -         Health insurance that rewards treating the symptoms and diseases, not rewarding wellness to prevent the disease and ailment. -         ...

Christine O'Donnell playing the conspiracy card saying that the Delaware GOP apparatus is behind the recently disclosed investigation into whether she misappropriated her campaign funds for personal issues such as mortgage payments for her condo.  She went on to claim that Joe Biden was also behind the federal investigation brining the justice department into the fray.  Sorry Christine to borrow from a famous 2010 Bidenism, you are "...NOT a big f--king deal." If the mortgage was too high, you should have reached out to New York Gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan cause he knows the rent is 2 damn high. Hats off to little Chrissy trying to keep her name in the news.  Waiting to see Palin come to her protege's defense via Twitter. 

A tale of two mayors:   New York Mayor Bloomberg holds press conference to say that the city is doing the best it can and that these things happen (snow blocked streets) while Newark Mayor Cory Booker was using Twitter to communicate with his constituents and direct help to address their needs.   In some cases help included the Mayor himself getting out in the streets and helping stuck motorists.   He even defended his cross river fellow mayor citing two feet of snow removal in a city as big as New York is a massive undertaking.   If perception is reality, Mayor Booker is on the horizon for bigger and better things in 2014…watch out Governor Christie or perhaps DC bound? In the retirement community laden land of metropolitan Phoenix, a new trend in self defense has popped up: Cane Fu.   As the name implies the class teaches seniors how to use their canes for self defense.   No word if course includes sessions in Tae-Kwalker-Do and how to turn your dentures ...

-         Indiana Republican Governor Mitch Daniels is getting some notice as a potential presidential candidate in 2012.   Although the odds are against him, he could carve out a patch of support from the moderates in the GOP.   As Governor he has shown innovation in the form of a statewide wellness program while balancing the state finances through a mixture of tax credits and tax increases, often pissing off both the Democrats and Conservatives in the state legislature.   He will probably get skewered by the social conservatives and the Grover Norquist clique for even talking about tax increases.   He is worth keeping an eye on. -         The CDC is now reporting 94 cases of salmonella poisoning across 16 states due to contaminated alfalfa sprouts.   I guess we could use a new Food Safety Modernization Act, the last one was in 1938.   Well we have a new law as made it through the Senat...

Myth1: President Obama is anti-business.   According to the Chamber of Commerce you would think he was Barack Hugo Chavez Obama.   Fact: In the new $858 Billion tax cut deal aka Stimulus Part Deux, the following tax breaks were included for businesses: -         Businesses can write-off capital expenditures immediately instead of over time.   This ‘Bonus Depreciation’ benefits capital intensive companies such as utilities, automobile, heavy equipment, and freight companies. -         A tax shield through 2011 for banks, insurance companies, and other financial firms for their foreign profits. -         Extending the R&D tax credit through 2011 -         Increased tax rebates to Puerto Rican and Virgin Island rum producers who export to the U.S. -         Grant extensions for the production of win...

I think Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell was spot on Monday when asked about the postponement of Sunday’s Eagles-Vikings game to Tuesday. "My biggest beef is that this is part of what's happened in this country," Rendell said. "I think we've become wussies."   For the record this blogger was at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo on Jan. 15, 1994 for the Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Raiders playoff game where game time conditions were 0 degrees with a -32 degree wind chill factor.   The postponement coupled with the QB protection rules and the proliferation of fines and penalties for hard hitting makes one wonder if the league should be changed to the NFFL: National Flag Football League with its games played in the summer time (not in Arizona due to potential heat stroke) at such venues as Central Park, Boston Common, the Washington Mall, and Balboa Park.

McNabb gets McBenched   by McShananahan in McWashington.   Looks like he’s headed to Arizona in 2011.   McCrap. When was the last good DeNiro movie?   ‘Heat’ in 1995? Whatever happened to the Tangerine, Bluebonnet, Peach, and Blue/Gray Bowl games?   Alas when bowl games meant you actually won more than 7 games and the bowls didn’t have such elegant names as the Beef ‘O’ Bradys, San Diego Credit Union, Franklin American Mortgage, Chick-fil-A, Ticket City, and GoDaddy.   Snuggies have officially surpassed chia pets as the gift most associated with Christmas.   If Charles Schultz were alive today, would Linus be in a snuggy? Have you seen the State Farm ad with Bob Barker?   He looks like a cross between John Boehner, George Hamilton, and Joan Rivers. I am not a spinal surgeon, but I did watch Boston Medical this summer and I am stunned by the news that in the last two months there have been three botched spinal surgeries at Boston’s Beth Israel Hosp...

