A Few Thoughts on the Health Care Bill

I wanted to say a few things about health care reform. I am not in favor of the legislation signed into law today. I think it was as partisan an outcome as possible, and will create significant problems with regard to the cost and availability of quality health care.

I do not think it is the end of the world, or the end of our country's remarkable ability to prosper. I do think those who created it have been at best naive and at worst sinister in their motivations.

The main issues are unintended consequences and unforeseen outcomes.

In my work I often remind people that governmental involvement, from either party, has never been able to "wreck" our still-unique economic system. We have a special combination of institutional protections and culturally-based inventiveness that gives us an advantage over other nations. Still, I worry about those unintended consequences and unforeseen outcomes. Regarding the first:

1. Unintended consequences

It is incorrect to assume that governmental initiatives have no effect on supply and demand. EVERYTHING that changes incentives shifts either demand or supply, or both of those things.

Living in Florida, we have seen the impact of hurricanes on property insurance. This has made it difficult for some people to get insurance. Who are these people? Generally those near the coast, where there is greater likelihood that storms will affect them. These are people with pre-exisiting conditions. As a result the government has established a company that is meant to be an insurer of last resort, with manageable premiums. The kicker is that ALL Floridians subsidize this insurance company AND this insurance company will be instantly bankrupt if Florida experiences a bad storm season.

Insurance is only as good as the company that issues it. Because Citizen's (the government option) is a government-sponsored entity it can avoid the rules that a State Farm or Nationwide have to operate under. As a result, the best-run, most financially-sound companies, have left the State of Florida as a market. This has made coverage even harder to acquire, as the government has limited what companies can charge for coverage.

Health insurance uses different data and actuarial assumptions than property insurance, but the idea of unintended consequences works with the health care legislation. Government mandates on PRICING will force companies out of the business, as it has done in Florida's property insurance industry, or it will affect how they offer insurance.

It is naive to think that new laws will only have beneficial outcomes. Think of the 1990's relaxation of home-buying requirements or the deregulation of the airlines. We have ALL experienced the unintended consequences of those laws..

Furthermore the law has created an incentive for people to keep their incomes below a certain threshold in order to keep their government health care subsidy. This will not promote a system which pays for itself.

2. Unforeseen Outcomes

This means things that were not caused by a law or program or projection, but which have affected it's outcome. One example are the projected surpluses at the end of the Clinton administration. Bush is often accused of driving us into high deficits and squandering the surpluses of the Clinton years, but some of those surpluses, being projected, NEVER WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. They were based on projections of tax revenues that evaporated when the dot.coms crashed, we entered recession, and 9/11 occurred, in that order.

We have a 1 trillion dollar health care law that has been evaluated using assumptions of future earnings, tax revenues, and utilization that were out-of-date the minute they were created. Assumptions can be massaged to create exactly the outcome you were hoping to find.

I don't think Obama deliberately tried to use faulty assumptions, but I think his acceptance of these assumptions was politically expedient and intellectually naive. My point is that we cannot know what the next ten years holds for us as an economy or a country. If he wanted to make the case that the program was fiscally responsible, and he did, than he opened himself up to this kind of criticism.

3. Alternatives

We certainly need health care reform. There are other things that Congress could have done that would have been more impactful to costs and been fiscally neutral.

Obviously there is a huge political incentive in the creation of the health care entitlement. When FDR created Social Security, he took a group of people that were not united under party lines and made them into a single, new voting bloc. That is what has occurred with the health care law. Future attempts to change or modify the program will be met with similar reactions to efforts to reform Social Security (They're trying to take away your benefits!).

Health insurance is my single largest expense. It is more costly than rent for our offices or even my mortgage at home. I am fortunate to enjoy very good coverage, but it carries a high cost.

I believe that we need reform, but it could have been tackled differently, in a bipartisan manner, and it wasn't. Very simple solutions, such as those discussed in this post, might have been an excellent place to start. Their implementation would provide time for a more thorough and careful examination of the health-care system.

That didn't happen, Obama ignored key campaign pledges, and we will have to see how everything unfolds.

First Bath

These are some pictures of Isaac's first bath at home.
Doing good so far!

Millie wanted to help with the washing.

The somewhat predictable, post-bath cry.

Awesome Video Saturday CXXVII

This is a pretty funny spoof on those unintentionally ridiculous Brinks Security ads.

A New Arrival

At 3:08 PM on March 17th we welcomed our new son, Isaac Rafael Lowry. As has been the case when Joseph and Millie were born, Lacy was amazing.

Lacy has always liked the name Isaac, and Rafael was the middle name of my grandfather (Abuelito). I wanted him to have a link to his ancestry. Fortunately Lacy agreed.

Isaac is a big boy- 10 lbs 14 oz at birth! I have included some photos below. I'm sorry that they are a little out of order.

Childbirth is a miracle. This is the third time I have seen a birth, each time for one of my kids. It is an extraordinary spiritual and emotional experience. To see my wife pushed to such an extreme, and to see the life that comes from her body, a perfect, new person, demonstrates to me the grandeur of God's creation.

I am a blessed man.

Here is Millie with her little brother.

Joseph is very excited to have a new baby in the house. He asked if Mommy could have a little baby girl...today! We told him she needed a break.
He is a happy big bro!
The proof-
Papa and Mima with their new grandkid (#7).
Nana arrived from San Diego right on time! Isaac is her 19th grandchild, her 13th grandson!
Here is Isaac about 3 hours after his birth.
Joseph gets to listen to Isaac's heartbeat. "Sounds good!"
Isaac's first visitors- Papa, Uncle Chris, Joseph III, Mima, Nana, and Millie.

Taking a stand! (Go Cougs!)

As for me and my house, we support the Cougars!

.

Tourney Time

The SPOTD Blog tourney group is now open.

Click on this link to join.

The password is "spotd" and the group is the SPOTD Champions League.

Awesome Video Saturday CXXVI

This is an extremely impressive and inventive creation-



This group, OK GO, has had clever videos in the past- such as this one.

Where Credit is Due (Part 2)

The New York Times Thomas Friedman had a piece in today's edition on the Iraq elections. He also credits George Bush for seeing the potential for democracy in the Middle East and Iraq in particular. The photos below are from the New York Times website.

Friedman is more reserved about Iraq's future, which is far from certain, but does see the potential for democratic institutions taking hold in the country. He also mentions the potential impact this will have on the legitimacy of the regime in Iran, which can only be a good thing in my mind.

