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The Ryan Pick
by Jon Harrison | Posted August 11, 2012
With his selection of Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate, Mitt Romney has decided the 2012 presidential election. Barack Obama will be reelected president of the United States.
Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, brings Romney needed credibility with conservatives. Indeed, over the past few days establishment conservatives have been waging a pick-Ryan campaign in the media, and probably behind the scenes with Romney's people as well. Ryan is a serious figure intellectually, and commands respect within establishment political circles. But he has spent over a decade in Congress, and as a result is viewed with some skepticism by Tea Party types. He will not excite the yahoo wing of the party as Sarah Palin did in 2008.
But just how much Ryan solidifies Romney's support from the base is beside the point. Indeed, the Ryan pick shows just how out of touch Romney is with political realities. Conservatives were going to hold their noses and vote for Romney anyway, because they hate Obama. What Romney needed was a VP pick who would help him win over independents, particularly women. Ryan doesn't do that. But the damage the Ryan pick does to Romney goes beyond this.
The problem is Ryan's plan for Medicare. I'm not going to discuss the merits of the Ryan plan here; this is a piece about electoral politics. The Ryan plan will be pounded day in and day out by Democrats. By November Ryan and Romney will literally look like losers, irritable and worn from weeks and weeks of defending a plan that most people (and all oldsters) will perceive as the evisceration of a sacrosanct entitlement. Even people over 60 who belong to the Tea Party believe that their Medicare benefits must be preserved, no matter the cost.
Romney's people may believe that Ryan will bring them Wisconsin, and winning that state becomes a bit more likely with Ryan on the ticket. But it's still very much a reach for the Republicans. Scott Walker's success in surviving the recall election earlier this year is not likely a harbinger of Republican prospects in November. Many Walker voters who were standing up against Wisconsin's public employee unions (i.e., voting their pocketbooks), will not support cuts in Medicare and Social Security.
Had Romney been looking to pick off a battleground state, he should've picked Rob Portman of Ohio. Ohio is bigger than Wisconsin, and Republicans had a decent chance of carrying the state. Portman might have put them over the top there. The Ryan pick places Ohio more firmly in the Democratic column.
I originally thought that Romney would pick a woman or a Hispanic (Marco Rubio), because he lags badly with both groups. I did an analysis in June that gave President Obama 22 states and the District of Columbia with a total of 270 electoral votes, the minimum needed to win. With five months to go the election was clearly very much up for grabs. I thought then that Romney would pick Portman, as Ohio is a state Romney needs to win if he is to prevail. With the selection of Ryan, Romney has probably lost Ohio and Florida, which in June I had going to the Republicans. If Romney loses both Ohio and Florida, there is no way he gets to 270 electoral votes.
The idea that major structural reform of Medicare and Social Security will play politically, in a time of economic uncertainty and widespread voter despair, is utter nonsense. Yet that is what Romney apparently believes, based on his selection of Ryan. Romney truly is out of touch with reality. His dippiness was already apparent in his views on foreign policy. His economic policies — on tax reform, job creation, and yes, entitlement reform — were in fact far more sensible than anything put forward by the Democrats, and this constituted his main advantage over Obama. But by placing radical reform of Medicare and Social Security in the forefront of the political debate — that is, by picking Paul Ryan — Romney has cost himself the election. The only question now is how big Obama's margin will be.
Jon Harrison, a former Liberty contributing editor (2008–2014), is a freelance writer and editor.
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Charles Barr
Here's a positive development courtesy of the Paul Ryan VP pick: Sales of Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged are spiking.
On the morning of the announcement, Atlas Shrugged was number 353 on Amazon's ranking of best sellers in books. As of this morning (Aug. 15, 2012) it is number 92 and still climbing.
Even though he has backed off recently, Ryan's past enthusiasm for Rand has drawn quite a bit of media and public attention. As a result, her philosophy is likely to reach a much broader audience during the current election cycle and beyond. I think this will aid the cause of liberty in the long run.
Wed, 2012-08-15 10:55
Scott Jensen
There isn't a horse race going on. It has NEVER been a horse race. Romney will win a landslide. Period. Here's why.
First, it doesn't matter if Obama is more or less popular than Romney. This race isn't about Romney and certainly not about Ryan. It is about Obama. All re-election campaigns are a referendum on the incumbent. Even Ford's election was beyond doubt a referendum on Nixon.
Second, given the above, the only question is this: Is Obama above or below 50% in the polls? To be even more precise since the general election isn't a direct democratic process, the question really is: Is Obama above or below 50% in the states? If Obama is above 50% in a state, he wins that state's electoral college votes. If he is below 50%, he loses those votes. Only if he is exactly at 50% does voter turn-out really matter and then it is a coin toss. The reason for this is that the "undecided" break for the challenger. The "undecided" are not undecided about the challenger but the incumbent. Given this, if people in a state say they would vote 47% for Obama and 43% for Romney, it isn't ... as the press likes to report ... +3% Obama but +3% Romney. Oh, and Bush Junior was just over 50% in the general polls just before the election and thus he won.
Third, Obama has been burning money faster than he has been taking it in and he has barely moved the needle. Romney's big ad push hasn't even started and he has a pile of money to spend from here to the election.
Fourth, Romney never had any problems smacking down any of his Republican competitors in the primaries. When he went after them, he buried them. He learned from 2008 how to be a battle-hardened candidate and it is now paying off for him.
Fifth, Obama's key demographic groups are leaving him. Even blacks are likely not to vote in the same record numbers as they did in 2008. Obama got 95% of the black vote in 2008 and all current polls put him at best in the mid-80s right now. College students turned out in droves for Obama in 2008, all current polling shows they will return to their previous low turn-out this year. Women went for Obama in 2008 but now Romney is nearly on par with Obama with them. Latinos went majorly for Obama in 2008 and current polls say he's lost major support with them. Only gays will be the one demographic that will come out strong for Obama but since they, at best, equal 2% of the population, they really don't matter electorally. The one state where they do matter a bit is California and that was never considered a battleground state.
Sixth, the ONLY way to re-ignite the Tea Party is by talking about government spending. You seem to have completely forgotten about 2010. Obama surely has. But for Romney to get the Tea Party behind him, he has to talk about the debt and deficit. Bringing Ryan on board as his VP insures this will happen. You think entitlements are a third rail in politics. It isn't with the Tea Party. Ryan is the WORST candidate that Romney could pick as far as OBAMA is concerned. Obama wants to talk about anything but the debt, deficit, and the economy, but the ONLY way you can talk about entitlements is by talking about the debt, deficit, and the economy. What Romney has done is laid a trap for Obama. Obama thinks he will win by "defending" entitlements, but that won't be the case. What Obama will end up doing is defending Big Government and that, as shown in the 2010 election, is a losing argument.
Seventh, it is the economy, stupid! If the economy sucks, the incumbent President loses. If the economy is strong or at least appearing to be getting stronger, the incumbent President wins. The economy sucks and there's no hope in sight. Obama will lose and lose in a landslide.
Mon, 2012-08-13 14:06
The "independent voter" is a bit of a myth.
Study, after study, has shown that those who identify or register themselves as independent, always vote for the same party, election after election.
The true way "independents" affect elections is by not voting in elections they can't quite support the candidate of their preferred party.
Sun, 2012-08-12 21:40
Jon Harrison
Could you specify some of these studies you mention? I would like to have a look at them. I was an independent back when I still voted, and I cast votes for both Republicans and Democrats.
Mon, 2012-08-13 01:50
Ok. University of Missouri press of John Petrociks study of electoral behavoir. Bruce Keith's study from the early '90s. John Sides of GW University.
The subject has been studied, ad nauseum. Help yourself to the volumes of research.
Mon, 2012-08-13 14:46
Jon Harrison
I did find info about Keith's study ("The Myth of the Independent Voter") online. Apparently it says that about 10% of voters are "true independents." I never imagined that the percentage was higher than that. Ten per cent can make all the difference in a close election, and 2012 still looks like it will be close. So thanks for providing info that buttresses my argument.
Tue, 2012-08-14 12:09
I agree with much of what you write, so I'm loathe to post a comment when we disagree, but...
There's a flaw in your analysis of the Ryan pick. You're treating individual voters as mindless members of lazily-drawn categories. They aren't.
The phrase "all oldsters" is beneath you. Libertarians should hope that individual voters act as such, rather than as drones in some playbook of Morris or Axelrod. There are older people who understand that our current system of wealth redistribution isn't sustainable. And that, for the good of the republic and of citizens under 40, the federal spoils systems must be reformed. Substantially.
To the larger point of your piece, I'm more hopeful with regard to Rep. Ryan than I am about most Republicans. His record focuses more on the financial side of public policy than tinpot moralizing. In many ways, Ryan represents the best a libertarian can expect from the mainstream parties.
It's long been a criticism of libertarians (and Libertarians) that we are both too rigid ideologically and too cynical about the political process. To me, cynicism is the greater fault.
I expect that many older people--even though they're fat on the fruit of unsustainable government pension and benefits schemes--will think that Ryan is charming young man who's trying to do the right thing.
That thinking was enough to put Barack Obama in the White House. Maybe it'll be enough to put him out.
Sun, 2012-08-12 21:28
Jon Harrison
Jim, thanks for the thoughtful comment. I plead guilty to overstatement with the use of "all oldsters." But I'd only modify it to the extent of saying the great (or perhaps even vast) majority of oldsters.
I sort of agree that Ryan represents the best libertarians can expect from a mainstream politician, at least on fiscal issues. He's thoughtful and willing to admit openly that popular programs will become insolvent unless something fairly radical is done about them. On the other hand, he voted for Medicare Part D. He also voted for the Iraq war, and apparently was content to have the government borrow all the money needed to wage it. He supports an increased defense budget, and I believe he's pretty reactionary on social issues. He's hardly my ideal politician.
The Ryan pick does I think force both parties to discuss entitlements and come up with plans to keep programs like Medicare and Medicaid afloat. How realistic those plans will be remains to be seen. Already I seem to detect Romney backing away from Ryan's specifics. These issues are fairly arcane, and I think both sides will fudge things as much as the media allows them to. And the mainstream media (particularly television, where most viewers get their news) hates to get bogged down in detailed policy discussions -- it's bad for ratings, after all.
Yes, there are older people (and citizens generally) who recognize that government is too big and expensive and must be pared down considerably if we are to avoid a catastrophe. Do they, in 2012, constitute an election-winning majority? The answer is . . . NO.
Mon, 2012-08-13 02:43
Greg R
It amazes me how much like contract bridge the VP pick is. In bridge, you give your partner information by your bid. That's what Romney did here. If he'd picked Portman, it would have been considered safe and milquetoast. The fiscal conservatives would have continued to mistrust him. By picking Ryan he tells the conservatives and the tea party (which is half libertarian) that he is serious about fiscal reform and won't become a born-again Obama once elected.
Sun, 2012-08-12 20:52
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Friedrich Nietzsche, The Wanderer and His Shadow (Der Wanderer und sein Schatten).
The Wanderer and his Shadow, the second supplement to Human, All Too Human, first published in 1880.
Friedrich Nietzsche, "Ecce Homo" Ebook
Kindle Version : $1 from Amazon!
PDA, Mobile/Smart phone : $1 from MobiPocket.com!
All works are unique editions by Lexido of public domain texts provided by kind permission of Project Gutenberg