Digganomics US GDP will grow by 4% in 2011 Unemployment will drop to a still unacceptable 8.5% By Q4 the Federal Reserve will be seriously considering a rate hike Diggapolitics Darrel Issa (R-CA) will appear on the Sunday Talk Shows more often any other Republican with the exception of Boehner and McConnell. Without an Omnibus spending bill in place and with funding only in place to run the government through March, expect the incoming Tea Party and pro-business Republicans to begin their assault on defunding key elements of the Affordable Healthcare and Financial Reform Acts. Thirteen Republicans will announce Presidential intentions: Barbour, Pence, Pawlenty, Gingrich, Daniels, Thune, Huckabee, Romney, Ron Paul, Greenspon, Karger, Santorum, and Cain.   Palin will NOT. Diggasports Patriots defeat Falcons 37 – 31 in Super Bowl XLV in Texas. Auburn defeats Oregon for national championship 35-34.   Cam Newton drafted by Carolina Panthers in April. Red Sox defeat Phillies 4-3. ...

1) Best Christmas movie: Scrooged.  "The bitch hit me with a toaster." 2) Best movie set during Christmas: The Ref.  "Lady, your husband ain't dead, he's hiding." 3) Give Natalie Portman the Oscar for Best Actress (Black Swan) now.  Best performance by any actor male or female in years. 4) Cowboys/Cards Christmas Night Game.  I'd rather eat 10 pounds of fruit cake. 5) Father Christmas by the Kinks...the most underrated Christmas Song. 6) I wonder if John Boehner got Smokey Robinson's Greatest Hits for Christmas? 7) Tom Brady missed practice this week due to flu-like symptoms.  Franchise quarterback, and no one thinks to get him a flu shot? 8) Red Sox pitchers and catchers report in 51 days. 9) How big was the lump of coal in Ebeneezer McCain's stocking this year? 10) Loved Joe Biden's response when asked what he wanted for Christmas.  Instead of the PC answer of 'peace on earth', he said 13.5 degree 2-wood. 

Bristol Palin buys home in Maricopa, AZ.  Mom tweets I can see Mexico from my daughter's house.

Watched a news story about dog yoga classes in Phoenix.   Not sure if the class includes downward facing human. Lazarus rises, thanks to us.   The US Airline industry is on pace to be the most profitable in ten years as the industry recognized $7.1Billion in profits through September largely due to successful new fees.   The industry collected $2.1 billion in fees during the third quarter alone, including more than $900 million in baggage fees and nearly $600 million in reservation change fees.     Pretty nice considering only 84% of flights arrived on time and complaints were up in 2010. First there was Inez Sainz, then Brett Favre’s sexting, and now Rex Ryan’s Fetishgate.   I could care less about what Rex Ryan and his wife do in their privacy.   However, if you put your foot fetish role playing video on YouTube, you cannot later play the ‘it’s a private matter’ card. Brazil’s incoming President-elect Dilma Rousseff was handpicked by her predecessor,...

The political fallout of the 2010 census is in and the scorecard shows the following changes in the House of Representatives by affected states: Louisiana (-1), New Jersey (-1), New York (-2), Massachusetts (-1), Ohio (-2), Pennsylvania (-1), Michigan (-1), Illinois (-1), Iowa (-1), and Missouri (-1), Washington (+1), Nevada (+1), Utah (+1), Arizona (+1), South Carolina (+1), Georgia (+1), Florida (+2), and Texas (+4).   The shift shows that traditional red states have picked up additional representatives and the all-important electoral votes; strangely weren’t the Republicans telling people not to complete the census?   So what does it all mean? From the Electoral College perspective we caution the GOP from getting too excited here.   Yes, states like Utah, Georgia, and South Carolina will add to the red electoral total at the expense of the mostly blue states, and in the short term Texas will remain clearly in the red column.   But Washington, Nevada, and Arizona h...

The Phoenix Metro Light Rail System has had to scale back operations due to budget cuts.   This has resulted in rail operators having to time their bathroom breaks just right and unfortunately there have been at least two incidents of operators soiling themselves.   It brings all new meaning to “Light Rail accident at the corner of Mill and Rio Salada.” Stunt double Christopher Tierney broke two ribs in the 4 th and latest injury during rehearsals at the Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark musical at the Hilton Theater in New York, making it the 2 nd worst mishap in NY/NJ this weekend.   Tom Coughlin also broke two ribs when he was given the Heimlich maneuver while watching the Giants choke away a 21 point 4 th quarter lead. Fox News, as part of its coverage of the START Treat, rolled out one of the biggest names in nuclear proliferation and US/Russian relations:   Jon Voight.   The star of Anaconda and Varsity Blues must be considered an expert because his daughter...

