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
Cubans getting more Freedoms
2008-04-03 00:49:00 I'm glad the government is "allowing" people to have more things. Pretty amazing that they were ever denied.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Freedoms , Cubans
Why did Obama end the important conversation on race?
2008-04-03 00:23:00 Hey, Obama , you teased us with the solution to our race problem (that keeps us up at night) and never brought it up again. You left us hanging, dude! Please continue the very important "conversation on race." Heal us!Powered by b2evolution. More About: Race , Conversation
Jonah Goldberg and Christian fish intolerance
2008-04-02 19:43:00 In his Evolution of Religious Bigotry article on Fitna, the Dutch anti-Koran movie, and people who place Darwin fish symbols on their cars, Jonah Goldberg makes two points: 1. That it's rude to put anti-anything symbols on their cars. 2. That people who do so are cowardly because they'd never offend the religion whose adherents would actually harm them, and hypocritical because they condemn the nice religion. Some thoughts: 1. I always thought it was in bad taste and hypocritical as well as an unnecessary disturber of the public peace. The original fish itself is inoffensive- a positive message that only implies that non-believers will go to Hell. People who'd use the Darwin bumper sticker (I know such people.) would say that Christian ity is a worthy target of wrath because it places more value on fetuses than women's freedom and wanting to include some sort of non-materialistic ideas on evolution. 2. As for the bravery of placing the Darwin sticker: Of course, unless ... More About: Fish , Intolerance
McCain fights back over 100 years comment: What about his understanding of
2008-04-02 17:02:00 I'm glad that McCain took my advice and fought back on the 100 years comment. This whole controversy is largely over and will end up helping McCain, for it will comprise one huge bale of the straw that will break Obama's thin back. "He's not only just like every other politician- he's worse! McCain would never lie about Obama's statements." Worse for Obama: If you heard the audio, Obama sounded mentally challenged squirming his way out of the lie. National Review has a good summary. Asymmetric is always ahead of the curve. The next flub McCain needs to confront is his statement that he didn't understand the economy. I know what he meant. Who does understand the economy outside of those dedicated to the task? Are you telling me you comprehended the whole "adding liquidity to the market" thing? So, Obama occasionally brings it up without ever telling us what the heck he understands. In fact, my guess is that he doesn't know Jack about economy. So, how to respond? This o... More About: Fights , Back , Years , Comment , Understanding
Rae Dawn Chong: Race and sex calculus in McCain VP choice
2008-04-01 06:52:00 Making History. Democrats have opened up a huge "history gap" with the Republicans, lately rubbing their history-making noses in Republican's static faces. Democrats chose the theme "making history" for their California convention and may do the same for Denver. The candidates themselves have mentioned their historicity in debates. By "history," they don't mean their economic policies as they first made history in Bismarkian Germany in the late 19th century, then in Italy a few years later, and the United States in 1930, 1933, 1964, and 1976. Nor is their foreign policy novel, having been implemented in 382 in Rome, 1937 in Great Britain and Vietnam in 1975. What they're talking about is Obama's half blackness and Clinton's complete womanhood (You know that race and sex don't matter unless it does [is of benefit], don't you?). Although McCain was born in Panama, the idea of having the first Latin-American president hasn't so far electrified the electorate- ask Bill Richar... More About: Race , Choice , Dawn
Man, do I feel stupid for being responsible!
2008-04-01 01:05:00 I didn't buy a house waiting for the prices to go down. What an idiot I am! I could have bought high and then let Chris Dodd lower my mortgage payment when prices went down. As it is: not only will the government take my money to help the geniuses (no sarcasm) who bought homes they couldn't afford, but when I save up (why should I?) to buy one, the prices will be artificially higher. Thanks, Democrats! Looking out for the little guy! No mention of the Democrat rules that force banks to lend to people who can't pay them.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Stupid , Feel
Movie Review: 21 (Twenty-One)- Count on a good time.
