Then an hour or so went by of me browsing that site. So, yeah. Go. Enjoy.

He’s got some real gems about this.

“I don’t see why these (college graduates) who are going to earn so much more (than high school graduates) can’t take out loans for $2,000. It’s a small fraction of the cost of their education. Graduating with an $8,000 loan is not the end of the world,” Kavanagh said.

Actually, that’s an extra $8,000, thank you. And if you’re working 40 hours a week earning minimum wage, and trying to go to school so you can earn more, then you’re taking in about $16,000 before taxes. $2,000 is a sizable chunk of that.

He does include an exemption for people with academic and athletic scholarships.

“Academic scholars earned the free tuition and by raising the intellectual level of the university, they create greater value for everybody. Athletic scholars have also earned it because they contribute to school spirit, and those on football and basketball teams also generate a lot of extra revenue,” Kavanagh said.

Uh-huh. I have a problem with the existence of college sports anyhow, so I’ll ignore that part. The academic part is fine, but what if you’re like me, and going back to school 20 years after you should have? I’m not likely to get an academic scholarship.

This is, frankly, just a stupid plan that hopefully won’t go anywhere. If it does, however, I’ll be seriously motivated to move to another state to continue my education. Yes, I’d have to pay out of state tuition at first, but at least I’d be in a state that’s less hostile toward education.

The double taxation argument holds no water for me. Not even slightly. Why should it? Look, as it stands I experience double taxation. I live in Arizona. The sales tax rate here is about 7.3%, with 2% on food in Phoenix. This means that I buy things with income I’ve paid taxes on, and then I pay sales taxes on those items. Same with anyone who pays property taxes. You bought a house with your income that has been taxed and now you pay taxes on that house. Sure, it’s annoying in some ways, but by the very nature of taxation, just about tax after the standard income tax is a double tax.

As for the retirement argument, that’s more valid, but there’s a simple way around it. Just make it so that, say, any income through investments and the like is taxed at about 15%, as it is now, but then scale it up from there, just like with income tax, and top it off at around 35%. I mean, if you’re like Romney and earn $42 million in investment profits and the like, possibly you can afford to pay that at a normal tax rate.

So, yeah. Double taxation may be a thing, but we all do it, and I have no objection to saying that if you’re pulling in investment income at an extremely high level, it should be taxed just like any other income.

NAPOLEON: Who told you I loose at the Battle of Waterloo? FLIP: Abba.

(special thanks to Big Finish for providing me with a review copy!)

It’s been a year since Philippa ‘Flip’ Jackson found herself transported by Tube train to battle robot mosquitoes on a bizarre alien planet in the company of a Time Lord known only as ‘the Doctor’.

Lightning never strikes twice, they say. Only now there’s a flying saucer whooshing over the top of the night bus taking her home. Inside: the Doctor, with another extraterrestrial menace on his tail – the Daleks, and their twisted creator Davros!

But while Flip and the fugitive Doctor struggle to beat back the Daleks’ incursion into 21st century London, Davros’s real plan is taking shape nearly 200 years in the past, on the other side of the English Channel. At the battle of Waterloo…

Starring Colin Baker (The Doctor), Lisa Greenwood (Flip Jackson), Terry Molloy (Davros), Ashley Kumar (Jared), Jonathan Owen (Napoleon Bonaparte), Rhys Jennings (Captain Pascal), Granville Saxton (Duke of Wellington), Robert Portal (Marshal Ney), Christian Patterson (Captain Dickson), Nicholas Briggs (The Daleks)

Ah, good ole Davros. What a fun guy he is. Ever since he first popped during the Fourth Doctor adventure “Genesis of the Daleks“, it’s been nigh impossible to have a TV story without him. Well, at least until the new series, and even then they trotted (rolled?), him out at one point. There’s a good reason for this. He’s a very interesting character, when used right, and can provide a much better antagonist for the Doctor than the daleks do by themselves.

This story is a great example of one where he’s very well-used. I really liked this story because basically everything about Davros’ plan made sense from his twisted perspective. Yes, within the first five seconds or so of the Doctor’s first appearance, I figured out what was going on, but even then I had only half of the plan. The time travel stuff wasn’t something I was expecting, but I enjoyed it, particularly Flip’s reaction to Napoleon. And of course I loved the snippy dialogue between Davros and the Doctor.

