Wednesday, December 17, 2008
First up, news we are pretty sure is important but can only loosely explain why: The Federal Reserve cut its target interest rate to historic lows between zero and a quarter percentage points. I am pretty sure that this means that banks can borrow money from the Federal Reserve and pay essentially no interest on it. That, hypothetically, means that banks will lower the rate at which they lend money to households and businesses. However, since no one is investing anyway, it doesn’t appear that this is going to work.
Dana Milibank, a Washington Post columnist, is complaining that we are trading a “sports-obsessed president who doesn’t like tough questions,” for “another sports-obsessed president who doesn’t like tough questions.” His evidence for this is that at Obama’s press conference naming his new Secretary of Education, he avoided the media’s questions about Gov. Blagojevich. Is this the beginning of a trend of stories saying that Obama isn’t open enough with the media? Almost certainly, but keep in mind that he is already having a press conference every few days and demonstrating a refreshing amount of openness in going around the media to talk to the public directly.
Tom Friedman has a great column asking the question, “What is really the difference between Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme and the totally legal subprime deals?”
Finally, Time has named Barack Obama person of the year. This reminds me of Jeff and I debating who would be person of the year last year (I thought Obama until Jeff said that would be next year after he had won the election, kudos ). Man, can you believe that “You” was two years ago? How lame was that!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
BAHAHAHA. Jeff is driving home so I took over OMG TV. Here is all that remains of Jeff’s original post “Boy, I wish The Jay Leno Show had started already. People are bitching and moaning, but what is NBC offering us right now at 10pm? Oh look, Momma’s Boys.” Yes Jeff, Momma’s Boys indeed.
8:00 - Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC)
I haven’t seen this treasured childhood classic. Which for me makes it less of a childhood classic and more of a movie about a bunch of kids with giants heads and adults who talk weird.
9:00 - The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
The thinking man’s Kieth Olbermann. Maddow’s show is a little more chilled out and her editorial comments are more asides than long rants. Hmm, This entry is a little light… quick Josh, find some trivia… Did you know she was the first openly gay American to with a Rhodes scholarship? No, that’s right, you didn’t. So you should watch her show.
Anytime - Last night’s How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
I know you have it Tivoed. Or you can watch it at CBS.com. You think I would let that crack last night go Jeff? I wasn’t planning on it. Last night’s episode was awesome. They made fun of Canadians, Minnesotans and… well that is really enough isn’t it? You should check it out, after a really slow start this season is returning to form in a great way. I am willing to bet Jeff actually watched it and was just trying to mess with me. Now to find an obnoxious cast photo to pair with this post…
Late Night
Tom Cruise jumps on Letterman’s couch, Jim Carrey can only answer “Yes” to Leno’s questions, Eva Mendes is scrumptious on Conan.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Because all of you are dedicated followers of Presidential fashion, I am sure you already know that President Obama has already picked a tux for the inaugural balls he will be attending Jan. 20th (Your editors won’t be at a “ball” so much as we will be face down in a gutter outside the cheapest DC bar we can find, still feebly trying to cheer). However, fashionistas will note that Obama’s tuxedo choice is much like Obama himself: solid, dependable and not really very flashy. In stepped the good people at WWD, who solicited submissions from dozens of today’s biggest designers to see what they think Obama should wear.
My favorites are included above and listed from left to right. A Tim Hamilton double-breasted tux with the collar undone says “I’m the new president and I’m here to party.” My absolute favorite is the midnight blue tux from Nautica which is cooler and slightly more contemporary; Obama is a President for the new millenium after all. The entry from Brioni takes a classic approach that is pretty much unimpeachable. And finally, I think we all secretly wish that people still dressed in suits like the one from Rag and Bone for political functions (or is that just me?). Check out the complete 52-page look book of Presidential style below thatalso includes ties and suits for the day.
WWD’s Inauguration ‘09: What Should Obama Wear?
8:00 - Heat (Bravo)
It’s Pacino vs. De Niro, and don’t worry, it’s definitely not Righteous Kill.
8:00 - I want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC)
Good God, what the hell is this one? From 2003, apparently, and it centers on ReRun, the piece of shit from when Peanuts jumped the shark in 1973.
8:30 - How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
I finally did it: I watched an episode of this, Josh’s favorite show, Doogie & The Gang or whatever it’s called. And you know what? Not half-bad. Not half-bad. Not enough to get me to turn away from Antique’s Roadshow at 8:30, but it was still something.
9:00 - Trainspotting (IFC)
Nothing will put you in the holiday spirit more than mind-numbing tales of crippling addiction. (There’s some Intervention episodes on A&E too.)
9:30 - Charlie Wilson’s War (HBO)
Tom Hanks fixes Afghanistan! Philip Seymour Hoffman shouts a lot! Aaron Sorkin pens!
Late Night
Adam Sandler tells Letterman some Bedtime Stories (get it? get it?), Kate Winslet seduces a 16-year old Leno, Amy Adams and Eddie Izzard both have the privelege of discussing events of the day with Conan, and The Daily Show and Colbert are done for the year.
Hello there. Peabody here. This is my boy, Sherman.
“Mister Peabody, it sure is amazing we can stream the first season of Rocky and Bullwinkle on Hulu anytime we want!”
Quiet, you. These good people wouldn’t be interested without Fractured Fairy Tales and the adventures of yours truly.
“But Mister Peabody, they’re all included!”
Very well. I suppose that makes it Hulu for nous.
“Mister Peabody, that’s not even a pun. Also, I made a mess on the living room carpet.”
That’s a bad boy, Sherman. Bad boy.
Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