2008-03-30 21:20:00 Youtube video. Like Fast and Furious, Tin Men, Quiz Show, Michael Clayton, and others, 21 is a movie that envelopes the viewer in a subculture unfamiliar to all but its participants. The secret to a good Discovery movie is making the audience feel as though the movie's milieu is actually important and that they're actually learning something. 21 succeeds on both counts. For two hours, I only cared about "beating the house." I can see people picking up card-counting books (I penciled one into Nelson Jr.'s reading list.) and Vegas hotels having some heavy booking days as a result of 21. In 21, genius, nerd, suit salesman, and Harvard Med School acceptee Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) needs $300,000 to pay for Medical School. He tries for a scholarship, but leaves the interview unsure that he can sufficiently “dazzle” the interviewer with his life experience. After hearing Campbell's impressive analysis of the Monty Hall math problem, college professor Mickey Rosa (... More About: Movie , Movie Review , Time , Review , Twenty
So, are children raised by single parents worse off? Obama and his single m
2008-03-28 15:27:00 One usually associates advocacy for traditional marriage with conservatives and equivalencies of "lifestyles" with liberals. The Obama candidacy may have changed all of that. Have you noticed how defenders of Barack Obama (and Obama himself) bring up Obama's single parent upbringing to gain him sympathy? Now, if somebody wants sympathy for something, that "something" has to be bad or, at least, disadvantageous, right? Can we assume, then, that Obama supporters, usually the most left Democrats, consider it worse for children that they're raised by single parents than a married couple? If so, why aren't liberals more vocal in discouraging illegitimacy and denouncing divorce, the kind of behaviors rampant in places like Hollywood and Democrat-controlled inner-cities? Maybe liberals don't think that single parenting is worse, per se, but just that single mother homes tend to be poorer. I don't think Obama's mom and grandparents were poor, were they? Even if they were, that singl... More About: Children , Parents , Single
Meditation on blogging and the burnout that ensues
2008-03-28 03:55:00 I've had a good blogging experience. I've become a better writer, I think. I've met some nice people both in the flesh and the electrons. It may even have been "meaningful" in that some people have found Asymmetric entertaining or persuasive (Good news, the three of you qualify for free psychiatric help.). Most important to me is that I've been able to express myself in a way that's inexpensive, legal, and moral. Indeed, Eliot Spitzer could have saved his job and $80,000 if he spent his evenings on Blogger instead of Ashley Dupre. Not being an act condemnable to jail or Hell, doesn't mean that blogging isn't without its drawbacks, however. You know how overly sociological people can't enjoy a mall: Leftists get mad at the "consumerism," Victoria Secrets mannequins (and consumerism) get the religious to tsking, people in a mixed relationship holding hands make racists of every color fume. Well, over the last year and a half, I've developed "blogger vision." That is, I've ... More About: Meditation , Blogging , Burnout
How McCain should respond to the 100 years in Iraq lie
2008-03-28 00:59:00 Story from here on Politico. Though it’s not exactly an accurate representation of McCain’s views, Democratic strategists view the “100 years” remark as the linchpin of an effort to turn McCain's national security credentials against him by framing the Vietnam War hero as a warmonger who envisions an American presence in Iraq without end. Both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama began citing McCain’s remark in Democratic debates not long after he made it, and their campaigns have stepped up the focus in recent weeks. On a recent conference call with reporters, Howard Wolfson, Clinton’s bulldog operative, mentioned four times in two minutes that John McCain “wants to be in Iraq for 100 years.” “Instead of offering an exit strategy for Iraq, he’s offering us a 100-year occupation,” said Obama last week, in a speech marking the five-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. McCain never actually wen... More About: Years
Precision technology advertisement
2008-03-27 16:06:00 Shouldn't that be "Deal of the Week?" Powered by b2evolution. More About: Technology , Advertisement , Precision
Why The News Media Sucks Now...
