Note to self: Don’t watch Bloomberg television when you’re working from home. Without being said, the dire/apocalyptic reports from yesterday were not mentally stimulating.
As seen above, consumer credit spending skyrocketed in June at a level TWO TIMES what economists predicted. This is not a good sign considering inflation – the cost of goods – has been out of control and won’t ease for a few more months. Consumer’s have no other means to spend other than plastic seeing that home equity loans and the tax rebates have dried up.
Somebody wake up the lazy sleeping bear – a.k.a. the bush administration. What happens once all the credit dries up and consumers have to start making payments in July/August while filing for unemployment at an increasing pace when a gallon of milk is still $3.99? Errrrrr.
Obama – drop out of the race now!
P.S. Why is a $2 cup of Starbuck’s coffee so fcking bitter?
I don’t get the MSM’s recent analysis that the polls are narrowing – specifically, CNN.com’s ridiculous mainpage story from Wednesday that even dared to say Obama’s lead was small and narrowing.
Without being said, Obama’s 47% base of support isn’t moving before the election regardless of what unfolds over the next few months. So, instead of leading nationwide by 6% points, he’s leading by 5% points in some polls – 47% to 42% with 8-10% undecided. How is that narrowing?
Regardless, as I’ve noted in the past, the candidates haven’t even shared the same stage yet. I assume Obama’s poll lead will grow by 10%+ points once mccain has had the displeasure of actually debating somebody that understands the world.
Moreover, you can’t find too many people that care about mccain’s possible vp pick – exception, palin since she’s a decent looking woman and I’m sure all the bikers across this great land would love to see her compete with cindy in the Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Paegent. But, of course, mccain won’t go after that coveted Alaskan vote. Bluntly stated, nobody on anyone’s short list for mccain excites the GOP. On the other hand, you’ll see at least 2-3% bump in Obama’s numbers once he announces whichever Catholic VP he selects unless it’s JFK/RFK.
When all is said and done, should Obama continue to lead in the polls by 5-10% – which is a guarantee unless something “crazy” happens – the general election decided by (obviously) electoral votes will be a landslide as originally seen on BccList.com here and here…
“Paris Hilton might not be as big a celebrity as Barack Obama, but she obviously has a better energy plan.”
This is starting to become laughable. I can’t believe people are being paid to run his campaign. The next thing on mccain’s agenda – start a nationwide game of tag and/or duck, duck, goose.
Even republicans have to be shaking their heads, right?
As anticipated, the fed decided to stay the course at 2%. Regardless, oil will continue to drop in price since they’re (finally) done cutting the rate and have started hinting a hike is around the corner.
Redundant Disclaimer: This assumes nothing unforeseen happens like the bush administration waking up and deciding to attack Iran.
P.S. Obama/mccain campaigns: You can stop wasting money/time now since “offshore drilling’ and “energy plans” won’t be political buzz words when gas is selling for less than $3.00 a gallon in October/November.
The fall in oil prices since mid July has nothing to do with demand, tropical storms, Iran, offshore drilling, etc. and everything to do with the June 24/25th and July 16th fed meetings where an interest rate hike was mentioned. As originally seen on BccList.com here…
Oil and gas prices are only going to get “better” especially if the fed actually makes a move to hike the interest rate. We can only hope.
Last night, on the way home from Lollapalooza, the trip got entertaining enough that I almost didn’t get off at my stop. For real.
About 45 minutes into the 1 hour commute, the below dude started spitting some verses – his own while tying in some 90’s east coast rap. His boom box was a Treo. Yes, a Treo cellphone. Regardless, by the time I got off the train, he was receiving standing ovations from nearly everyone after each rhyme. That’s saying a lot seeing that most people on the L prefer to ignore everything. There were a few shouts of “Damn – Kanye needs to open for you!” Et cetera.
No joke – really good…I wish I would have gotten his emcee name. But, I assume he’ll be “found” soon enough…
True – who knows? But, it’s supposedly what G Love just said on stage. It’s worth noting, Obama (the one per mccain) was rumored to introduce Wilco yesterday and was not seen.
We’ll find out soon…heading rooftop. Gavin, thank you for the heads up and access to the 21st flo.
Update 1: Rumor is unfounded so far.
Update 2: Kanye West just covered Journey. Weird/Awesome.
Update 3: I posted mccain’s video above (when you click through “the one”) because it’s just that bad. For real, who the fck is managing his campagin? They need to be fired immediately.
Go check out The Wackness when it comes to a city near you. It’s currently playing at Landmark’s Century Centre in Chicago and I believe it will be released nationwide within the next few weeks.
It’s easily the best movie I’ve seen this year. To water things down but summarize, The Wackness is a more pertinent version of Good Will Hunting for the same generation that enjoyed Good Will Hunting at the time of its release (present company included) but now hate the thought of watching it again because it means you’d have to deal with all the unnecessary/obnoxious drama and stare at Robin Williams, Matt Damon, The Afflecks, and Minnie Driver for 86 minutes.
The music and plot for The Wackness – while set in New York, New York circa May through August 1994 – were applicable for some in the Midwest 1996 – ?. There should/could be a phenomenal soundtrack.
