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NEXT PHASE: THE DEBATES
Get your TV ready.. and if you're bored with the election, you're boring.. The NEW YORK TIMES reporting on the free-wheeling style of debates coming between Obama and McCain, but not Palin and Biden..The McCain team not thinking our Sarah is ready for a real debate with Biden? According to the TIMES: "At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates. Among other details: Camp Obama wanted the economics debate to come last, being that they believe it's Obama's best issue.. However, the foreign policy debate will be last--presumably McCain's best suit. The TIMES also reporting: "Obama aides also agreed to use lecterns at the first event, which Mr. McCain preferred; at the third debate, the two men will be seated at a round table, in the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions, with the moderator at 6 o’clock.".. Even more: The scar.. McCain aides said that they were conscious of the fact that Mr. McCain has a prominent scar on one side of his face, and that they could not predict how prominent it would appear with the camera angles, lighting and make-up. Few people may realize the amount of debate goes into forming the real debate. Arguments between candidates about the setup and stage occur every four years--often times arguments just for the sake of one side threatening to pull out. But each year, we see our candidates on stage about three times.. For better or worse, we make our choice on how they act. Gore's sighs in 2000 led him to lose, while Kerry's grandiose verbiage caused yawns.. We vote on looks. Kennedy in 1960 looked a lot better than a sweaty Nixon.. Reagan made people laugh in 1984. Clinton bested Dole by looking young.. And now in 2008, Obama vs McCain: The 20th century vs the 21st, on our TV sets of the 20th century, blogged on the net of the 21st, and watched by people of both centuries. A wild election so far, getting wilder and meaner, ready to be in living rooms across America in only days... Labels: Biden, Campaign 2008, Election, McCain, News, Obama, Palin, Politics
TOXIC MILK MOUSTACHES IN CHINA: DOING BODIES NOT SO GOOD
 A crisis of epic proportions taking place in China, as a tainted milk scandal becomes worse by the day.. The latest news: Chinese authorities have urged all provinces to set up 24-hour crisis hotlines to provide everyone with information about milk; the Chinese government also ordering doctors to provide free medical care to babies that got kidney stones from contaminated milk.They may as well eat the Chinese dog food..? The milk was laced with melamine and has been blamed for killing four infants, but sickening over 6,000 more (that we know of.) Starbucks has pulled its products made with milk from its more than 300 stores.. Other nations are banning imports of Chinese milk, including Singapore, Japan, Malaysia. and Burma.. The United States is stepping up its own inspections to try to avert the tainted milk making it to America: According to the AP, "The Food and Drug Administration has widened its inspections at ports of entry to focus on shipments of bulk food ingredients from Asia that are derived from milk, such as milk concentrate and whole milk powder. Spokeswoman Judy Leon also said the agency will issue an alert this weekend warning consumers not to buy milk products from China on the Internet." .. Words of warning for the future: Buy a cow.. Labels: Breaking news, chemicals, China, Made in China, Medical, organic
ON RON PAUL: NO CHANCE OF ANY ENDORSEMENT FOR MCCAIN
The free market, RIP?