Looking Good

The latest trailer for Robin Hood is a winner.



Hoodilolly, hoodilolly.

Where Credit is Due

There has been a lot written about the recent parliamentary elections in Iraq and what it means for the Middle East and the future of the country. Jeff Jacoby in the Boston Globe has a piece where he gives credit where it is due- to George W. Bush.

You can debate, with good reason, the rationale for entering the war. Apart from the origins of the war the key is that, at a critical time, Bush selected the course of action that has produced a fairly stable country. None of the opposing plans to pull out or "redeploy" would have led to a more secure Iraq.

Key figures in the Obama administration, Obama and Biden among them, promoted the wrong ideas for Iraq. If they continue to claim that the economy they entered office with is the fault of the previous administration, they cannot take credit for Iraq's successes, except insofar as they have continued those beneficial policies for the last 13 months.

Rotten at the Top

In a sad (and unsurprising) development, corruption has continued to be an issue in Latin America. It is suspected that El Salvador's former president may have used state funds inappropriately. In the absence of adequate state insitutions, O'Grady proposes that the World Bank audit the nation's books.

It's not going to happen, but it should.

Changing Sides

This was a very interesting interview with the son of one of Hamas' founders. After being captured by Israel in the 1990's he became an agent of the Shin Bet, an Israeli intelligence service.

During that time he supplied information to Israel and eventually converted to Christianity. He now lives in the United States and has published a book about his experience.

It's an interesting story.

Awesome Video Saturday CXXV

Do you remember the 1985 Alice in Wonderland miniseries? It was one of those star-studded specials that used to come on periodically. I remember being riveted by it when I was younger, and I thought the Jabberwocky was terrifying.

In honor of the release of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Entertainment Weekly has posted some scenes from the 1985 movie.

Looks pretty lame by today's standards. As they mention in the post:

Watching this as an adult is so weird. So many questions. Was every scene of this thing shot in the same big room? Why was the caterpillar dressed as a Revolutionary War general while Alice got to crossover into a local stage production of Peter and the Wolf?

YouTube has many more clips. Good for a funny nostalgia trip.

A Few Things

Just a few things I've read lately, mostly in the WSJ-

• Apparently animals have attorneys in Switzerland. Weirder things have happened. I suppose they are running out of things to spend money on over there.
• Here is a belated remembrance of a woman who played a critical role in developing useful Crock Pot recipes. I am a devotee of the slow-cooker, and I will offer a moment of silence for the good woman when next I cook a favorite dish (Cafe Rio Pork).
• New York politicians are on a roll, as scandal after scandal seems to be emerging.
• I thought this was a neat piece from the NYT on the first Latin baseball player to play in Japan. At 76, he's still there.

Good night.

Nickel & Dime

If you have stayed in a resort at any time in the recent past you may have noticed a "resort fee" being added to your bill. It was either compulsory, or something charged if you wanted to use facilities like the gym. You also probably had to pay for a beach chair or some other heretofore complimentary service.

This trend seems worst at higher-end hotels. It may or may not be disclosed when a room is booked. While on a recent business trip my father discovered that the highly-rated resort hotel assessed a five dollar fee on drop-off and receipt of overnight mail.

As seen in this Chicago Tribune article (found on Drudge), hidden fees have begun to crop up in restaurants in San Francisco. The author decries the trend as in poor taste, and I agree. I would rather see a restaurant raise their prices than impose a fee that may not have been disclosed beforehand.

San Francisco has long been a focal point for culinary trends. I hope this is a movement that remains Bay-bound.

More praise for Uribe

Max Boot at Commentary Magazine also has praise for Alvaro Uribe. He mentions Uribe's worthiness for the Nobel Peace Prize. Wouldn't it be nice for it to actually be given to someone who has accomplished something in that area?

As we've discussed before, the prize is mostly political and largely meaningless, and I think Uribe is much happier about the peace actually enjoyed in his country.

Acting against Self-Interest

I re-watched the movie Miracle the other day. It's one of my all-time favorites. I enjoyed this article by SI.com's Joe Posnanski on some lesser-known facts from that game.

I am not really a hockey fan. I enjoy watching it on occasion but never make an effort to do so. I was riveted by the Olympic tournament, and hearing that the NHL is weighing whether to participate in 2014 seems crazy. As mentioned in the article, the Olympics make hockey, for once every four years, nationally relevant. To abandon the Olympics would be foolish, but it wouldn't be the first bad decision the hockey powers that be have made.

Here's hoping they don't give up on a good thing.

A Bad Day for Mexico

I heard about the death of Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata last week. His hunger strike, helped along by mistreatment at the hands of the Cuban government, led to his death.

I was not aware that at the same time, Cuban leader Raul Castro was being feted by Mexico's Felipe Calderon.

There is a sad history of apathy toward the crimes of the Castro regime. The trend continued last week and Mr. Calderon had the misfortune of having Zapato, a longtime non-violent protester, die during Castro's visit. He should have known better and demonstrates that he is no statesman by his actions.

A Good Day for Colombia

The presidency of Alvaro Uribe has been a successful one. During his tenure Colombia has enjoyed improvements in almost every aspect of life. Among his successes has been the weakening of the FARC, once one of the most powerful terrorist and criminal organizations in the country. While still a major force, they have not been able to diminish the free-market economic success that Colombia has enjoyed, despite help from neighbor governments unfriendly to the right-leaning Uribe.

Uribe was considering running for a third term as president. He is popular, and may have been successful. The Colombian Constitutional Court has declared that such a move would be unconstitutional, and Mr. Uribe will abide by its decision.

This is in stark contrast to the actions of Hugo Chavez, who has successfully extended his time as president of Venezuela, and Honduras' Zelaya, who would have violated his country's constitution in pursuit of the same.

Colombia will benefit from the institutional discipline required by the Court to issue this decision, and by the actions of the president to honor it.

Consensus is not Science

This is science. It is a report on a study which finds little connection between global warming and more severe hurricanes. According to their findings, global warming may actually contribute to milder storms. This is, of

Now it does not by any means disprove Climate Change. I'm not of the belief that Climate Change is NOT happening. I just don't know:

• How bad it is
• How much can be attributed to man
• What we CAN do about it
• What we SHOULD do about it
• Whether there are other things which are MORE important, and therefore more worthy of finite resources.

This is a healthy debate to be having. Crisis talk and fearmongering are used for demagoguery, not good policy.

