Saturday, October 14, 2006

Managing the National Debt

When it comes to Presidents and fiscal management, this chart explains it all.

I quote:

Reagan increased discretionary spending from $307.9 billion to $488.8 - an increase of 58.75%. At the same time, the GDP price deflator increased from 56.105 to 79.433 for an increase of 41.56%. That makes Reagan's total increase in discretionary spending 14.54%.

Clinton increased discretionary spending from $539.4 billion to $614.8 - an increase of 13.97%. At the same time, the GDP price deflator increased from 88.204 to 100.687 far an increase of 14.15%. That makes Clinton's total increase in discretionary spending -.18% (Yes you read that right; a Democrat actually shrank discretionary spendinig).

Bush increased discretionary spending from $649.3 billion to $967.9- an increase of 49.06%. At the same time, the GDP price deflator increased from 101.507 to 114.048 far an increase of 12.35%. That makes Bush's total increase in discretionary spending 36.71%.

So, in the last 25 years, one President has controlled spending and increasing the size of government - Clinton.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

The Top Ten Universal Horror Films Not Yet on DVD

1) Island of Lost Souls
Their best classic horror film yet to be released on DVD. Universal now owns it, but it was actually made by Paramount, which may explain the delay. But how long can you wait to release a pre-code monsterfest (does any picture of this era have more monsters?) starring the great actor/ham Charles Laughton and Bela Lugosi, the biggest cult horror star of all?

2) Man Made Monster
The model Universal "B" pic of the '40s. A solid plot, good cast (Lon Chaney, Jr. and Lionel Atwill) And a darned good monster. Scared the pants off me as an adolescent.

3) Night Monster
Haven't seen it, but it's got a good rep and a great cast, including Lugosi.

4-6) Captive Wild Woman/Jungle Woman/Jungle Captive
The only Universal Monster movie series yet to make it to DVD. Only the first one seems to be okay, but there are a lot of cult actors in the series, like Aquanetta (in the first two) and Rondo Hatton (in the third).

7) The Mad Ghoul
Universal's one and only zombie flick. Creepy, involving, and well played especially by Zucco as the villain. Only debit: the zombie actor is lacking.

8) The Monster and the Girl
A Paramount oddity. Social melodrama starts as a prostitution trial drama (heavily censored, but gets its message across), then turns into a monster movie when the brain of the heroine's brother winds up in a gorilla that stalks the men who abused her. I usually hate brain transplants and apes - they're hallmarkks of cheap horror - but this one pulls it off.

9) The Black Cat (1941)
No relation to the 1934 classic, this one's a haunted house type mystery with another good cast, including Lugosi.

10) Murders in the Zoo
I was going to make this "House of Horrors," but this Paramount thriller is a lot more fun. Lionel Atwill is a jealous husband who uses his menagerie of vicious beasts to eliminate anyone who eyes his wife. Too much comedy relief, but very pre-code brutal too.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Un-F***ing-Believable

Got this from Daily Kos:

Mark Foley is an accused pedofile, so that makes him a Democrat.

Update!
Dennis Hastert is a Democrat, too!

Also, Fox pulls the Republican/Democrat switcheroo again!

Sunday, October 01, 2006

High Trans Fats Make Hulk Strong!

One of the weirdest comic book ad campaigns off all time was the Marvel and DC superheroes Hostess Snack Cake Adventures.

There may have beem weirder comic book ads, but these were the most insiduous, because not only did they use real licensed comic book superheroes in comic book form adventures, but they LOOKED just like the real thing!

I believe they used real comic book artists, though I've never spent any time trying to ID them. (Ross Andru? Sal and/or John Buscema? Curt Swan? Maybe it was a studio)

The very first time I saw one I spent about ten seconds thinking it was supposed to be part of the story I was reading.

They typically appeared near the back of the comic book, and I grew to look forward to them.