2008-03-24 23:43:00 I heard this viewpoint on a radio show a while back, and like sometimes happens, it stuck with me. And no, this will not be a rant against the liberal media. This guy was explaining how the kinds of people who used to go into journalism as a career back in the day are not the kinds of people who go into into it now. See, in the old days, think pre-TV, an awful lot of journalists were muckraker types. They had an axe to grind. Maybe they were bullied a lot as kids or whatever, and they wanted to get back at the world. These were people with something to prove, people with chips on their shoulders. Get the point? Anti-social types. And that made for great investigative reporting. And now? It almost makes me laugh. Who goes into the "News Media " now? The term itself suggests the answer. People who want to be on TV. The elitists. These are people who went to Ivy League schools and decided to go into the media so they could be on TV instead of going to law school or ... More About: The News , Sucks , News Media
Is college useless? More evidence.
2008-03-24 15:59:00 No, but it's over-rated. It's a subject I've groped around (here and here), but Adam Creighton puts some meat on my feeling-based skeleton here.Powered by b2evolution. More About: College , Evidence , Useless
Asymmetric public service announcement
2008-03-24 06:45:00 As you're flying home from your Easter weekend, please heed these safety tips from Deltalina. Powered by b2evolution. More About: Asymmetric , Public Service , Public , Service , Announcement
Obama campaign has pre-total implosion syndrome
2008-03-22 19:22:00 Obama's campaign is the most prickly group of people. Besides all of the race stuff, they tried to turn a routine case of government carelessness into "passportgate." Now, they've put the worst possible spin on Clinton's statement. From here. Statement: “I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country,” Clinton said. “And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics.” Half cocked reaction: “It sounds more like McCarthy,” McPeak said. “I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I’ve had enough of it.” Kathleen Parker on NRO has the first-hand truth and it's really quite innocent. What's amazing is the claim that McCarthy accused innocent people of... More About: Obama , Campaign , Syndrome , Total
Why the bad economy won't help Obama
2008-03-22 18:35:00 Story here. Confident in 2009 turnaround. Though times are tough now, Americans believe the economy will bounce back by next year. The poll showed 60% of respondents think economic conditions in the United States will be "good" next year, as opposed to the 75% who think the economic situation is "poor" now. "Most people realize that the economy has cycles of ups and downs," said Bullard. "Fortunately, the last two recessions were some of the shortest on record, so in 2009 we should be pulling up out of this." Americans agree with the economists. Eighty-three percent said they are "confident" that they will be able to maintain their standards of living next year, and 85% are "confident" they will keep their jobs over the next six months. Consumers also showed faith that they would be able to pay off their future debts, with 90% of respondents demonstrating confidence they would be able to meet their monthly mortgage payments for the duration of the mortgage. Nearly as many Ameri... More About: Economy , Obama
Liberals hypocrisy on Wright, Obama, and Hagee.
2008-03-22 07:04:00 As if one needed further evidence that many of my liberal brothers and sisters are hypocrites of the most incredible proportion, this wrong-headed Nation writer (redundant) comes along to theorize that the real reason that Obama is plummeting in the polls is white racism (Race does play a factor, as I've mentioned before, but it doesn't explain why people are moving away from Obama.). So, Obama goes to a racist church and it's only our own racism that wants to know why he did so (I assume he doesn't go anymore- it's his "former" church.) and if he agreed with pastor Wright 's horrible lies. Take a trip with me to equivalence land. Imagine if John McCain went to pastor Fred Phelps' gay-hating (I mean real "hate" not just disagreement. And homosexuality is something frowned upon in the Bible, unlike race.) church for 20 years, called Fred Phelps his "spiritual mentor," dedicated a book to him, and officiated McCain's wedding: "Friends, does Phelps go too far? Yes, sometimes... More About: Liberals , Hypocrisy
Why I didn't commemorate the Iraq War