Olympian

This has been a very enjoyable Olympics, highlighted by the strong showing by the U.S. team. Apparently this came despite, not because of, the U.S. Olympic Committee.

An example of success coming without the once-considered-essential bureaucracy? Very American.

SPOTD #164

No phrase today, as I'm tired and this has been a particularly low-ouput month for the SPOTD.

Pre-Digital
How books used to be made.

Science Bummer
It turns out that traveling at warp speed would be hazardous to your health. Like, you would die.

Clotbuster
There is a new application for soundwaves, as it is hoped they can be used to treat strokes. This is a tremendous possibility, as it would eliminate the need for dangerous and invasive procedures.

Toyland
Here are some highlights from the International Toyfair.

Unusual Airports
This is an interesting look at some of the most unusual airports in the world.

Link of the Day
One (expensive) way of taking home movies... in the old days.

Not so Carnival

I don't really know that much about Brazil's domestic situation. I know a little about the president, the nation's impressive oil and natural gas resources, and some of the cultural aspects, and have long had good friends from Brazil.

I was shocked by the photo accompanying this article, which may not be unique to Brazil. The article describes areas of Rio that are ruled by juvenile criminal elements.

Awesome Video Saturday CXXIV

I don't know much about this guy. I saw this video on Facebook. I think this guy has something going. Could start a trend.



He reminds me of Mr. Bean.

Mission Accomplished

I thought this was a great post by blogger and Iraq War veteran David Bellavia. The conflict in Iraq has become largely forgotten news. Soon combat troops will leave. The name of U.S. operations there is changing as major combat operations cease.

It is an amazing accomplishment, considering everything that has happened in the last 7 years.

I'm grateful for the blood and sweat expended on behalf of our country, and I hope we remember the efforts of everyone who's served there.

Awesome Video Saturday CXXIII

This was a great demonstration of the ubiquitousness of the greenscreen in TV and film. I consider myself a discerning judge of the real and fake in Hollywood and I was shocked to see some of the "real" backdrops.

Very cool.

Sportformance?

I used to watch a lot of figure skating...with my mom. She loves to watch it, and while growing up watching the Winter Olympics meant watching figure skating.

I rarely watch it these days, but I found these articles by Jim Caple pretty amusing. This one is extolling the virtues of the sport, and this one considers the role that costumes play in the competition.

Awesome Video Saturday CXXII

Here is a neat little widget that will allow you to relive Super Bowl glory, commercially.

Missing the Message

I thought this article was an interesting take on a fairly weak slate of Superbowl ads. I had planned to write more on the subject, but haven't had much time lately.

My favorite? The Letterman-Leno ad.

My least favorite? Audi's implicit approval of civil rights abuse with their "Green Police" ad.

Winners Again

I was pulling for the Colts (I always root for the AFC), but I didn't mind that the Saints won the game. They certainly earned it.

I was happy that several Hurricanes, Jeremy Shockey & Jonathan Vilma, were able to win their first rings, especially as both had difficult periods in their career up to this point.

Dave Barry has a nice little column on the game.

Above the Fray

I haven't commented here on President Obama's inappropriately direct criticism of the Supreme Court in his State of the Union. Clarence Thomas, who said that he does not like to attend given the partisan natures of the State of the Union address, defended the Court's recent decision involving corporate giving to political campaigns. This New York Times article has an excerpt. Particularly interesting is this bit of historical context for some of the overturned legislation, a 1907 law which restricted corporate giving in campaigns:

He added that the history of Congressional regulation of corporate involvement in politics had a dark side, pointing to the Tillman Act, which banned corporate contributions to federal candidates in 1907.

“Go back and read why Tillman introduced that legislation,” Justice Thomas said, referring to Senator Benjamin Tillman. “Tillman was from South Carolina, and as I hear the story he was concerned that the corporations, Republican corporations, were favorable toward blacks and he felt that there was a need to regulate them.”

It is thus a mistake, the justice said, to applaud the regulation of corporate speech as “some sort of beatific action.”

No More Pretense?

Chavez is increasing the intensity of his attacks on those opposed to his policies.

Referring to nationwide civil protests—led by university students—he warned the country Thursday that if they "intensify" he is ready to take "radical measures."

Our government has done a shameful job of standing up for democratic ideals in the hemisphere, appeasing Chavez instead of roundly criticizing him for his actions. The article linked to above, by the WSJ's O'Grady, explains Chavez' predicament, a combination of situations that is very dangerous when someone like him is in charge.

SPOTD #163

On the final day of the first month of 2010, the 163rd Spanish Phrase of the Day-

Today's Phrase:
Unfortunately, I was at a loss for something profound.

Actual
Es bueno leer.

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable
Ess bway-no lay-air.

Translation (roughly)
It is good to read.

When is a Poke more than a Poke?
When a poke means planning a hit. A British gangster is using Facebook's networking abilities to maintain his criminal activities.

2009 is gone
But its films live on. Here is Eric Snider's roundup of the best and worst of last year.

Homemade Artillery
Why not? This one can launch pumpkins at 600 mph.

Danger Driver
Want to see the most dangerous road in Europe?

Ticket Avoidance
Want to avoid trouble on the road with the Po-Po? Give these cars your consideration. I do think that their presence on the list is due more to the demographics of the drivers than the vehicles themselves, but there may be safety in these numbers.

Bad Idea Department
Twilight Tattoos. No one will ever regret this, right?

Danger Burgers
This is a list of the worst fast-food burgers, nutritionally. Two of my favorites are on the list.

Seamonster
Scientists have found the skull of a giant sea creature that could have eaten almost anything in the ocean. The skull is extremely well-preserved.

Link of the Day
Check out the most Viral videos of the past decade.

Awesome Video Saturday CXXI

A pretty funny critique of the commander-in-chief's reliance on teleprompters.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Obama Speaks to a Sixth-Grade Classroom
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Reaction

This is a fact-check piece from the Associated Press. Obama may not have made more unrealistic claims or promises than past presidents, but given the platform that he campaigned on, his missteps seem more glaring.

