Archive for August, 2013

The NFL concussion settlement benefits everyone

Saturday, August 31st, 2013

765 Million Dollars just saved football

The National Football League just reached a settlement with dozens of former players with regards to concussion-related lawsuits. The league will pay the players $765 million over time. This deal is  the smartest business decision the league, which gets virtually everything right, has made.

One day, this settlement agreement will be the money that saved the game of football.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/narcotics-leatherheads-nfl-and-other-sports-storie/2013/aug/29/765-million-dollars-saved-football/

eric

 

Syria burns while Obama plays Hamlet without the earnest reflection

Saturday, August 31st, 2013

Obama to attack Syria to defend Obama

President Obama seems to be on the verge of attacking Syria in a desperate attempt to defend President Obama.

It is one thing for Syrian strongman Bashar Assad to kill 100,000 people. It is quite another for him to embarrass Obama personally.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/aug/30/obama-attack-syria-defend-obama/

eric

 

NFL 2013 Preseason: Week 4 Raiders Recap

Saturday, August 31st, 2013

NFL 2013 Preseason: Week 4 Raiders Recap

The Oakland Raiders entered their final preseason game looking like one of the worst teams in football. They have fallen behind 23-0 and 27-0 in their last two contests, only to rally when the backups were playing. The Raiders have truly hit rock bottom. For the first time in years, a Raiders preseason game was not even on television in the Los Angeles area.

The Raiders were at the Seattle Seahawks, and the game began as expected.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/narcotics-leatherheads-nfl-and-other-sports-storie/2013/aug/29/raiders-2013-week-4-preseason-report/

eric

 

 

 

 

 

The return of Barack Hannah Montana Obama

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

Miley Cyrus is now the new Barack Obama

Miley Cyrus is now the new Barack Obama. Welcome to the return of Barack Hannah Montana Obama.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/aug/27/miley-cyrus-new-barack-obama/

Bashar Assad stopped killing in Syria for 6 hours due to outrage over Miley Cyrus’s behavior.

Miley Cyrus is acting like a spoiled brat. She acts this way because there is nobody to tell her no and keep her ego in check. Oh wait, never mind. That would be Barack Obama.

Obama is so feminized that if he had a son it would look like Miley Cyrus.

eric

 

My interview with Lisa Daftari

Tuesday, August 27th, 2013

My interview with Lisa Daftari

I recently had the joy of interviewing one of the smartest, most gorgeous women on Earth. Lisa Daftari is a Fox News Middle East analyst. She is also a stunning politically conservative brunette, one of 2013’s most beautiful women in politics.

As with any interview, this will have three components. First comes the fake interview that never happened. Then comes the Jayson Blair (New York) Times doctored version of the fake interview. Then comes the real interview.

Here is the fake interview that never happened.

Tygrrrr Express: Given that you are a politically conservative brunette, should we get married this evening or just skip straight to having children?

Lisa Daftari: I would sooner bear the children of the mullahs in Iran.

Tygrrrr Express: I would not subject you to Sharia Law, except maybe on Sunday and Monday nights when I am trying to watch football.

Lisa Daftari: Torture comes in many different forms, and I suspect what you are offering me qualifies.

Tygrrrr Express: Fine, should I just skip trying to romance you and go straight to the interview?

Lisa Daftari: Yes, that is an excellent idea. Let’s get down to business right now.

Now here is the Jayson Blair New York Times doctored version of the fake interview.

Tygrrrr Express: Given that you are a politically conservative brunette, should we get married this evening or just skip straight to having children?

Lisa Daftari: Yes, that is an excellent idea. Let’s get down to business right now.

Enough fantasyland. Here is the actual, real interview with the lovely and brilliant Lisa Daftari.

1) What is the Lisa Daftari story?

The single most important event in my life was the attacks of September 11, 2001.  In the minutes, days and then months that followed, I was just so unusually attached to the story. The details, the motives, America’s awakening, our first lessons on modern terrorism on our soil, all of it had me both devastated and intrigued. Almost everyone living in the New York City area knew someone who died in the attacks, and while my family and I lost friends in the collapse of the Twin Towers, there was more to it.  I kept news articles and magazines. I read them over and over analyzing the reports. But what I really was yearning for was a voice in the media that understood the underpinnings of this new ideological war in order to contextualize the attacks, the aftermath, the consequences and how Americans were going to go back to ‘business as usual.’ This voice was missing.