Principled conservatives are a little shaky about the Bush plan to secure the rapidly inflaming American economy--what a good thing to know there are still some principled people in general that grace the halls of Congress.. Bush is basically asking for a $700 billion *with a b* bailout of worthless mortgages and other bad debt by financials institutions on the rocks.. The essence of the Bush plan asks for a lot more powers for the Administration .. Congress now has to vote on whether they want to give Bush the new duties. New duties that include purchasing bad mortgage backed securities.. Bush is following a few other leaders that did some similar acts in response to dramatic economic times: Reconstruction Finance Corporation occurred during the Roosevelt Administration in 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression..Roosevelt gave money to banks and others to try to spur economic growth.. And in the late 80s, the Resolution Trust Corporation was set up to take on the savings and loan crisis. The Corp took over defaulted mortgages, foreclosed real estate and other assets of nearly a thousand failed savings and loans. While there may be precedent, and some bi-partisan support for the Bush plan in Congress, a few conservatives are speaking out against the huge government measures. One even said this is the death of the free market! Senator Jim Bunning commented, "The free market for all intents and purposes is dead in America." Senator Jim DeMint spoke out: "What we need now is not what could be nearly a trillion dollars in new taxpayer bailouts, but pro-growth policies that allow our markets to correct and start growing again." Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin wrote of the Bush actions: "the mother of all bailouts" and declared "the death of fiscal conservatism."..And finally, Schmuckraker's long time hero Ron Paul speaking out about the bailouts (And he is set to ask some good tough questions of Chairman Bernanke next week) saying that this will not be the last time the government steps in to bail out business ..Ron Paul told US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, "It's more of the same. More debt and more inflation and more pressure on the dollar. Ultimately, although the markets are responding very favorably at the moment, I think it is going to be devastating to the dollar and to our financial situation in this country." And on bailout out the auto industry (which is lining up with destitute hands out to be the next industry saved), Ron Paul said: "Oh I think so. We are not going to let them fail. Our policy is such that everybody gets bailed out. It's like a drug addict, they've got to take their fix. It's too tough getting off these drugs. And the drug here is easy credit." Ron Paul has no chance on being president. Obama and McCain do.. Labels: bailouts, Banks, Campaign 2008, Economy, Election, Politics, recession, Ron Paul
THE WORLD SAFE FOR TWO MORE MONTHS
123 pounds of pure unadulterated meat
Blue sky, Barfy burgers. .chem trails!
I have a few personal favorites when it comes to holidays and seasons.. I love July 4, followed by Halloween, then Christmas, and then Thanksgiving.. The other holidays nad special days end up lower on the list.. July 4 is the perfect time of year: Summer nights, fireworks, and the celebration of what it means to be an American, which all too often involves way too much alchohol and an odd American desire to eat hot dogs.. Halloween's my second favorite most likely because it takes place during my favorite season: Fall. A magical time of year.. really, I believe it is. There's something about fall that has a certain spirit--at least if you live in an area that is getting increasingly chillier at night like my areas is..  I woke up this morning, walked outside, smelled the clean air, looked up at the blue skies overtop of the still green but changing trees, and what to my wondering eyes should appear: But a few dozen chem trails littering the air. The jet airliner's fecal release of chemicals clouds, following behind the jet that is long gone.. I don't necessarily fall into the conspiritorial mindset when it comes to these, but it does make me wonder.. As I look up at the sky.. Whether they're harmful or not to earth and human besides, they ruined a perfectly gorgeous morning today by littering the blue sky with white snakes.. They'll go away..to come back another day? PHOTO: SCHMUCKRAKERLabels: chemicals, Offbeat, Opinion, Science
NOT MY BABIES
I had a thought last night when I put yet another photo of a child on my website welcoming them after birth.. Not welcoming their 'after birth' but welcoming THEM after birth. My wife and I are not with child -- and as of now at least not expecting.. We will hopefully be blessed with children, but I wanted to inform readers: The Schmuckraker is not gettin' around like that. Beautiful Skyla Lane is my wife's sister's newborn girl, and last month beautiful Eva was born to our friend's parents.. And to the best of my knowledge, neither child is mine. However, it's a prayer of mine that one day I can post a photo of a child .. with parents.. and have those parents be me and Tara. Then you will know when the child is truly mine.. Until then, I'll be welcoming children close to me into this world.. A tradition that dates back to when I had the Horror-Report.com and my nephew Liam David was ushered into the world.. Labels: housekeeping, Opinion, personal
Box office this weekend
NEW My Best Friend's Girl (Lionsgate) / 2,604 Lakeview Terrace (Sony / Screen Gems) / 2,464 Igor (MGM (Weinstein)) / 2,339 Ghost Town (Paramount (DreamWorks)) / 1,505 EXPANDING The Women (2008) (Picturehouse) / 2,995 (+33) / 2 Burn After Reading (Focus Features) / 2,657 (+6) / 2 NO CHANGE Righteous Kill (Overture Films) / 3,152 / 2 Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (Lionsgate) / 2,070 / 2 DECLINING The House Bunny (Sony / Columbia) / 2,675 (-88) / 5 Tropic Thunder (Paramount (DreamWorks)) / 2,333 (-594) / 6 The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) / 1,905 (-286) / 10 The Dark Knight is still being shown in over 1,900 theaters, even with this week's decrease of 286 theaters.. It's in its tenth week, is is still getting money in the millions.. Labels: Box office, Entertainment, Hollywood, movies
Welcome to the brave new world, Skyla Lane
Hundreds of billions..