The Telegraph (U.K.) published a scathing critique of a speech that did not spend a lot of time on foreign policy. An excerpt:

The Iranian nuclear threat, likely to be the biggest foreign policy issue of 2010, was given just two lines in the speech, with a half-hearted warning of “growing consequences” for Tehran, with no details given at all. There were no words of support for Iranian protestors who have been murdered, tortured and beaten in large numbers by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s thuggish security forces, and no sign at all that the president cared about their plight. Nor was there any condemnation of the brutality of the Iranian regime, as well as its blatant sponsorship of terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As the example of Iran showed, the advance of freedom and liberty across the world in the face of tyranny was not even a footnote in the president’s speech. I cannot think of a US president in modern times who has attached less importance to human rights issues. For the hundreds of millions of people across the world, from Burma to Sudan to Zimbabwe, clamouring to be free of oppression, there was not a shred of hope offered in Barack Obama’s address.
Obama’s world leadership in his first year in office has been weak-kneed and little short of disastrous. He has sacrificed the projection of American power upon the altar of political vanity, with empty speeches and groveling apologies across the world, from Strasbourg to Cairo. He has appeased some of America’s worst enemies, and has extended the hand of friendship to many of the most odious regimes on the face of the earth. Judging by the State of the Union address tonight, we can expect more of the same from an American president who seems determined to lead the world’s greatest power along a path of decline.

I do have to give the president credit for mentioning a trade deal with Colombia. This is something that has been delayed for far too long, and with no real reason.

One Year Later

I probably will not watch the President's entire speech. I always find myself frustrated and annoyed by him when I listen to his speeches. Obviously my ideological biases play a major role here.

I read this scathing critique of Obama's first year by electoral supporter and media boss Mort Zuckerman. His first three paragraphs-

He’s misjudged the character of the country in his whole approach. There’s the saying, “It’s the economy, stupid.” He didn’t get it. He was determined somehow or other to adopt a whole new agenda. He didn’t address the main issue.
This health-care plan is going to be a fiscal disaster for the country. Most of the country wanted to deal with costs, not expansion of coverage. This is going to raise costs dramatically.
In the campaign, he said he would change politics as usual. He did change them. It’s now worse than it was. I’ve now seen the kind of buying off of politicians that I’ve never seen before. It’s politically corrupt and it’s starting at the top. It’s revolting.

Some of Obama's failures may arise from a feeling of invicibility stemming from his very impressive electoral victory. According to an anecdote from a frustrated demcratic Congressman, the president seemed to feel that his initiatives would succeed based on the strength of his personality. Not so.

Going out strong

This was a great way for Conan to go out. It was a funny show, and I thought that Conan's speech at 31:40 was excellent. He was very gracious and humble, and did himself great credit.

I was never a regular viewer (much too late for me) but I think Conan is very, very funny.

Doing good, Wherever needed.

This is a great piece about Doctors Without Borders and their innovative portable hospitals. Technology has made working in places like earthquake-devastated Haiti so much easier.

To Be Good

Google has made some strong assertions about the status of their business in China. This is why it is a good thing. This is why China needs Google.

If Google wants to make being good a part of their business modus operandi, standing up to the Chinese government is a pretty good place to start.

Awesome Video Saturday CXX

It's back in just under 2 weeks!

This promo seems to indicate, as some have surmised, that the detonation of Jughead may allow for a do-over of sorts. We'll see.

Adieu Conan, adieu.

Conan is out. He'll make $40 million and be unable to work on television for another network for several years. I think he would have preferred to keep the gig. Here is a listing from a WSJ site of some of their favorite bits from his brief tenure.

To make you laugh a little, some of David Letterman's comments on the issue (from last Friday I believe)

Reality

A long time ago there was a program that was sent to many schools in the United States via satellite, Channel 1. It was a news program meant to educate middle and high school students about the world around them, and it included reporting from Bosnia (in the middle of its bloody conflict) by a young Anderson Cooper. I remember being impressed by his willingness to go to a dangerous place, and on behalf of a news program that was only seen by teenagers.

I don't usually watch CNN, where Cooper is now an anchor, but I have always admired him for his early work in Bosnia. I saw this video of him in Haiti, helping a boy who had been injured, and I was impressed. It seems a human moment, where it was not enough to observe events but where he wanted to get involved.

There is some blood in the video.

Awesome Video Saturday CXIX

On Wednesday night's American Idol, there was an audition by a 62 year old man, where he sang an original composition called "Pants on the Ground." It was pretty fun to watch.

Predictably, in the Internet Age it has spawned admirers. This is my favorite, with Jimmy Fallon impersonating Neil Young, singing the instant classic.

Haiti

The aftermath of the Haitian earthquake has been devastating. The loss of life, and the resulting medical and hygiene crisis, will take months to be dealt with. I can hardly think of a country less-well-equipped to deal with such a crisis.

Fortunately you can get involved quickly. Texting "Haiti" to 90999 will send $10 to the American Red Cross through your mobile provider. They have already raised $800,000 through this method.

This event further illustrates the incredible abilities of the U.S. military as a provider of immediate aid. No effective aid can be provided without security, and the military has been active all over the world in such situations, like the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. They have cleared the airport, the first step in providing meaningful aid.

Whizzzzzzzzz

Early tomorrow morning an unidentified object is going to pass within 80,000 miles of the earth.

I hope they figure out what it is. I am glad there are mysteries in this universe.

Coming Clean

Mark McGwire has finally admitted publicly what most have long suspected- that he used steroids while playing Major League Baseball. I found his statement disappointing. The only real reason for him to be admitting to steroid use now is that he about to begin his work as the batting coach for his old team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

I give him credit for being clear about the extent of his use, but I think he should have made his admission much earlier. I'm disappointed because I always enjoyed him as a player, and like Barry Bonds, think that would have been a great hitter without the steroids. In McGwire's case he may not have lasted as long as he did. but his gift as a hitter was clear from his first season.

I like the perspective offered by SI.com writer Lee Jenkins, though I disagree that McGwire needed the juice to be relevant.

Awesome Video Saturday CXVIII

I saw this the other day and thought it was hilarious.

Hmmm

I rarely watch late night TV, but I have long thought that Conan O'Brien was a very, very funny entertainer. I was happy that he got The Tonight Show job, but mystified by their choice to cancel their 10 pm dramas in favor of keeping Leno. I wasn't the only one either, and it appears their experiment may be nearing an end, to Conan's possible detriment.

That's Hollywood.

Not So Scientific

This is a fantastic article about the science of science. It's worth printing and reading at your leisure.

