John Masters, Author at Deep Something

Band of Brothers – A Mini-Series Review

August 16, 2009 B. John 461 Views 0 Comments Tom Hanks, WW II, Steven Speilberg, 101st Airborne, Easy Company, Adventure, Drama, War, History

This is the story of “E” Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division from their initial training starting in 1942 to the end of World War II. They parachuted behind enemy lines in the early hours of D-Day in support of the landings at Utah beach, participated in the liberation of Carentan and again parachuted into action during Operation Market Garden. They also liberated a concentration camp and were the first to enter Hitler’s mountain retreat in Berchtesgarten. A fascinating tale of comradeship that is, in the end, a tale of ordinary men who did extraordinary things. Worth everyone of it’s 705 minutes.

Business Economy Featured Politics Congress Presidency

Billionaire Insurance CEO's – $102k per hour salaries

August 12, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 1115 Views 1 Comment government run, United HealthGroup, Stephen Hemsley, medicare, Insurance, insurance industry, Medicade, single payer

Ed Schultz of The Ed Show interviews Robert Greenwald about an investigative report on the CEO of United Health Care Group. Turns out the guy is making about $102,000 per hour. At one point a few years ago his salary alone accounted for $1 in every $700 spent on healthcare in America. The fact is, in this country we have always recognized that some things are not best left to the marketplace.

Featured Politics Presidency

Neocon Rage Walrus Decries Journalists Release

August 5, 2009 B. John 386 Views 0 Comments North Korea, Euna Lee, Laura Ling, Current TV, John Bolton, Bill Clinton, Korea, Kim Jong Il

As most everyone now knows, Current TV journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling were pardoned a few days by Kim Jong Il from their convictions of entering North Korea illegally. This was the result of a private visit by former President Bill Clinton. Of course since Clinton was involved, some member of the wingnuts had to jump out there and criticise this succesful negotiation.

Technology Software

Backend Update to Deep Sand

August 4, 2009 B. John 371 Views 0 Comments Plugins, Upgrades, Wordpress, Automattic

We did an update today to a new version of WordPress. This was a significant upgrade that involved a lot of updates for the plugins that add so much functionality to the site.

Featured Politics Legislature

And You Thought The FL Legislature Couldn't Get Crazier

August 1, 2009 B. John 408 Views 0 Comments Healthcare Reform, Scott Plakon, healthcare, Constitutional Amendment, Florida Legislature, Carey Baker

Never sell the wingnut Replublicans in the Florida Legislature short. Last year they were busy saving us all from Automobile Testicles, and tried to eliminate daylight savings time (the logic being it would be less confusing for Senator Bill Posey). So now, two of our distinguished legislators have called for a Florida Constitutional Amendment to prohibit Floridians from participating in, an as yet non-existent, healthcare insurance reform.

Featured Politics Constitution Society Gay Issues

Why Free Speech Isn't Private Speech

July 31, 2009 B. John 1190 Views 1 Comment Restraining Order, Public Expressions, Larry Stickney, Benjamin Settle, petitions, Domestic Partnerships, free speech, Washington State, R-71, TRO

Washington State recently enacted a domestic partnership registry and granted most of the same rights held by married people to domestic partners. Needless to say, the wingnut fringe of the Republican party came unglued, and launched a petition effort to repeal the law. The organization sponsoring the drive has sought and received a temporary restraining order to keep the names of the petition signers secret.

Entertainment Fun Stuff Society Gay Issues

NOMs Hip 2M4M Campaign

July 28, 2009 B. John 344 Views 0 Comments Tea Bagging, Tea Baggers, Andy Cobb, Video, Rick Santorum, Nom, National Organization for Marriage, 2M4M

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), one of the extreme right-wing fringe groups, has what they think is a hip new campaign they called 2M4M. Kind of like the tea-baggers, I’m guessing they didn’t think through the title completely before going public. But that’s just fine, since it gives us all plenty to laugh about. And Joe Sudbay at Americablog has tipped me off to hilarious video by Andy Cobb about the 2M4M initiative by NOM.

Culture Entertainment Featured Fun Stuff

And Now, The Answer to Everything

July 28, 2009 B. John 350 Views 2 Comments Youth, life, Craig Ferguson, Jonas Brothers

Finally, someone has come up with the unifying theory of everything. Thank you Craig Ferguson. This is three and one-half minutes of well spent time.

Business Economy Politics Congress

Bill Moyers Explains Money, Politics and Healthcare Reform

July 20, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 446 Views 0 Comments healthcare, Insurance, PBS, Bill Moyers Journal, bill moyers, medicaid, medicare

As is so often the case, Bill Moyers does another outstanding job of pointing out the differences in how healthcare is viewed. I continued to be amazed at the absolute stupidity of people who can’t understand that their version of “free market” healthcare is not, and will not work. In the free-market, companies are out to make a profit. They don’t make a profit by paying for your care.

Culture Family Featured Fun Stuff Technology

Where I Was 40 Years Ago

July 20, 2009September 29, 2018 B. John 361 Views 0 Comments Buzz Aldrin, Cronkite, Schirra, NASA, Moon, White Lake, July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong

Everyone is writing about where they were 40 years ago today when Armstrong and Aldrin first set foot on the moon, so I thought I should also chime in. It was certainly one of those defining moments. I was at White Lake, NC with family and friends.

Culture Featured Fun Stuff

And That's The Way It Was

July 18, 2009 B. John 334 Views 0 Comments Johnny Carson, news, Kennedy, Reporting, TV News, Television News, TV Journalism, TV Journalist, Journalist, Walter Cronkite, King

Despite his having been out of the public eye for so long, it’s sad to know that Walter Cronkite, who died yesterday at the age of 92, is some how no longer there, in the background, keeping alive that last vestige of the true TV journalist. I’m old enough to remember Cronkite, and all the memorable events he reported. Hope you enjoy the video clips, including Johnny Carson’s hilarious take on Cronkite’s retirement.