subset: commoncrawl


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Weddings are joyous occasions, full of the promise of starting a wonderful new life together. Why not increase your chances for future happiness by including some traditional symbols of good luck in your special day? These are some of the things said to bring good luck for weddings.
The best known "good luck package" is the something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue (and sometimes also a sixpence in your shoe). Most every bride knows this expression, but did you know the specific ways in which each item is intended to grant you good fortune? The old item represents your ties to your family and the past, and shows that even as you move towards a new life, your family will still be there to love and support you. The new, of course, represents the newlyweds' new union and life together, and is most often the wedding gown or bridal jewelry.
Something borrowed can be any item that the bride can wear or carry, such as a friend's veil or a piece of her mother's bridal jewelry. What many people do not realize is that the borrowed item should ideally come from a happily married woman, the idea being that the bride is borrowing some of her wedding bliss. The color blue has symbolized fidelity and faithfulness since ancient times, making its purpose in the good luck package obvious. It might be even luckier if the groom wore some blue too! Many brides are not familiar with the old English "sixpence in your shoe" part of the good luck package, but quite simply, it represents hope for future wealth. A bride can find at sixpence at a rare coin store (most stock them expressly for this purpose, and they are not expensive) or take her chances with a penny.
Speaking of blue, did you know that a sapphire engagement or wedding ring is also supposed to bring good luck to the marriage? The blue sapphire stands for fidelity and love, just as it does in the "something blue" rhyme. For the same reason, aquamarine rings are supposed to be lucky, but the gem is not nearly as durable as a sapphire, and cracking the stone in your engagement ring seems unlucky indeed! For that reason, brides might wish to consider wearing lucky aquamarine earrings or choosing blue crystal earrings as an alternative.
Brides with Chinese heritage will want to bring some red into their weddings, as it is the good luck color in China. Of course, the double happiness symbol is a natural element to include in a wedding. Meaning "joy and happiness", the symbol is one of the most powerful good luck charms. Feature it throughout the wedding, on the cake, the invitations, even on the bridal gown. There is no such thing as too much good luck on your wedding day!
Some of the things which are supposed to bring good luck to a wedding are beyond the control of the bride and groom. It is often said that rain on the wedding day is lucky, although that is a type of luck that most brides would be willing to forgo! An old English custom says that finding a spider in the bridal gown is lucky, but again, not too many brides are hoping for that particular lucky omen. Of course, there are those who believe that you make your own luck, by choosing the right partner…but wear something borrowed, just to be safe!


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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes a required $2.25 billion pension payment that the administration called the largest single-year payment in state history.
The overall spending proposed in the budget — $34.4 billion — also ties for the largest in state history. Much of the increase in spending, the Christie administration said, comes from the pension payment and state workers' health benefits, while leaving little new funds for priorities.
It's not yet clear if the funding will satisfy Democrats, some of whom had threatened a government shutdown if the pension payment was not fully funded at a $2.4 billion level set under a state law passed in 2011. Still, the proposed payment is more than a $650 million increase from last year.
Christie has made pension reform a cornerstone of his administration. In 2011, he signed into law a bill that required workers to pay more into their benefits, while the state would up its pension payments for seven years.
During a budget address in Trenton on Tuesday, Christie said ballooning pension costs should prompt further reform. Nine out of every 10 dollars in the budget, he said, were consumed by pensions, health benefits and debt obligations. It's the result, he said, of too many past administration to ignore the pension obligations.
"That's the decisions that were made by previous leaders in this town who paid little or nothing into the system," Christie said. "We, all of us, are paying today for the sins of the past. So, let's pause a second, let's take a deep breath, and let's pledge to each other not to repeat those sins for political purposes."
The Christie administration also distributed a fact sheet that outlined some key facts of the pension payment and argued for further reform in the coming years.
Some highlights:
- Though Christie is making the largest pension payment in state history, an astounding 78% of the $2.25 billion payment goes to the Accrued Unfunded Liability – "the legacy of years of irresponsibility from governors and legislators who paid little or nothing into the system."
- 94% of the year-over-year growth from last year to this year is not going to schools, infrastructure, or higher education. It's going to cover the growth in pension, health benefits, and debt service costs.
- More than $3.2 billion of the $5.4 billion in increased revenue since fiscal year 2012 is being eaten up by pension, health benefits, and debt service obligations.