A month later, on exactly October 11, 2001, I had signed up to take the LSAT (law school entrance exam), and the test site I was assigned to was Pace University, only a few blocks from Ground Zero. My first reaction was that the location must have been changed as the cleanup efforts were still intense near the site, but after calling the test board, they only advised me to stay in a hotel the night before because “No one can get into that area.” The night before the exam, I had packed up all my number two pencils, erasers, and forms and when I walked up the subway steps, the smell of dead bodies, rubber and metal still lingered in the air. This was downtown Manhattan and beside for the sound of the horses the cops were riding, you could hear the proverbial pin drop in the loudest and liveliest city in the world.

That night, I was the only civilian staying at the hotel, among policemen, first responders and detectives. I spent hours in the lobby talking to those taking breaks and wanted to talk about their experiences. The last thing on my mind was my test and little to my knowledge at the time, I was actually heavily engaged in interviewing these responders. It was an incredible and extremely unique experience.

As you can guess, law school was not the route I chose.  I ultimately ended up going to journalism school, worked for a handful of think tanks, produced a documentary on bringing regime change to Iran, spent two years doing undercover investigative journalism work looking into terror cells that are expanding their networks right here in the U.S., and now, I work as a Fox News Middle East and counterterrorism analyst. I still aspire to be that voice.

It’s pretty interesting the way things work out. I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is to be open to the random and serendipitous; to be flexible and resilient. The only constants for me have been hard work, faith and positivity; and of course, incredibly supportive friends and family!

2) How would a Daftari administration deal with Iran, Egypt, and Syria?

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/aug/27/interview-lisa-daftari/

3) What 3 political issues are most important to you?

Terrorism (homegrown and abroad) and national security, this includes the NSA wire tapping issues and holding our administration to really working to strike a balance at understanding the importance of keeping Americans secure while guarding personal liberties, human rights and religious persecution in the Middle East.

4) Who are your 3 political heroes, American or worldwide?

I have four. Ronald Reagan, King Cyrus of Persia, Theodore Herzl and of course, Eric Golub!

5) Without delving too deeply into your personal life, what would you want Americans to know about Lisa Daftari the person? 100 years from now, what would you want people to remember about you, and what would you hope the history books say about you?

Hmmm… Not sure I’ll be mentioned in any history books, but should I be proven wrong, I would say that it’s most important to me that my work is also discussed within the context of my personal approach.  I went into journalism to tell the human stories, particularly of the persecuted and marginalized. Whether it’s talking to a young child or a woman abused at the hands of radicals, every story, every human teaches us something and brings to light larger issues that are common to the human experience.  I talk to people in Egypt, Syria, Iran and elsewhere on a daily basis, hearing their stories and having the ability and voice to serve as their advocates. Just last week I got over 50 emails from Egypt thanking me for the accurate coverage of their plight. This is the most rewarding and fulfilling aspect of the work I do.

6) Do you get bored with the marriage proposals that you get inundated with on a daily basis?

Bored? Never. All frogs are welcome to audition till I find my prince  Just kidding. Marriage proposals keep a girl humble and more importantly, entertained!  I’m a hopeless romantic, an idealist and a believer in fate. I’m sure he is out there somewhere!

 

It was a pleasure meeting and hearing the insights of Lisa Daftari. While she remains easy on the eyes, listen to what she has to say as well. The world could learn a lot from her. American politicians certainly could.

 

eric

 

My interview with the US Report

Tuesday, August 27th, 2013

I had the honor and privilege of being interviewed by Kay Day of the US Report.

She is fantastic. Here is the interview.

http://www.theusreport.com/the-us-report/2013/8/27/aboard-the-tygrrrr-express-with-eric-golub.html

eric

Arianna Huffington does something positive, conservative heads may explode

Tuesday, August 27th, 2013

Broken clock alert: Arianna Huffington is right

 

A broken clock is right twice daily, and Arianna Huffington deserves praise. In a decision that must become a trend, Huffington has decided to eliminate the concept of anonymous commenters on her Huffington Post sites. Going forward, commenters will be required to use their real names.

 

This change is long overdue, and worthy of celebration.

 

There is plenty to criticize about the Huffington Post, Daily Kos, and similar sites, and most of that criticism stems around loose policies regarding commenters. Profanity, sexual vulgarity, and bigotry run rampant. Libelous accusations often go unchallenged. This is not free speech. It is verbal violence, and should be treated every bit as seriously as physical violence.