Dunbar came away from his in vivo studies with an unsettling insight: Science is a deeply frustrating pursuit. Although the researchers were mostly using established techniques, more than 50 percent of their data was unexpected. (In some labs, the figure exceeded 75 percent.) “The scientists had these elaborate theories about what was supposed to happen,” Dunbar says. “But the results kept contradicting their theories. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to spend a month on a project and then just discard all their data because the data didn’t make sense.” Perhaps they hoped to see a specific protein but it wasn’t there. Or maybe their DNA sample showed the presence of an aberrant gene. The details always changed, but the story remained the same: The scientists were looking for X, but they found Y.

The sad part is that many scientists abandon the unexpected data in order to continue searching for what they expected.

New Freedoms in a New Year?

The most underreported story at this time has to be the unrest in Iran. Ever since the turmoil caused during the most recent presidential election, the regime in power has consistently tried to put down the increasingly aggressive opposition. In his last column, the Wall Street Journal's Holman Jenkins alludes to the (understandable) focus placed on the latest airborne terror attempt, but exhorts us to focus more on the much more significant events in Iran.

Their tactics have included imprisonment and torture. They identify young students, often with great potential, and limit their opportunities for advancement, and in turn, effective opposition.

The opposition is putting themselves in harm's way for the kinds of freedoms that we take for granted.

We should start paying attention.

Awesome Video Saturday CXVII

A creepy and creative reminder to be careful what you covet.

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Happy New Year!

I'm of the belief that the '00's weren't so bad. It was certainly full of significant challenges, but personally was a wonderful period of time. 10 years ago I was a missionary in San Diego. I returned home, lived in college with some of my best friends, graduated from college, married my wife, had two kids (with one on the way), and survived a major economic crisis. I can't really complain.

Here is some good information to get you started in the '10's:

• If you are wealthy, this may be the year to die. Witness the perverse incentives created by our beloved Congress.
• This is a very interesting look at how a massive insider-trading case came into existence.
• Apparently some people really don't like our calendar system. Whatever.

Adios al Año 2009

I've been a Dave Barry fan since I was a kid, and his annual Year in Review is always worth a read.

Here it is.

Awesome Video Saturday CXVI

As an after-Christmas gift, this bizarre little spoof from SNL.

Merry Christmas!

This is a nice message about the meaning of Christmas.

SPOTD #162 Travelin'

I have traveled a lot over the last month and thought I would use this edition to do some reviews. Not sure if anyone cares but me.

Today's Phrase:
We enjoyed our time with my wife's family on our recent trip to California. I am very happy to staying home for Christmas. If you happen to be traveling, this phrase is for you. Otherwise you may use it on others.

Actual
¡Buen viaje!

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable
Bwain vee-ya-hay.

Translation (roughly)
Have a good trip!

Eating
Angelo's 2: We had a fantastic breakfast at this old-looking restaurant in Garden Grove. A ton of food, including some delicious huevos rancheros, at a great price.
Yardhouse: On our last night in Cali we ate here with Lacy's family. Half-priced appetizers during Monday Night Football made for a perfect meal, including some of the best chicken tenders that I have ever had.
Point Loma Seafood: One of our favorite places to eat in San Diego. Delicious fish tacos and great clam chowder, with fish fresh off the boats.
Cafe Rio: I would have a real problem if we had one of these in Gainesville, but it would be worth the problem. The steak burrito, enchilada-style is something I always go for whenever I am in Utah.
In-n-Out: Seems like something you either love or hate. More lovers than haters out there, and I am a lover. Somehow they ended up on this list, but I think my twice-annual trips are probably okay.
Olive Garden: I mention it here because their Lasagna Fritta is deliciosa.
Waffle House: You can't beat the Waffle House after midnight. Everyone should go at least once in their life. Atlanta is a great place.

Driving
Expedition: We rented one and it had plenty of room and a nifty electric third row, but I prefer the handling of our Honda Odyssey.
Camaro: The rental version is the less-powered V6 model, but it still looks pretty cool. It handled pretty well, but the small greenhouse puts a serious damper on visibility. I especially liked the fat steering wheel.

Doing
Disneyland: This was my first time. Just as fun as Disneyworld, with it's own charm. The major difference is how small the castle is and how close the park is to the urban areas.
Sea World San Diego: Just like Sea World Orlando with better weather. You can't help but be amazed by the size and speed of the orcas. It made my jaw drop, even though I've seen it before. The sea lion show was disappointing for all its filler. I'd rather just see the animals performing.
World of Coca-Cola- Pretty fun place to pass the time in Atlanta. You can taste some disgusting Coke-produced soda from around the world, and some good ones as well.

Link of the Day
Enjoy some of the signs that have been photographed around the world.

I'm Ready

An Original

A solid remake



Horatio Sanz has lost a lot of weight.

On A Better Environment

It is a huge mistake to assume that those who do not support cap-and-trade and carbon offsets are somehow in favor of destructive environmental change. Many simply believe that there are better and less injurious ways to improve environmental conditions.

Bjorn Lomborg is not a global warming denier, but he is not in favor of the current remedies advocated by the many of today's leaders. His reasoning is sound-

Over the last several centuries, the world economy has exploded and the
human condition has improved immeasurably because of cheap fossil fuels; we're
not going to end that connection in just a few decades. Just before the summit
convened, political leaders from a number of major nations were lauded for
announcing carbon-reduction targets that are in fact economically, technically,
and politically impossible to achieve. We saw the same thing at the 1992 "Earth
Summit" in Rio de Janeiro and then again a decade later in Kyoto. And just like
the promises made back then, the vows being made now in Copenhagen are sure to be broken by future administrations. Pretending otherwise is fraudulent.

Of course, that last sentence is not surprising. Politicians are not typically concerned with the ultimate consequences of their short-term thinking. Lomborg also looks at what issues are of real concern to individuals that are most vulnerable to climate variation. Read the article for more.

Reform Shmeform

I'm not happy with the health care bill that is taking shape in Congress. The Wall Street Journal has some excellent criticism here. This post discusses elements of the proposals that may in fact be unconstitutional.

I'll be honest, I only skimmed that second link. It's late, and I'm tired, in addition to not being a lawyer. I'll try to read it tomorrow.

Who wants these bills? Really?

AVATAR

It was a fantastic film. The 3D really was unlike any I'd seen before, more immersive, visually impressive and vibrant. Some have said that were it not for the technology this would be a mediocre film. That may be true true, but it also undervalues what was achieved technically. You can't separate the two.

I enthusiastically recommend. The folks we watched it with were in agreement.

