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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Alleged portrait of Shakespeare edition.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The McFainting Sofa
I swear, they're worse than screeching three year olds--"war hero" McCain gets his panties all in a knot because Deputy Secretary of the Interior nominee David Hayes once questioned the infallibility (ok, actually sincerity, but...) of the Beatified if not Besainted Ronald, patron of the Laffer Curve?
Grow the fuck up, Senator.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
I swear, they're worse than screeching three year olds--"war hero" McCain gets his panties all in a knot because Deputy Secretary of the Interior nominee David Hayes once questioned the infallibility (ok, actually sincerity, but...) of the Beatified if not Besainted Ronald, patron of the Laffer Curve?
Grow the fuck up, Senator.
Freedom of the Press
Just to add my .000000000002 cent's worth to the commentary re: Jon Stewart's vivisection of Jim Cramer--it took me a second, because it's been so long since I've seen it, if I ever actually did see it, but Stewart's manner was that of a genuine journalist. Sure, he claims to be just a comedian--and yes, The Daily Show is comedy/satire, not news--but still.
The shame is that it takes a comedian to demonstrate to actual journalists how they should do their jobs.
Just to add my .000000000002 cent's worth to the commentary re: Jon Stewart's vivisection of Jim Cramer--it took me a second, because it's been so long since I've seen it, if I ever actually did see it, but Stewart's manner was that of a genuine journalist. Sure, he claims to be just a comedian--and yes, The Daily Show is comedy/satire, not news--but still.
The shame is that it takes a comedian to demonstrate to actual journalists how they should do their jobs.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Rush Hour at Four Horsepower
A very good point:
While America is more metropolitan than ever, the nation’s policies and structures rarely match economic reality. As a nation, we remain fixed in old arrangements, established decades ago and kept in place by bureaucratic inertia and entrenched political interests. Such a misunderstanding of contemporary urban structures inevitably leads to bad public policy decisions. Take as an example the nation’s crumbling infrastructure, now finally in the public eye. We should be spending money on metropolitan infrastructure, such as new transit lines or the maintenance and upgrade of existing roads and bridges, because it gives the best return on investment, the most bang for the buck. And yet the federal government sends the overwhelming bulk of national infrastructure funds to states, not metros. Given the vagaries of state politics, state departments of transportation in turn tend to scant metro investments in favor of building brand-new roads in far-flung places. Money that could be fueling the metro economic engine ends up widening a rural highway.
Full report (.pdf) here.
Via.
A very good point:
While America is more metropolitan than ever, the nation’s policies and structures rarely match economic reality. As a nation, we remain fixed in old arrangements, established decades ago and kept in place by bureaucratic inertia and entrenched political interests. Such a misunderstanding of contemporary urban structures inevitably leads to bad public policy decisions. Take as an example the nation’s crumbling infrastructure, now finally in the public eye. We should be spending money on metropolitan infrastructure, such as new transit lines or the maintenance and upgrade of existing roads and bridges, because it gives the best return on investment, the most bang for the buck. And yet the federal government sends the overwhelming bulk of national infrastructure funds to states, not metros. Given the vagaries of state politics, state departments of transportation in turn tend to scant metro investments in favor of building brand-new roads in far-flung places. Money that could be fueling the metro economic engine ends up widening a rural highway.
Full report (.pdf) here.
Via.
Straight From the "Just Doesn't Get It" Folder
You'd think that the governor of a State where a huge swath of school districts are known as the "Corridor of Shame" for good reason would rather humbly and graciously accept funds earmarked for education.
Nope.
I swear, within the GOP there's a perfect storm of stupidity these says.
You'd think that the governor of a State where a huge swath of school districts are known as the "Corridor of Shame" for good reason would rather humbly and graciously accept funds earmarked for education.
Nope.
I swear, within the GOP there's a perfect storm of stupidity these says.
Fleischer on Bush: "He Kept Us Safe"
Really?
Amazing--in addition to airbrushing out the Anthrax attacks, they're doing their level best (with ample assistance from the press corpse) to stuff deep inside the closet the one event that qualifies as both a do-over for 9/11 AND a dress rehearsal for, god forbid, another terrorist attack, namely the 2005 New Orleans Flood...which proved, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the Bush administration's testosterone overdosed rhetoric was so much hot air hiding their actual puniness when it came to dealing with a genuine crisis.
