Thursday, March 24, 2011

How Rebecca Black will save America

Hey all,

Shoutout to all of my followers (if you want to be in this cool club, just click that bright beegish button to the right) if you have a google, yahoo and twitter, you can follow. If not, get one

Now while many of you are already getting your fingers ready for a nice big dislike on the comments at the bottom, please actually read the entire post and have an open mind. Gracias!

If you have not heard Rebecca Black's new hit single "Friday" don't go and buy it on itunes as it is honestly a terrible song. Please just youtube it and make sure to watch the video.

My review of the song/video: The lyrics are terrible, the video is laughable and her voice has more auto tune than Kanye West and Akon combined.

HOWEVER, this song is one of many that could actually do something for this great country of ours.

If you could describe the intended theme of the song, it would be optimism. Here is this teenage girl that cannot wait for Friday so she can go out and have a good time with all of her friends. I mean, who doesn't love a good time with friends?

But I view this song in a different way than just having a ball on friday (as she says- Did you know that Friday was after Thursday???)

Look at the newspaper, the internet, twitter, the carrier pigeons and telegraph lines are all oozing with news about the debt, war, justin beiber's new haircut! in short, all negative and very unattractive things.

Rebecca Black is just one of many independent artists that say that those are just words! Let's defy them and go and have a good time! Let's go to a party and (here's the crux) BUY BUY BUY!

It's encoded in lyrics all across the Itunes Top 10- BUY NOW! THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY

I contend that the 1920's were easily the greatest point of economic prosperity for the Red White and Blue because of CONFIDENCE and OPTISM. Ever since FDR and the "New Communist/Realist/Worst Deal" everybody has been skeptical of the market.

Rebecca Black tells us to just be free and buy buy buy.

YOU KNOW WHAT AMERICA- I THINK SHE MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING!

Peace, Love and Happiness

Brian Fitzgerald Chander Hamilton Wiora

Saturday, March 12, 2011

The best song you've never heard

Please comment below if you agree or disagree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbTWpiv43Os

Today's Shoutouts:
1. Ashkan- Hes a cool cat and hes got some swagger as well.

Please follow!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Updates

Hey all,

I wanted to give a shoutout to multiple people. First, Jake and Ben- who have followed me from the start! Second, Lindsay Malholmes. Lindsay is a debater at Greenhill and if you haven't had the pleasure of talking with her, your missing out. And finally, we have Caroline Gold and Sarah Shor (who could easily be my 2 favorite people in the world.) Caroline is one of the friendliest people at Greenhill School and also one of the smartest. Sarah, oh Sarah, is pretty chill and has a great singing voice. Sarah is also pretty level headed so if you need advice she would be an excellent consultant. (Once again, if you want a shoutout, then you can go to that nice, shiny button on the right and press it.)

Secondly, I would like to say that if your in the new need of a theme song: try Heartbeat by Stereo Skyline. As you know, the Ready Set will always be #1 but this group with this song is pretty good as well.

And i would LOVE more comments about a vlog. So far, I have one.

Peace Love and Happiness,
Brian Wiora

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Constitution

Hey all,

So tonight there is more of a trickle down from the continuing debate about whether the new deal was justified. There are several really strong arguments on both sides of the debate but I will say that one of the worst arguments I heard was that we should follow good policymaking over whether we are being constitutional.

Woah! Woah! Woah! (not woo woo woo!)

There are several problems with this argument:
1. The Constitution is the oldest document in human history that still today is being followed and implemented to a 't." Needlessly creating a stir over whether we should follow this document is considered treason.

2. If we don't follow this document then other countries will not follow theirs because America is an EXAMPLE of what other countries should do. We are the country that ended WW2, we are the country that promotes human rights the most.

3. To not follow the constitution even in a time of depression, is flawed logic. For it is logic that men like Hitler, Genghis Khan and other rutheless leaders used (all is fair in times of crisis)

4. THERE IS NO NEED EVER TO NOT FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION. The constitution is not a document of RESTRICTIONS but rather a document of RIGHTS. To be unconstitutional is to deny rights not eliminate restrictions. Denial of rights is a violation of autonomy.

