Asymmetric Asymmetric 38 years in the making, I present Asymmetric. I have sections for movie, book and television reviews; moderate political commentary; Catholicism and religion; Cuban music; tech reviews; military stuff; and some things I think are funny. Enjoy Articles
Obama flips on Cuban embargo
2008-05-24 18:11:00 Thanks to Henry on Babalu. Powered by b2evolution. More About: Obama , Cuban , Embargo
Barack Obama courts Cuban voters in Miami
2008-05-24 03:09:00 Some points: 1. How is Bush responsible for Chavez if Chavez was elected in 1999? Don't many Obama supporters like Danny Glover and Sean Penn support Chavez. The two I mentioned visited Chavez! Hello! Earth to Obama! 2. Mentioning Bush in every sentence with McCain is an effective tactic for wooing stupid people, one of his major constituencies, I guess. 3. Obama voted against a trade agreement with our best (only?) ally in South America, Colombia, but it's Bush (and McCain who is Bush) who is alienating them. His solution, like his solution to everything else, is to give away my money; this time, in aid. 4. He did say he'd meet without pre-conditions but then changed. Who cares? He doesn't know what he's saying. 5. I suspect that the main reason Cubans are Republicans is their more entrepreneurial attitude and firm grip on the middle and upper rungs on the economic ladder, not because of Cuba policy. Article below. MIAMI — Sen. Barack Obama , who once said he w... More About: Miami , Courts
Hillary Clinton and Bobby Kennedy remark
2008-05-24 02:43:00 Man! When people hate, they do it all the way (See Huffington Post). It seems to me a very uncharitable interpretation of Hillary Clinton 's remarks to suggest that she was calling on somebody to assassinate Obama. She was just reminiscing about June campaigns. How many have gone into June? Wouldn't the 1968 one be one of the most memorable? Sheesh! Powered by b2evolution. More About: Bobby , Kennedy
McCain's last three veep choices-Jindal, Romney, and Crist
2008-05-22 15:22:00 I guess it's smart to send up this trial balloon. Let's see how the Corner and other conservatives react. Let's look at polls and see how this shakes out. I'm surprised by Pawlenty's absence. Of the three, I like Jindal because he's the freshest, both in age and ideas, although Jindal may highlight the age issue instead of diffuse it. Oddly, his Asian-ness may help McCain win back some of the college crowd for McCain. Romney just doesn't have electoral pull. The only reason conservatives liked him was that he was the conservative alternative to McCain. McCain's already up big in Florida and shouldn't need Crist . Story. John McCain is hosting several officials considered to be potential running mates at his Arizona retreat over the Memorial Day weekend — but his campaign insists the gathering is just a social affair. The presumptive GOP presidential nominee plans to host two-dozen guests, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and form... More About: Choices
No education crisis for boys say university women
2008-05-22 15:01:00 In related news, the French declare deodorant an unnecessary expense. People print this with a strait face? 60% of undergraduate college students are women, but boys are OK (Are women better off by being the majority on college campuses?). Here's what the university women did: They looked at SAT and ACT tests and determined that since men score higher, there's no problem. Well, of course! Those tests correlate to IQ, a factor that doesn't change much despite disparities in education. Some minorities still do worse, the women pointed out. Hmmm, why would they point that out? (Hint: We need action for our favored groups!) Anyways, my hypothesis is that, except for the sciences, school has become a place for girls. In high school, at least, if you look at literature anthologies, you'll notice that most of the stories involve an initially misunderstood person or group whom the dominant group accepts later on. In other words, the Oprah selection for months May through November (You ... More About: Women , Education , University , Crisis , Boys
Obama previews his negotiation technique with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
2008-05-22 12:32:00 Obama: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , what's up? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: What's up? Obama: Well, just wanted to see if we could meet, you know, uuuuuh, work things out. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Picture first. Obama: Sure. (Somebody speaks to him) What's with the bunny ears, Mr. Ahmadinejad? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Sorry. it was just a joke. (Aside) We got it? Obama: OK, as you know, we think you might be building a nuclear weapon and you say you want to destroy Israel. You can see how people are worried, uuuuh, yes? Mahmoud: That's a lie. Well, I mean we're building a nuclear bomb, but we're not going to bomb Israel- not that they don't deserve it, the stinking corpses. Obama: Hey, hey! uuuuhhh, stop right there! Mahmoud: What, the truth about Israel bothers you? Obama: No. Would you please stop with the bunny ears! Mahmoud: Of course. Well, we're building the bomb. Obama: Nothing I can say, huh? Mahmoud: No. Obama: OK, but no Israel talk. Mahmoud: OK. We promise. No mo... More About: Technique , Obama , Negotiation