It's a shame that I doubt eternal damnation and hellfire exists...because if anyone deserves a front row seat in Satan's lair, it's Ari Fleischer.
Really?
Amazing--in addition to airbrushing out the Anthrax attacks, they're doing their level best (with ample assistance from the press corpse) to stuff deep inside the closet the one event that qualifies as both a do-over for 9/11 AND a dress rehearsal for, god forbid, another terrorist attack, namely the 2005 New Orleans Flood...which proved, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the Bush administration's testosterone overdosed rhetoric was so much hot air hiding their actual puniness when it came to dealing with a genuine crisis.
It's a shame that I doubt eternal damnation and hellfire exists...because if anyone deserves a front row seat in Satan's lair, it's Ari Fleischer.
Nice going:
Former Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign didn't do enough to protect donors' confidential information, and Wednesday that lapse came home to roost as more than 4,700 partial credit card numbers were posted on the Internet.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Secret Ballot Overload
Sandwiches...or sandwich combo?
I'd love it if someone on the progressive side of EFCA would demonstrate the absurdity of the secret ballot absolutists by insisting that every element of the segment, from who speaks in what order, to topics of discussion, and so on, be preceded by secret ballot.
Look, I'm not averse to the principle--and the EFCA doesn't abandon secret ballots. But it does offer a choice.
And sometimes secret ballots are, to be honest, a little much. For instance, I doubt anyone insists on deciding dinner plans by plebiscite...though I could be wrong...
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Sandwiches...or sandwich combo?
I'd love it if someone on the progressive side of EFCA would demonstrate the absurdity of the secret ballot absolutists by insisting that every element of the segment, from who speaks in what order, to topics of discussion, and so on, be preceded by secret ballot.
Look, I'm not averse to the principle--and the EFCA doesn't abandon secret ballots. But it does offer a choice.
And sometimes secret ballots are, to be honest, a little much. For instance, I doubt anyone insists on deciding dinner plans by plebiscite...though I could be wrong...
Highway Robbery--Literally
In the not-so-good-old-days there were sundown towns. Today you can draw a rough equivalence with what I guess could be called drive-by towns. Imagine--local police horribly abuse property seizure laws to line their wallets and pad their budgets, at the expense of mostly black or latino drivers just passing through:
TENAHA -- A two-decade-old state law that grants authorities the power to seize property used in crimes is wielded by some agencies against people who never are charged with -- much less convicted of -- criminal activity.
Law enforcement authorities in this East Texas town of 1,000 people seized property from at least 140 motorists between 2006 and 2008, and, to date, filed criminal charges against fewer than half, according to a review of court documents by the San Antonio Express-News.
Virtually anything of value was up for grabs: cash, cell phones, personal jewelry, a pair of sneakers, and often, the very car that was being driven through town.
Some affidavits filed by officers relied on the presence of seemingly innocuous property as the only evidence that a crime had occurred.
Linda Dorman, an Akron, Ohio, great-grandmother had $4,000 in cash taken from her by local authorities when she was stopped while driving through town after visiting Houston in April 2007. Court records make no mention that anything illegal was found in her van. She’s still hoping for the return of what she calls "her life savings."
Dorman’s attorney, David Guillory, calls the roadside stops and seizures in Tenaha “highway piracy,” undertaken by a couple of law enforcement officers whose agencies get to keep most of what was seized.
Guillory is suing officials in Tenaha and Shelby County on behalf of Dorman and nine other clients whose property was confiscated. All were African-Americans driving either rentals or vehicles with out-of-state plates.
Guillory alleges in the lawsuit that while his clients were detained, they were presented with an ultimatum: waive your rights to your property in exchange for a promise to be released and not be criminally charged.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
In the not-so-good-old-days there were sundown towns. Today you can draw a rough equivalence with what I guess could be called drive-by towns. Imagine--local police horribly abuse property seizure laws to line their wallets and pad their budgets, at the expense of mostly black or latino drivers just passing through:
TENAHA -- A two-decade-old state law that grants authorities the power to seize property used in crimes is wielded by some agencies against people who never are charged with -- much less convicted of -- criminal activity.