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(CNN) -- What is patriotism? Is it serving your country during wartime, or making war on injustice in your hometown? Is it gathering with friends and setting off fireworks, or is patriotism a feeling that transcends words?
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Kyle Fackler hugs daughter Jordyn in a photo from wife Jennifer, who calls patriotism "sacrifice."
On the heels of Sen. Barack Obama's speech last week explaining his take on patriotism, and in honor of the Fourth of July, CNN asked iReport contributors to share their personal definitions of patriotism.
Jennifer Fackler, whose husband soon will be deployed to Iraq for the fifth time, says, "Patriotism means sacrifice; it means I put our child to bed at night alone; it means I spend sleepless nights by the phone."
An iReporter who goes by Wlutterman calls patriotism "those goose bumps that you get on your arms during a flag ceremony." Another iReporter, Kcikeizer, says patriotism is honoring "the brave men and women who represent our country in the military while expressing our right to object to this war."
Below is a selection of iReport and Sound Off responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity:
MrPenguin: What is patriotism exactly?
Patriotism is loving your country. Patriotism is standing when the national anthem plays. Patriotism is putting your hand on your heart to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Some say it is unpatriotic to oppose the war, but hear me out: Say if your kid brings home a bad report card. Are you proud of him? Probably not. But do you still love him? Yes.
Loving your family is wanting what's best for them. Loving your country is not just saluting the flag; loving your country is trying to make your country better. If you don't want a better future for America, how can you say you love it?
Andwyg: Patriotism means, to me, celebrating the freedoms we have. Shedding a tear when I hear the national anthem is sung or when I sing it myself. I supported my husband as he served in the U.S. Air Force for eight of his 11 years. Patriotism then was hanging yellow ribbons on my trees while I waited for him to come home.
Now it means telling our son as he grows up about the time his daddy served, his great-grandfathers [who] served along with his second cousins, uncles and great-uncles, and what that means to us as a family. It means making sure that he knows that we are one nation under God and everything that means. It means a respect for our nation's leaders, our flag, and those who serve and have served. It means fireworks, hot dogs, and red, white, and blue T-shirts from Old Navy on the Fourth of July. It means being thankful for the blessings that come with being a citizen of the U.S.A.
hellcat: These fights over patriotism are silly and meaningless. Since when did expressing oneself, as the Bill of Rights guarantees all Americans, become an act of treason or make the speaker less patriotic? Why is it so hard to accept that there are true faults with this country, and that some people have the chutzpah to point them out?
As it seems to me, most of these people who criticize Michelle Obama for her comments are generally white men who've never truly been denied anything due to skin color or gender in their lives. Maybe if they were to spend their time as a person of color and experience the racism that still exists in this nation, they would understand why Mrs. Obama was not truly proud of her country until recently, when the Democratic voters looked beyond color for a candidate.
I don't especially like Obama or McCain for the presidency, but this needling on patriotism is absurd. As some of the Bible thumpers would love to quote, "Do not point out the splinter in your brother's eye and ignore the plank in your own." Knocking down another's individual rights seems more unpatriotic to me than speaking a truth no one wants to hear.
Wlutterman: It's those moments when you see the American flag raised high in the sunlight. It's those moments when the national anthem is sung. It's those goose bumps that you get on your arms during a flag ceremony. It's those moments that you cannot describe.
Patriotism is not something that can be described in one word, one sentence or one paragraph. It can be described in that one moment. You know what that one moment is.
RocketScience: I think the flag pin issue is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Don't we have more important problems to deal with? And if we're really going to jump on Mr. Obama for not wearing one, chew on this: I went to several other news websites, and I also googled images of John McCain. Nowhere did I find one single picture of him wearing a flag pin. Why aren't people squawking about him not wearing one? Or does being a veteran give him a free pass?
Blueken: To me, true patriotism is staying faithful to our Founding Fathers' dream: that all men are created equal. That governments should have checks and balances provided by the three branches of government -- legislative, judicial and the president. That there should be no taxation without representation. That there should be a separation of church and state. Free speech and the pursuit of happiness.
Our Founding Fathers thought carefully about the forms of government they saw all over the world. They took the best of what they saw and protected us from the worst. We should think long and hard before we tamper with their well-thought out form of government.
Always: Patriotism is action -- that is, service.
And service is more than wearing any uniform. Service lasts a lifetime. It is, each day, being the kind of citizens our grandparents would want us to be and that we would be proud to tell our grandchildren we were. Sappy, yes. Patriotism can be sappy, when one tries to define it. But, simply put, being a patriot means being the best citizen you can be -- contributing in the best manner you can.
caligrl: What is patriotism? For me and my family patriotism mean sacrifice; it means I put our child to bed at night alone; it means I spend sleepless nights by the phone and I wait for letters or e-mails to tell me he is OK. Our story is not unique. We are an Air Force family, and we understand the importance of the work our military does for the world. The legacy we are leaving behind for our children is that "freedom isn't free"; it has been paid for with blood, sweat and many, many tears. As my husband prepares to deploy again next month (for the fifth time), my daughter and I will be here at home serving right along side other brave spouses and their children, because a family that waits also serves.
Kcikeizer: Our family tries to exhibit our patriotism daily by honoring the diversity of belief and culture that this country was founded on. We also honor the brave men and women who represent our country in the military while expressing our right to object to this war and those leaders responsible for leading our country to war.
Greenpaths: How do I express my patriotism? By becoming a part of the solution. By being involved in the community. By becoming an example to others through the way I live. Because I have the freedoms and rights that I can make the choices to help others to help the planet.
It is so important that we start to look deeply within ourselves and make simple changes in our lives so that we can share this great nation with more generations. To teach our children about our land and the beauty of it. Not teach them how to shop in a mall or a box store, but to support our good farmers and shop at local businesses.
Llambo: I was born here; my father fought in two wars, died in one. I've paid taxes and obeyed the law all my life, only to be lied to and ripped off by my own government. Patriotism? It's a buzzword to encourage people to send their young off to war to enable evil people to get rich.
Patriotism is a lie. The Fourth of July no longer has meaning and is simply another excuse for a bunch of people to make noise and get drunk.
MartinT: As the Fourth of July approaches, I reflect on a couple of things. One: I am grateful that my oldest son, the Army kid, is home safe from his second tour in Iraq. My oldest who carries part of my name and half of my soul, and all of my love.
To me patriotism is hating a war that now has sucked both my sons into it, but loving the service and being proud of the young men who serve.
Second: my youngest, the Firedog in the U.S. Air Force, leaves in three weeks to go to Japan, then perhaps to Iraq himself. Patriotism is knowing that I have not seen him in 11 months, and probably won't have the chance to hug him again for 24 more months. This, my son, the little guy who told me when he was only 4 that he wanted to grow up and be just like me. Thankfully, he grew up to be just like himself, better than me, fully the man I could have hoped for, and always the little blue-eyed, blond-haired kid I love so much.
To me, patriotism is being the bigger man, letting them make their own decisions, watching them grow and being proud. I cannot see an American flag without tearing up. I cannot see the picture of a soldier without feeling both pride and fear. I am a better man because of my sons, because they cared enough to serve. This Fourth of July I will be a patriot because to be anything else is unthinkable.
SGTCHAPSWIFE: Patriotism is a word that can take on many different definitions. For my family, patriotism is proudly supporting my husband as he heads off for another deployment, standing by his side faithfully, sending packages and letters daily, waiting for the phone to ring, dreading the door bell, checking my e-mail a million times a day hoping he had five minutes to log on and write me back, putting our kids to sleep giving them kisses from daddy, and explaining to them that daddy will be home soon and he is safe. Support our troops and those who are serving in the silent ranks of military wives.
All About U.S. Air Force • Iraq War • U.S. Navy • U.S. Army Activities • U.S. Marines Activities


