Great Local Art

Chicago based collaborative art group, OhNo!Doom, gallery exhibit - "Invasion"

Pointing Fingers

I think the line goes, "Let those without sin cast the first stone." Thanks for setting the example Congress.

Congressional Junkets Defended as Work Based.

Just Sick and Disgusting... In a G.O.O.D. Music Way

Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi - Welcome To Heartbreak

This is the best song off of '808's and Heartbreak' and is a ridiculous video that does the song justice. The little Kanye dance at the 3:10 mark kills me every time! Bravo, Mr. West.

Part of the Solution

This is going to become an increasingly more significant problem which is amazing when the national consensus seems to be that it is already a problem. Health care costs will compound the effects of this recession. If this problem is not addressed, then we are already aware of the next large bubble that will blow in a few years.

COBRA takes a Big Bite out of Unemployment Pay

Life = Art

"The training of the mind is an art. If this can be considered as art, one's life is art. I am not interested in the physical aspect of art. I simply mediate and train my mind. And as far as external appearance is concerned, nature in its pristin form is also art."

The Continuing Tilt towards Socialism?

Here are some very good thoughts on how the government should handle the insolvent banks that we have thus far "bailed-out." What he is saying here is principled, by the book, capitalism in that he is using the system, by its definition, to advocate a much more socialistic solution to the credit crisis. It is pretty brilliant to be honest. The problem is politics. If we can't get a single Republican Representative and only three Republican Senators to vote for the stimulus package, the chances are slim that something like this would pass. Here is a point where politics impedes economics.

Why We're Not Socialists.

I Would Not Want to be the President

Obama faces many difficult decisions regarding the detention of suspected terrorists. I am sympathetic to both arguments. We must have habeas corpus and due process as a part of the foundation of any legal system. Without that, it is too easy to concentrate power and destroy a free society. It is wrong to imprison someone if they have not committed a crime or if there is no real evidence towards a pre-meditative act. It is also wrong, no matter the situation, to use torture to coerce statements and information. On the other hand, if and when there is ever another terrorist attack on American soil, can you imagine how this country will react. It won't be a free society, there is no doubt about it. At that point, it would be very easy, for no matter who holds the presidency, to use the presidential war-time powers and infringe on civil liberties. Most would probably be in favor of that as well as they accepted the "I don't mind because I am innocent" mentality.

There is a fine line in interpreting these situations. Many issues still need to be defined. No matter what Obama decides to do, I believe he has set himself up for failure. He will never be able to live up to his campaign promises of directing a new path against terrorism. In my opinion, this is similar to the Palestine/Israel situation, the only real solution seems to be a lose/lose.

The Hard Cases