Obama v. Jobs

The media today is buzzing about Obama and Jobs. Unfortunately, these aren't the kind jobs which the President focused on during his State of the Union speech last night. No, the Jobs in question is of the Steve variety. In an odd coincidence, but coincidence I am sure, Apple's co-founder and CEO gave his Apple Keynote (or State of the Technological Union) on the same day as President Obama gave his first State of the Union address. The aftermath almost exploded the intraweb. Who wasn't online at some point yesterday looking into the fallout from one or both of these events? All ages, sexes and races from almost all backgrounds found something yesterday which they found compelling. Media overload!

Read more »

Obama v. Jobs

The State of Our Union...in other words

President Obama gave his first State of the Union address last night. It lasted over an hour. It was over 7,000 words long. It had what seemed like 107 applause breaks.

It is perfectly understandable, then, to not have been able to fully comprehend the message. Let's just zip through an outline version of what the President thinks is important using an outline format and some broad generalizations (my apologies to the President and his speech writing team for taking the eloquent words and tearing them down into simple phrases). I will be using the next few days to develop how I feel about the most important topics and hopefully will post them here. As always, please voice your own opinion. Tell me why I'm wrong. Tell my why I'm right. Tell me what the weather is like where you live. Just put some thoughts down as your own, it makes all the difference.

The Address

• 1st Year Summary
• I came in during a tough time; wars, financial markets, unemployment, etc.
• We have been through times like this before but the American spirit is strong, blah, blah, blah
• The Economy (Issue #1)
• Stimulus package helped prevent a bigger meltdown
• We MUST grow the economy moving forward
• What have we done so far
• extended unemployment benefits, made COBRA less expensive, cut taxes for certain groups
• JOBS JOBS JOBS
• proposals
• $30 billion to community banks to lend to small businesses, small business tax credits for hiring employees, eliminate capital gains taxes on new small business investment, tax cuts for new business investment
• need to focus on clean energy jobs
• Eliminating the hurdles towards growth
• Financial Reform
• need to push through the bill in Congress for stated bank reform; do not let lobbyists kill it
• Encourage innovation with continued support for research and development
• need to pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill
• Need to double our exports in the next five years
• will be facilitated by new National Export Initiative
• Invest in education
• renew the Elementary and Secondary Education act, work with Congress to revitalize community colleges
• make college more affordable with tax credits and loan forgiveness
• Health Insurance reform
• lighten the mood surrounding the last 6 months of debate
• explain the need to push forward and finish the job ("Don't walk away from reform")
• National Debt situation
• Steps to becoming more fiscally responsible
• Spending freeze in 2011 (everything but Medicare/caid, Social Security, national security)
• Analyze budget line by line and cut unnecessary spending
• implement bipartisan fiscal commission
• transparency (lobbyists, earmarks, etc.)
• Partisan Politics
• there will always be disagreements, but lets keep things civilized
• elected to serve the people, not to simple work to get elected
• need for leadership on both sides
• National Security
• Afghanistan
• increasing troops so we can start leaving by July 2011
• Iraq
• must continue to support the Iraqi government and their efforts against al-Qaeda
• Our Army
• new focus on veteran support (building 21st century VA)
• Nuclear Threats
• April's Nuclear Security Summit of 44 nations
• Iran, North Korea, etc.
• increased sanctions 
• International Relations
• support global financial recovery, increase education in Muslim countries, fight climate change, fight HIV/AIDS spreading
• overall "(connect) to those beyond our shores"
• Random Issues to make certain groups happy
• strengthening civil rights laws while stepping up hate crime punishment
• repeal "don't ask, don't tell" military policy
• fight equal pay discrimination
• secure borders and enforce immigration policy
• Conclusion
• Remember why America is great, come together and we will be stronger than ever

There you have it. A nice little package of what the current administration believes to be the state of our union. Keep checking back for some follow up to some of these issues.

GRM for RAL

The State of Our Union...in other words

My Take on Reviews

For me, there are very few examples of entertainment which I find completely useless. More so I find my enjoyment of a movie, TV show or song just has to find the right mood and temperament to be enjoyed. There is certainly no shortage of "junk" floating around in the entertainosphere, but for the most part if you are in the right mindset all works have their place.

For a basis moving forward, let's take a look at a few example to understand what I mean.

