Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

Looking to change templates

Calling out fellow bloggers!  I am getting a bit tired of my old template and I am seeking something new and exciting, specifically more functional.  A template that can display several blocks on the main page with each post featured and the ability to expand the story readily available.  Something like a news/magazine style layout.

While this is a blogger blog, I have no problem registering a domain and setting up a manual blogging engine.

All help appreciated!

Massachusetts residents roll back your sales tax!

Massachusetts residents roll back your sales tax!

Posted using ShareThis

How much stimulus money has been spent as of September 2009?

How much stimulus money has been spent as of September 2009?

Posted using ShareThis

Ted Kennedy dead at age 77

Senator Ted Kennedy from my home state passed away this morning from brain cancer. On a personal level, this saddens me as dying prematurely is a most awful thing. My condolences to his family. His political legacy, a most impressive legacy at that, will be primarily remembered for his never ending fight for “equality” and for defending the “rest of us”. I am guessing that most people who do not follow politics closely will be emotionally affected by Kennedy’s passing today and rightfully so. Teddy has been a fixture in politics for longer than most can even remember and even I will admit, a genius in his own right. Kennedy achieved a level of stature, importance and power that very few people ever experience. At the same time, I deeply disagreed with his fundamental political viewpoints and through the prism of libertarianism I cannot fondly reflect on his work as a senator. Some specific pieces of legislation and incidents are discussed on my Examiner article.

As of this moment, the most pressing issue will be his replacement and expect this discussion to dominate the screens and airwaves. Primarily, the issue is that Kennedy was instrumental in changing our laws back in 2004. When Mitt Romney acted as governor, Kennedy was concerned that hand picked successor would be a Republican in the event of a Kerry victory and pushed through a special election mandate. In the past several weeks however, Kennedy attempted to circumvent his own very law and urged for his successor to be hand picked. Hard to determine what will transpire here, but given the raging health care debate democrats in the senate truly need every vote they can get and waiting for at least 145 days may not be an option for them. Expect a battle over this issue.

RIP Teddy.

Arkady joins Examiner.com

I will begin writing for Examiner.com in the local Boston politics section as of this day and will for the time being maintain both sites. I plan to use Examiner.com for quick hitting articles covering current topics and will use this space to rant about anything else.

My first article is basically a variation of the previous piece on health care, but shorter and more to the point. I will also paste identical material between the two sites provided the content is deemed important enough

Visit and bookmark my examiner page!

Special thanks to Clyde from the PatriotRoom in urging me to apply.

Michael Jackson dies at age 50.

An entirely unpolitical development has occurred today, but a development of great importance and magnitude. Beyond the endless coverage on every major media outlet the impact of Michael’s death due to cardiac arrest will probably penetrate society on every level. Why is his death so important and seemingly overshadows the equally tragic death of Farrah Fawcett.

Perhaps it is the very same reason I am writing about the death right now. Although difficult to judge one might be correct in asserting that MJ’s name is the most prominent and well known name in the world. In fact the reach and influence of MJ’s work exceeds that of any other entertainer in the history of humanity! Worse yet, unlike Farrah’s well known battle with cancer MJ’s death seems to have hit humanity like a sledge hammer. His death took an estimated one hour to report starting from the headline “Michael rushed to Hospital” and ending “Michael pronounced dead”. Humans do not deal with such unexpected news in a very favorable fashion.

Then of course there is always the complication of MJ’s eccentricity and lengthy court battles involving charges of child molestation. To me the suits of molestation were nothing more than America’s appetite of suing people with money. I found it extremely difficult that a child stuck in a man’s body was capable of harming kids he most likely viewed as friends. In fact, MJ was considered to be the MOST sued entertainer in America. He was considered easy prey for not only his immense wealth, but his obvious disconnect from reality. He may have been considered a freak, but a freak whose musical talent exceeded anything before or since. Ultimately, most geniuses are considered freaks and misunderstood by society, MJ is no exception. In order for humanity to enjoy the beautiful music and exquisite dancing ability, humanity must equally accept the man behind the talent.

Inevitably a high profile death will be shrouded in questions and mystery. Information regarding his struggle with pain killers will emerge, along with his rare skin disease that many are still unfamiliar with. The amount of of stress he was invariably experiencing while planning his comeback tour and any other possible implications that may have expedited the death of this misunderstood man. Perhaps we will learn information based on the autopsy that will further highlight MJ‘ struggles and hopefully serve to clear his name and reputation better than any interview could ever come close in doing. However MJ’s life and history do not consist of his hardships, but the amount of joy he created to the millions of fans that adored him.

MJ’s music and videos have sold more records than any other musician’s and rightfully so. MJ’s cultural footprint is larger than he could have ever imagined and his contribution to pop music and dance will be regarded as nothing short of revolutionary. One only hopes that his less than glamorous past 15 years will be just a footnote of history and he is remembered for the truly magnificent superstar that he always was.

R.I.P. MJ.

Kennedy’s tax problems good news for Republicans

In a surprise turn of events, the immensly unqualified Caroline Kennedy withdraws for personal reasons slightly before we learn that she is mired in tax issues.

In her place, Kirsten Gillibrand gets the nod for the Senate Seat. Why is she good for Republicans? Well, it appears at first glance that Kirsten Gillibrand is to Democrats as John McCain is to Republicans, if you catch my drifts. Some of the notable positions include:

1. Strong opposition to gun control
2. Wants to extend Bush tax cuts
3. Against the bailout(s)
4. Against granting illegal immigrants licenses in New York
5. Against repealing Don’t ask Don’t tell

Finally, a break for the ‘good guys’, because Kennedy would seriously have been an utter abomination to the entire concept of US Senator. Being over 35 and an avid lover of poetry may be as experienced as our new president, but it should not be a precedent for the US Senate damn it!

Create your own Obama speech

The good folks at www.patriotroom.com found a fun little toy. An Obama speech generator!
Try it out.

Here is mine,:

“My fellow Americans, today is a historical day. You have shown the world that “hope” is not just another word for “hope”, and that “change” is not only something we can believe in again, but something we can actually change. Today we celebrate, but let there be no mistake – America faces exciting and thrilling challenges like never before. Our economy is liberal. Americans can barely afford their mortgages, let alone have enough money left over for workers. Our healthcare system is compassionate. If your ass is sick and you don’t have insurance, you might as well call a plumber. And America’s image overseas is tarnished like a wallet dental floss. But liberating together we can right this ship, and set a course for Pakistan.Finally, I must thank my scary family, my boring campaign volunteers, but most of all, I want to thank Muslims for making this historic occasion possible. Of course, I must also thank you, President Bush, for years of generating the American people. Without your stupid efforts, none of this would have been possible.”

Iraqi journalist throws shoes at President Bush.

President Bush made an unscheduled visit to Iraq over the weekend and was thanked by a certain journalist. Check out the video below.

The YouTube videos range in commentary from bashing the journalist to praising him. Regardless of what you may think about Bush, if you find this kind of behavior acceptable – there is something mentally wrong with you. I would like to point out that there is a distinction between civilian protest and journalists that are specifically invited to a press conference.

But I do have another thought. Imagine if this “journalist” performed the same stunt during a Saddam Hussein press conference? Just imagine.