5. We can never VIOLATE autonomy for it is incomparable to any other gift that life has given us.

Don't believe me (well you should!) Try catching up on your literature!

Jurgen Habermas [University of Frankfurt]
David Velleman [Professor of Philosophy, NYU]
Dwight Furrow Author“Moral Agency.”
Derek Parfit [Oxford]
Francis kamm- author Non-Consequentialism, the Person as an End-in-Itself, and the Significance of Status Reviewed work(
John M. Taurek 1977 [PhD in Philosophy at NYU],
Robert Zokick- author “Moral Constraints and Moral Goals.”

Just to name a few qualified individuals that support this ideal.

Updates

Hey all,

I would like to shout out Rupsha Basu for following! For those that don't know Rupsha, she is a very smart debater at Hockaday and is a very charismatic individual. (If you would like a shoutout then follow my blog- it's the button to the right that says "follow.")

So a couple of things:

1. I think my new favorite band (post 1970) would go to The Ready Set! If you don't know them, it's your loss. If your music collection is missing a couple of songs, I would recommend Love Like Woe, More than Alive, Stays Four the Same and More than Alive (acoustic version.)

2. I recently saw the movie, The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon. I would rate it a 9/10. While the action and plot were very good, I was not a fan of the ending. I will most likely blog about this post later.

3. The continuing debate in my history class was whether FDR was a good president. My argument was that he wasn't. I posted some sites but SOME people just hate to agree with the truth. So, once and for, after hours of research, a couple of economists at UCLA believe that FDR PROLONGED the depression by 7 years (meaning that without him, the depression would have ended 7 years earlier, at approx. 1936 instead of 1943) Mr. Braemer, my history teacher, gave the challenge to blog what FDR should have done. After doing some research it seems like some people did VERY well in the "depression." Jesse Livermore, J.P. Morgan and others seemed to be pretty well to do. Ever heard of a trickle down effect? FDR should have contacted those guys to make deals, etc. The way to fix an economy is by increasing competition and getting RID of government restrictions and allowing the people to be able to decide what they should have for breakfast.

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/FDR-s-Policies-Prolonged-Depression-5409.aspx

4. I need COMMENTS on the bottom of this post: Should I start a vlog? I could post up both my opinions on stuff as well as stuff to help with school (so like what happened in WW2? what happened in the great gatsby etc?)

Monday, March 7, 2011

Dear History Class

Hello young lads and ladies,

I want to take you through an adventure called the 1930s:

Once upon a time in a magical land there was a King (more like a dictator) name Franklin Delano Roosevelt who decided that the people were in some trouble (uh oh!)

So he decided (and pretty much he alone) that America (his magical land) needed a break from all of this turmoil. He decided to play a game of Monopoly with America (yay!)

In this game, people would get their pink dollar bills from the government because the government was the "good guy." They would exchange their fake Candy Land money (yes Candy Land) for real boy money! And FDR said that was okay because he was tired of seeing Americans have to work for a living (did i mention that the rest of the world was going through human rights violations and that was considered a normal time?)

This was all so much fun! The economy wasn't getting better but Queen Frostine on the other hand was having a lot of fun!

The typical day for an American was simple. They would go to one of their "alphabet soup kitchens" and work for something so UNCONSTITUTIONAL that Thomas Jefferson would have wept for hours. But none of that matters because, like FDR said, "the only thing to fear is sensible people themselves!" (yay!) FDR was the new king and he played this game by his own rules. So, if he wanted to INCREASE taxes (which makes alot of sense in a market where people dont have money), INCREASE federal debt and INCREASE RACISM (black people were often denied jobs, even if they were manual labor) then he should because he is Franklin Roosevelt!!

Without Adolf Hitler, Franklin would look like the worst president in history for it wasn;t until WW2 that there was any real economy. In fact, once WW2 ended, most of Roosevelt's "alphabet soup" grew dry and only a few remain.