Best Friends Abstinence program works
2008-05-22 12:15:00 Girls are 6 times less likely to have sex if they're enrolled in the best friends program. Good! I've started my own abstinence program in the Guirado household with my own children (My wife has her own program which takes effect every time she gets angry.). Whom would these results upset?Powered by b2evolution. More About: Friends , Works , Abstinence , Program , Best friends
Govindini Murty at Heritage First Principles conference
2008-05-22 08:16:00 Govindini Murty after her presentation. I attended the Heritage "First Principles " conference yesterday. It was a wonderful event- choc full of smart, nice conservatives (although the ritual sacrifice wasn't at their usual high standard). Govindini Murty, co-founder of the Liberty Film Festival and a woman as personally gracious and articulate as she is stunningly beautiful, spoke on the history and present state of conservatism in Hollywood. "What?" you ask, "That's like talking about the funk scene in seventies Salt Lake City." Well, no, apparently. According to Murty, Hollywood was once a pretty conservative place. Not as ideologically pure as today's movie industry, but still, a city in which a guy could park his Coolidge-stickered 1924 Pierce Arrow in front of the Brown Derby and ask for a caramel macchiato (or, whatever they drank) without fear of vandalism. 1924 Pierce-Arrow Ford, Capra, Ginger Rogers, Mayer, Heston, Jimmy Stewart, and various other studio heads and t... More About: Conference
Obama and Hanford ignorance
2008-05-22 04:02:00 I'm going to side with Obama on this one. The guy didn't know about Hanford. There are many local issues and I don't expect a presidential candidate to know every single one. It reminds me of McCain's admission that he didn't know as much about the economy as he does foreign policy- honest and not damning in the least. Powered by b2evolution. More About: Ignorance
Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: Better than the first
2008-05-22 03:36:00 About a quarter way through Prince Caspian, I resigned myself to a delightful, mildly thrilling, and imaginative movie like the first Narnia, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Instead, Caspian evolved into something more mature, thrilling, thoughtful, and even profound. It's better than Lion in every way and I guarantee your enjoyment (Not literally- so don't send me your ticket stubs.). First, for those of you keeping score in the allegory playoffs, so far we have: Christian- 2 The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition) Atheist (Golden Compass)- 1 It looks like New Line will forfeit the rest of the series as well. The Golden Compass (New Line Platinum Series Two-Disc Widescreen Edition) Communist- 1 Antz Environmentalist- 1: Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer Gay rights- 1 Happy Feet (Widescreen Edition) Al Gore- 1 Phenomenon You can add more, I'm sure. Anyways, by the time of the second film, after the... More About: Review , Prince Caspian
Political Dictionary: Low down and Detestable
2008-05-19 17:22:00 Low class: Adjective. 1. Effective political attack. 2. True. Detestable: Adjective. 1. A statement or line of political attack which the speaker regrets not having thought of first. Sen. Barack Obama ripped into a Republican ad today that targets comments made by his wife, Michelle, and called the GOP tactic "low class" and "detestable." Here. Synonyms: 1. Mean spirited. 2. Malicious. As a reference see any defense of Democratic ideas or statements by Howard Dean.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Political , Dictionary
Barack Obama: Lay off my wife
2008-05-19 17:05:00 "But I do want to say this to the GOP. If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful. Because that I find unacceptable," he said. Here. Two points: 1. The last time, Obama complained about context, he didn't come out looking so good. 2. I'm sympathetic with a man wanting to protect his wife- that's his job. If, however, Obama uses his wife as a campaign asset and has her make speeches on his behalf, he should expect some scrutiny.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Barack Obama , Wife , Barack
Some people are still oonfused about Obama and terrorists.