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Join Date: Jun 2002
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***OFFICIAL Kansas City Royals Vs. Oakland A's Post Season Wild Card Thread 9/30***
Let me start by saying,
I ****ING hate Oakland.
I despise ALL THINGS OAKLAND.
I especially despise the Oakland Raiders, Oakland Fans, and today I especially despise their weak ass, carpetbagging "Oakland "A's" baseball team.
Glad you asked.
I'll tell you why:
Because I'm old enough to remember what happened here, and what has been stolen from us as a city.
Let me tell you a story from a long time ago:
As most old fart stories begin, so does this one by saying "I've lived in Kansas City my whole life" - which is 55 years now. When I was a little shaver, my baseball team was the Kansas City Athletics. The Athletics had come to my home town from Philadelphia in MLB's western expansion, and were generally seen at the time as the worst team in the American League, but with great promise for the future. Most Philadelphia fans followed the cross-town NL Phillies, because in the late 1950's the Phillies were pretty good. The A's needed a fresh start somewhere they'd be loved as the only home town team. KC was exactly that. The Athletics team colors were All-American Patriotic Red, White and Blue. They had an elephant as their mascot -the same mascot first adopted by Connie Mack back in 1909. And they were our team. Kansas City's team.
The primary owner was a guy named Arnold Johnson. Sure, Johnson gave up good players to the Yanks for virtually nothing (see the Roger Maris trade, for example), but the team had a future with other good young players . Then in 1960, the most colossal douche bag owner in MLB history (including Steinbrenner) bought control of the team from Johnson. That colossal douche bag asshole was none other that Charles O. Finley. How big an asshole was Charles O. Finley? When you Google "Charles O. Finley Asshole", it comes up with 7,920 hits in less than one half second.
Charles O. Finley (the "O" stood for "Outrageous") was Cheap as Comiskey. Un-Trustworthy as O'Malley. Sleazy as Veeck. Starting in 1960, COFA (shorthand for Charles O. Finley, Asshole from this point forward) proceeded to turn the A's into a Giant Baseball Clown Car.
First, he screwed with the uniforms, changing red, white and blue to "Kelly Green, Wedding Dress White and Ft. Knox Gold." He made the players wear fruity white cleats. COFA also phased out the team name "Athletics" in favor of "A's." When Mickey Mantle first saw the A's' green-and-gold uniforms, he jeered, "They should have come out of the dugout on tippy-toes, holding hands and singing."
COFA did condescending crap like put sheep out grazing behind the outfield wall. He dumped the elephant as a mascot and brought in a stupid mule named "Charley O.," pandering to hick Missourians. He even took the mule to cocktail parties. After an announcement that COFA intended to ride the mule around the bases at Dodger Stadium during a road game vs. the LA Angels, a reporter wrote: "You can't tell the owner without a program." COFA did kitschy, gimmicky stuff like installing an electrical rabbit called "Harvey" to pop up behind home plate ump with baseballs to entertain the rubes.
But COFA was mostly known for being a giant throbbing dick with ears.
After being told by manager Ed Lopat about the Yankees' success being due to the short right field porch in Yankee Stadium, COFA built the "K.C. Pennant Porch" in right field, which brought the fence in KC's Municipal Stadium to match Yankee Stadium's dimensions exactly, 296 feet from home plate. He did this ignoring a rule passed in 1958 that said no new or renovated major-league fence could be closer than 325 feet, so league officials had to force him to move the fences back. COFA countered by ordering a white line to be painted on the field at the original "Pennant Porch" distance, and told the stadium PA announcer to say "That would have been a home run in Yankee Stadium" whenever a fly ball was hit past that line but short of the fence. That went away quick after the PA guy was calling more "would-be" dingers for the visitors than for the A's. COFA also was stupid enough to want to change the color of the baseball from white to orange, oblivious to the fact that the color change would keep the hitter from being able to pick up the spin on the ball, giving the pitcher a tremendous advantage.
His employees all loathed him. During the team's last years in KC, the players revolted against a fine levied on pitcher Lew Krausse. "Hawk" Harrelson, one of the A's better players at the time (now infamous announcer for the Chisox), called COFA "a menace to baseball" and was cut for being a figurehead of the player revolt. Manager Alvin Dark was fired for not disassociating himself from the rebellious players. COFA ended up being dragged before the National Labor Relations Board and condemned as a result of his boorish conduct.
So, with all this going on, COFA started whining to KC city leaders that Municipal Stadium wasn't big enough, wasn't new enough, wasn't good enough. He was the first owner to hold a city hostage for stadium demands. COFA extorted a new lease from the city, and then began dropping hints that if he didn't get more of what he wanted, he would move his team and sign a lease for a stadium in Louisville. The other American League owners refused to approve the Louisville relocation proposal by a vote of 9-1, COFA being the only vote in favor. So, COFA signed a new lease back in Kansas City and then sued to reclaim rights to the earlier lease, which included an escape clause. He then announced that the franchise was for sale and drew offers from Denver and San Diego. With so much shit flying around, American League president Joe Cronin promised COFA that he could move within three years if he wanted to. The other owners finally approved COFA's proposal to relocate his team to Oakland for the 1968 season and promised Kansas City a new expansion team (YOUR KANSAS CITY ROYALS) in 1969 to make up for all the bullshit. That did not stop Missouri Senator Stuart Symington from branding COFA "one of the most disreputable characters ever to enter the American sports scene."
Why else should we loathe this historically colossal douche? After he takes our team off to Oakland, the team's young players, who learned their trade toiling in KC, became a veteran-laden AL dynasty. They won the AL West five straight years -1971 to 1975- and routinely rubbed the young, upstart Royals face in the shit, much like an untrained puppy on a newspaper. They won three straight World Series trophies. Our KC Royals finally over came it in 1976 to end the A's dark rein. How? Because COFA was a cheap stake, and free agency blew his team up. After the 1974 WS, Catfish Hunter was declared a free agent because COFA had failed to set aside part of Hunter's salary in an annuity, as required by his contract. Hunter then signed a sweet deal with the Yanks. After the real start of league wide free agency, and after failing to get rid of Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, COFA gutted the A's before his best players could just walk away. Besides Hunter, the Yanks also ended up with Reggie Jackson, both of whom would figure greatly in the push down of our Royals starting in 1976, the seeds of starting the infamous KC-Yanks rivalry.
A Preteen Stanley Burrell -AKA MC Hammer- was a batboy/bitch for COFA. He was instructed to listen in on player conversations and dish the dirt back to COFA behind the players back. He was the clubhouse company snitch. The players called him "the pipeline."
So there you have it.
COFA's rein with the A's lasted 20 years. He personally cost us KC baseball fans at least three world series championships for sure, maybe more if they had stayed permanently. The A's stadium has been named and re-named and re-named, but it's still known mostly as "The Mausoleum." The A's are the only MLB team left that has to share their stadium with an NFL team (The father raping, convict laden 0-4 Oakland Raiders). Their crappy below sea level park is best known for having raw sewage spills which routinely happen in the dugout and clubhouses.
You can smell the shit from here:
Although official capacity was stated to be 43,662 for baseball, seats were sometimes sold up in Mount Davis (a nose bleed add-on that Big Al had built for football) pushing "real" capacity to the area of 60,000. The ready availability of tickets on game day made season tickets a tough sell, while crowds as high as 30,000 often seemed sparse in such cavernous place. In 2006 the A's announced that seats in the Mausoleum's third deck would no longer be sold, but would instead be covered with a big ass green tarp. Classy. That effectively reduced capacity to 34,077, making the Mausoleum the smallest stadium in Major League Baseball. They purposely shrunk their stadium after they left KC because….the new stadium was too big. Assholes. Total freaking Assholes.
Well, Thank God for MR. KAUFFMAN. The Royals flourished while he was here, then floundered after his death, and now after 29 long years in the wilderness, we're back with a vengeance, baby. Even the post-COFA teams were dicks, The Bash Brothers were just a couple of roided up cheaters with Tony LaRussa looking the other way. They have no honor as a franchise. They suck, and they're currently threatening their fans about moving again to Sacramento. Let em go. That's almost as big of a toilet town as Oakland. Almost.
It's long past time to get some payback on these Garish Green and Gold Oakland Turds. Oh, btw, on their website, the A's are already selling ALDS tickets vs. the Angels are a foregone conclusion, and are calling the upcoming post-season "Oak-Tober."
One thing we do know. Win or lose, their stupid fans will riot afterwards and burn their own toilet of a town. That's a given.
The final reason I hate these ****ers? The movie "Money Ball" from 2011. They use the Royals as the big finale for the team's 20th straight win, showing Jason Grimsley blowing an 11 to 0 lead after three innings. to lose in the 9th on a Scott Hatteberg walk off homer. Hey, I lived that game in real life -I watched that whole game when it happened for real in 2001. Now I have to live it over and over and over on the MLB channel every time they show that frickin' movie. All I can say is I'm glad Art Howe OD'ed and died three years later. Karma's a bitch.
So, as the crusty yet benign manager Lou Brown once said: "Let's give them all a great big shit burger to eat!"
Gird up your loins. Pin your batting gloves to the bedpost, sacrifice a live chicken, leave some rum for Jobu, smear your bat with pine tar and your jersey with BBQ sauce, prepare your rally hats. Let's stick it to this California clown show and send them back to the fetid stinking sewer from which they crawled.
Let's Play Ball.
Last edited by gblowfish; 09-30-2014 at 10:14 AM..
Posts: 37,115
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Go Royals!!!!!!
Posts: 600
Champion Golfer Of The Year
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There is a "Take The Crown" TV special on KCTV 5 today at 5:30 central time. Just an FYI
Posts: 31,392
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Location: Alabama
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Here's our wild card game roster
No. Pitchers (9)
17 Wade Davis
41 Danny Duffy
27 Brandon Finnegan
54 Jason Frasor
11 Jeremy Guthrie
40 Kelvin Herrera
56 Greg Holland
33 James Shields
30 Yordano Ventura
No. Catchers (2)
19 Erik Kratz
13 Salvador Perez
No. Infielders (7)
16 Billy Butler
24 Christian Colon
2 Alcides Escobar
35 Eric Hosmer
14 Omar Infante
8 Mike Moustakas
12 Jayson Nix
No. Outfielders (7)
23 Nori Aoki
6 Lorenzo Cain
1 Jarrod Dyson
4 Alex Gordon
0 Terrance Gore
18 Raul Ibanez
7 Josh Willingham
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I understand we probably wanted at least 8 pitchers, but why 9? I know we need options for if its a close game vs if we are winning a hilarious blowout, and we need arms in case its a long extra innings game, and options if Shields got hurt early, but why do we need Duffy, Ventura, and Guthrie?
I would have gone with 8 and added Giavotella.
Posts: 35,921
A certain set of skills
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Location: texas
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We have to win this game to night guys this means so much to all of the fans but this game is the most important in 29 years.
We have to win this game.
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Lineups are out for KC. Going with standard fare of recent games.
Escober, Aoki, Cain, Hosmer, Butler, Gordon, Salvy, Infante, Moose.
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Cheat Death
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Pretty cool road to the post season Royals piece on MLB Network just now.
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This is the way
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Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
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"No Two People Will Do It The Same, You got It Down...When You Appear to Be In Pain!"
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This is the way
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
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"No Two People Will Do It The Same, You got It Down...When You Appear to Be In Pain!"
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Not a baseball fan really but have to say Go Royals.
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From Joe Posnanski's Facebook:
-- Once asked Dan Quisenberry if he missed the cheers. He said, 'Nah, I just go to the ballpark, listen to the cheers and I pretend they're for me."
-- Once heard George Brett explain that the only way to hit a home run is to try not to hit one. Royals zen!
-- Once heard John Mayberry explain his strategy for catching those tricky foul pop-ups. He would look up at the sky, gather himself, and yell at the top of his lungs, "FRANK! FRANK! FRANK!" Then Frank White would catch them.
-- Once heard Jim Sundberg say what it was like catching a young Bret Saberhagen. He said, "It was like holding up the canvas for Picasso."
-- Once heard pitcher Al Fitzmorris recount a mound conversation he had with John Mayberry on one of those impossibly hot Kansas City days, when the air was 100 degrees and the turf 120 and the players would soak their feet (spikes and all) in ice buckets between innings. Fitzmorris got in some trouble, and Mayberry wandered over from first base to settle him down. "If you don't throw strikes," Mayberry said as sweat poured off his face. "I'm going to kill you."
-- Once heard Hal McRae's response when the Yankees Cliff Johnson challenge him to a fight before a Yankees-Royals playoff game. The teams despised each other, and the series had been one collision after another, and before the game McRae and Johnson got into an argument, and finally Johnson said, "Let's settle this under the stands." McRae said: "Cliff, I don't fight extra men."
-- Once heard Brett's words to Texas' ferocious Willie Horton when, during a brawl, Brett had unwittingly torn Horton's jacket off. Horton turned to see Brett holding the tattered remains of the jacket, and Brett saw the fire in this big man's eyes, and he said, simply, "Here's your jacket Mr. Horton."
"Next thing," Brett said. "I was looking up at the sky."
-- Once heard Frank White define the best Royals teams this way: "Ninth inning, two outs, game on the line, you had eight fielders on the team and every one of them was thinking the same thing: Hit it to me."
The Kansas City Royals in the playoffs for the first time since 1985. Enjoy this moment Kansas City. And, yes, hope for more.
Super Bowl IV & LIV Champions
2020 AFC Champions
1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions
1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions
2015 American League Central Division Champs
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Holy shit. I just realized it. Today has been 16 years since the Quiz passed.
Super Bowl IV & LIV Champions
2020 AFC Champions
1985 & 2015 Major League Baseball World Series Champions
1980, 1985, 2014, & 2015 Major League Baseball American League Champions
2015 American League Central Division Champs
Posts: 47,367
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: MO
Casino cash: $30151
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Be Kind To Your Pets
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Location: Glorious Independence, MO
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Only problem is, you have to get on base to run on his ass....
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CrossRack Mounting Stub
Material: Welded aluminum construction
Color: Black
Weight: 6.8 oz (193 g)
Your satisfaction is very important to us. If at any time within 30 days of the time of purchase you are not satisfied with a Xootr product for any reason, and if you bought the CrossRack mounting stub directly from us, simply return the item to us and we will refund the full purchase price less any shipping (if applicable). If you prefer, we can send you a return label and deduct the amount of the return shipping from your refund as our commercial shipping rates are cheaper than normal retail shipping rates.
We warrant to the original owner that Xootr CrossRack mounting stub is free of defects in materials or manufacturing for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase, except as noted below. If at any time within one year of your purchase, you discover a defect in materials or manufacturing, please contact us or your dealer. We will repair or replace the product. Replacements can only be sent to the original country of purchase.
- This warranty applies only to products manufactured and sold by Xootr LLC.
- Damage caused by stunt riding, racing, or other abusive treatment is not covered by this warranty.
- This is a consumer warranty and does not apply to products used commercially or in rental operations.


text: Register here to receive MovieBytes' FREE email newsletter featuring contest deadline reminders, contest news, screenplay marketing opportunities, and much more. You can also choose a password to access the MovieBytes bulletin board and other great features. Rest assured, information submitted here is held in strict confidence. MovieBytes never sells or in any way distributes email names or addresses. We promise!