Terrorists and the NGO's who love them

O'Grady continues to expose the links between left-leaning organizations and governments and the Colombian marxist terrorists known as the FARC.

Some so-called human rights groups are at best sympathetic and at worst complicit in the illegal activities of the FARC. This has served to limit the liberty of the Colombians in the areas where the FARC operates.

Read the article for more.

Past & Present

There is a new ESPN documentary premiering tonight, The U. It looks at the 1980's heyday of the program, the winningest team of that decade.

The Miami Herald's Dan LeBatard had a great piece on the current state of the Canes, one that includes excellent academic performance and very few legal issues, especially compared to other programs.

Awesome Video Saturday CXV

Bad Marketing

Children

Radical environmentalism does not equate social liberalism, but there is often a correlation. It is ironic that some socially liberal individuals advocate a policy that is anathema to the kind of liberty they claim to espouse.

Population control is immoral. My opinion on the issue is based in part on my theological beliefs, but not entirely. I believe in liberty, and that liberty should extend to the number of children a man and woman choose to bring into this world.

The author of this Financial Post (Canada) piece seems to agree with the contention of the Chinese government- population control is a necessary component of efforts to thwart climate change. She even claims that China's one-child policy is the reason why China has enjoyed such strong economic growth. Both contentions are foolish, the latter especially so.

China has enjoyed growth based on its embrace of free-market principles and the increasingly consumer-focused nature of its economy. The one-child policy has produced female infanticide and drastic gender imbalances, resulting in surplus males in the Chinese population.

Does the author propose criminalizing childbirth? Imposing increased fees and taxes on those who have more than one child? In an environment where fewer children are being born in Western countries we should be thankful for those who have children. They are an economic necessity.

Furthermore, population control would put Western democracies in demographic peril, given the much higher birthrates in predominantly Muslim and predominantly unfriendly countries.

The argument is unsound.

Payday

It seems that life as a Federal employee is pretty darn good. Federal employees have higher average salaries than their comparable private-sector counterparts. They also have much more generous retirement packages.

It used to be that generous public employee pensions helped compensate for the lower compensation that a "civil servant" might receive in their lifetime. Obviously this is no longer the case.

Never Forget

I had a busy day yesterday, but was remiss in not commenting on the 68th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. This was a transformative event in American politics, effectively ending U.S. isolationism forever and shaping America's preeminent position in the world.

National Geographic has some nice articles on the subject.

SPOTD #161

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

I'm headed to Atlanta tomorrow for the SEC Championship Game. I've never been much of a Gator fan, but I'm not the Gator-hater I once was. I am a Tebow fan and I hope the Gators pull this off.

Today's Phrase:
The College football season is nearing its end. This is the time for championship games and the bowl season will soon be upon is. Now you can root for your team in espanish.

Actual
Sí, se puede.

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable
See, say pway-day.

Translation (roughly)
You can do it!

Whistle Past the Graveyard
This is a pretty cool look at the Mojave Desert's airplane graveyard.

Supersub
Most submarines have been very slow-moving. This one is not, at least from a relative standpoint.

What Might have Been
Star Trek was one of my favorite movies this year. For a long time there was speculation about whether William Shatner would have appeared. If he had, this is how it would have occurred. It's too bad it didn't work out. I like this quite a bit.

Ch-ch-changes
Social changes have led to alterations in beloved classics like Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever.
Not quite as best as it used to be I think. Take a look at how things have changed.

Human Tragedy
My dad, a fellow car buff, sent me this distressing story about how $1.5 million went for a swim.

Link of the Day
Creepy, clever marketing.

College Football Roundup

The biggest news for me this weekend was the victory of my BYU Cougars over arch-rival Utah. Before moving to Utah to attend BYU, I had little real idea of how intense this rivalry was. It seemed a little silly to me, having come from Florida, a state where rivalry games routinely decided national champion contenders. As a Cougar, it seemed like vitriol of Utes far outstripped anything from Florida-Georgia or Miami-Florida State.

Things seemed to have reached a new level with BYU's win last Saturday. After the game Max Hall, BYU's quarterback, made some imprudent comments. You can read commentary on them here, from KSL and the Salt Lake Tribune. Utes have responded in kind. It's not a great development in an ugly rivalry.

Still, I'm extremely happy with how things turned out.

----------------------------------------------

Miami finished their season well. This was great preparation for next season, and if they have a nice win in their bowl game (probably the Gator Bowl), it may be a good indication of things to come.

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Andy Staples of SI.com makes a good case for Tim Tebow's greatness as a football player and how he is undeserving of this year's Heisman trophy.

Many commentators are picking Alabama for this weekend's SEC Championship game. I think it will be a close game, one I will be attending, but I don't think I will ever pick against Tim Tebow.

Socialismo

Chavez is at it again, this time threatening Venezuela's private banks with nationalization. He continues an arbitrary and capricious form of socialism that is a terrible example for other Latin American countries.

Thoughtless

My biases should be apparent on this issue. I have small children and we regularly fly to California to spend time with my wife's family. It is the only logical way to transport my family of 4 (soon to be 5) to the west coast. I read this op-ed from the L.A. Times where writer Amy Alkon expresses frustration at parents who travel with screaming children on airplanes.

I got a visceral reaction to the piece. Alkon isn't a parent, so doesn't understand the dilemma parents deal with when they travel with small children. During the entire flight I am consumed with keeping my children happy. Sometimes this is IMPOSSIBLE, but we do everything in our power to help the kids behave. I know not every parent tries as hard, but I imagine that most do. There is one section in particular that I take issue with. In describing one incident where a mother and child were removed from a Southwest flight, she says the following-

Parents like Root and others who selfishly force the rest of us to pay the cost
of their choices in life aren't just bothering us; they're stealing from us.
Most people don't see it this way, because what they're stealing isn't a thing
we can grab on to, like a wallet. They're stealing our attention, our time and
our peace of mind.

There is a sentiment here that urks me. Bringing children in the world is not ennobling or worthy to Alkon. It is a selfish choice, which inflicts pain on other people. She limits her comments to airplane travel, but it could easily be extended to the use of natural resources, housing choices, and other issues. I just don't like where her ideas could go.

Awesome Video Saturday CXIV

Silly but amusing "future" mockumentary-

More of the Same

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

I remember when Florida stopped playing Miami starting in the late 1980's. There were a variety of reasons behind this move, but as a Miami fan the most satisfying one was that the Gators were afraid to play us.