The Shawshank Redemption: A movie which can fit almost any mood. It is the great equalizer. I know I am not alone, but whenever this movie comes on I will find myself at least watching a few minutes. Something has to be added to this, however. While most of my guy friends feel similarly to me on Shawshank, fewer females are on board. Yes, it is a great movie which everyone can enjoy, it just seems to trend more towards the male audience. This is why I tend to give movies a "gender". This does not simply mean male/female. Movies, as well as TV shows and music, can be couples (He's Not That Into You, How I Met Your Mother, the Swell Season), old men (The Bucket List, Biography, Bruce Springstein), old women (any Meryl Streep movie, The Mentalist, Michael Buble), tweens (High School Musical, Glee, Miley Cyrus), etc.

A Beautiful Mind: Another great movie which I try to watch whenever it comes on. The difference here is the mindset for full enjoyment. No explosions, no terrorists, no crazy plot twists, just a great screenplay and wonderful acting. A Beautiful Mind is not what you want to see in front of you after a long Saturday night has bled into Sunday morning. To match this, I like to group all entertainment by mood as well. This could be lazy (Jersey Shore), sad (Ray LaMontagne), angry (Die Hard 7: Attack of the Clones), excited (Passion Pit) , happy (Happy Feet). All I know is I tend to enjoy some forms of entertainment more under a certain mood.

These are the two confusing aspects to understand my methodology of reviewing songs, movies and shows. Other factors I consider:

• Re-watch/listen factor (made famous by Bill Simmons, among others) which is simply a measure as to the staying factor of a piece. Is it enjoyable the second, third, fourth times through? 
• Time Limit which factors in the amount of times you will look at your watch wondering when it will end or if you are left wanting more
• Twitter Pitch: my take on how this movie/show/album was pitched at a production meeting. 140 characters or less! (Example: Despite not having seen the movie yet, here is what Hot Tub Time Machine might look - "Let's take B-level TV guys, add 80s star, accidentally travel back to the 80s, hilarity ensues! Oh, and it'll be raunchy, gotta be raunchy" or "It's just like the Hangover! In the 1980's! With an even zanier premise! What's not to like!!")
• Do NOT Watch/Listen When...: This is the absolute worst time to experience the media. (Example: Do NOT Watch Top Chef with an empty stomach and an empty kitchen.)

I am no expert on anything. My views on entertainment mean nothing. I might as well be yelling these thoughts on the street corner (or better, wearing a sandwich board with crazy things written on it. Less work if you don't actually have to yell, let those around you do the work by reading!). All I am trying to do is take a look at things I read, watch, listen to, experience and potentially give one other person a reason (or reason not to) intake a certain piece of media. There are too many wonderful review sites for me to consider writing epic, artistic reviews (my favorites: RottenTomatoes, AllMusic Guide, MetaCritic). Just stop by here every once in a while, check out the reviews, tell me I'm wrong, stick around and read some of the more intellectually stimulating stuff, and subscribe to the RSS.

Is that so much to ask?

Probably...

GRM for RAL

My Take on Reviews

Monday Morning Mini-Rant: Overtime

Much of the country had a front row seat to an intense drama last night. Young Garrett Hartley became a household name as he sent the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl in franchise history defeating the Minnesota Vikings (For non-football fans, read this to get an understanding of why this is such a big deal). Unfortunately, the hoopla and unparalleled celebration which can only come from a New Orleans fan base was somewhat diminished due the the circumstances of the victory. While the entire game was nothing spectacular, it was filled with drama and excitement at every turn. The least climactic series of the 66-plus minutes was the final drive in overtime. After the coin flip was decided and the Saints took the field, many expected (or almost assumed) the game to be over. 

Historically good offense + tired defense x overtime rules = lackluster ending

For the most part, the overtime went according to the normal patternI would have enjoyed a nice Jerome Bettis coin flip fiasco or a Matt Hasslebeck over anxious winning proclamation, though.  . The Vikings put up a fine effort and there were moments of doubt for the Saints, but in the end the Saints put themselves in position for the previously mentioned Hartley game winner.