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Wrongpop have been organising DIY gigs in Stoke on Trent (and now London) since 2007, championing bands from all over the UK and Europe and Stephen Lee Clarke – the Wrongpop engine - has rallied some of those bands to chip in some material and raise money for Deafness Research UK. The pull of Wrongpop extends far; down to Kent, with Tunbridge Wells' Unlabel associates well represented; up north to Leeds; and of course, its birthplace, Stoke on Trent.
The compilation serves as a pretty neat assessment of its own particular ilk of underground music; ranging from the braggart-rock of Pulled Apart By Horses (possibly the biggest pull on the album in terms of popularity) to the blissed out Memory Tapes remix of ANR's 'Stay Kids', demonstrating that the 'DIY scene' – if you can call an attitude a scene – is a many-dimensioned monster.
Around half the tracks on the Wrongpop compilation are live or exclusive. Lords' live version of 'The Rememberer' is a treat; the atmosphere of a room transferred to tape, as the snare rattles and the bass hums under howlings about a fever. That Fucking Tank also provide a live version of 'Dave Grolsch,' from their 2009 Tanknology album. TFT are a band on fire right now and this gutsy performance (undated?) reminds us why; so much more than the sum of their two parts, James and Andy orchestrate a noise unrivalled in depth or destruction.
Other highlights include Shield Your Eyes' 'You Merit High Hopes,' which, despite sounding like it was recorded in a biscuit tin (as is their wont), sees the band at their ferocious best. They recall the distant passion of This Ain't Vegas, upping the intricacy levels as they go. And you get to play a terribly involved game of 'what the fuck is he singing?' when lyrics that, on first listen appear to be about spanners, or spaniels (Spaniards, at a push), turn out not to be not to be so. The closer, 'What You Have Is A Memory' from Hills Have Riffs, which is Dave from Cove, under a different guise; a cyclical acoustic track that recalls Thurston Moore's recent material. And Ice, Sea, Dead People not only have a truly wonderful band name, they also provided 'Diamond Swords,' a frenetic beast of a song that burns itself out quicker than most bands can open a six-pack.
Stephen is releasing Wrongpop, Volume 1 for £5 and there's 14 tracks on the album. It's only available until the end of March so you have a limited amount of time to get hold of it, from wrongpop.bandcamp.com.
7Hayley Avron's Score


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The international Le Mans Series is starting a new class for lesser-modded GT cars. Those cars will be similar to Porsche, Ferrari and Lotus racecars of the manufacturers' cup series. Who's missing? A little number called Corvette.
Why the Corvetteless field? Simple. There's no single-make Corvette challenge series from which to draw. And for America's Sports Car™? That's flat-out wrong.
There was once a Corvette-only series, held during the car's post-1984 comeback years. The SCCA Corvette Challenge ran for two seasons, 1988 and 1989. The SCCA formed it after having banned Corvettes from its showroom stock GT races. The Corvettes had gone unbeaten for three years and the competition, comprising Nissan 300 ZX and Porsche 944 turbos, was seriously pissed.
You might recognize some of the names from the grid for those two Corvette Challenge seasons: Juan-Manuel Fangio II, Tommy Kendall, Andy Pilgrim and Boris Said (and even a Kardashian named Bruce Jenner). ESPN broadcast the full 1989 Corvette Challenge season. For 1990, the Corvettes were merged into the World Challenge series.
As Vette magazine recalls, the cars were largely stock, prepped by Chevrolet and leased to racing teams.
In 1989, 60 R7F cars were built, and 29 of these were converted into race cars by Powell Development America. The new cars were more like racers than their predecessors, with full rollcages — including side bars-and straight-through exhaust.
Each car's original engine was removed and stored when it was delivered to Powell. Identical race engines were prepared and certified by Chevy's Race Shop, then leased to the teams for $4,000. Bolts and screws on key areas of each race engine were painted with a special paint. Race inspectors then ran a laser light over the engine in a dark enclosure to verify that the mill had not been modified.
Back to Le Mans racing. The new LMS GTC, which will feature cars of a lesser technical specification than GTE models, will be similar to the class of the same name in the ALMS. Like the ALMS GTC category, which are all Porsche Cup cars — no Corvettes here either — each entry can't have more than one pro shoe (i.e., Platinum or Gold rated) among its drivers.
(Naturally, the controversy of having these less-experienced drivers coexist with LMP1 competitors will continue to rage, on and off the track, but that's another matter.)
Three types of car will be eligible to compete in the LMS GTC next year; the Ferrari 430 Challenge as used in the manufacturer's one-make series, the Lotus Evora GTC and GT4, plus the 2010 and 2011-spec Porsche Carrera Cup cars.
Indeed, the Corvette will not be among them. That's because there's no Corvette cup car to draw into competition, either in ILMS GTC, or to challenge the Porsche Cup cars in ALMS GTC.
Sure, the $50,000 Corvette is a lower-echelon sports car than, say, the Porsche 911. It's also one that's shackled to a company that must also make cars for your grandma. To complicate matters, GM must be scrupulous with its finances, and avoid the appearance of frivolous, environmentally-unsound activities like racing, while at the same time still — at least surreptitiously — promote its racing activities, like Corvette Racing's GT program. It's one of those "holding two opposing concepts simultaneously" paradoxes that's sure to breed at least a little corporate insanity.
But if the Corvette is a product worth building, then why let it suffer under the weight of corporate multiple-personality disorder? Why not turn Bowling Green into the American version of Porsche's Weissach race shop? Spend a little bit of marketing budget creatively to stimulate a new, showroom-class racing series. Support motorsports at the grassroots level. Foster an environment of continual improvement that engages race fans at every level. In other words, take a page out of Porsche's playbook.
If you can't embrace racing wholeheartedly inside Chevrolet, shoot-off the Corvette as its own brand (we know you've wanted to).
If Chevy truly wants to cultivate a global market for Corvette, it must start by winning back the car's appeal to overseas audiences. Now's the time to lay groundwork to train the world's motorsports eyeballs on America's Sports Car. Could there be any better way to do that than by supporting more Porsche vs. Corvette battles on the world's great racetracks?
Photo Credit: Getty Images/CorvetteForum.com


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Someone Here is Missing, the recent album from The Pineapple Thief was released on Kscope earlier this year. The record had been described by front man Bruce Soord as, "A record of dark edges, full of love and regret. My life in the last eighteen months pretty much," but it quickly earned a bagful of new descriptions, best summed by Classic Rock who simply stated that it was 'frequently mesmerising'.
Following several successful festival appearances over the past few months, the band are now about to embark on a European tour and release Show A Little Love.
The new EP features 4 brand new tracks (part of a sixteen minute piece) alongside a single edit of the title track and alternate versions of three tracks from the band's latest album, Someone Here is Missing. (acoustic versions of two tracks plus a rousing remix of Dead In The Water).
The EP features artwork developing the post-it man concept created for the album by legendary designer Storm Thorgerson.
Order the Show a Little Love ep from the Kscope store
1. Show A Little Love (single edit)
2. To Live And Die To The Familiar Sound Of...
- I Can Only See the Lights
- A Million Miles off Course
- Counting the Cost
- To Live and Die to...
3. Wake Up The Dead (acoustic)
4. Someone Here is Missing (acoustic)
5. Dead In The Water (Worldengine remix)
Here is the video for Show a Little Love, directed and produced by Ross Bolidai
click here to watch the video on YouTube
Thanks to Ross for doing such a great job and producing a video we are all really chuffed with.


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Iowa is proof that clean energy works. We lead the nation in wind power generation and in biofuels production. We also rank among the top 12 states in the nation when it comes to energy efficiency.
These successes have not come about by accident. Iowa is responding to the growing demand for alternative forms of energy and maximizing the benefit of adopting them with bipartisan support.
In our part of the state, the Alliant natural gas plant has proven good for jobs and the economy. I was proud to support bringing the plant to Marshalltown from the very beginning, and it has been a privilege to work with Alliant and with our local leaders on the project.
Article Photos
State Senator Steve Sodders
Here are three bills signed into law this year that build on our commitment to clean energy and renewable fuels, as well as the good jobs and economic boost these industries create:
Senate File 2343 extends the deadline to complete wind energy and other projects using Iowa's Renewable Energy Tax Credits. It also allows landfill gas to be used as fuel for innovative cogeneration projects. The carbon footprint of Iowa ethanol is already lower than that of fossil fuels. By adding cogeneration processes to the mix, Iowa will produce even fewer greenhouse gases.
Senate File 2344 strengthens and diversifies Iowa's leadership in biofuels. It increases the tax credit for E15 during the hot summer months, extends Iowa's biodiesel production tax credit for five years and encourages the production of new advanced fuels that take advantage of Iowa's agricultural strengths.
Senate File 2340 triples the amount of solar energy tax credits available to Iowa farmers, homeowners and businesses. State tax credits for solar installations at businesses and residences are now 60 percent of the federal credit. In addition, a single taxpayer can claim credits for multiple installations, which means a business with more than one location will receive a credit for installing solar at each location.
We've also shown unanimous support for encouraging the Environmental Protection Agency to maintain a strong Renewable Fuels Standard, as well as for extending the federal wind energy production tax credit. Lack of federal action puts many Iowa jobs at risk and slows investment in clean, renewable energy.