2008-05-19 00:20:00 To assist some logical holdouts, I thought of an analogy to explain how high-level meetings confers legitimacy upon a nation or entity. Remember when leftists cheered the Democratic candidates after the candidates refused to appear on Fox news? Why did they do that? Well, because by going on Fox, Obama , Clinton, and Ravel would have beeen saying, in effect, that Fox News isn't the journalistic equivilent of Star Wars' Mos Eisley Cantina ("wretched hive of scum and villainy"). Anyways, it's nice to know that the left thinks more highly of Hamas than Fox News. Fox News commissary- to the left.Powered by b2evolution. More About: People , Terrorists
Some people are confused about Obama and terrorists
2008-05-18 21:09:00 OK. Some people who are otherwise pretty smart are confused about why Bush and McCain won't negotiate with terrorists. Fact: The United States government is talking to Iran as you read this. Fact: Official, high-level talks confers respectability to a nation or regime. It also provides photo-ops. A picture of FDR, for example, hugging Hitler could have been used against him. Obama , Hamas, and Iran prove that official, high-level negotiations are prestigious simply because they desire them. Why would Obama make a point of "negotiating with enemies" if he thought that official negotiations were no different from what we're doing now? Why would Hamas and Iran want them? What McCain should say if Obama continues to demagogue this legitimate policy issue is something like, "Well, apparently Obama doesn't mind legitimizing terrorists. In fact, I rememeber that some of his best friends are terrorists." McCain would be referring to unrepentant William Ayers (below, standing on Ame... More About: People , Terrorists
Another lie from the Huffington Post on McCain and Hamas
2008-05-17 06:38:00 Wow, what kind of man clips out the last seconds of a McCain quote to twist his true meaning? Howard Dean's DNC did it with McCain's "100 years in Iraq quote" and now Jamie Rubin does it with a McCain interview. Does the Huffington Post apologize for promoting this lie? No, it doubles down and finds some other, probably out-of-context quotes to "keep lies alive." This is getting sad and I don't find the lies interesting. I just put them up so that you guys can be aware in case one of the lied-to works with you or something. All: Today, Jamie Rubin made a charge against John McCain. Every one of your news organizations put him on the air and covered his charges that John McCain flip-flopped on engagement with Hamas . Now we know that Jamie Rubin didn’t tell the truth.As the entire video — just posted on SkyNews — clearly shows, John McCain absolutely did not advocate unconditional engagement with Hamas. Indeed, Rubin conveniently cut off his follow-up qu... More About: Huffington Post , The Huffington Post
Peggy Noonan and an Asymmetric view of Republican troubles.
2008-05-17 03:09:00 Peggy Noonan took Republican s to task, piling on the evidence that the Republican "brand" is tarnished. Perhaps the Republican troubles go deeper than a little tarnish and only some Democratic rust will shine the Republicans up. Explanation: When do you feel more conservative: When money's low and your neighbors are acting up or when you live off your fathers trust fund in his gated mansion? Likewise, good times prompt Democratic victory, as the populace grows weary of improvement and just wants to relax. To put it another way, people will only vote for Republicans, the "course-righteners" in times of danger or perceived Democratic malfeasance. The "malfeasance" manifests itself in the "giving away the store" idea, or, the belief that Democrats have or will irresponsibly damage society to benefit the object of their pity du jour. On social issues, this means affirmative action, gay marriage, sex education in kindergarten, etc. In economics, look at California where, after Gr... More About: Asymmetric , View , Peggy Noonan
Huckabee and Obama comment
2008-05-17 02:40:00 Reason number one why people will never elect a comedian to high office: During a speech to the National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, Kentucky Friday, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee joked to the audience that an offstage noise was Barack Obama avoiding gunfire. "That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak," Huckabee said. "Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor." The line was met with laughter. What a dummy. I'm sure he didn't mean anything bad by it, but it's not good when a candidate is making jokes instead of just "having a sense of humor."Powered by b2evolution. More About: Comment
Obama's college tuition plan
2008-05-16 22:58:00 Barack Obama wants to give undergraduate students $4000.00 tuition. In a time of virtually free information and the ability to distribute learning digitally or through teleconferencing at a low cost, college tuition continues to increase faster than the rate of inflation. Some schools have billion-dollar endowments (Harvard's is 35,000,000,000.), but the reason that colleges charge so much, according to this article, is simply because they can. Now, setting aside that singles and the majority of parents with children who won't attend college will be subsidizing children who are probably better able to pay; the dubious proposition that the United States needs more sociologists; and that by adding some fraud magnet, BS service requirement, the program will be much more inefficient and costly; why wouldn't universities simply increase tuition by $4000.00? It's not like most of them are under-enrolled. The left equivalent of gas tax holiday- or worse, it's a difficult thing t... More About: College , Plan , Tuition
McCain 2013 ad and Biden's response.
