Glenn Beck--he's a loser, baby. Truly a turkey, and not even a jive one.
Anyway, happy holidays, I'm heading towards New (S)Iberia in a bit, tomorrow is also likely to be slow if not stop on posting.
Later.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Smaller and Smaller
You've got a horrible terrorist act occurring today, plus the ongoing economic meltdown/cave-in...and so Commander Codpiece takes to the bully pulpit...and pardons a turkey.
I swear, instead of a pension, can we give him a participation trophy and be done?
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
You've got a horrible terrorist act occurring today, plus the ongoing economic meltdown/cave-in...and so Commander Codpiece takes to the bully pulpit...and pardons a turkey.
I swear, instead of a pension, can we give him a participation trophy and be done?
Free Love on the Free Love Freeway *
Not to reduce expectations to absolute zero here, but c'mon--a political party that won't discipline Joe Lieberman for being dick supreme during the election cycle isn't likely to show much by way of cajones when it comes to prosecuting Rethug war criminals. Sigh.
Not to reduce expectations to absolute zero here, but c'mon--a political party that won't discipline Joe Lieberman for being dick supreme during the election cycle isn't likely to show much by way of cajones when it comes to prosecuting Rethug war criminals. Sigh.
The Codpiece Shrinketh
Looks like Joe Klien's managed to sweat out or otherwise void most of the active ingredient of whatever Kool-Aid he's been sucking down for the last eight years. Greenwald and Instaputz have mroe.
Oh, I suppose some might have a bit of compassion for Bush, given the totality of his failure...however, I can't help but reserve my own compassion for the victims of George Bush's particular blend of pig-ignorance and arrogance, essentially a Fourth (or Fifth) Stooge, but minus any humor.
In comparison, Nixon, evil bastard he was, at least demonstrated some intellectual capacity...when he wasn't drunkenly ranting whatever minority group raised his hackles at that moment.
Besides, Shrub, of all people, is least likely to feel any effects resulting from his bone-headed administration--former presidents receive extremely generous pensions courtesy of we taxpayers...and I'm sure there will be plenty of wingnut welfare to boot.
At least we'll have history's verdict...which, at best, will be something like "out of his league." Boy, but I wish that would eat at him, but in truth, I doubt he's capable of genuinely understanding his puniness.
 |
| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Looks like Joe Klien's managed to sweat out or otherwise void most of the active ingredient of whatever Kool-Aid he's been sucking down for the last eight years. Greenwald and Instaputz have mroe.
Oh, I suppose some might have a bit of compassion for Bush, given the totality of his failure...however, I can't help but reserve my own compassion for the victims of George Bush's particular blend of pig-ignorance and arrogance, essentially a Fourth (or Fifth) Stooge, but minus any humor.
In comparison, Nixon, evil bastard he was, at least demonstrated some intellectual capacity...when he wasn't drunkenly ranting whatever minority group raised his hackles at that moment.
Besides, Shrub, of all people, is least likely to feel any effects resulting from his bone-headed administration--former presidents receive extremely generous pensions courtesy of we taxpayers...and I'm sure there will be plenty of wingnut welfare to boot.
At least we'll have history's verdict...which, at best, will be something like "out of his league." Boy, but I wish that would eat at him, but in truth, I doubt he's capable of genuinely understanding his puniness.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday Science Blogging
This Science Times article is pretty cool for several reasons...first, it suggests there's a slight possibility of actually detecting the "dark matter" that defines up to a quarter of the known universe (which is much more than I believe the four or five percent of the universe made of stuff we can see), second, one of the researchers is based right here in the Gret Stet (though the research is being conducted in Antarctica--so it's cool in a literal sense, too.)
Scientific research of this nature isn't a function of the profit motive, nor is it necessarily "efficient" or essential or whatever--in other words, yer neo-cons might well scoff at it, particularly given that no one gets shot dead or mangled beyond recognition. However, it is fascinating on all sorts of levels, and indicative of the apex of human ambition and achievement. I'm reminded of what I think is something Enrico Fermi said when asked how non-applied science contributed to the national defense.
"It gives us something worth defending."
Finally there's this shot of a balloon carrying observing equipment. These balloons always remind me of that weird alien from Star Trek--a quick google search says he's Balok.
Sorry for the slow posting--it was a busy day over here. By the way, I spent the last hour or so running anti-virus updates on all our servers. We received a report of something serious...so if you run anti-virus software--and you really, really should--check your provider's web site for updated definitions...
This Science Times article is pretty cool for several reasons...first, it suggests there's a slight possibility of actually detecting the "dark matter" that defines up to a quarter of the known universe (which is much more than I believe the four or five percent of the universe made of stuff we can see), second, one of the researchers is based right here in the Gret Stet (though the research is being conducted in Antarctica--so it's cool in a literal sense, too.)
Scientific research of this nature isn't a function of the profit motive, nor is it necessarily "efficient" or essential or whatever--in other words, yer neo-cons might well scoff at it, particularly given that no one gets shot dead or mangled beyond recognition. However, it is fascinating on all sorts of levels, and indicative of the apex of human ambition and achievement. I'm reminded of what I think is something Enrico Fermi said when asked how non-applied science contributed to the national defense.
"It gives us something worth defending."
Finally there's this shot of a balloon carrying observing equipment. These balloons always remind me of that weird alien from Star Trek--a quick google search says he's Balok.
Sorry for the slow posting--it was a busy day over here. By the way, I spent the last hour or so running anti-virus updates on all our servers. We received a report of something serious...so if you run anti-virus software--and you really, really should--check your provider's web site for updated definitions...