Why would any professional sport choose to have a game decided by its least exciting element? No fan is excited by field goals. If you ran a sports league, wouldn't it make sense to place rules in place which ensure an exciting finish, or at least a fulfilling finish? Movie producers do not build a story around the least carismatic actorException: Adams, Amy inJulie & Julia . Authors do not lead readers to a climactic point of the story only to have the protagonist avoid the conflictException: Kafka, Franz, and yes I understand the existential appeal, but come on, his stuff is beyond insufferable . CEOs do not hold shareholder meetings and reveal depreciation expenses as the big announcementException: CIT, annual meeting 2009 . But this is how the NFL has decided to build their product.  As fans, should we not demand more from our marquee sport? Should we not be given a proper ending to a dramatic game? 

Some would go on and on about the opportunities afford the defense to make a stop and give their own offense a chance. Others will bore you with countless other options for how to end the game"The team that wins the coin toss gets 7 plays, if they do not score a touchdown then the other team gets three shots at the endzone from the 45 yard marker, if they do not convert then the first team gets the ball at the 25 yard line...." . No need to waste your time with these type of ideas. Instead let us just look at the way other major sports decide their winners if the game is tied at the end of regulation and see if we can't find a consensus.

Major League Baseball

Premise: Extra innings are played until the tie is broken. Same rules as regulation. 

Positives: The game is decided by the same methods no matter what. Both teams get a fair chance to win.

Negatives: Could last HOURS beyond scheduled time.

National Basketball Association

Premise: 5 minute overtime sessions until the game ends with a winner. Same rules as regulation.

Positives: The game is decided by the same methods no matter what. Both teams get a fair chance to win.

Negatives: Fouls carry over from regulation with certain players ruled out for the overtime.

National Hockey League

Premise: (Regular Season) One overtime session is played followed by a 'shootout'. (Post-season) Overtime periods are played until a goal is scored.

Positives: Both teams get a fair chance to win.

Negatives: In a shootout, the premise is entirely changed. No longer is the game decided based on the 'regular' rules. In the post-season, games can last for HOURS.

Soccer (most leagues)

Premise: (Regular Season) Games end in a tie. (Post-season) Two extra time periods are played with sames rules as regulation. Most leagues have eliminated the "sudden death" element and instead play both extra time periods in full. If still tied at the end of the extra periods, a shootout is used as a tie-breaker.

Positives: Both teams have a fair chance to win. They include at least a significant portion of extra time played under the same rules as regulation.

Negatives: The shootout has no correlation with the actual game. It is not a true reflection of how soccer is played.

NCAA Football (closest comparison to NFL)

Premise: Teams recieve possessions on the 25-yard line with an opportunity to score. Each team is given a chance to score. The team who ends an overtime with more points wins. Additional rules apply after numerous tied overtime periods.

Positives: Both teams have a fair chance to win. Rules are only slightly changes.

Negatives: Defenses are placed in a negative position to begin, thus altering the premise of the game. Chance for the game to last significantly longer.

Obviously this is not the be-all-end-all list. However, this represents the most popular and successful leagues and their rules.

Let's recap and then compare to the NFL.

3 Easy Rules for Overtime Structure:

1. Both teams should have a fair chance to win
2. Rules should be the same as regulation
3. Should not allow for extensive extra time

These are the three most consistent elements throughout the other major sports. The NFL goes completely against the first two rules. Teams are not both given a fair chance to win and the rules are not the same as regulation (sudden death). While the final rule may be viewed as a positive to the NFL system, any fan knows how stretched out time can be in a football game. Add to this the chance of no scoring for the entire overtime period and we can see this as a potential negative as well.

The NFL is the greatest sports league in America. It is just a shame to see its marquee game of the year (until the Super Bowl) be decided in this lackluster fashion. The powers that run the NFL have always catered to the television audience, but this is one instance which leaves millions wanting more.

GRM for RAL

Monday Morning Mini-Rant: Overtime

Has Obama Tipped?

*I will not go into any sort of detail as to what Malcolm Gladwell coined as a tipping point in his book of the same name. If you are one of the 17 people who have yet to read it, do yourself a favor and run to the library. It's a quick, entertaining read which will make you look a little bit differently at the way the public reacts to almost anything.*

In only a few years, Barack Obama has tipped twice. The first started when then Senator Obama gave the now-famous speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Then came the best-selling book "The Audacity of Hope" which was followed by the unreal press coverage. Time magazine asking if he was "the next president". Newsweek proclaiming him "NEXT". Every newspaper and television show in the country had a behind the scenes feature on the life of Obama or the raising of Obama. This, however, was just par for the course in terms of a potential Presidential candidate. Obama had not tipped yet.

