Malta: $5.49 billion
Madagascar: $5.37 billion
Cambodia: $5.34 billion
Spending on Fall 2008 U.S. Elections: $5.3 billion
Burkina Faso: $5.24 billion
Mali: $5.12 billion
Nicaragua: $4.97 billion
Bahamas: $4.92 billion
[from Ken Silverstein]
22 October 2008
The Cost of Democracy
08 October 2008
So a hacker broke into Sarah Palin's email account, and exposed the fact that (as Governor) she subverted the Open Records Act by using private email accounts to conduct public business.
From Harper's:
The prosecutors in this case owe us some explanations. And they should start by disclosing who at the Justice Department concluded that a bigger manhunt should be launched against a University of Tennessee computer hacker out to embarrass a Republican political candidate than the Bush Administration sent out after Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora. At a minimum we’re looking at some seriously twisted priorities.
From Harper's:
The prosecutors in this case owe us some explanations. And they should start by disclosing who at the Justice Department concluded that a bigger manhunt should be launched against a University of Tennessee computer hacker out to embarrass a Republican political candidate than the Bush Administration sent out after Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora. At a minimum we’re looking at some seriously twisted priorities.
05 October 2008
02 October 2008
Maine Senator Watch
I was recently (somewhat) excited to see that Snowe and Collins are (according to the National Review) the most liberal Republican Senators in Washington.
On the other hand, they did both just vote for the lame-ass bailout bill. Which is a lot of our F-ing money to be spending (on shite securities) without any real idea of what the hell is going on. $700 million could save a hell of a lot of Americans from bankruptcy and foreclosure.
[Obama and McCain also voted for this bill. Both are clueless.]
On the other hand, they did both just vote for the lame-ass bailout bill. Which is a lot of our F-ing money to be spending (on shite securities) without any real idea of what the hell is going on. $700 million could save a hell of a lot of Americans from bankruptcy and foreclosure.
[Obama and McCain also voted for this bill. Both are clueless.]
30 September 2008
I Can't Wait
So I did finally get my act together and start doing a little bit of looking around at this Sarah Palin character. Now she's what I call dumb. Tragically so. Inarticulate. Unprepared. Useless.
In fact, pretty much all you need to know is right here in the interview that Katie Couric did on CBS.
Still not sure if you feel comfortable with her being the number two in Washington? Have a go at the second half of the interview.
I almost can't wait for the vice presidential debate, which I believe is Thursday. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of another Dan Quayle type moment.
In fact, pretty much all you need to know is right here in the interview that Katie Couric did on CBS.
Still not sure if you feel comfortable with her being the number two in Washington? Have a go at the second half of the interview.
I almost can't wait for the vice presidential debate, which I believe is Thursday. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of another Dan Quayle type moment.
26 September 2008
14 March 2008
11 March 2008
Jefferson on Power
"I wish that all nations may recover and retain their independence; that those which are overgrown may not advance beyond safe measures of power, that a salutary balance may be ever maintained among nations, and that our peace, commerce, and friendship, may be sought and cultivated by all. It is our business to manufacture for ourselves whatever we can, to keep our markets open for what we can spare or want; and the less we have to do with the amities or enmities of Europe, the better. Not in our day, but at no distant one, we may shake a rod over the heads of all, which may make the stoutest of them tremble. But I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power, the greater it will be.
–Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Leiper, June 12, 1815, in: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson (Memorial ed.), vol. 14, p. 308 (Jefferson anticipates the doctrine of soft power)
–Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Leiper, June 12, 1815, in: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson (Memorial ed.), vol. 14, p. 308 (Jefferson anticipates the doctrine of soft power)
08 March 2008
01 March 2008
Why I'm Voting for Nader
[Cross posted from The F Show]
Obama has been a senator for, what, not even 4 years? And apparently he learns fast (from the rest of the degenerates in Washington.)
This story is just more evidence.
I have the audacity to hope that it's not true.
Obama has been a senator for, what, not even 4 years? And apparently he learns fast (from the rest of the degenerates in Washington.)
This story is just more evidence.
I have the audacity to hope that it's not true.
12 October 2007
06 May 2007
12 April 2007
11 April 2007
Imus' Explosion
Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.
I'm glad that racism and bigotry are a big deal. They should be. But I also know what every 5th grader in the country knows. See above. Then get over it.
I'm glad that racism and bigotry are a big deal. They should be. But I also know what every 5th grader in the country knows. See above. Then get over it.
09 March 2007
I Love TV Again
No, I still don't have a TV. But I did come by a DVD of The Office [Season 1] and I'm pretty hooked. I'm sure i'm 3 seasons behind, no idea how long it's been on the tele, but for once I'm actually psyched to get another DVD.
Other things I've seen recently:
Other things I've seen recently:
- Control Room - Story of Al Jazeera during the early Iraq war, evidence of the "different sources, different truths" doctrine. Lead PR spin guy from the military has since quit his job and taken a job with Al Jazeera. [**** 4 stars]
- Out Foxed - Who knew, Fox News is neither fair nor balanced? Documentary of how insidious they really are. Nothing new, but good for the masses. [*** 3 stars]
- V For Vendetta - Took me a while to see this one, but it's pretty solid. Definite 1984-type rip of the possible future, but some alarming strings tied to the present. [*** 3 stars]
- The Departed - Interesting. Not sure if it's as good as everyone else seems to think, but certainly well-worth the watch. Kate Blanchett is hot in this movie, as opposed to scary as shit (ie. Lord of the Rings) Not a big fan of the plot twist at the end that seems a little to easy. [**** 4 stars]
- Van Wilder II: The Rise of Taj - I won't even consider this piece of monkey dung. I haven't seen it, I won't see it, why did they make it? National Lampoon is sliding downhill. John Belushi is crying. But at least he's drunk.