Of course the performances are excellent as usual, with particular kudos to Baker and Molloy for pulling off two very difficult tasks. Baker continues to prove time and again that his performance as the Doctor was not why the show got cancelled and he got fired. I also really liked Greenwood as Flip and Kumar as Jared, though their relationship frequently put me in mind of Rose and Mickey, and it doesn’t help that Flip’s accent is more than a little like Rose’s. And, of course, it’s always fun hearing Briggs (who also directed), doing the voice of the daleks, though it does mean that in my mind’s eye I often picture the more modern dalek design than the old one, but, well, such is life.

I don’t have any real complaints about this story at all. It really hit on all cylinders. Excellent all around and a great example of Big Finish’s work. In fact, if you’re someone who is completely new to the audios, I suggest you follow this link and buy a copy. Only $13 to download. What’s not to like?

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin.

7:07pm MST – I find it amusing when commentators say, “I think we’ll hear the president say X”, when they have a copy of the speech right in front of them.

7:09pm – Apparently the most conservative justices aren’t there. That’s inappropriate. I don’t care what your politics are, if you’re on the Supreme Court, you should be there.

7:10pm – Here we go!

7L11pm – Starts by basically announcing the end of the war in Iraq. Sensible, though the line about it somehow making us safer and more respected around the world is total bullshit.

7:13pm – Now mentioning bin Laden. I think I get the idea here. He’s going to start reminding America of all the ass-kickery he’s done.

7:15pm – Nothing like a little sucking up to the so-called “greatest generation”.

7:16pm – Everyone gets a fair shot and plays by the same rules. We can only dream.

7:17pm – Now he’s reminding us of how he got into office on the back of a recession and how the bankers basically screwed this country. Good, I hope people are paying attention.

7:18pm – Mentioning the three million new jobs is a good thing, as is mentioning the new rules for Wall Street. I do roll my eyes a bit about the notion that we’re somehow going to become a massive manufacturing powerhouse to the world.

7:21pm – That’s right, kids. Obama helped save GM. McCain would not have. There’s all you need to know.

7:22pm – What he isn’t saying is that makes business sense for companies to bring jobs back to the USA because our wages have dropped.

7:23pm – I am 100% in favor of removing any tax deduction for companies that move jobs overseas. The idea of cutting taxes for companies that stay in the USA and hire in the USA is good, too.

7:25pm – Eric Cantor looks pissy at the notion of taxes being lowered on American businesses. How sad.

7:27pm – Speaking up in defense of balancing our trade rules.Not a bad idea, but I’ll believe it when I see it. China has no interest in balancing our trade with them, and no interest in enforcing copyright laws, etc.

7:29pm – Mentioning that American companies are having problems hiring skilled workers and the like is a good thing. We really do need to refocus on the sciences in our schools (says the guy who is majoring in sociology, but, hey, someone has to flip your burgers).

7:32pm – This sounds like a call to end the stupidity of “No Child Left Behind,” especially the part about not teaching to the test. Sounds good to me.

7:32pm – He’s calling on every state to pass rules mandating that all students stay in school until they graduate or turn 18. I can’t complain about that! I think it’s a splendid idea.

7:33pm – “…stop the student loan rates from doubling in July.” I can get behind that. I can also get behind extending the tuition tax credit and adding more work-study jobs, something I’d be quite willing to do.

7:34pm – “Higher education can’t be a luxury…” Wow, what an elitist, eh?

7:35pm – Revisiting the Dream Act. I really hope we can get that one passed and hope that we can find ways to keep other people here that we educate.

7:36pm – Chuckles McCain stays seated while others applaud the notion of comprehensive immigration reform. Tell me why he’s so in favor of our current immigration system?

7:39pm – During the applause I keep hearing a sound that’s almost like a phone ringing. It’s driving me nuts since I keep looking at my phone each time it happens.

7:41pm – Developing natural gas resources safely and requiring companies to disclose what chemicals they use. Sounds good to me.

7:42pm – This is a reminder that Solyndra was using experimental technology and sometimes experiments fail. This is true, and we need to keep trying for solar, wind and the like.

7:43pm – End oil subsidies? I love that Republicans remain seated and motionless for that notion. But I thought they wanted to end government welfare? I also remain baffled that the idea of having a cleaner environment is somehow not worthy of applause.

7:45pm – I keep seeing an odd camera angle that makes it look like holy beams of light are falling on the president. I tell you now that Fox News will find a way to complain about this.

7:46pm – Good to remind us of the great public works programs under FDR and Eisenhower both. I also like the call for rebuilding our infrastructure, something that needs to be done soon and will only get more expensive the longer we wait.