The tipping point came when Obama became more than a would be candidate, when he became a cultural phenomenon. It is an amazing achievement to be on the cover of news publications, it is an entirely different beast to be the focus of GQ, Rolling Stone, Vibe, Vogue and Wired. Political scientists can look at hundreds of different theories as to why Barack Obama became our President, but it would be a hard sell to convince me that the Obama "cool" factor wasn't the key. Obama became more than a politician; he became a celebrity, a style icon, a civil rights role model, an everyman for the masses. I was lucky enough to be in college during the Obama rise to power and what I saw was striking. Obama stickers and pins were not looked at as confusing political endorsements,. They became fashionable and cool. You slap a McCain bumper sticker on your car and you were immediately type cast as old and out of touch with modern life. No group was more marginalized in their community than a Republican college student in 2007-2008. Support Republicans? Might as well stop hoping for a date on Friday night or a party invite for Saturday. This was the environment which tipped Obama and led him straight into the White House.

An interesting thing happens when you ride a wave of pop culture and celebrity into a historically boring position. President Obama entered office to historic popularity. The base was energized and the youth of the country felt directly responsible. But after the buzz of the first few moths fade away, the job of President drifts toward pop culture irrelevance. When you capitalize on a group of voters who do not generally follow politics, it is almost impossible to keep them on your bandwagon for very long. There are only so many energizing speeches one can give as President. Only so many public appearances one can make as President. Only so many topics which one can cover as President. In Pres. Obama's case, he could not have had a less appealing agenda to tackle in his first year; the economy, health care and wars in the Middle East. While it might offend many in my peer group, these topics are not topics which we are texting our friends about. To be blunt, the youth of America jumped off the Obama train simply because we didn't care anymore.

This shifted the balance of power back to a more equal state. Politics returned to business as usual with those who have always cared showing the most interest. No more empowered minority groups who never showed interest, no more Republican base being rendered useless. Equilibrium politics was back. This was and is not good for the Obama Administration.

During the second half of the first year under President Obama, something strange started to happen. He was losing. In politics it is generally difficult to find clear winners and losers. Often issues are muddled under the negotiating table and both sides get some of what they want. Unfortunately for Obama, he was involved in some clear "losses". Visiting Coppenhagen to support the Chicago Olympic bid goes ignored and Obama flies home defeated. Obama backs several Democratic candidates during special elections and they lose. Obama sets health care as his domestic priority and as of today, we see nothing. The final loss was the second tipping point for Barack Obama. Scott Brown wins Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachussets. 

Individually these "losses" did not really mean much. The Olympic vote was out of his control; the Dem candidates were going to lose whether Obama did anything or not; health care has been a trainwreck for many reasons beyond Obama's influence; Scott Brown won the election mainly because of a nonsensical approach from Democrat candidate Martha Coaxley. 

You see, Obama's still got it. These aren't his fault.

But you know where these stories really resonate? The casual public. They listen to the news on their way to work or they flip through the newspaper when they finish dinner or the watch the nightly news before getting ready for bed. So these people hear loss after loss even thought this might not be the case. The opinion starts to shift on Obama. Losers are not cool. Tipping point reached. Let the onslaught of bad press begin. How did I come to the conclusion that the Obama love affair was over? It wasn't the talking heads on CNN saying negative things; it wasn't the stories in the news magazines; it was not the blogs blasting him. The single moment came from reading the latest issue of GQ. In a story unrelated to politics at all the following analogy was used. 

The only person who has disappointed more white people lately is President Obama.

Uh-oh. Pop culture has turned on the man who they used to sell so many issues, stories, shows, documentaries, etc. You never want to become the butt of a joke, especially if you are the President. It happens to most, but not this early. Bush lasted until the Iraq disaster to lose his prestige. Clinton needed an affair to get there. Bush Sr. had many small moments which helped him reach this point after a handful of years. Nixon had Watergate. We can go on an on. 

In our current culture of fast paced reaction and counter-reaction it is going to be more and more difficult for any public figure to last for long as the "cool" figure. It is just a shame that it only took one year for a full fall from grace for someone who seemed to be able to transcend the normal follies which bring people down.

Hey, we have three more years, maybe he'll tip back.

GRM for RAL

Has Obama Tipped?