Law enforcement authorities in this East Texas town of 1,000 people seized property from at least 140 motorists between 2006 and 2008, and, to date, filed criminal charges against fewer than half, according to a review of court documents by the San Antonio Express-News.
Virtually anything of value was up for grabs: cash, cell phones, personal jewelry, a pair of sneakers, and often, the very car that was being driven through town.
Some affidavits filed by officers relied on the presence of seemingly innocuous property as the only evidence that a crime had occurred.
Linda Dorman, an Akron, Ohio, great-grandmother had $4,000 in cash taken from her by local authorities when she was stopped while driving through town after visiting Houston in April 2007. Court records make no mention that anything illegal was found in her van. She’s still hoping for the return of what she calls "her life savings."
Dorman’s attorney, David Guillory, calls the roadside stops and seizures in Tenaha “highway piracy,” undertaken by a couple of law enforcement officers whose agencies get to keep most of what was seized.
Guillory is suing officials in Tenaha and Shelby County on behalf of Dorman and nine other clients whose property was confiscated. All were African-Americans driving either rentals or vehicles with out-of-state plates.
Guillory alleges in the lawsuit that while his clients were detained, they were presented with an ultimatum: waive your rights to your property in exchange for a promise to be released and not be criminally charged.
So, Senator, Will Your Hissy Fit Be First Class...or Coach?
Seems that Diaper Dave got his panties all in a knot at Dulles Airport the other day.
By the way, in the picture Dave's in one of the Dulles Airport People Movers that run between separate terminals. They're one of the most bizarre vehicles I've ever ridden in, even without a diaper-clad US Senator.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Seems that Diaper Dave got his panties all in a knot at Dulles Airport the other day.
By the way, in the picture Dave's in one of the Dulles Airport People Movers that run between separate terminals. They're one of the most bizarre vehicles I've ever ridden in, even without a diaper-clad US Senator.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
This One Might Be A Little Too Easy
Citibank is advising Iraq. What else can you say, except maybe, "Mission Accomplished"?
Citibank is advising Iraq. What else can you say, except maybe, "Mission Accomplished"?
Playing (Dumb) in Traffic
I'm not sure what's worse--the pig ignorant religious wackos screeching about teh gay...or the folks slowing traffic to a crawl while they rubberneck the signage:
Three members of a Mississippi church held signs above Interstate 10 during rush-hour this morning protesting homosexuality.
The signs caused traffic on I-10 West to slow to a crawl at times as drivers looked up at the signs...
The sign protest was held on a catwalk above the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 between the College Drive and the South Acadian Thruway exits.
I'm not sure what's worse--the pig ignorant religious wackos screeching about teh gay...or the folks slowing traffic to a crawl while they rubberneck the signage:
Three members of a Mississippi church held signs above Interstate 10 during rush-hour this morning protesting homosexuality.
The signs caused traffic on I-10 West to slow to a crawl at times as drivers looked up at the signs...
The sign protest was held on a catwalk above the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 between the College Drive and the South Acadian Thruway exits.
One Stooge Does the Work of Three
Rush gouges his own eyes. I guess that's an example of private market efficiency--what once took three can now be done by one.
Speaking of Lamebone...
Rush gouges his own eyes. I guess that's an example of private market efficiency--what once took three can now be done by one.
Speaking of Lamebone...
Monday, March 09, 2009
I Shrug Back at Atlas
Of course, they won't actually go John Galt...sigh. But it'd be a hell of a lot less annoying if they did.
Of course, they won't actually go John Galt...sigh. But it'd be a hell of a lot less annoying if they did.
Taking the Sewer Rat Approach to Political Strategy
Meet Patrick McHenry, who'd never let other people's misery get in the way of political opportunism.
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| From 2Millionth Web Log |
Meet Patrick McHenry, who'd never let other people's misery get in the way of political opportunism.
Down the Memory Hole
Call it lying, call it stupidity, but the intellectual dishonesty of this generation of wingnut is truly epic. A perfect storm of stupid.
Call it lying, call it stupidity, but the intellectual dishonesty of this generation of wingnut is truly epic. A perfect storm of stupid.
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