One Man's Opinion: Favorite Albums for 2010 Mumford & Sons: Sign No More Broken Bells: Broken Bells The Black Keys: Brothers The Whigs: In the Dark Arcade Fire: The Suburbs Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Beat the Devil's Tattoo Two Door Cinema Club: Tourist History Favorite Books published in 2010 Last Call by Daniel Okrent War by Sebastian Junger Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern Favorite Movies of 2010: Gasland Inside Job Waiting for Superman Lucky Inception

Why do Republicans hate facts?  Because they are never on the same side.  For the last two weeks all I have heard is one Republican after another (exceptions include Lugar, Brown Isakson, Cochran, Corker, Bennett, Snowe, and Collins) go on about how the new START Treaty is being rammed down their throats during the lame duck session.  Well facts are stubborn things.  The excerpt below is pulled from the US Senate Records for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.  You will notice the dates and and frequency of hearings.  Well Senators Kyl, McCain, Graham, and McConnell, I quote your fellow Republidick from the House, Joe Wilson (SC): "You Lie!". Treaty Number:   111-5 Transmitted:   May 13, 2010 Short Title:   Treaty with Russia on Measures for Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms Type:   Arms Control Countries:   Russia Formal Title:   Treaty between the United S...

London’s Heathrow airport is effectively shut down due to the freak winter snow storm that has hit all of Great Britain.   Thousands of passengers stranded and hundreds of flights cancelled because of 15 inches of snow.   That’s centimeters, not inches?   Oh, so the world’s 4 th busiest airport has been shut down for days due to 6 inches of snow?   Did David Cameron’s austerity measures include scrapping all of the country’s snow removal equipment? Do the Phoenix Suns realize they are playing in the NBA and not part of some kid’s NBA 2K11 roster?   Check out this partial list of moves: -         February 2008, trade Shawn Marion for Shaquille O’Neal -         December 2008 trade Raja Bell and Boris Diaw for Dudley and Richardson -         June 2009, trade Shaquille O’Neal to Cavaliers -         July 2010, lose Amare Stoudem...

Arizona is facing a structural budget deficit of $1.9Billion in 2011 and $1.5Billion in 2012.   A daunting task considering the 2010-2011 budget is only $8.5Billion and the 2011-2012 budget is $9.6Billion.   And with a large Republican majority in the Senate and House and a Republican Governor the only options they are considering are spending cuts.   Cuts to healthcare , cuts to education, and cuts to services, but no cuts to prisons or public safety.   Could the hands off on the prisons be related to the Brewer Administration’s ties to the Corrections Corporation of America: Chuck Coughlin and Paul Senseman? While Brewer and her squadron of flying monkeys led by Pearce, Adams, and Kavanaugh were too preoccupied with their xenophobic anti-immigration quest, state finances weren’t placed on the back burner, hell they weren’t even in the kitchen!   Further, her antagonistic rhetoric and war of words with the White House over immigration will come back to haunt he...

I am Rafael Cabrera-Bello.   Who is Rafael Cabrera-Bello?   RCB was disqualified when he lost his 11 th and final ball during the 2 nd round of the South African Open.   Roy McAvoy anybody? Word is incoming House Speaker Boehner likes the occasional cocktail.   I have to assume he was drunk when he pulled this boner: granting Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) a seat on the House Intelligence Committee.   That’s like putting Charlie Rangel on the House Ethics Committee.   Some famous Bachmannisms: -           “But there isn’t one even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas.” -           “If we took away the minimum wage-if conceivably it was hone-we could potentially wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level.” -         “And what a bizarre time we’re in, when a judg...

Exhibit 1: Bob Corker (R-TN aka POS #1) has threatened to withhold a vote on the START Treaty if the Democrats advance their motions for votes on the DADT repeal and DREAM act.  Huh?  That's like saying if I have pancakes for breakfast on Sunday I cannot watch Modern Family on Wednesday.  It's called mutual exclusivity.  To preempt Corker from his forthcoming “taken out of context” excuse   Here is the statement: “I’m just hoping that saner minds will prevail and that these issues that have been brought forth that are absolutely partisan, political, issues, brought forth to basically accommodate activist groups around this country. I’m hoping that those will be taken down or else I don’t think the future of the START treaty over the next several days is going to be successful, based on what I’m watching.” Exhibit 2: John McCain (R-AZ aka POS #2) who was caught off guard during the START Treaty debate when Senator Kerrry (D-MA) granted McCain and his GO...

Please watch this entire episode and get as pissed off as we did about the Republicans in the US Senate.  Fox News isn't much better, politicizing 9/11 to others but crickets when it comes to the first responders' needs.  I have seen this movie before.  The same aholes talk tough about defending our country and how proud they are about our troops, then these paper tigers are nowhere to be found when it comes to funding our soldiers' care. Jon Stewart Fights for 9/11 First Responders

-       How bad are things for J&J’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare division’s Fort Washington, PA Plant?   The plant, which makes children’s Tylenol, Mylanta, Rolaids, and other products has been at the center of a number of product recalls over the last 12 months, was closed in April after the FDA discovered lapses in 'quality control, including thick dust and grime, and contaminated ingredients.'  Looks like this is something we can keep up with the Chinese. -       I know Mark Cuban is not wel loved.   But you have to give him credit for trying.   He has put up $500million to end the BS that is the BCS and create a 12 or 16 team playoff.   I am sure there are university and conference officials already lining up to block him. -       Senate Republicans scuttled the $1.3Trillion Omnibus spending bill.   Anything to stall the process of funding the government right up to the last m...