Monthly Archives: November 2012

(Community Matters) “How does living in an environment defined by individual achievement – measured by money, privilege, and status – alter a person’s mental machinery at the point where he begins to see the people around him only as aids or obstacles to his own ambitions?”

referring to this New York magazine article – Does Money Make You Mean? – after a startling revelation. I’ve recently purchased a new, expensive car. Feels spectacular to drive it, and I drive a lot toggling between Central & West Texas – but one afternoon I caught myself thinking ‘hey, watch out for my new, expensive car you little inexpensive car.” I was floored. That’s not like me. I’m not from money and am not rich. Where in the hell had this little voice come from and how the hell can I exorcise him? Went on a search for this phenomenon and found this interesting article.

(Community Matters) Great dinner and concert last night. Today’s 11am service at St James Episcopal (1941 Webberville Rd) will feature a Bobby Humphrey preformance, is free and open to the public

(Community Matters) Princeton Election Consortium: President Obama is peeling away. I estimate Romney’s chance of winning the popular vote at 6%, odds of 16-1 against. The exact popular-vote prediction today is Obama +2.1 +/- 1.1%. Allowing a little bit for Gary Johnson, this gives a vote share of Obama 50.3 +/-0.5%, Romney 48.2 +/-0.5%. I’ll update that to a final prediction this weekend.

About the Princeton Election Consortium

This blog’s mission is to provide informed analysis of US national elections by members of the Princeton academic community. It is open to scholars in the Princeton area from all disciplines, including (but not restricted to) politics, neuroscience, psychology, computer science, and mathematics.

(Community Matters) Excellent evening on Lake Austin last night with friends Kate Ludeman & Eddie Erlandson – only thing missing was Lynn & Tommie. The six of us have spent many great evenings together w/ some of the best conversations ever. Well . . . and we should add Deborah & Clayton who are evidently in perfect orbit.

Eddie’s newly restored ’54 Chris Craft

(Community Matters) The economy added 171,000 jobs in October, Ohioans responding negatively to Romney’s misleading Jeep ads, Americans appreciating the Pres’ concern for rising tides and healing the planet.

 
These are probabilities, not anything like a certainty. It’s still a close race and the next 3 days count.

(Community Matters)

watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZENtH3psXl4

(Community Matters) Is Matt Romney trying to line up Russian investors anticipating his capital will never be higher (anticipating his father will lose)? If not, why isn’t he campaigning instead of on a foreighn business trip? And, if Mitt wins, should we anticipate his sons will be selling their access around the world? Seriously, one of them already is. A Romney Travels to Russia, but on Strictly Friendly Terms

(Community Matters) My formula would be something like this:

1)       Figure out what we all should have paid during the last 12 years as if we had responsibly paid for the 2 wars and the medical prescription benefits –  raising taxes on those earning $250k & above, temporarily over the Clinton rates, to recapture 2001 – 2012 under-collected revenues, then

2)       Look at remaining deficit and structural inflows & outflows and adjust spending so that budget balances at Clinton rates

(Community Matters) @EugeneAustin: couldn’t agree more with @RalphGilles about @realDonaldTrump #FullOfShit #JackWelchInDrag.

Ralph Gilles, Chrysler Executive, Lashes Out At Donald Trump