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Plainfield, Massachusetts
|This article is a stub. Help us to expand it by contributing your knowledge. For county and town page guidelines, visit U.S. County Page Content Suggestions.
Plainfield is a town in Massachusetts. It was formed in 1785 and was previously called Cummington. It can be found in Hampshire county and is a part of the Northampton registry of deed district. For more information, contact the county at 344 Main St., Plainfield 01070. On the attached map, Plainfield is shown as 1 in Hampshire county.
For information about the state of Massachusetts see Massachusetts Family History Research.


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Comfort and wisdom can come from the most unexpected of sources, and today it came to me from thousands of miles away, from a person I have never met. A comment was left on my post about wedding stress by a lady in Wisconsin, America who has followed my blog for sometime now and often leaves little words of encouragement. This was what she had to say:
"Stress, anticipation, hype, expectations…all the emphasis on a future event distracts you from the present moment, which is the only "real" moment anyway. "Why anyone would want to marry you just now," is a great reminder that your relationship with Mr. Monster is really about all the "just nows" that you will experience together. Looking into each other's eyes, feeling his breath raise his chest, listening to the thud of his heart, watching a smile spread across his face, all of the ways that you are attentive to the immediate moment will keep you grounded and perhaps make you feel less cranky!"
Beautifully put, and so true. It's so easy to lose sight of what's important and I thought I was the kind of person who wouldn't get caught up in the planning and the stress. I guess I have been beating myself up for that rather than just enjoying the experience and going with the flow. This comment reminds me to be mindful of the present, to let go of unproductive worry, and to revel in the little things which make life, and love so worthwhile. I have been feeling needy of late and pestering Mr Monster for affection, and I guess that's because I haven't been soaking up the simple everyday things which are what a relationship is all about.
Thank you to Scillagrace for continuing to follow my ramblings and for giving me a much needed kick up the bum on these last few days before the wedding. Go on over to her blog to get to know her, and to check out some of the beautiful images she's creating with her new camera.


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BACKGROUND IMAGE: iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
- FeatureUse mainframes for backups
- FeatureAny-point-in-time backups
- FeatureMake tape libraries work with all platforms
- FeatureSizing up VTLs
- FeatureDoes host-based replication still make sense?
- FeatureCisco's switch-based backup
- FeatureDefinition: Grandfather-father-son
- FeatureData migration: Preparation equals success
- FeatureData migration: Tales from the trenches
- FeatureQuality Awards: Backup software
- TipBlades shed disks, boot from SAN
- FeatureHow disk has changed backup
- FeatureVital steps for creating an effective compliance strategy
- FeatureMicrosoft gets serious about storage with Data Protection Manager
iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
Quality Awards: Backup software
The latest Diogenes Labs-Storage magazine Quality Awards has hands-on users rating 14 enterprise and SMB backup products for service and reliability.
The Diogenes Labs-Storage magazine Quality Awards debuted in our August issue with the results of our service and reliability survey on enterprise-class arrays. This month, we turn to backup and recovery (B/R) software, and evaluate leading products in two categories--products for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and products for enterprise backup applications. Rather than a line-item comparison of product features or a measure of market share, the Quality Awards process quantifies the factors that contribute to users' perceptions of a product's overall quality. Toward that end, we surveyed hundreds of storage professionals who have practical experience with specific B/R products to gauge their levels of satisfaction. As a follow-up to the survey, a number of respondents were then contacted and interviewed.
|About the survey
Respondents were asked to rate their level of agreement or disagreement with a series of evaluative statements in each of five categories using a 1.0-8.0 scale. A response of 1.0 indicated strong disagreement, while 8.0 indicated strong agreement. Because the 1.0-8.0 scale doesn't accommodate a neutral response, all responses indicated some degree of either favorable or unfavorable experiences. Responses were required for all questions, although "Don't know" and "Not applicable" responses were permitted.
With 4.5 as the mean on this scale, scores below 4.5 are generally negative while those above are generally positive. The survey included 14 backup and recovery software products from leading vendors in the small- to medium-sized business (SMB) and enterprise sectors. Vendors whose products were represented in the survey had no prior knowledge of the survey, and didn't influence the selection of specific products included in the survey.
Survey respondents
Respondents were asked to rate the products in the following categories: sales competence, product features, product quality, product reliability and product support. Each category had up to eight questions. The overall scores for the backup and recovery (B/R) survey were lower than the scores for our previous survey on enterprise arrays. We believe this is because IT organizations find B/R to be a problem area, and are therefore more generally dissatisfied with it. "It touches everything—servers, networks, database applications-everything," says Roman Van Liempt, storage administrator for xwave Solutions in St John's, Newfoundland, an IT services company that provides support for New Brunswick Power. "Backup software will bring to light any problems that you have in your network."
The survey used to determine the winners of the Quality Awards for B/R software included five series of service and reliability questions in the following key categories:
- Sales competence
- Product features
- Product quality
- Product reliability
- Technical support
Respondents were asked to rate their level of agreement or disagreement with a series of evaluative statements in each of these categories using a 1.0-8.0 scale, where a response of 1.0 indicated strong disagreement and an 8.0 indicated strong agreement. With 4.5 as the mean on this scale, scores below 4.5 are generally negative and those above are generally positive.
|SMB backup software
The winners are ...
We divided our field of 14 products into SMB and enterprise groups, and awarded Quality Awards to each. We recognize that many SMB products offer an "enterprise edition" and enterprise products offer a "workgroup edition," but we placed products into each group based on their most common deployments.
Based on the survey results, we're pleased to award CommVault Systems Inc.'s Galaxy with the Diogenes Labs-Storage magazine Quality Award in the enterprise backup product category and EMC/Dantz's Retrospect with the Quality Award in the SMB backup category. Retrospect ran away with the award in its group, outpolling the competition in every category. The tally in the enterprise group was tighter, with Galaxy winning the product features, quality and reliability categories, and Hewlett-Packard (HP) Co.'s OpenView Storage Data Protector earning top honors for sales force and product support (see the "Overall ranking" categories in the SMB backup software and Enterprise backup software charts). Underscoring CommVault's solid showing in the survey, one respondent notes, "The company I work for is currently replacing all instances of backup software installed with CommVault Galaxy." Another survey participant switched to CommVault because "the Tivoli support people were not able to make TSM's [IBM's Tivoli Storage Manager] Exchange agent work in our environment."
We also asked respondents if they'd buy the product they were using again. In the case of Retrospect, 81.3% of those surveyed said "Yes." CommVault Galaxy, our overall winner, actually placed third among enterprise products for this question with a respectable 78.6% indicating "Yes." Placing first and second were IBM's TSM and Veritas' (now owned by Symantec Corp.) NetBackup, with 84.8% and 81.8% of current users, respectively, stating they'd buy those products again. It appears that TSM and NetBackup have a high user loyalty, even though their overall ratings weren't as high as either Galaxy's or Data Protector's (see SMB backup software: Would you buy this product again?, and Enterprise backup software: Would you buy this product again?).
Arkeia Corp.'s Server Backup and StoneFly Networks Inc.'s Backup Advantage products were included in our survey, but we didn't rate them. Server Backup received only one response, while Backup Advantage didn't receive any.
|SMB backup software: Would you buy this product again?
Sales competence
The success of any application implementation begins with the competence of the person selling the product. The product must be sold into the appropriate environment based on realistic expectations. Most SMB backup products are sold through VARs, while enterprise products are sold through VARs or directly to large accounts. For sales made through VARs, vendors have less control over sales quality.
You might expect a vendor's own sales team would deliver superior satisfaction. However, EMC/Dantz--which is sold almost exclusively through VARs--received the highest sales force rating with a 6.38 (see the "Sales force," category in the SMB backup software chart). HP Data Protector, also sold primarily through resellers, topped this category among enterprise products with a score of 5.56 (see the "Sales force," category in the Enterprise backup software chart). Although Computer Associates (CA) International Inc.'s products didn't fare particularly well in this survey, the company achieved its highest marks in the sales force section. The vast majority of CA's B/R product sales are through VARs, so the high ratings in this category speak well of the company's ability to train, manage and motivate resellers.
In the sales force category, Veritas' score for NetBackup was particularly hurt by the survey question, "The vendor's licensing model offers good value," where it received a 4.19 rating--the lowest of any product.
Karl Lewis, storage administrator at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, says NetBackup has been a blessing to his shop, but adds, "[Veritas] licensing is my No. 1 complaint. Of my top five things, it's the top three." According to our survey, HP ranked the highest related to licensing with a score of 5.62. "The HP licensing model is excellent," says Roman Van Liempt, storage administrator for xwave Solutions in St John's, Newfoundland, an IT services company that provides support for New Brunswick Power. "It's the best I've seen," he adds.
|Enterprise backup software
Product features
B/R software products have been around for a long time, tend to be comparable and new functionality is incremental. Surprisingly, all of the major SMB products hovered near a neutral 4.5 rating in the product feature category--Retrospect had a modest 4.62 (the highest score in the category), while the lowest rating was a 3.25 for Yosemite Technologies Inc.'s TapeWare (see the "Product features" category in the SMB backup software chart).
In the enterprise product group, five of the eight products rated above 5.0. CommVault's Galaxy led all products with a very high 5.77, the highest category score among the enterprise products (see the "Product features" category in the "Enterprise backup software" chart, right). Veritas' NetBackup received its highest category rating for features (5.28). Six of the eight products had generally favorable ratings above 4.5 (only Syncsort Inc.'s Backup Express and CA's BrightStor Enterprise Backup rated below a 4.5). This suggests that the majority of enterprise products are suitable for most applications and environments. As opposed to features, product differentiators center on support, price, quality and reliability.
Lewis appreciates NetBackup's operational prowess after running into some problems with HP's Data Protector. "A lot of the features that you admittedly pay for in NetBackup just aren't there in [Data Protector]," he comments. "NetBackup is definitely much more robust," he says.
|Enterprise backup software: Would you buy this product again?
Product quality
Product quality and reliability were the lowest rated categories as measured by the average of all vendors. Given IT's frustration regarding B/R operations, it's not surprising these were the lowest rated areas. To assess product quality, we asked respondents to rate the products in terms of ease of use, configuration and the need for manual intervention. Only two SMB products--Retrospect and Backup Exec--received scores above 5.0 for quality, while Galaxy was the only enterprise-class product to score above 5.0 (see the "Product quality" section of the SMB backup software chart, and the "Product quality" section of the Enterprise backup software chart).
Media represents the largest single, non-personnel B/R cost. As another indicator of quality, we asked which product utilized media most efficiently. CommVault Galaxy's 5.68 led the ratings in this area, followed closely by IBM'S TSM with a 5.55. Among SMB products, Retrospect rated the highest with a 5.50.
We also asked respondents how well they felt the products delivered value for the money. They rated Galaxy as the best value (5.50); Data Protector and TSM were nearly tied for second with a 5.22 and 5.21, respectively.
Gary Wood, manager of server engineering for the County of Westchester, NY, explains why his firm switched to EMC Legato's NetWorker after using Syncsort's Backup Express for five years. "As our server base increased, and consequently the load on the product [Syncsort], we began to see some cracks appear," he says. He concedes that while implementing NetWorker "we did have a bumpy road along the way, as it wasn't configured properly by Legato and their consultants." It took about a month to iron out the problems and, as far as Wood is concerned, the configuration snafu is no longer an issue. "All in all, we're very pleased with the Legato experience."
The University of Michigan's Lewis also experienced some configuration problems when installing Veritas' NetBackup. While he's pleased with NetBackup's performance, he notes that "it's extremely cumbersome to install and configure, possibly because of the flexibility of the product."
Product reliability
Determining product reliability for B/R software is different than from most other storage components because a discussion of five-nines uptime isn't relevant. B/R rarely needs to operate on a 24/7 basis, but it must run when needed. Therefore, we examined a variety of operational characteristics to derive reliability. Many of the reasons for a B/R job failure--including tape drive failures/errors, media errors and scheduling errors--are beyond the control of B/R software. However, B/R software does control the ability to operate unattended (i.e., "lights out") without interruption due to bugs and can handle errors effectively.
The statement, "I can operate this product in a lights-out mode" generated low marks for most products. Only Galaxy (5.71) and Data Protector (5.30) stood out with scores above 5.0. The other enterprise products with favorable ratings were NetBackup (4.81) and TSM (4.79). Among SMB products, Retrospect's 4.71 narrowly nosed out Backup Exec's 4.68.
Also generating low scores across the board was, "This product experiences very few bugs." With no product breaking the 5.0 barrier for this statement, Galaxy was the highest rated with a 4.96, followed by Retrospect (4.88). Interestingly, we noted an almost direct correlation between the ratings for this statement and the overall rankings of the products. The message to vendors is consistent: Spend more time solving existing problems to create stable products rather than implementing the latest "whiz-bang" feature.
Product support
Given the low user satisfaction concerning product reliability, and especially the number of product bugs, product support gains importance as a purchase criteria (see the "Product support" category in the "SMB backup software" chart, p. 38, and the "Product support" category in the "Enterprise backup software," chart, p. 39). Because most B/R software is sold through resellers, Level-1 support is usually handled by the reselling organization. When asked to respond to the statement, "The vendor's third-party partners are knowledgeable," 11 of the 14 products in our survey rated above 5.0. Retrospect led the SMB group with a whopping 6.56; among enterprise products, IBM's TSM earned the highest mark on this question with a 5.83, followed by a 5.75 for EMC Legato NetWorker.
But support isn't the only criterion for sticking with a product. "We uncovered some shortcomings in the [Syncsort] product along the way," says Westchester County's Wood. "The product was faulty in some areas, but the support was just great."
The timeliness of problem resolution is also an important issue. Responses to the statement, "Problems are resolved in a timely manner," were consistent with the overall curve of the study. Retrospect received the highest score (5.94) among SMB products, and HP led the enterprise group with a 5.20. We also found a correlation between this statement and "Support issues rarely require escalation." When problems escalate from Level-1 support (reseller) to Level-2 support (vendor), there's a necessary hand-off between the two. Individual vendor scores for these two questions were similar in every case. Clearly, knowledgeable Level-1 support that avoids problem escalation is an important factor in overall customer satisfaction.
|The Diogenes Labs-Storage magazine Quality Awards
|The Diogenes Labs-Storage magazine Quality Awards is a joint project of Storage magazine and Diogenes Analytical Laboratories Inc. It's an ongoing process that surveys users to gather their perceptions related to service, reliability and quality of key storage infrastructure products. Storage reported the results for enterprise-class arrays in its August 2005 issue; other product categories will be addressed in the coming months.
Diogenes Labs and Storage magazine congratulate CommVault Galaxy and EMC/Dantz Retrospect on taking top honors among a large field of B/R products. And thanks, too, to the nearly 500 users who took the time to complete the survey and provide such insightful responses.