 

The Internet has become the wild west, and Internet bullying is out of control. Some students have even committed suicide due to the horrors of anonymous online bullying.

 

While some people have no sense of decency or shame, others would refrain from abusive anti-social behavior if they knew they would be held accountable. Whatever her motives, Huffington is demanding accountability.

 

Given that Huffington runs a leftist site, perhaps she has finally had enough of abusive conservative commenters. If she wants to see real Internet bullying, she should visit conservative sites and see how her own supporters behave. Yet arguing over “who started it” is less important than stopping the bad behavior.

 

Many Libertarian activists including Ron Paul supporters will vociferously object to this transparency, but they are among some of the biggest anonymous abusers.

 

Libertarian and other free speech absolutists have no leg to stand on. There is no Constitutional right to type on Internet message boards. Huffington runs a private company, and corporate America has broad latitude to restrict speech. Many commenters engaging in abusive behavior on company time, which they may be less inclined to do if their employer knew this.

 

In addition to bullying, anonymity increases spamming. In some cases, human beings typing their political message on various message boards under various screen names. This is “astroturfing,” designed to create the illusion of broad support for an agenda. The other form of spamming is the traditional overloading of websites with advertisements for everything from Viagra to mortgage refinancing. Spammers should be brought out of the shadows and held accountable.

 

Huffington’s decision will not have a chilling effect on free speech. It will force people to engage in less reckless, thoughtless and irresponsible speech. If people wish to use profanity, they should do so openly (although quality sites ban profanity outright).

 

There are times when anonymity has a legitimate purpose. Online support groups such as meetings of battered women would be one. Removing anonymity would prevent victims from coming forward, and increase the chances of abusive stalkers finding their victims.

 

Reasonable people should be able to conclude when anonymity is appropriate and when it is a cover for bad behavior. Also, this is not a government edict. Huffington is a private businesswoman making a decision that she believes will benefit her business. In a rare decision, it seems she is actually increasing quality while simultaneously increasing the potential for profits. By making her site more “respectable,” she is gambling that she will gain many more visitors to offset the ones she will lose.

 

Commenters may not like to hear this, but they vastly overstate their own importance. Most people who read articles do not comment. Most people comment when they disagree with the author. In other words, the commenters not only often fail to reflect the writer’s target audience, but often run counter to it. This makes the opinions of the silent majority far more important than the angry, hateful commenters. Many sites would gladly accept a drastic increase in visitors even if it meant absolutely zero commenters.

 

Huffington has done much to lower the discourse in America. She has encouraged the worst elements of human behavior by not reining it in. She has finally decided that enough is enough. Her motives are irrelevant. She is absolutely right to do this, and deserves praise for finally doing what other sites have not done.

 

A true honest national discussion about issues is far superior to hurling insults back and forth. Transparency encourages the best of our society while secrecy encourages the worst of it.

 

Huffington is right, and deserves praise for her decision.

 

For the sake of a better society, we should all hope her new approach succeeds and spreads to as many controversial sites as possible.

 

eric

 

Why Lady Macbeth Hillary Clinton will not reclaim her throne

Monday, August 26th, 2013

Why Hillary Clinton will probably not be President

When all is said and done, Hillary Clinton is probably not going to be president.

This is not about her pluses or minuses. It comes down to mathematics that have little to nothing to do with her.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/aug/25/why-hillary-clinton-will-probably-not-be-president/

eric

 

Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan got what he wanted

Monday, August 26th, 2013

Despite guilty verdict, Fort Hood shooter the big winner

Despite being convicted of murder, Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan can now officially declare victory. He began his killing spree with a specific goal in mind. He succeeded.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/aug/23/despite-guilty-verdict-fort-hood-shooter-big-winne/

eric

 

 

 

 

Why leftists coddle Islamists

Monday, August 26th, 2013

Why Wonkette leftists attack conservatives while coddling Islamists

When recent dueling rallies took place at the Westwood federal building in Los Angeles, four astroturfers from the leftist site Wonkette showed up for the purpose of disruption. They showed up at the conservative “Rage Against The Media” rally with a “NAZI” sign. While the Wonkettes felt completely comfortable attacking conservatives, they did not dare disrupt the nearby Islamist rally in support of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

Many leftists may dislike radical Islamic Jihadists, but they despise conservative Republicans. The reason is well known, but it is refreshing for an honest admission.

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/aug/22/why-wonkette-and-other-leftists-attack-conservativ/

eric