05 March 2007
Read What I Read?
Since I don't have anything clever to say, I will just plug my new feature. If you're ever curious about what sort of drivel I'm reading on the Internets, just look to the top pane to the right.
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The Goose and Danielle have another little one on the way, keeping up with the Goodwins, as it were.
Speaking of, congratulations to Goody and Amy for their Molly. And then there were four.
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The Goose and Danielle have another little one on the way, keeping up with the Goodwins, as it were.
Speaking of, congratulations to Goody and Amy for their Molly. And then there were four.
23 February 2007
The Goods on CFLs
The Goods on CFLs
(get it?)
Goody asks a good question:
"Johnson, make 10 Million dollars, and buy everyone in America 1 of these lightbulbs. It would reduce emissions by 800,000 tons/year.
But on the downside, there is a small amount of mercury in these bulbs. How do we dispose of them?"
I would love to make 10 million for this purpose. Or just to keep my lazy ass from having to work all that much anymore. But here's my skinny on the deal...it's a great question.
A deposit on them which is refundable when they are recycled? Don't think it would work well but it would be better than not. As with many things, doing the "right thing" is the answer (why pollute the environment by throwing them away when you can take them to be recycled?) Recycling the little devils is really pretty easy.
If you're buying, buy Phillips (and maybe GE?) because they have less Hg per bulb than others, less than 2mg each.
I also read somewhere that even with Hg in the bulbs, you save more Hg contamination from NOT burning coal for electricity (vs. incandescent bulbs).
Oh, and while we're at it, there is quite a lot (relatively speaking) of mercury in cars. There are trace amounts in many switches, but there are a lot of switches in your car. What do we do with cars these days? In Maine we drive them out back and let them rust into the ground. We don't even take them to the junkyard, which at least moves all the pollution to someone else's land...
(get it?)
Goody asks a good question:
"Johnson, make 10 Million dollars, and buy everyone in America 1 of these lightbulbs. It would reduce emissions by 800,000 tons/year.
But on the downside, there is a small amount of mercury in these bulbs. How do we dispose of them?"
I would love to make 10 million for this purpose. Or just to keep my lazy ass from having to work all that much anymore. But here's my skinny on the deal...it's a great question.
A deposit on them which is refundable when they are recycled? Don't think it would work well but it would be better than not. As with many things, doing the "right thing" is the answer (why pollute the environment by throwing them away when you can take them to be recycled?) Recycling the little devils is really pretty easy.
If you're buying, buy Phillips (and maybe GE?) because they have less Hg per bulb than others, less than 2mg each.
I also read somewhere that even with Hg in the bulbs, you save more Hg contamination from NOT burning coal for electricity (vs. incandescent bulbs).
Oh, and while we're at it, there is quite a lot (relatively speaking) of mercury in cars. There are trace amounts in many switches, but there are a lot of switches in your car. What do we do with cars these days? In Maine we drive them out back and let them rust into the ground. We don't even take them to the junkyard, which at least moves all the pollution to someone else's land...
22 February 2007
What Can Washington Learn From Corporate America?
What Can Washington Learn From Corporate America?
To answer this question, you need only look here to see what JetBlue did after it fucked over its passengers for a week. They issued an apology. I don't even think they're bullshitting, any more than anyone would in such an instance. At least in as much as it effects their bottom line, I think that JetBlue is genuinely sorry that they blew it. (When it comes to corporations, what more can you ask them to be genuine about?)
How about just a little accountability in the halls of power? It's not too much to ask. Even now I would relish the release of such a statement by FEMA regarding the Katrina debacle. Plagiarize the damn thing, change a couple of words and you've got it. Would it be so bad for the government to own up to its failures? And, more importantly, where does that patent denial stem from? Is it a reflection of the populace as a whole? Are we, as a people, unable to own up to our wrongs, our transgressions, our fuck shows? Does this tie together with the culture of blame in this country, the reliance on tort and lawsuit to assign culpability (anyone but me) to all events?
How about just a little accountability in the halls of power? It's not too much to ask. Even now I would relish the release of such a statement by FEMA regarding the Katrina debacle. Plagiarize the damn thing, change a couple of words and you've got it. Would it be so bad for the government to own up to its failures? And, more importantly, where does that patent denial stem from? Is it a reflection of the populace as a whole? Are we, as a people, unable to own up to our wrongs, our transgressions, our fuck shows? Does this tie together with the culture of blame in this country, the reliance on tort and lawsuit to assign culpability (anyone but me) to all events?
Is this genetic defect in the country's collective DNA responsible for both a $2.9 million McDonald's coffee lawsuit and a generalized inability to take responsibility for action? Did we, as a nation, learn this from our government? How would our grandfathers, and our grandfather's government, deal with these same issues?
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