Thor’s Hall

No Intro needed

Blogging from the train.  I guess it is better than returning calls and reviewing proposals and project plans.

Over Here is an fairly harsh editorial of Obama’s performance in Israel.  I think the conclusion that BHO is all style and no substance is one that we have all reached over the last several months.  Take the time to check out the video.

The piece also includes Andrea Kramer’s comments and conclusions regarding the Iraq leg of the trip.  If you haven’t caught these comments before, you should.

In case you had not figured it out.  I am still absolutely buried professionally.  Between coming up to the end of the quarter, trying to get the “numbers” to where they need to be, fixing troubled projects, and covering for guys that are on vacation I am lucky to have a chance to read anything that is not work related.  Writing something new is even more problematic.  As I write this, I am enjoying the luxury of being able to connect to the internet from the Fracking train.  Ah well, this cycle will wind down sometime soon and get back to normal.

In the meantime there are all kinds of things out there that are developing that I would like to comment on.  Energy related, Middle East related, and of course the Presidential race.  We’ll have Bejing Olympics to address in the next couple of weeks also.

Stay tuned, more to come.

Blue Man Group - What a concept, and great shows. I went into the Vegas show unenthusiastic and came out totally charged and energized. Good stuff.

Ahh… Six Minutes of AC DC yo get things rolling!!!

About the only “reality” show that I ever enjoyed was the Rockstar series with INXS and Supernova. The concept of take a few realtively unknown vocalists, put them live on stage with a great backing band and have them do mostly cover songs. It made for a lot of summer fun.

ell it appears that the convention in Denver is running into some obstacles. Not entirely surprising, putting on an event of this magnitude is a challenging task. There is never an opportunity to work unilaterally. Too many differing groups with differing agendas, limited resources (even in a city the size of Denver), and you squeeze all of that into a very tight time frame of events. It is a challenge.

So i would expect various issues to come up. Not communicating with the television producers on moving the venue though? Big issue.

And this from the Sunday Washington Times.

Amid much fanfare, Democratic National Convention officials have for months promoted their commitment to an environmentally sustainable event.

They’ve hired a first-ever “director of greening,” set an ambitious recycling goal of 85 percent, and banished plastic water bottles and plastic foam cups from the premises.

With the convention a little more than one month away, however, it’s apparent that some Democrats are greener than others. Only three state delegations have agreed to eliminate entirely their carbon footprints by purchasing travel offsets, despite the pleas of convention organizers.

Go read the whole thing. It just gets funnier, and funnier.

Note to Democrats: Guys if you have a green platform or even a green plank in your platform you have to support it by your actions. A little thing called leading by example you know. Otherwise you are just another set of do as I say not as I do politicians.

H/T to Raven for her thoughts on this, and pointing out the article.

Well done video footage - married to AC DC.

I am beginning to get hooked on Nickelback. Love this one, and the video…very cool. What can you say Gretzky even makes an appearance. As does Ted.

There has been a lot of talk about how far scociety has taken the concept of political correctness.  To be honest, I think it is one of those things that has gotten entirely out of control and softened society much too far.  If everyone were to be walking around in powdered white wigs, makeup, and lacy ruffled shirts it might be appropriate for the way things are going.

Again, I will refer you back to Kim’s place for a detailed discussion of this trend in American and European society, if you really want a deep look at it.

For my part I offer you these two recent events as evidence that things have been taken too far.  Well beyond the point of common sense.

Event 1 An agency issues a job posting.  Job requirement includes 20/20 vision.  Posting is offered in Braille.

Event 2 Hmm, a Black hole is a cosmological occurrence.  Not sure where the folks that are objecting to this comment are coming from, or what their educational background is.  Given the prevalence of black holes in literature and films you would have thought that these elected officials would have a bit of understanding of the comment.

In fact, there could be an argument made that political correctness has actually sharpened societal prejudices, and racial / ethnic conflict.

Hmm, if I ever have sufficient time that may pose an interesting study.  In the interim if anyone wants to run with that hypothesis go for it.  Just let me know about it so that I can follow the discussions.