A GOP Tradition
Nothing says Republican quite like ostentatious displays and sneering contempt when the general public is facing tough times.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Nothing says Republican quite like ostentatious displays and sneering contempt when the general public is facing tough times.
Katrina Nation
As the saying goes, our fate really IS your fate, too. I keep noticing (most recently, on NPR last night) references to the storm and flood of 2005...the same arguments about who's worthy or who isn't.
Well, squabbling about whom to DENY assistance to certainly DOESN'T help...and a lot of Crescent City residents can probably explain that a lot better than me.
But still, it's ironic--the rest of the country might want to take a look--and learn something--from New Orleans.
 |
| From 2Millionth Web Log |
As the saying goes, our fate really IS your fate, too. I keep noticing (most recently, on NPR last night) references to the storm and flood of 2005...the same arguments about who's worthy or who isn't.
Well, squabbling about whom to DENY assistance to certainly DOESN'T help...and a lot of Crescent City residents can probably explain that a lot better than me.
But still, it's ironic--the rest of the country might want to take a look--and learn something--from New Orleans.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Not Exactly a Well-Oiled Machine
Following up on Gustav evacuees being warehoused--literally-- is this article noting that some lost possessions or had luggage mishandled. Some of these bags are gathering dust at New Orleans City Hall:
There are hard cases, strollers, a wheelchair, day packs, backpacks, shoulder bags and garbage bags. A shabby brown teddy bear stares from one bag. Half-empty medicine bottles are stashed in another. A tennis racket pokes out from a shoulder bag.
"One man came in a motorized wheelchair from Jefferson (Parish). He got here by going down the highway," said Maria Kay Chetta, an assistant director of criminal justice who runs the lost luggage room. "People left all kinds of things: Food, baby formula."
Since the catastrophic failures in evacuating people before and after Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana emergency planners developed a model system using public transportation. The effort paid off for Gustav, the first time it was implemented.
"We're one of only a handful of cities that have a publicly assisted evacuation," said John Renne, a University of New Orleans evacuation expert.
And it worked. The number of people left behind as Gustav crashed ashore Sept. 1, flooding towns and bursting levees outside New Orleans, was minimal compared to Katrina. About 27,000 took bus transportation out of town and another 1,000 left by publicly funded trains and aircraft.
But if Gustav proved that a publicly assisted evacuation can work, it also showed Louisiana hasn't mastered the second phase of an evacuation: Making sure the exit and re-entry are safe, comfortable and humane.
The article goes on to note that school buses were pressed into service after a Jacksonville, Florida based company produced just over half the vehicles they'd contractually promised. It also notes problems with on-board sanitation and staffing--many evacuees were/are elderly and in poor health--along with confusion over directions to shelters, etc.
That said, it was better than nothing at all...but just as the stories about the horrible conditions made quite an impression on me in September, reading about someone literally having to ride a wheelchair along a highway to look for lost belongings--while auto executives are flown in private jets to request billions in government assistance--is galling...
Particularly given that we're by far the wealthiest nation to have ever existed on earth.
Following up on Gustav evacuees being warehoused--literally-- is this article noting that some lost possessions or had luggage mishandled. Some of these bags are gathering dust at New Orleans City Hall:
There are hard cases, strollers, a wheelchair, day packs, backpacks, shoulder bags and garbage bags. A shabby brown teddy bear stares from one bag. Half-empty medicine bottles are stashed in another. A tennis racket pokes out from a shoulder bag.
"One man came in a motorized wheelchair from Jefferson (Parish). He got here by going down the highway," said Maria Kay Chetta, an assistant director of criminal justice who runs the lost luggage room. "People left all kinds of things: Food, baby formula."
Since the catastrophic failures in evacuating people before and after Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana emergency planners developed a model system using public transportation. The effort paid off for Gustav, the first time it was implemented.
"We're one of only a handful of cities that have a publicly assisted evacuation," said John Renne, a University of New Orleans evacuation expert.
And it worked. The number of people left behind as Gustav crashed ashore Sept. 1, flooding towns and bursting levees outside New Orleans, was minimal compared to Katrina. About 27,000 took bus transportation out of town and another 1,000 left by publicly funded trains and aircraft.
But if Gustav proved that a publicly assisted evacuation can work, it also showed Louisiana hasn't mastered the second phase of an evacuation: Making sure the exit and re-entry are safe, comfortable and humane.
The article goes on to note that school buses were pressed into service after a Jacksonville, Florida based company produced just over half the vehicles they'd contractually promised. It also notes problems with on-board sanitation and staffing--many evacuees were/are elderly and in poor health--along with confusion over directions to shelters, etc.
That said, it was better than nothing at all...but just as the stories about the horrible conditions made quite an impression on me in September, reading about someone literally having to ride a wheelchair along a highway to look for lost belongings--while auto executives are flown in private jets to request billions in government assistance--is galling...
Particularly given that we're by far the wealthiest nation to have ever existed on earth.
Foreclosure Field
I'm not going to claim the knowledge to argue over the efficacy of the Citigroup bailout; however, I sure as hell am going to remember our contribution to, among other things, the Mets' new stadium the next time some neo-con starts whining about the cost of coastal restoration or Category 5 storm protection...or as Atrios said earlier, children's health insurance.
Coastal restoration and Category 5 storm protection is starting to look like a bargain.
I'm not going to claim the knowledge to argue over the efficacy of the Citigroup bailout; however, I sure as hell am going to remember our contribution to, among other things, the Mets' new stadium the next time some neo-con starts whining about the cost of coastal restoration or Category 5 storm protection...or as Atrios said earlier, children's health insurance.
Coastal restoration and Category 5 storm protection is starting to look like a bargain.
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