2008-05-16 17:03:00 Despite it almost drifting into Obama-like utopianism, I liked the speech. It sure was different- the kind of thing that makes an impact- perhaps a lasting one. Such ads tend to be ripe targets for satirists, but you can't be scared of that. They also create conversation. Here's Joe Biden feigning even more ignorance than he already has: In his speech, Senator McCain says that by 2013, "the Iraq war has been won." How? What's the strategy? Ever heard of the surge? Here's the full text of the ad.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Response
Prince Caspian review coming up later today
2008-05-16 17:02:00 I don't have time for a full review right now, but the second Narnia film was fantastic and that's not just an affinity opinion! Go see it and then tell me what you think. Powered by b2evolution. More About: Review , Today , Prince , Prince Caspian , Caspian
California supreme court overturns the will of the people on homosexual ma
2008-05-16 05:30:00 California Supreme court judge listens to arguments before issuing his decree. Apparently, the California constitution guarantees that men can marry other men. Asymmetric thoughts: 1. Patriarchy/ traditional marriage-phobes might be cheering, but only because their side won- not because the California Supreme Court did any justice. They will say the CASC just wanted to apply the law equally to everyone. Since homosexuals had as much right to marry somebody of the opposite sex as anybody else, the issue obviously had nothing to do with equal protection. Yet, my untraditional brothers and sisters will dismiss the California electorate as wrong and in need of "education." Those unwilling to succumb will face worse. Some will mention Martin Luther King and blacks. What does this minority want? They want the traditional structure of society to fail. Why? One, it helps foster the kind of chaotic social situations that cry for government intervention. Two, it deals another blow t... More About: People , California , The People
Chris Matthews and Kevin James
2008-05-16 05:15:00 Oh, that Huffington Post. They're so clever! They propose that Matthews "eviscerated" Kevin James (who isn't my favorite talk show host). Besides the fact that the HuffPo's get all giddy to what was essentially a "gotcha" argument (Why didn't Matthews simply tell James what he meant?), the whole scenario is a big burst of dishonesty. 1. If they had no hope of being appeased in some way, why would our enemies negotiate? They're going to surrender unconditionally? Why would they attend a meeting where they'd be dictated to? 2. Mark Green is against analogies? Obama's whole campaign strategy is an analogy (McCain is like Bush). Does that mean the left will never bring up Iraq (if Obama manages to lose it) or Vietnam whenever they oppose a future conflict? Ridiculously dishonest.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Chris
Navarrette on illegal immigration: making Hispanics look bad
2008-05-15 19:07:00 What are the qualifications to write for CNN? Ruben Navarrette proves that even the most banal PC drivel can make it onto a major network. His ten points: SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- In a recent commentary, I wrote that, as a Mexican-American, the ugliness of the immigration debate offends me -- not as a Mexican, but as an American. The topic: the immigration debate and what she called a wave I of hate sweeping the land -- one that isn't limited to illegal immigrants, but which is now affecting all Hispanics regardless of where they were born, what language they speak or what flag they salute. Hispanics sometimes say this, but when I ask for examples, they more often can't come up with one- it's more like a theoretical oppression like, "Considering the history of the United States, Americans are probably oppressing us somewhere." Let's not lower the bar for problematic "hatred" so much that it includes legitimate policy discussions. The way Murguia sees it, immigrat... More About: Illegal Immigration , Immigration , Illegal
Cliques or groups at Huntington Park High School 2008
