Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face!

That great American pugilist Mike Tyson was once asked about whether it worried him that his opponent was training hard and seemed to have developed a fight plan against him. Tyson respond with something to the effect of "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face".

So true. Once you get knocked back on your heals, everything changes, with your plans often getting scrapped in the process. Read more!

Republicans now hold 41-59 majority in the Senate!

The results of the MA Senate race resulting in a win for the Republicans is said to be a referendum on health care? I say that it a small part of a number of problems.

I mean Coakley obviously ran a poor campaign. She called Curt Schilling a Yankee fan, spelled her own state incorrectly, and took an actual vacation after the primaries? In today's media cycle these type gaffes get more talked about; not the issues. The Schilling comment alone got her labeled as "out of touch" and "moronic" by much of the MA electorate. Coakley squandered what was an almost 30 pt lead in the polls in 30 days.

But as I initially stated there was more to this that was beyond her control. The lack of real progress in the Democratic-controlled Congress cannot be ignored. Congress has been debating the Health Care issue for about a year now and the bill still hasn't been passed. If a bill had been passed it takes the Health Care issue off the table. Instead Brown was able to Champion himself as the hero that could save them from "government take-over of health care."

Congress has accomplished little even with the so called "super-majority." I think people are angry that nothing is getting done and many took their anger out on Coakley by either not voting at all or voting for Brown.

The Democrats unfortunately have stalled on an issue that is virtually split in support across the country. 50% are against the health care plan, while 50% support it and probably half of each side is rather indifferent to see any change made at all.

America has watched the Democrats trip over themselves to see a bill that satisfies the wishes of pretty much no one, while facing unilateral opposition from the minority party. Not a single Republican is evaluating the details of the bill considering what they like and dislike, they are instead leading a unified effort to stifle any progress. While democrats are arguing with one another like teenage siblings. As Dr. King stated, "genuine leaders are not searchers for consensus but molders of consensus."

Democrats barked up the wrong tree making Health Care the #1 issue with support being rather lukewarm across the country. They would have been better served pursuing aggressive regulation of the financial institutions that received huge bailouts and are still passing out bonuses. There is unified support among all Americans to see action and if the Republicans were forced to show public opposition to attempts to clean up Wall Street the Democrats could have buried them for decades!

Instead we will sit and watch them trip over each other into a 2010 mid-term election slaughter and see the perpetual cycle of legislative ineffectiveness continue to blossom... Read more!

Curse Bush or Thank Obama?

As my 401K portfolio is finally equal to the value it was before the 2008 economic crisis. Should I continue to curse Bush or should I just be thankful for Obama?

It amazes me that "Economics" in America is still an open dialogue. Listening to Republican and Conservative opinion in regards to any fiscal matters would be equivalent to me accepting financial advice from my drunk uncle who works every day, lives with his mother, drives a 25 year old Buick, and borrows $20 from me every time he stops by. Not to mention that once his mother dies he will lose her house because he is too irresponsible to pay the taxes every year. This is basically the state that Conservatives Economic Policy has left this country.

Did we forget the economy was losing jobs at a rate of close to 700,000 jobs a month, credit markets were functioning poorly, the GDP was in a free fall, and a second Great Depression was imminent? Now instead of being in the middle of Depression we are talking about a recovery!


The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka Stimulus Bill), which the President signed less than a month after taking office was unpopular to many, but has undoubtedly helped to stabilize our Economy. We must recognize the "economy" is 50% about real numbers, and 50% just about how people feel or think things are going.

The GDP, in a free fall for three quarters, barely fell in the second quarter of 2009, rose in the third and will see larger growth in the fourth quarter.

Job loss, which averaged 691,000 jobs a month is the first quarter of 2009, averaged 69,000 in the fourth quarter.

The Dow Jones, sitting at a disastrous 6500 points 30 days into the Obama Presidency and everybody blamed his failed policies. Now that Obama's policies are actually fueling the economy the Dow is over 10,700 points and it's in "real" money not the "Madoff" money we had during the Bush years.

With the economy still losing jobs and unemployment at 10 %, the economy is obviously far from healthy, but stabilizing the economy is just not enough. The problems that led to the crisis were years in the making.

We need to complete efforts like financial regulatory that protect the economy from actions that could threaten financial and economic stability, and protect our financial system from the abuse of powerful financial institutions like AIG. Conservatives mock these attempts to reform???

You can say the Obama administration isn't doing everything right, but what they are doing is working!!! As I am continually frustrated by the rhetoric, as always one of the "David's" from Obama's Campaign laid out the facts more eloquently than I ever could. That is why Obama won so overwhelmingly because of his brain trust1 Enjoy this article by David Axelrod. Read more!

Not out of the woods yet!

After the Dallas Cowboys surprised us all and won the NFC East Division in a season where even the most adamant fans were predicting 9-7. There is a notion that Wade Phillips should return as coach for the Dallas Cowboys. I say he is not out of the woods yet, but not ready to send him out to pasture either.

Although, he gets credit for having outperformed expectations, the bar is still the same for him to return next season.

WIN A PLAYOFF GAME!!!

Considering the scenario it isn't much to ask. You have one of the hottest teams in the NFL, playing at home, against a team that you have already beaten twice of which one game you held them scoreless. To not win a playoff game at this point would unfortunately enhance support for his firing as he would have squandered a great opportunity for he 2nd time. Although it may not materialize, it would be more than logical to believe the right guy could come in and get this team over the hump.

At this point the Defense is playing as good as any Cowboys defense has ever played. For that reason we would all be sad to see Wade Phillips go. We would hope to at least keep him around as our Defensive Coordinator. Don't get me wrong, I am rooting for you Wade. Not because I like you, just because I always wish success for the Cowboys and if you can lead us I am in your corner. Read more!

Can't get it out of my face!

I had never heard of her prior to this night, but it has been almost 2 months and I still can't shake the hook "Sweet Ass in yo face", sang by Olivia Munn from Attack of the Show on the Jimmy Fallon show. She said her show was geared to the "idiocracy." I guess I am guilty as charged... Here is the video from the show, the song is about 1/2 way into the video

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

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NFL Scheduling Formula

I believe I figured out the NFL scheduling formula, and thus figured out the 2010 Schedule for the Dallas Cowboys.

Here is the Formula:
Play each team in Division Twice – Eagles, Giants, Redskins (since Cowboys play in NFC East)

Play each team from another NFC Division – next year this will be the NFC North (because Cowboys played South – 2009, and West – 2008)

Play each team from an AFC Division – next year this will be the AFC South (because Cowboys played West – 2009, North – 2008, and East – 2007)

Play NFC teams that had like finish in their respective divisions – this would be the other NFC Division leaders (since Cowboys won the division)

So here is the schedule:

Home Games
Eagles, Giants, Redskins, Bears, Jaguars, Titans, Saints, Lions

Away Games
Eagles, Giants, Redskins, Vikings, Colts, Texans, Packers, Cardinals

For most opponents I determined home/away based on where the last game was played. A couple of the teams we have played for various reasons outside of the rotational cycle so there is some flexibility for those opponents.

As for pre-season I haven’t determined a pattern yet, we’ll see if I got this one right and then go from there. Give it a shot for your favorite NFL team.

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