Treasury secretary Paulson says hundreds of bilions of dollars needed for bailout plan.. Stock markets roars to life.. Obama meeting with advisors while McCain argues bailouts.. And all the while, Ron Paul was right
The AP: Some of Ike's missing may have just washed away
Civics die young: What the kids don't know...
Today is the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.. maybe a lot of people don't know that. Dates are tough. .History is filled with them, but a date like September 17, when an event like the signing of the Constitution occurred is kind of important. An opinion written by Sandra Day O'Connor and Lee H. Hamilton appearing today was wonderfully written and somewhat frightening.. With young people voting at higher rates than ever before, it might seem that the founders would be pleased with our progress. Yet civic engagement requires more than voting in presidential elections every four years. A healthy democracy demands sustained citizen participation, and our schools must give students the knowledge and tools to participate.
Sadly, civic education has been in steady decline over the past generation, as high-stakes testing and an emphasis on literacy and math dominate school reforms. Too many young people today do not understand how our political system works. They lack the tools to shape their communities through their own participation I have been thinking about this one for a while..Every election cycle we're told young people will vote in huge numbers. Though they failed to do this every time in history that they were supposed to, 2008 may be different.. They are not being polled since they're not likely voters, and they're organized this year more than ever.. But what will students think when their man Obama can't get his agenda passed through a combative Congress? Will they realize that free health care for all won't happen in a year? Will they know that "change" will have to be translated into legislation instead of mere words on a teleprompter? O'Connor and Hamilton are right: We may have taught kids it's important to vote with "Choose or Lose" and "Vote or Die" campaigns from MTV, but in the aftermath of the vote, does it go back to normal? Jaded and cynical? I say yes.. But then I'm jaded. And cynical.. Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, Obama, Opinion, Politics, Voting
Meet Ray Moon
Slacker hacker
A hacker impersonated Sarah Palin--not Tina Fey--and simply logged onto her Yahoo! email account, made a few screen shots, and gained internet fame without having to release his or her name.. The Secret Service and the FBI is investigating.. The scourge of the net: Ex-boyfriends and girlfriends stealing passwords, playing a sly game of "who's talking to him now" online.. A little more serious when someone breaks into the Vice Presidential contender's email.. The hacker's writings: "i am the lurker who did it, and i would like to tell the story," the person wrote in the account.. It appears that the Secret Service may be on a trail that could lead to the hacker.. ..But does she have a Facebook.. does she have a Myspace? A hacker's possibilities are endless.. Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, Offbeat, Palin, Politics
Bad news at 6: The latest in economic news from around the world..
Hack Attack: Palin email circulated
RISE, AIG, YOU'RE SAVED (For now)
The video that won't go away...
If the election was held today..
One chart can say it all
The weirdest new campaign ad..
Ike update: Not good
 REUTERS PHOTO Conditions in Texas are worsening as days go on.. while huge death tolls are not apart of Ike's aftermath, news of scare resources like water, gas, and food are. .And with the lack of important elements to human sanity, so goes hope. Increasingly, people losing their hope.. Houston's food bank director says that the city is being overwhelmed. Only days ago, the fundamentals of human life were strong along the Texas Gulf Coast--and now days after Ike devastated islands, towns, cities, and history, the fundamentals of life are hard to find. Health officials are working their hearts out to try to avoid an all out crisis after the monster hurricane. Misery extends North: Flooding in the Midwest in Ike's path.. More than 3 million people are still without power. *By the way, happy anniversary to more disaster: Four years ago today Ivan struck the Gulf Coast.Twas always stormy, and always stormy will be.. Labels: Breaking news, hurricanes, Ike, Storms, Weather
Some events of the day..
