The movie is based on truth, and focuses on the relationship between two of the most prolific pyschologists ever, Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, and the crazy-but-turns-out-to-be-pretty-brilliant woman that comes between them. in not necessarily the way you think.

I loved this movie and the connection I felt to it in many ways. From the topics of sex to pyschotherapy, it had my interest from start to finish.

The Rapture – Sail Away (Cut Copy Remix)

If you watch Jon Stewart and/or The Colbert Report, you sure know what I’m talking about.

If you remember Kerry losing the 2004 Presidential election because of the drama stirred up from the Swiftboat attack ads, questioning Kerry’s integrity, then you are familiar with the nasty power of traditional PACs. Just wait until you hear about Super PACs.

In this election cycle, the Super PACs are in full force. There are Super PACs (political organizations that can raise as much money as they want with unrestricted single donation amounts, in support of a candidate, as long as they don’t actually interact with the candidate) that will raise up to $300 million in this Presidential election. Their goal is to get their candidate elected by taking out the other candidates. Mostly with negative attack ads, robo calls, etc. You’re familiar with their tactics.

Did you know it’s harder to create a TV commercial selling white bread because of FCC regulations you have to go through to prove your claims. With political ads you apparently aren’t under the same scrutiny, so you don’t have to prove the claims you’re making. So it’s pretty easy to get a negative campaign ad about a candidate on TV.

Sometimes the Super PACs get fined when the Federal Election Commission finds out that they are cohorting with a candidate (you’re not allowed to communicate remember). Fined how much you ask? Anywhere from $50,000 to $300,000. Hmm, sounds significant. I guess unless you consider that some of these Super PACs are raising tens of millions of dollars. So maybe a $200,000 fine here and there is the cost of doing business?

Back to Stephen Colbert. Maybe you’ve heard, he’s founded his own Super PAC. Why? Not to attack any particular candidate. But to draw more attention to how Super PACs are destroying the political system in the United States.

Stephen Colbert’s Super PAC is running the following outrageous TV ad right now in South Carolina, if you can believe it:

How much as Stephen Colbert raised? The funny thing is that he doesn’t have to tell us! Well, Super PACs are supposed to release the names of their donors, with donation amounts, every 3 months. But you know what? Stephen Colbert formed his Super PAC in July and he hasn’t reported any of his donations. And no one seems to care. He says the FEC could fine him but they’d have to rule he did something wrong. And they’re split 3-3 (republican-democrat) so they can never actually ever agree on anything to rule on. So he’s fine to just keep wreaking havoc… showing how out of control Super PACs are.

I don’t know what the solution is to Super PAC fiascos. They are supported by a 5-4 Supreme Court decision in 2010 (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission), with the majority coming from liberal judges. And it sounds like the Supreme Court will never reverse its own decision, so the only thing that could change the system now is an amendment to the United States Constitution (no easy task).

Oh and don’t think this is a nasty Republican thing. Democrats are currently raising oodles in their own Super PACs, in support of President Obama. They will be fired up and ready to rip to shreds whoever the Republican candidate ends up being.

It’s going to be interesting. Can’t wait to watch the 2012 election unfold.

on the bay, passing the Ferry building on our way to Aquatic Park

Intimidating? Yes. There is serious traffic out there, ferries, cruise ships, sailboats and massive cargo ships. The tides are significant and the weather can be impossibly windy.   But my 7.5 mile trip from City Kayak (near AT&T Park) to Aquatic Park and back, was fun, breezy, a little wet and rewarding. It was amazing paddling under the suspension spans of the Bay Bridge and alongside sea lions and wet loons.

highlight of the day, going under the Bay Bridge, a unique and humbling perspective

all photos credit to Nicolas Smith!

It was an awesome day, a legit workout and a great way to cap off a great return from CES weekend.

iDevices was showing off three of its latest technologies. iGrill, iShower and iNotebook. iGrill was my favorite...

iGrill is a cooking device, with thermometer prongs that stick into your meat when you're grilling. You set the cooking temperature for each piece of meat and then it will alert you through your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch via Bluetooth when your meat is done cooking. How convenient! Right? Think of all the grilling multi-tasking you'll be able to do.

The Romibo is a build-it-yourself robot for therapy and education, for children with physical and developmental disabilities. It was designed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and it can be used to stimulate social engagement, promote emotional response and reinforce positive behavior, especially in children with Autism. I loved how passionate the woman was that we spoke to about these fuzzy still-in-development gadgets. Great to see this kind of technology at CES and I hope they were successful in finding distribution partners!

Amidst a sea of iPhone accessories was this useful-in-theory but hard-to-actually-use laser keyboard.

I've heard a lot about 3D printers in the last few years and this was one of the first times I've actually seen one in action. The Cube 3D printer launched at CES this year and it prints a variety of things of your liking, like chess pieces, bracelets and 5 inch shoes. It retails for $1299. What a bargain!

A gadget on a bigger scale, the 2013 Ford Escape is SUV eye candy, in my opinion. The auto industry has increased its presence at CES over the years especially with all the new technology finding its way inside the car like navigation and GPS, streaming music and in-dash web browsing. Go Ford!