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I watched the Disney movie National Treasure: Book of Secrets the other day. It was a good (but not great) film I enjoyed watching. However, it had a major historical inaccuracy that was not in any way needed to advance the plot which I found annoying.
President Abraham Lincoln was murdered by southern separatists on April 15th, 1865. Although the war was all but over, fighting continued for several more months. For example, CSA General Johnson did not surrender his troops to General Sherman until June 23rd.
The movie opens with the assassination of President Lincoln by Booth. It shows Ford's Theater, the murder, and aftermath including Booth's infamous quote, "Sic Semper Tyraniss!" as he killed the very unpopular (in the south anyway) Lincoln.
What bothers me is that National Treasure: Book of Secrets opens with the caption, "Five days after the end of the Civil War." This is not correct. The final end date is debated by historians but the war was continuing when Lincoln died even if it was in the last days. Why did the movie makes this false assertion? Why not just note, "In the finals days of the Civil War?"
Yes, it is just a movie. Liberties with history are expected and even OK sometimes. But this error seems pointless. Maybe there really isn't a lost city of gold under Mt. Rushmore either? (Sorry, I don't mean to spoil the movie for anyone.)
Blog of Dr. Miland Brown that features different aspects of world history. Not everything can be covered but sites dealing with any historical issue or topic are possible future posts. Also includes sites which discuss teaching history. Dr. Brown is an academic in North America.
Monday, January 21, 2008
When did the American Civil War end? Disney Does Not Know
Posted by M at 6:05 PM
2 comments:
- Ed said...
Regarding the end of the civil war, what were the titles or references to the announcers of the cease fire and if there was continued fighting after the end of the battle, what were the soldiers refered to or called, because of the lack of being convinced or lack of inforamation?
In the movie when does the civil war end?
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A doll collector friend sent me some information yesterday about a book which is directed towards pedophiles and instructs them on how to avoid getting arrested and more. Amazon was challenged on several fronts about their selling of this book.
She asked me to let people know about this on my blog.Re: Pedophilia's Publication Promoted on AmazonThough they removed the book after being inundated with protests Amazon already legitimized the pedophiliac's written publication and the very act of pedophilia by putting it on the mainstream websiteThey said "Amazon does not support or promote hatred or criminal acts"I guess they do not deem molesting children a criminal act!!!I am asking everyone I know to NOT purchase anything from Amazon for the months of November and December (I am hoping they are hit hard enough financially to see how outrageously unacceptable their actions were).
10/amazon-defends-pedophile- how-to-guide/
Well if you feel like reminding doll collectors on your blog that their toy purchases from Amazon might be better spent at an online store that doesn't support and profit from pedophilia - feel free.I am hoping for there to be some financial impact (at least during Nov/Dec) for their promotion of this pedophile - and their profit off of this entire situation.It was and is beyond disgusting and the damage has been done - perhaps fiscal damage will be something Amazon understands.They certainly don't recognizing the rape and molestation of children as damaging as they vehemently defended the issue as a "free speech" one.
You decide.