It appears that there will be another drought for Miami fans eager for the rivalry games, if this report is correct. Florida can keep playing FIU and Charleston Southern.

Climategate

Suspicions about the validity of climate models appears well founded. As data manipulation seems to have occurred, here is a primer on recent occurrences on the issue.

Awesome Video Saturday CXIII

Not quite as funny as some of the other ads these guys have done, but still amusing-

Shuttle On

This article from Popular Mechanics may be of interest. It discusses the future of the Space Program as the Space Shuttle nears the end of its service.

I believe the Space Program is important. There is a healthy debate about whether it should follow a public or private course. I imagine we will see some combination, which is probably the best way to go.

Defending the Faith

This is a good piece by O'Grady, summarizing her conversation with the Cardinal of Honduras. The Church has received some criticism for the role it played in affirming the correctness of Zelaya's ouster. It has been a difficult period, but the Cardinal's words are truthful and fair.

Awesome Video Saturday CXII

Sometimes you don't need to understand the language.

To Arms?

I find this post from the Reason blog persuasive. It deals with the advantage that gun control or gun-free zones provide to criminals willing to ignore those laws.

In numerous violent incidents that have occurred over the past several years I have often wondered whether the damage could have been limited if a legally-armed bystander had intervened. I certainly wonder about the potential for further injury if the intervening party hits someone else, but I might be willing to take that chance. Personally, I would prefer to be armed and have a fighting chance.

Given what happened in Fort Hood there has to be a better way, and removing all handguns from circulation is clearly not it.

SPOTD #160

Again I have a long-delayed edition, as well as failing to produce as much on the blog. I found some of these articles months ago. I hope the links still work.

Today's Phrase:
Back to basics. I've been trying to teach this one to Joseph so he can impress his Mima.

Actual
Me voy al baño.

Phonetic with emphasis on bold syllable
May voy ahl bahn-yo.

Translation
I'm going to the bathroom.

Hollywood History
I've always considered Walt Disney one of my heroes. This article about the Disney Family museum in San Francisco has added another place to my to-visit list.

Survivor
These are four interesting stories of survival that we can profit from. Also, interesting tips for survival kits. I think that a good book is a great suggestion for any occassion.

Husbandry
If you want to raise your own livestock, these are good animals to consider.
I would avoid this one, a purported chupacabra.

Extraordinary
An extremely impressive collection. Lacy's opinion? "What a waste of money!"

Books
I recently read the first 5 books in the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. It is a fantasy series and I've really enjoyed each one. Also enjoyable is the author's photo on the back cover. He appears to be the High Lord of Nerdlery.

Hard Hits
The NFL commissioned a study that has demonstrated a correlation between higher occurrences of neurological disease in NFL players than what is found in the general populace. This will add to continued debate about what role the NFL should play in the ongoing health issues of retired players.

Link of the Day
Behold...or don't behold, the Invisible Man! Pretty cool trick, with no digital fakery involved.

Awesome Video Saturday CXI

California Un-Love

My wife is from California. I enjoy traveling there to visit her family. I love the great climate and there is always something fun to do. But as most people know, California is in trouble. From today's L.A. Times-

Starting Sunday, cash-strapped California will dig deeper into the pocketbooks of wage earners -- holding back 10% more than it already does in state income taxes just as the biggest shopping season of the year kicks into gear.
Technically, it's not a tax increase, even though it may feel like one when your next paycheck arrives. As part of a bundle of budget patches adopted in the summer, the state is taking more money now in withholding, even though workers' annual tax bills won't change.
Think of it as a forced, interest-free loan: You'll be repaid any extra withholding in April. Those who would receive a refund anyway will receive a larger one, and those who owe taxes will owe less.

This may amount to $25 a month for a family of four earning $90,000. That really doesn't seem like much, but I'm not comfortable with the budgetary shell game being played by the California government. Having to repay the monies at tax time is not a real fix for the state, and it demonstrates a disregard for the rights of the taxpayer. Moreover, as this op-ed suggests, the benefits provided by the State of California in exchange for those taxes is not what it used to be:

In America's federal system, some states, such as California, offer residents a "package deal" that bundles numerous and ambitious public benefits with the high taxes needed to pay for them. Other states, such as Texas, offer packages combining modest benefits and low taxes. These alternatives, of course, define the basic argument between liberals and conservatives over what it means to get the size and scope of government right.
It's not surprising, then, that there's an intense debate over which model is more admirable and sustainable. What is surprising is the growing evidence that the low-benefit/low-tax package not only succeeds on its own terms but also according to the criteria used to defend its opposite. In other words, the superior public goods that supposedly justify the high taxes just aren't being delivered.
California and Texas are not perfect representatives of the alternative deals, but they come close. Overall, the Census Bureau's latest data show that state and local government expenditures for all purposes in 2005-06 were 46.8% higher in California than in Texas: $10,070 per person compared with $6,858. Only three states and the District of Columbia saw higher per capita government outlays than California, while those expenditures in Texas were lower than in all but seven states. California ranked 10th in overall taxes levied by state and local governments, on a per capita basis, while Texas, one of only seven states with no individual income tax, was 38th.

The author addresses education, population inflows/outflows, and transportation to demonstrate the decline of Californian excellence in those. I think the article is well-written, and although there may be other areas not addressed by the author where California excels, but this Florida-boy is staying put. Any thoughts? A.J.?

Real Hope

This post may not be for the faint-hearted. While at BYU I took a political science class that looked at non-traditional issues affecting peace and security. Among them was the status of women. We learned that due to the very young age at which young women in the developing world are given in marriage, severe complications in childbirth can leave them incontinent, and completely cut off from society. This is especially prevalent in Africa.

In the New York Times, Nicholas Kristof profiles the work of anthropologist-turned-obstetrician who has made it his life's work to correct this condition, known as a fistula. This work has an immediate and transformative impact in the lives of the women it touches:

Just about the happiest thing that can happen to such a woman is an encounter with Dr. Lewis Wall, an ob-gyn at Washington University in St. Louis. A quiet, self-effacing but relentless man of 59, Dr. Wall has devoted his life to helping these most voiceless of the voiceless, promoting the $300 surgeries that repair fistulas and typically return the patients to full health.
“There’s no more rewarding experience for a surgeon than a successful fistula repair,” Dr. Wall reflected. “There are a lot of operations you do that solve a problem — I can take out a uterus that has a tumor in it. But this is life-transforming for everybody who gets it done. It’s astonishing. You take a human being who has been in the abyss of despair and — boom! — you have a transformed woman. She has her life back.”
“In Liberia, I saw a woman who had developed a fistula 35 years earlier. It turned out to be a tiny injury; it took 20 minutes to repair it. For want of a 20-minute operation, this woman had lived in a pool of urine for 35 years.”