2008-05-15 02:27:00 Some of you may know because you're parents and some of you may remember from your own educational experience that all students play together through grammar school, i.e., if Osama bin Laden had met George Bush in grammar school, they’d have traded puddings during lunch and then have played a game of "Crusaders and Jihadis" during recess. In middle school (Jr. High for the mature set), things change and kids break up into different cliques or groups. The process continues until retirement when once again they all play together again in Vegas or Branson. This post describes the different groups or cliques from my beloved place of employment, Huntington Park High School . Now, as I describe these groups, some of you may become alarmed, but it’s not my intention to cause parents or culture-watchers concern, and while some consternation may be warranted, much will be excessive, for the vast majority of students outgrow their strangeness. Even many of those who hold on to t... More About: High School , Groups
Avert your eyes lest you turn into a pillar of salt
2008-05-14 07:46:00 Actual illustration accompanying Willamette Week’s endorsement via Slog Powered by b2evolution. More About: Eyes , Salt , Turn
Asymmetric car-buying experience
2008-05-14 07:19:00 When I figured out that the savings from a doubling of my gas mileage would pay for a new fuel efficient vehicle, I decided to dump the old Isuzu Trooper and buy a small car. Auto thoughts: 1. Amazingly, I decided this all on my lonesome! I didn't need CAFE mandates, tax rebates, or Al Gore public service announcements (Don't tell him; he might get angry.) to convince me. Not only could I (and thousands of other independent Americans) choose to help the environment (and my wallet) without help, I, an often "bitter," sometimes "victimized" minority also negotiated with the "predatory" and "greedy" dealer for the price of the car with no government representative looking over my shoulder. Well, not quite: The government does have rules to assure a transparent transaction (which is a legitimate government function). Californians don't stop at the necessary, however: Each car in California has a sign saying: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of Californ... More About: Buying , Asymmetric , Car Buying , Experience
Obama the Christian
2008-05-14 04:50:00 As John McCain goes for the environmentalists, Obama goes after this bitter constituency: Powered by b2evolution. More About: Christian
John Hagee and Bill Donohue reapproachement
2008-05-14 01:23:00 John Hagee sent a letter to Bill Donahue: “After weeks of meeting with various Catholic leaders, and accessing scholarly literature on Catholic-Jewish relations, Pastor John Hagee has demonstrated an improved understanding of the Catholic Church and its history. In his letter to me, Hagee says, ‘I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful.’ He specifically cites his emphasis of ‘the darkest chapters in the history of Catholic and Protestant relations with the Jews,’ and has pledged to provide a more complete and balanced portrayal going forward that will not reinforce mischaracterizations of the Catholic Church. And while he stresses that his invocation of terms like ‘apostate church’ and the ‘great whore’ were never meant by him to describe the Catholic Church, he acknowledges that anti-Catholics have long employed such language. “The tone of Hagee’s letter is sincere. He wan... More About: John
Barack Obama get 90% of the black vote.
2008-05-13 02:23:00 I'm surprised that 10% would vote for Hillary. Why?Powered by b2evolution. More About: Barack Obama , Barack , Obama , Black , Vote
Newsweek and the GOP onslaught- McCain response
More articles from this author:2008-05-12 17:16:00 Man! Obama sure is lucky that he has more money and academia, most major newspapers, and almost all of the television networks on his side. He's going to need it when he goes against the vicious GOP attack machine this fall. Poor guy. In more evidence that I have, in fact, entered an alternate reality, Newsweek claims that the Republican attack machine, not theirs, is the scarier monster. Have they ever heard Howard Dean? Daily Kos? Huffington? How about using this Newsweek attack piece to preempt any McCain criticisms of Obama? I think this whole "GOP is meaner than us" is catching on amongst the easily self-deluded and self-righteous left. Here's the original Newsweek article. Below is the McCain campaign response by Mark Salter: Dear Jon, A useful way to read the piece would be to try to imagine you were a Republican reading it. The characterization of Republican presidential campaigns as nothing more than attack machines that use 527s and other means to smear opponent... More About: Response 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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