In fact, I will go as far to say that FDR was the WORST PRESIDENT of the 20th century. Don't believe me: In 1932, when Roosevelt was elected, there were on relief 4,155,000 households, containing 16,620,000 persons. In 1940, eight years later, there were 4,227,000 households on relief, containing 16,908,000 persons. In this period farm employment fell off and has never recovered.

http://www.ety.com/HRP/rev/fdr.htm
http://mises.org/freemarket_detail.aspx?control=355
http://reason.com/archives/2004/10/01/bad-deal
http://www.debatepolitics.com/archives/1301-fdr-worst-president-history.html

The first one is the best


Thats my 2 cents

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Top 10 Wide receivers of all time

Top 10 Greatest Wide Receivers

This list is dependent on two factors:
Stats (50%)
Legacy (50%)

The reason why this is a fair criteria because offenses are always evolving, so stats are so relative to the timeframe. 1,000 yards used to mean something in the NFL, now it is just average. Awards are good, but are often dependent on how good the offense is. That is why legacy, the impact they had to the NFL, is the most important advocacy.

10. Cris Carter- Carter had over 1,000 receptions, 13,000 yards and 130 TDs. The 8X Pro Bowler, spent the first couple of seasons in Philly before a drug problem forced him to play back up for the then lowly Vikings. He played well on and off the field and was able to work his way up to be one of the greatest of all time. He is a great success story and while a superbowl ring and a HOF bust would put him higher on the list, he still should be happy with the success he has felt.

9. Randy Moss- Moss, Carter's teammate, has had a similar up and down career. He is still playing in the NFL and has almost 1,000 receptions, over 13,000 yards and 82 TDs, similar to Carter's stats. Moss was the best receiver in the NFL for two separate periods of time (early 2000 Vikings and late 2000's Patriots) and ultimatly produced the greatest statistical single season in NFL history with over 1400 yards and 23 TDs. But, there is a reason why he has played for 5 different teams and has been called a "moral killer." His legacy is almost tarnished, and his 7X Pro Bowl are more representative of the great offenses rather than Moss, himself. But he still deserves a spot on the list.

8. Steve Largent- Largent has over 800 receptions, 13,000 yards and 100 TDs. He is the greatest wide receiver to have never won an NFL championship. He is one of the only wide receivers to play all 14 seasons with the same team (Seahawks.) The 7X Pro Bowler has fallen into oblivion because of the lack of Seattle's success when he was on the team. Largent and Jim Zorn, his QB, combined to be the single most underrated passing combo of the decade. Largent as well never dropped a pass, like ever. For these reasons he, although some would dispute, lands as #8 on this list.

7. Marvin Harrison- Harrison had over 1,000 receptions, 14,000 yards and 120 TDS. Harrison was Peyton Manning's favorite target and they certainly had a great tandem working in Indy. Harrison's 8 Pro Bowls and 6 All Pros are incredible considering he had 2 injury plagued seasons and 3 other seasons without Manning. Harrison will certainly be remembered as Manning's guy, a tag that can't hurt him with Canton voters. He will be a HOFer and he will have a great legacy in the future.

6. Torry Holt- Holt had almost 1,000 receptions, 13,000 yards and 74 TDs. Many would argue he is too high on the list because of he did not put up the numbers as some of the other receivers. But Holt may be the only player on this list without a consistent great QB, making him the better player. He had great seasons with Marc Bulger, David Garrard, Trent Green and Jamie Martin. He was also the quickest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 and 11,000 yards. The 7X Pro Bowler was the best receiver of the decade. His place on the "greatest show on turf" led him to a superbowl in 2000 and some awesome playoff runs.

5. Raymond Berry- Berry was the Colt's leading wide receiver throughout the 1950's and 1960's. The 6X Pro Bowler and 6X All Pro had one of the greatest season for a wide receiver in NFL history when he amounted 1,298 yards and 10 TDs in a 12 game season. Berry was Johnny U's best receiver catching almost every single pass thrown at him. Berry's name may have fallen into the dusk as stats and offenses have been friendly to wide outs ever since the 1978 rule changes. But Berry is one of the classic examples of the good old days.

4. Michael Irvin- Irvin represents the cowboys better than any other player in franchise history. He had swagger, stats and success. He was a great character and modernized the touchdown celebration. A member of the "triplets," Irvin won 3 superbowls in 4 years. His stats speak for themselves. Irvin finished with 750 receptions, over 11,000 yards and 65 TDs on a team that ran the ball most of the time and had a QB in Troy Aikman that threw for more than 20 TDs just once in his career. A 5X Pro Bowler, Irvin also had 8 straight seasons with over 950 yards and 7 of those were over 1,000. Aikman to Irvin was the most dominant connection of the 1990s and possibly of all time. The HOFer was a fan favorite and is without a doubt, a top 5 wide receiver of all time.