2008-03-22 03:41:00 Of course I, along with all Americans whether in favor or opposed (most of those opposed), honor the sacrifices of those involved and despite the hours I've spent orally and electronically defending its rationality if not its necessity (Here's a post when I was more worried.) and even having participated in its execution, I couldn't muster the motivation to write something on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war. The main reason is that the question seems settled. Obama and Hillary currently engage in a retreat auction ("I see your six months and raise you two.") in front of Kassocks, but I have a feeling they'll be moderating that view in the general election, and that if either of them do win the election, that person will find an excuse to stay. Meanwhile the candidate who most urges victory in Iraq, a position that people are supposed to either be against or not care about, is climbing in the polls. So, we'll stay, things will improve, we'll have a base for a hundred y... More About: Iraq War
Good Friday Music Special: Handel Messiah
2008-03-21 19:47:00 These are the relevant parts for Friday . Different versions of the work exist-including one by Mozart (talk about genius on genius), but I asked senator McCain, and he said that Beethoven would often tell him that he liked the original best. For a scholarly analysis, go here. I added the Korean subtitles for my international audience. Behold the Lamb of God: Read more »Powered by b2evolution. More About: Music , Handel , Special , Good
People of all religions can agree on Good Friday
2008-03-21 17:06:00 We can all agree that something like this happened. Even Christopher Hitchens can agree that on a Friday just before Passover, approximately 1975 years ago, the Roman authorities crucified a person named Jesus Christ who claimed to be the son of God and whom some believed. It's what happened on Sunday that people disagree about. "If Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless" (1 Cor. 15:14)Powered by b2evolution. More About: People , Good , Religions
Corporate income tax elimination.
2008-03-21 15:40:00 McCain's call to eliminate the corporate income tax was the reason I endorsed McCain in the first place. Here's more on that dumbest of taxes. Powered by b2evolution. More About: Corporate , Income , Elimination , Income Tax
I say we pull out our troops...
2008-03-21 15:35:00 ...unless we see some political progress at the Democratic convention.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Troops , Pull
Where will Obama celebrate Easter?
2008-03-21 15:22:00 I don't think there's been a more significant worship choice since Henry VIII.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Easter , Celebrate , Obama
The coming left crypto-narrative: McCain is too old
2008-03-20 16:06:00 A few months back, Somebody at NRO said that he expects Obama to subtly make an issue of McCain's race by saying how he "honors McCain's many many many many years of service," which Obama, in fact, did soon afterwards (It could also be a way of dealing with Obama's huge stature gap.). I expect McCain's age to be a not-so-subtext of the Obama campaign just like Hillary has used plausibly-deniable race references against Obama. In reading a few blog and forum comments, I've noticed that the hateful left has seized upon this attack line with a vengeance, mentioning Alzheimer's, diapers, and all manner of thoughtful criticisms. I wonder how many liberals the left would have to shut up because of age? Chomsky, Carter; I can think of a bunch. But, who cares? Who takes the left seriously, anyways? I'll play a Letterman clip, who's become more of an "out" liberal, clip below. Much more hateful ones could be found, but they give me the creeps. There's some Clinton and Obama ones... More About: Left , Crypto
Obama lies about McCain, again.
2008-03-20 05:42:00 So, this is the "new politics?" Lie about McCain and hope stupid people don't know any better: "We wish the McCain campaign well as they try to figure out the difference between Iran and al Qaeda," answered Obama spokesman Bill Burton, trying to get the last word. "This fall, John McCain will support George Bush Foreign Policy 101: endless war in Iraq; a policy of not talking to adversaries that has not worked; and a disturbing tendency to conflate very different threats. Barack Obama will offer a clean break from the failed policies of the past." 1. Obama's not aware that Iran arms both, but it was a McCain mis-statement that McCain corrected immediately. Is that what he's going to do now? Gotcha! "He called his friend 'Joe' instead of 'John.' Are we going to elect a president that can't remember the names of his friends?" 2. The "endless war" thing is a lie. See here. 3. Try to associate McCain and Bush. And then he complains about associating him with Wright.Powered ... More About: Lies
Obama the next Lincoln or Barney the dinosaur?