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Make sure to check out all of the coverage on PWInsider.com including the audio shows about the past Royal Rumbles, the Royal Rumble Tip Sheet, and the numerous audio shows recapping tonight's pay per view on the site.
The matches announced for tonight's show:
Royal Rumble Match featuring:
The Undertaker
Triple H
Ken Kennedy
Shawn Michaels
Tommy Dreamer
Shelton Benjamin
Santino Marella
Mick Foley
Jamie Noble
Chuck Palumbo
Cody Rhodes
Great Khali
John Morrison
The Miz
Hardcore Holly
Mark Henry
Big Daddy V
CM Punk
WWE Title Match: Randy Orton versus Jeff Hardy
World Heavyweight Title Match: Edge versus Rey Mysterio
Career Threatening Match: Ric Flair versus Montel Vontavious Porter
Chris Jericho versus John Bradshaw Layfield
Tonight's coverage starts with the Royal Rumble commercial. Jack Korpela hosts the Free For All for the Royal Rumble. Jack mentions the Royal Rumble match and what is on the line in the match. We then see the video packages that aired for Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy in the last few weeks. We see a video package for the Chris Jericho/John Bradshaw Layfield match. We next saw the excellent buildup for the Montel Vontavious Porter/Ric Flair match. It was then time to take a look at the final non-Rumble match announced for the pay per view, Edge versus Rey Mysterio. We then see the excellent video package that aired this week about the history of the Royal Rumble match by the numbers.
The pay per view begins with the start of the Royal Rumble subway commercial that has aired for the last few weeks and then we see a montage of the Royal Rumble graphics. We see a video package of the winners of the Royal Rumble match.
Michael Cole welcomes us to the Royal Rumble in HD and talks about how we are starting on the Road to Wrestlemania XXIV.
On the way to the ring, Michael Cole mentions Ric Flair's first match over thirty-five years ago as he walks to the ring.
Ric Flair gets on the mic before the match and he says that it has been an honor to wrestle all of these years in Madison Square Garden. There is no place like it in the world and he agrees with everyone who says that. His first match in MSG was in March 1976 before most of the people in the building were born. The level of respect that the fans have paid him over the years is unbelievable. As Flair continues to talk, he is interrupted by Montel Vontavious Porter's music and Porter comes to the ring.
Match Number One: Ric Flair versus Montel Vontavious Porter in a Career Threatening Match
Your referee is "Little Naytch†Charles Robinson. Before they lock up Flair struts and woooos for the crowd. Porter with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Flair woooos at Porter. They lock up again and Porter backs Flair into the corner and he gives a clean break but continues to show little respect for Flair. Flair with an arm bar and hammer lock and Porter makes it to the corner. Porter slaps Flair but Flair chops and punches Porter around the ring. Flair with a shoulder tackle but Porter with a drop toe hold and then he sets for the boot to the head and he connects. Porter with a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Porter with punches to Flair's head. Flair with a chop but Porter with a punch and snap mare into an arm bar. Porter with an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow and Porter is clipped by Flair. Flair with more chops but Porter with a side head lock and Flair with an atomic drop. Porter with an elbow and punches in the corner. Flair with a chop but Porter with punches. Porter with a running boot into the corner and Porter thinks he got the three count but the referee says that he did not get the three count because Flair had his foot on the ropes. While Porter argues with the referee, Flair with a near fall with a rollup. Porter with a butterfly suplex for a near fall.
Porter puts Flair on the top turnbuckle and he hits a superplex for a near fall. Flair with more chops and then he Irish whips Porter into the corner but they bump heads and both men are down. The referee starts to count out both men but they each get back to their feet. Flair with a kick and chop. Flair with an inside cradle for a two count. Flair then gets another two count with a backslide. Flair with chops and punches to Porter. Porter with a jawbreaker and then he tries for the Playmaker but Flair gets out of the hold and he puts Porter in the Figure Four Leg lock and Porter taps out.
Winner: Ric Flair
After the match, Montel Vontavious Porter follows the referee to the back and argues with him while Flair celebrates in the ring. Flair lets out a woooo for the fans.
I thought this was a good match, but I wish they would have gotten a little more time. I think they can have a better match while it was definitely a good opening match. I liked the false finish. I wonder if Porter will bring up the whole Charles Robinson/Ric Flair situation and demand a rematch.
Vince is in his office with Hornswoggle and Vince talks about how Flair appears to be lucky. Vince talks about the luck of the Irish and his grandfather and father. Vince talks about his entire family, and his bastard son. Vince reminds Hornswoggle that it is every man for themselves and that Hornswoggle cannot even trust Finlay. Vince tells Hornswoggle that he is expected to win.
Finlay enters the office and Vince tells Finlay what he said to Hornswoggle about not trusting anyone. Vince tells Finlay that he cannot trust Hornswoggle either. Hornswoggle hugs Finlay and then they leave the office together.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talk about the media coverage in New York for the Royal Rumble. Jim Ross introduces the newest member of the announce team and Jim Ross mentions the XFL. We go to Mike Adamle.
Mike is at ringside and he says that he was here for Flair's first match in Madison Square Garden in 1976. Mike talks about the electricity and then he segues into the issues between Chris Jericho and John Bradshaw Layfield. We go to the video package.
Match Number Two: Chris Jericho versus John Bradshaw Layfield
Jericho and Bradshaw stare each other down before locking up and Jericho backs Bradshaw into the corner and he gives a clean break but the referee holds him back. They lock up again and Jericho is forced into a clean break by the referee. Bradshaw backs into the ropes and the referee pulls Jericho away again. Bradshaw with punches to Jericho while Jericho is preoccupied. Jericho with a flying forearm and take down followed by punches. Bradshaw sends Jericho to the floor but Jericho returns and he punches Bradshaw followed by a series of kicks to the midsection. Bradshaw misses a clothesline and Jericho applies the Walls of Jericho but Bradshaw gets to the ropes immediately and then goes to the floor. Jericho with a baseball slide that takes Bradshaw down outside the ring. Jericho slams Bradshaw's head into the exposed ringside barrier. Jericho tries for a suplex but Bradshaw blocks it. Jericho sends Bradshaw into the ring apron and then the ring steps as he works on Bradshaw's back. Bradshaw with a hot shot to a charging Jericho and both men are down.
Bradshaw is the first man to return to his feet and then he connects with a short arm clothesline. Bradshaw hits another short arm clothesline and then he chokes Jericho on the bottom rope. Bradshaw catapults Jericho's throat into the middle rope. Bradshaw continues to use the ropes as he chokes Jericho with them. Bradshaw with punches in the corner as Jericho slumps in the corner. Jericho fights back with punches of his own but Bradshaw applies the sleeper as he takes Jericho down to the mat. Jericho gets out of the hold and he clotheslines Bradshaw. Bradshaw with a big boot to Jericho and then he sends Jericho shoulder first into the ring post.
Jericho goes to the floor and Jericho is bleeding as Bradshaw kicks Jericho in the head and then he punches Jericho. They return to the ring and Bradshaw maintains control as he peppers Jericho with kicks and punches. The referee tries to pull Bradshaw out of the way but Bradshaw continues to punch Jericho. Jericho with a forearm and shoulder tackle to Bradshaw. Jericho with a bulldog and drop kick followed by an elbow drop. Jericho with the Lionsault. Jericho clotheslines Bradshaw over the top rope to the floor and the battle continues on the floor. Bradshaw sends Jericho into the ECW announce table and then Jericho rearranges the announce table. Jericho hits Bradshaw in the head with a steel chair and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: John Bradshaw Layfield by disqualification
After the match, Jericho throws the chair at Bradshaw and then he punches Bradshaw. Jericho gets a cable to return the favor on Bradshaw and he chokes Bradshaw and then uses the ring ropes for more leverage. Jericho gets on the ECW announce table and then he lets go but then he goes for the cable one more time before heading to the back.
Lillian Garcia announces the result of the match and the crowd shows their disapproval.
I thought this match was okay but the problem is that the one image that I will remember was the bulldog that did not connect and Bradshaw going down anyway. I don't know if I want to see another match between the two, but this was one of Jericho's better performances during his return.
Ashley Massaro is walking in the back and she knocks on Maria's locker room door. Santino comes out says that Maria cannot talk now because she is getting ready for the first High Definition Kiss Cam. Santino says that Maria cannot say no to anything or anyone. Ashley suggests that is the reason why Maria is still with Santino. Santino tells Ashley that Maria is not interested in her or the 'Boobie Magazine.' Santino then says that he wishes that he could vote her out of the WWE just like they did on Survivor.
I have not been the biggest fan of Santino Marella, but when he can take shots at Ashley Massaro, I like him more every day.
We return to Cole and Coach and we are now 63 days from Wrestlemania. It is time for the Rey Mysterio/Edge match and we go to the video package.
Continued on next page
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So you've had your informational voter ballot packet from the registrar's office for a few weeks now. Have you read it from cover to cover? It's doubtful many voters will.
But there is a website called Californiachoices.org which came out just before the primaries. It's a nonpartisan clearinghouse of information on ballot measures. And it's been updated to include a social media aspect, based on the conversations we have with our friends like : "Well, who are you voting for? " and "What do you think of the marijuana issue?" It allows you with one click to share your opinion on Facebook , MySpace, Twitter.
"Only about one-third of the people have encyclopedic knowledge, but most people rely on cues," says Thad Kousser, political science professor at UC San Diego. He says when it comes to politics we get our information informally from , first the people we trust, whether it be our friends or family, and secondly from the people who share similar interests.
California Choices also features and update on policy positions by 50 major organizations, from unions to non-profits to newspapers on how they stand. It's a collaboration of information from UC, CSU and Stanford.