As expected.. a dismal day on Wall Street
Several publications calling it the "nightmare on Wall Street".. Regardless of bad pun, it was a punishing day. . dark bars await stock exchangers in New York City tonight.. A few rounds on .. who? Not Merrill Lynch.. Not Bank of America, their funds are tied up .. not AIG.. they may be next. Perhaps everyone can get together, pinch a penny, and buy Lehman Brothers a few shots .. Their shot of reality hurt on Wall Street today. The Market was hit hard in a Monday meltdown: More than 500 points down, more than 4% down.. the worst day since the attacks of 9/11.. Candidates are in blame mode. Banks are in fear mode. Consumers are in confused mode.. A few links.. hopefully helpful in making the bleak situation at least understandable.. but most likely not less bleak: Last night the meltdown occurred with Lehman Brothers: Tonight AIG is looking for money to survive..A new landscape on Wall Street..AIG workers in turmoil: Are they next?Huge drops in Asia markets..Washington Mutual stock becomes meaningless..But today, John McCain said that the fundamentals of the United States economy are strong. Anyone believe him? Labels: Banks, Breaking news, Economy, Money, recession, Wall Street
Markets tank
Wall Street on red alert
Bloody Sunday: Meltdown of Lehman Brothers possible before midnight tonight .. Greenspan says we're in a 'once in a century' event
 How timely .. Those who may know me know I am holding down two jobs and also going to school full time (not to mention keeping edit over the Schmuckraker.com website) .. and tomorrow, at school, I am going to take my microeconomics midterm exam.. Tonight, however, everyone may get a quick lesson in macroeconomic studies. For days, rumors and rumblings have abounded in economic circles that Lehman Brothers is in some serious trouble -- for days talks have taken place aimed at selling the investment bank in whole or part. The sticking point has been the Bush Administration's refusal to bail out Lehman Brothers like it did Bear Stearns last March. But apparently talks have broken down as to how to save Lehman.. A bloody Sunday set to evolve tonight as investors are prepared for a potential Lehman bankruptcy--possibly before midnight. Bank of America and Barclays Plc have pulled out of talks to buy Lehman Brothers, hence the potential collapse. Lehman Brothers is 158 years old, and serves financial needs of corporations, governments, municipalities, institutional clients, and high net worth individuals..  Lehman Brothers stocks have plummeted within the last few days.. x x x x Alan Greenspan is warning that other finance firms will fail .. Greenspan's words were dire: "First of all, let's recognize that this is a once-in-a-half-century, probably once-in-a-century type of event" .. "I can't believe we could have a once-in-a-century type of financial crisis without a significant impact on the real economy globally, and I think that indeed is what is in the process of occurring" .. .. Developing.. Labels: Banks, Breaking news, Economy, Greenspan, Money, recession
Tina Fey cameo on SNL
The Sunday Morning Sidewalk
 It's that time again.. another week's closing day. The final, quiet touch on the week that was.. Another week of disaster: Just as Gustav's aftermath was being cleaned up, Ike struck with strength. We still don't know the full implications of what Ike did to Texas.. Even though it's almost fall, today's temperature in Eastern Pennsylvania at Schmuckraker home base will be above 90.. Yahoo! gives us some locations on where to see fall foliage this year, but under $500. My area's not here, even though we have some nice foliage. And it's cheap. Maybe I'll write to Yahoo! if I get the urge.. Until then, take the bridge to no where, and read the random rakings from around the world, some making headlines, and some that aren't: A race against time: Rescue workers canvass neighborhoods slammed by Ike in attempt to save those that rode out the storm..Far away from Ike's path, $5 a gallon gas popping up on supply fears.. Montanna man 'ok' after crashing into a bear while riding a bike..The newest of the new allegations against Palin in nasty race: Did she hire friends for state jobs?Nasty: Obama 'box of waffles' campaign joke loses humor: Shows cartoon Obama with Arab-like headdress.. Political satire? HOW MANY MORE CAN WE SAVE!? Rumors: US Federal Reserve officials and bank bosses from Lehman Brothers are locked in talks about how to save the bank.. Hackers claim they broke into Large Hadron Collider.. Labels: Random rakings, Sunday Morning Sidewalk
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