Oscar nomination anyone? That’s possibly a stretch but it received standing ovations at the Sundance Film Festival. RottenTomatoes.com – current 63% approval rating though that number should jump – has some mixed reviews that can be disregarded.
Update: The soundtrack – click here – is classic. Also available on iTunes.
1. The What – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Method Man
2. You Used To Love Me – Faith Evans
3. Flava In Your Ear – Craig Mack
4. Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince
5. Can’t You See – Total featuring Notorious B.I.G.
6. I Can’t Wake Up – KRS-One
7. The World Is Yours – Nas
8. Can I Kick It? – A Tribe Called Quest
9. Heaven & Hell – Raekwon
10. Bump N’ Grind- R. Kelly
11. Just A Friend – Biz Markie
12. Tearz – Wu-Tang Clan
13. Long Shot Kick De Bucket – The Pioneers
I could hear everything good enough last night – near middle of the stage halfway back – during Radiohead’s set. But, some people around me were complaining. It looks like that’s a pretty popular complaint online today.
When we were rooftop on Wabash and Roosevelt pre Radiohead concert – just west and overlooking the park – you could literary hear the lyrics coming from the venue. There was a noticeable – yet, not more than 15 mph – breeze blowing in from the lake. Was Mother Nature to blame for last night’s volume issues during Radiohead’s set though there were supposed to be some sound changes/fixes this year?
It’s worth noting, after I took a “breather” near the end of the show and sat near the western banks of the park, I still didn’t (personally) have an issue hearing the concert.
WTF? As noted here at 10 pm (tribune link now updated as seen below), Radiohead wouldn’t close with music from the song (15 Step) they opened with, right? I would never ask this question other that the end of the night after standing amongst 75,000 people for nearly 3 hours and not eating since lunch – amongst other things – made things really foggy.
P.S. The following is a YouTube profile link for user “anon10069” with a few decent enough but (most important) quickly posted 30-90 second clips from the show last night.
Update: The Tribune’s website is updated with the correct closing minutes of the concert. Click here for the original screenshot before their correction. After the page loads click on the image again if it looks weird.
[SET LIST at bottom of the posting in the “Update” section]
Please comment if you’ve found Radiohead’s set list from last night’s Lollapalooza show.
I’m pretty sure they opened with 15 Step and closed with a non “In Rainbows” song. Or, I’m at least pretty sure they didn’t close with 15 Step (as mentioned in the Tribune link below) because I clearly remember them playing it earlier in the night.
“8 p.m.: Radiohead arrives. Hutchinson Field is shoulder-to-shoulder with fans. The scene is in sharp contrast to the U.K. quintet’s performance on the same site exactly seven years ago. In 2001, tickets were capped at 25,000. This time there are three times as many fans in attendance.The vibe in 2001 was idyllic, the concert one of the best rock shows Chicago has ever witnessed, and it will be tough for any band — even Radiohead — to bottle lightning twice. This time, the size of the crowd creates more of a festive, big-event atmosphere. Music takes a back seat to spectacle. Fortunately, Radiohead are old pros from the European festival circuit, and they deliver the goods. The set list is stellar, and they bring the requisite special effects: A forest of cylindrical lights provides a spectacular complement to the music, creating the illusion of purple icicles, emerald-green rainfall and a cathedral of flickering candles. (GK)
8:37 p.m.: “The National Anthem” was a signature moment during the band’s 2001 show, and it is once again today, with Colin Greenwood’s fuzz bass taking no prisoners while Thom Yorke cries in a sea of electronic distortion. (GK)
9:05 p.m.: Fireworks in the southern sky distract part of the audience, but the booming spectacle in the sky unexpectedly synchronizes with the climactic verse in “Fake Plastic Trees.” Oooh, ahhhh, and applause. The audience isn’t quite as reverent or rapt as the one that attended the 2001 show (that’s what a day full of oppressive heat and copious drinking will get you), but this is one of those crowd-pleasing moments that defines a vast, overpopulated outdoor event. (GK)
9:41 p.m.: “House of Cards,” part of a lengthy encore, is absolutely lovely. It may be the warmest song the band has ever written, with its hint of bossa nova and Yorke’s unusually direct lyric. “I don’t want to be your friend/I just want to be your lover.” The confiding tone and gently swaying vibe suit a sultry summer evening. (GK)
10 p.m.: Yorke’s burst of spastic dancing to “15 Step” brings the long day to a close. Here’s hoping Radiohead comes back soon — this time at Millennium Park. (GK)”
I’m scouring the internet…help a bro out if you stumble upon a set list.
Update 1: Greg Kot slipped up above in his timeline as seen on BccList.com here….
Update 2: Click HERE for the Radiohead setlist – or, set list if you will – from Lollapalooza August 1, 2008. Variety, thank you!
P.S. I thought 2+2=5 was played a little earlier but I’m probably most certainly wrong since it was a long night.
Update 3: Some pretty good YouTube clips from the show. Please feel free to post more via comments since I don’t have time to search! It’s reported that the fireworks had nothing to do with Lollapalooza or Radiohead. Rather, there was some weird family night going on at Soldier Field. I just remember wondering – while laying down away from the masses – why are there helicopters everywhere, fireworks, and a ton of walk talkies going off? errrrr.
Bcc:List.com 