7:47pm – I like the plan to help people refinance their mortgages. I bet the banks aren’t too pleased about it.

7:48pm – “No bailouts, handouts or cop-outs,” directed toward big corporations. I’m pleased about that.

7:50pm – Spilled milk joke: really? Really? Gads. Don’t give up your day job, Mr President.

7:51pm – Reminding us of the real positive changes in the health care reform bill. The changes almost everyone likes. Good idea.

7:52pm – Reiterating that there will be no more bailouts for the banks. I hope that’s true.

7:53pm – A financial crimes unit. Wouldn’t it be just fun to watch a reality TV show based on that? Ok, probably not, but the highlights from it would be fun.

7:54pm – Eric Cantor looks like he’s passing a kidney stone at the idea of passing an extension on tax cuts for the poor and middle class.

7:57pm – So close to invoking the 99% meme!

7:59pm – reducing our deficit through a shared sense of responsibility. Personal responsibility and the sharing thereof is not the practice of the GOP.

8:00pm – Just mentioned that most Americans assume nothing will get done this year. This was right as I was about to type just that, so…yeah.

8:01pm – A bill to ban insider trading by members of Congress. Hands up everyone who didn’t know that was illegal already, same with the stock ownership rule.

8:03pm – An appeal for calm and unity. It’s a nice idea, but especially in an election year like this one, it just isn’t going to happen.

8:04pm – Calling out the Republicans for their hypocrisy about government spending. A smart idea.

8:06pm – Hope he’s right about Syria.

8:08pm – The expected boilerplate about Iran and nukes. I don’t imagine it will amount to much. I mean, really, how many people are willing to have another ten year war in the Mid-East to stop Iran from maybe, possibly, having a nuclear bomb that they might maybe, possibly, use against Israel?

8:09pm – I find it interesting that he mentioned Burma. The situation is improving there, as are our relations, and that’s not getting as much coverage as it should.

8:10pm – Getting a bit jingoistic for my tastes. I know he has to, but I still roll my eyes.

8:12pm – Yes, yes, we all know our soldiers are just the bestest, most amazingest people ever, ever and we have to give them everything they ask for! Cause, you know, they already get paid and get lifetime benefits when the vast majority of them never see combat. But, hey, why not give them even more? I bet all the “cut spending” Republicans won’t want to cut any of that spending.

8:13pm – Pointing out that it no longer matters if you’re gay or straight in the military. For those of us liberals who are sometimes disappointed by Obama, it’s remembering that under his watch DADT finally ended.

8:16pm – And that’s that, after the usual stupid religious sign-off.

It wasn’t a bad speech. I don’t feel particularly inspired, but I do believe he did an excellent job of reminding Americans of the successes we’ve had under his administration and calling out the Republicans, however slightly, on the lies they’ve been campaigning on.

In many ways I feel that for the GOP nominating Newt would be one of the worst things possible. He’s frankly just not that electable, and his marital past will likely continue to be an issue for him. For the record, I don’t care about it one way or the other, though I do find it somewhat rich given his behavior toward the Clintons in the 1990s. I also don’t mind if someone wants an open marriage, though I do feel that telling your wife you want one after you’ve already fucked someone else is perhaps a bit tacky.

Still, beyond that, I don’t see him being electable. He doesn’t appeal to anyone outside the GOP base. I’m sure a lot of Republicans will hold their nose and vote for him anyhow, but those that don’t will likely just stay home and not vote at all. The independents certainly won’t be interested in him.

I’ll say now that if he’s the nominee, then I look for Obama to have a fairly easy reelection. Gingrich will take the South and some of the mid-western states. Obama will clean up on the coasts, Florida, possibly Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina, and will likely get Arizona. Of course I could be wrong, and it might still be Romney. I guess we’ll see.

Now as you all know, or should know, I’m an extreme left-leaning Socialist who is by default a Democrat since we don’t have a viable Socialist party in this country. That said, I feel that frankly she should have resigned as soon as she was physically able to do so. Remaining in office long-term wasn’t something that was likely to happen and she should have stepped aside a while ago so that the party could have tried to get someone else into her seat.

I do wish her all the best, and I hope that she recovers enough to run for office in the future. For now, I think she’s making the right choice.

Mostly talking about the new series and the recent, and upcoming, DVD releases.

And finally part three!

Discussing the various Doctor Who spinoffs as well as the series itself.

LINKS:

“Invasion of the Dinosaurs”

“The Android Invasion”

Big Finish

Gallifrey One