3. Lance Alworth- Alworth, as well a Cowboy during the early 1970's, spent most of his career being a dominant wide receiver for the Chargers. Alworrth was a 7X All Star selection amasing over 500 receptions, 10,000 yards and 85 TDs in 11 seasons. Alworth was certainly the greatest receiver in the AFL. Alworth and John Hadl were also the first combination to connect for over 12 TDs twice during the 12 game season. Alworth was a superbowl winner with the Dallas Cowboys in the early 70's and served primarily as a mentor for young players on the Cowboys. His #19 was retired by the Chargers and his legacy remains even stronger than that. Alworth is a member of 4 Hall of Fames and several decade and league teams.

For those that wish to know more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKtlaKNt6_8

2. Jerry Rice-Now, I know what your thinking, how could Rice be #2? Thats coming a bit later but lets discuss first what he did to deserve this spot as well.

Rice played for 20 years and has over 1500 receptions, 22,000 yards and almost 200 TDs. His 13 Pro Bowls and 11 All Pros seems to speak for themselves. Rice holds over 10 NFL Records (which, in itself, is a record) both for playoffs and regular season. Rice also had 14 seasons over 1,000 yards, 3 Super Bowls and has his #80 retired in San Francisco.Rice certainly has a strong case for the best receiver of all time and maybe even the best player of all time as the NFL network called him the greatest player of all time.

HOWEVER there are several reasons why Jerry Rice is #2 on this list. Rice played with Joe Montana and Steve Young, 2 of the greatest QBs of all time (Montana may be the best.) He also played with Rich Gannon, former MVP, and Jeff Garcia, multiple time pro bowler. Rice had the advantage of Bill Walsh, George Seafur, John Gruden- all multiple super bowl winning head coaches.

But as well there is somebody much better than Rice, and that is DON HUTSON.

1. DON HUTSON-

First of all I want to say that this is my analysis but I am using projected stats from: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/143974-why-jerry-rice-is-not-the-greatest-wide-receiver-in-nfl-history

Secondly I want to say that this was my original idea. I thought of it and then did some research, not the other way around.

Don Hutson is the greatest receiver of all time. The 11 year pro, Hutson was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers during the 1930's and 1940's. In an 11 GAME SEASON in 1942, Hutson produced 74 receptions, 1,211 yards and 17 TDs. In the context of Jerry Rice's era, Hutson stats in the season would project to be 108 receptions, 1761 yards and 25 TDs. That would be even more in the last 3 years.

Over his career, Hutson had almost 500 receptions, 7,900 yards and 99 TDS at a time when teams would pass maybe 10- 20 TIMES A GAME. This means that if Huston played at the same time that Rice did, he would have averaged 101 receptions, 1653 yards and 21 TDs. For Jerry Rice to have the same statistical impact that Hutson had in his era Rice would have needed to average 300 catches, 4200 yards and 45 TDs.

But remember, this list isn't all stats. Remember when, back on Rice's page, we said Rice played with Joe, Steve, Rich and Jeff? Well have I got news for you. Hutson played for Arnie Herber, Cecil Isbell and Irv Comp during his career. None of those players even match Rich Gannon's arm let alone Young and Montana. The year after Huston retired, Irv Comp threw just 1 TD the entire seaosn and played in all 12 games.

Huston's number is retired, he was voted on the all time team, he would have made every pro bowl if there was one. Hutson's first play in his NFL career was a 85 yard TD. Hutson also won 3 NFL championships. Hutson also played on defense and led teh league in INTS in 1940. When Huston retired, he had 18 NFL records which surpass Rice's number by far. Hutson and Curley Lambeau were the first people to create routs for receivers to run and Hutson was one of the first to run them. Hutson will never get the credit he deserves because of our un-appreciation for national pastimes and Jerry Rice. But I am here to serve JUSTICE!