2008-03-20 04:32:00 Obarney Obama 's speech is the most polarizing discourse in my lifetime. The disparate reactions have little to do with the message and everything to do with its effectiveness and emotional punch. Some conservatives liked it, but most felt like I did: The public caught Obama applauding the most hateful religious figure this side of Emperor Palpatine, and Obama had to do some damage control. It certainly wasn't, as some liberals contend, "brave" or visionary- Obama would have mentioned racism from the beginning of his candidacy if he were any kind of brave. Remember, Obama ran as the forgiving, non-threatening, minority "bargainer," trying to get all of the unmentioned-by-him positive benefits of such a position (T-shirt below) while being careful not to ruffle the feathers of the benign neglecters. No doubt Barack was upset when the media forced him to abandon his strategy. A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win by Shelby Steele Obama Making History sh... More About: Lincoln , Barney
Mob marches on Obama's grandmother's house: Burn her in effigy
2008-03-19 16:29:00 Protester in Honolulu Hawaii burn Durham's effigy Inspired by presidential candidate Barack Obama's speech on race, thousands of enraged protesters marched on the home of Madelyn Dunham, Obama's maternal grandmother. Nervous residents of normally sedate Honolulu, Hawaii barricaded their homes and the Hawaiian governor called the National Guard as the crowd overturned cars and burned Madelyn Dunham in effigy: "She's a divisive figure. She's insensitive. She made Obama cringe!" said Obama supporter Chad Thurston. "Her comments forced Obama to question who he was," said professional peace activist and barista Mary Howell, "Now, she must pay!" Pastor John Peters addressed the crowd, accusing Durham of developing a more severe strain of common cold, going to predominantly black neighborhoods, and intentionally coughing on people, "I said, 'when you gonna stop coughing, devil.' Little did I know." Obama spokeswoman Judith Moon called Durham a "monster," a comment that Obama d... More About: House , Marches , Burn
Heather Mills awarded $50,000,000 in divorce
2008-03-19 01:16:00 A divorce court awarded Heather Mills $50,000,000 dollars for her split with Paul McCartney which works out to about $50,000,000 per leg.Powered by b2evolution. More About: Divorce
Commentary on Barack Obama's racism speech in Philadelphia
2008-03-19 01:01:00 Here for text. It's easy to judge Obama's speeches, but it's hard to assess their impact. On the one hand, they're all about dressing up socialist wolves in moderate, practical clothing and the elevation of selfishness (free _____) to magnanimity. But, nobody would use disguises if they never worked. The speech ambiguously condemns Wright while apologizing for him and making anybody who brings it up feel "divisive," the worst thing you can be in an Obama world-except when he himself is talking about corporations or "special interests." It talks about his background which I find neither heroic nor interesting (I don't denigrate it, either- I just don't care more about his accomplishments than his circumstances.) and offers some middling America-loving talk, inaccurate history (No charitable interpretations there.), demonstrably wrong problem-sourcing (Not enough parks or police?), and his pretty face. In the end, it's a speech about race which nobody(!) wants to think ab... More About: Commentary , Philadelphia , Barack , Racism , Speech
Government as crack dealer
More articles from this author:2008-03-19 00:46:00 Jeremiah Wright is right: the American government did sell crack to its citizens- if you use "crack" as a metaphor for offering a product to ostensibly improve lives, but that really hooks them into a dependent relationship (with the best of intentions- I'm not a conspiracy theorist.). Each socialist-leaning administration hastens our degeneration as a people, a rot that, for all intents, is permanent. The latest example is the prescription drug benefit. At a time when entitlements threaten to swallow our wallets whole, Bush chose (or was forced) to start a new one. If there's a problem in the future, or if PDB becomes more expensive than intended (inevitable), who will dare cut it? "They want to see our senior citizens grow sick." It's a rule that once people start counting on government help when planning lifestyle choices, Uncle Sam will never get rid of it. It's not just giveaways either. Deductible interest mortgage is similar: People figure the benefit into their choice... More About: Government , Crack , Dealer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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