He has started work on a hospital in Niger, dedicated to fistula repair. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, you can go to Kristof's blog.

Awesome Video Saturday CX

Only the first part of this episode was Halloweeny, but it was great. Enjoy.

Back to Normal

Having made my post in praise of Obama's impact on perceptions of the U.S., I now have a whole slate of reasons regarding some of his poor choices.

• Why is it that some on the Left think being tolerant means limiting the liberty of others? This is evident in certain restrictions on speech deemed offensive to different religious groups. I avoid offending people over religion whenever possible (pretty much always), but the impact of our country supporting laws that restrict free speech sets a dangerous precedent. I do not want the government determining whether my views are inappropriate, outside of the traditional restrictions on speech that have existed since before the founding.
• The United States should always stand for liberty, and side with those who would expand it. Our recent dealings with oppressive regimes do not provide a strong sense that we intend to do so.
• Obama isn't the first president who has faced difficult foreign policy questions upon assuming the office. Victor Davis Hanson makes reference to Harry Truman, and hopes Obama will be more like him than a spiritual successor to Jimmy Carter.
• Obama is no "uniter." He is more openly critical of the preceding administration than any president in memory. It does not help him appeal to the significant portion of the population that happens to like the last administration, notwithstanding its fault.
• Politics as usual continues in the Obama administration.

Chilling

Here are two good pieces from the Wall Street Journal on the damage being done to liberty in two Latin American countries with leftist goverments.

O'Grady looks at how Argentine president Cristina Kirchner is putting pressure on the free press, following the Chavez playbook.

In Nicaragua, President Danny Ortega has used a shady process to move toward the abolition of term limits in that country.

Changeup

Since I've only posted 3 times in the last 2 weeks I wanted to do something tonight in the few minutes I have before bed.

Time to look at what has worked for Obama, and by the measure of the world's admiration of our country, there has been dramatic improvement.

I have been dismissive in the past of some efforts to curry favor around the world, and I haven't changed my mind, but there is no question that this kind of change is good for America.

The War on Fox

The Obama administration has declared FoxNews organization non grata. When confronted about it by ABC News' Jake Tapper the following exchange occurred:

Tapper: It’s escaped none of our notice that the White House has decided in the last few weeks to declare one of our sister organizations “not a news organization” and to tell the rest of us not to treat them like a news organization. Can you explain why it’s appropriate for the White House to decide that a news organization is not one –
(Crosstalk)
Gibbs: Jake, we render, we render an opinion based on some of their coverage and the fairness that, the fairness of that coverage.
Tapper: But that’s a pretty sweeping declaration that they are “not a news organization.” How are they any different from, say
–
Gibbs: ABC -
Tapper: ABC. MSNBC. Univision. I mean how are they any different?
Gibbs: You and I should watch sometime around 9 o’clock tonight. Or 5 o’clock this afternoon.
Tapper: I’m not talking about their opinion programming or issues you have with certain reports. I’m talking about saying thousands of individuals who work for a media organization, do not work for a “news organization” -- why is that appropriate for the White House to say?
Gibbs: That’s our opinion.

There is a lot of debate about whether FoxNews' coverage is skewed, but no more than for CNN or MSNBC. The White House is setting a bad precedent here.

Awesome Video Saturday CIX

Hilarious.

Awesome Video Saturday CVIII

A fun little video to play with your mind. Would have been cooler before computerized special effects became so accessible, but at just over a minute it is a small investment of time.

CHOP CUP from :weareom: on Vimeo.

Nobel Farce Prize

President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize. Not everyone thinks it was a good call.

I don't. From the above-linked Times (UK) piece:

Mr Obama becomes the third sitting US President to receive the prize. The
committee said today that he had “captured the world’s attention”. It is
certainly true that his energy and aspirations have dazzled many of his
supporters. Sadly, it seems they have so bedazzled the Norwegians that they can
no longer separate hopes from achievement. The achievements of all previous
winners have been diminished.

It has been reported that Obama himself is surprised at the award, and if he is honest will admit to himself that his resume is very thin at this point.

The Peace Prize has grown more irrelevant over time. It is unfortunate, though not altogether surprising, that it has continued down that path. There is no doubt that other people have done more to deserve it. It is too bad that their deeds will not be better known.

Extremism on the Latin Left

You can't draw conclusions about someone based solely on their supporters. You can learn about their supporters from their supporters.

Honduras' Zelaya has some extreme supporters. At least one prominent supporter has espoused anti-semitic views. I don't understand why anyone in Honduras should be complaining about Zionism, but given ties that are strengthening between Iran and Zelaya supporter Venezuela, it is a nasty connection.

Read O'Grady's article for more.

Clunked

A tough critique in the Wall Street Journal of the Cash for Clunkers program. If there is any data or explanation about why the program was a good one I'd like to know.

I just don't feel like taking the time to find out for myself.

Awesome Video Saturday CVII

I don't drink alcohol, but like most people, have found Bud Light's ads to be very funny over the years. Their most recent ads have been pretty lame, so let's take a look at some of the classics.

Olympic Fail

What are the implications of the President's failed bid for the 2016 Olympics? From Rick Moran at Pajamas Media:

It would be easy to read too much into the rejection of Chicago as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics despite the president’s personal lobbying junket to Copenhagen in order to plead the city’s case before a meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
But neither should the president get a pass or an “A” for effort — or any other spin one wishes to put on the decision by the IOC to bypass Chicago as host for the games.
In a word, this is a disaster for the president.
“If he goes and does not bring home the Olympics, it’s going to be kind of a blow for him on the international stage where he is immensely popular, which is really the reason why they think it will help the bid for him to go,” said Kenneth Vogel, a senior reporter for Politico.
He placed the prestige of his presidency directly on the line and failed. That’s the bottom line. He gambled with the one thing no president should ever gamble with unless the stakes are much higher than his hometown getting the Olympic games.

I really don't think this was an instance of people acting against Obama, but his being there appeared to have no positive effect, and it will affect his credibility. I really think this decision was more emblematic of where Brazil is as an international player.