This in from Erik yesterday: Palin Says She Considers Herself Intellectual
Also in the news, this rather heartbreaking (and totally unfair - how was it unethical to promote his daughter's book when no one was profiting from it, I ask you?) story: A Brooklyn Librarian Is Fined For Promoting Daughter's Book
And this, the tale of a growing new genre in the literary world: Urban Fiction Makes Its Way From Streets to Libraries
Then there was this fun little article about a new book I want to read called The City’s End: Two Centuries of Fantasies, Fears and Premonitions of New York’s Destruction. Because I've been kind of fascinated with my city's demise for awhile now. Clearly I'm not remotely the only one.
Who woulda thunk it? Turns out, my employer is one of those mysterious anti-American entities we've all been hearing so much about recently!
But my employer is also one of the highest-ranked schools in the country (as far as going green at least) according to The College Sustainability Report Card. Alas, my beloved alma mater is not.
Surprise, surprise: the New York Times today officially endorsed Obama
Not to get anyone's hopes up too much, but give this video about McCain & Palin's 'negative intensity' a watch.
And last, McCain's love for Pennsylvania knows no bounds. I do almost feel sorry for the man, given the utter exhaustion anyone on the trail this long must be feeling (let alone someone of his rather advanced years) and the realization that he's running his campaign into the ground.
Well, really for last, and for a laugh, from the Onion: John McCain Accidentally Left On Campaign Bus Overnight
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
absurdity
Grand Jury Clears Texan in the Killing of 2 Burglars
Just so I get this straight. The Supreme Court recently found that the death penalty can only be enacted against murderers -- no other crime, not even one as heinous as child rape. But in Texas, it's okay to shoot people in the back if you happen to see them robbing someone else's house, even while a 911 operator is begging you not to shoot and police are on the way.
I know we all theoretically have the right to life, liberty, and property, but I hadn't realized before that we have the right to kill over one person's property at the expense of another person's life. That's a new one.
Just so I get this straight. The Supreme Court recently found that the death penalty can only be enacted against murderers -- no other crime, not even one as heinous as child rape. But in Texas, it's okay to shoot people in the back if you happen to see them robbing someone else's house, even while a 911 operator is begging you not to shoot and police are on the way.
I know we all theoretically have the right to life, liberty, and property, but I hadn't realized before that we have the right to kill over one person's property at the expense of another person's life. That's a new one.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
midweek round-up
All sorts of happenings this week, from the sublime to the ridiculous and all the way on to the heartbreaking.
First, our own dear Governor Patterson recently climbed up a notch on my politicians-who-don't-always-suck totem pole with his recent directive to all New York State agencies to prepare for fully recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Of course there's the ever present anxiety and fear that the Republicans might challenge said directive, but I'm not sure what the challenge would be. Back in February a State Appellate Court ruled that NY has to recognize gay marriages from other states or countries, so Patterson's move is merely upholding a judicial ruling. Though I'm sure State Senator Bruno & his senate followers will find something to complain about.
Next up, Naomi Campbell just can't seem to stop getting into physical altercations with people. Now, as you can probably imagine, I'm not generally one to follow the fashion industry, or fashion at all, for that matter. But when a high-end celebrity supermodel can't seem to stop acting like a spoiled brat, I can't seem to stop being fascinated. Get it together, Naomi, or go back to kindergarten.
Also in the realm of the ridiculous, the Chinese premier debuted on Facebook earlier this week! How hip and youthful of him!
It seems the good people at the Times have a preoccupation with Portland, Oregon these days. They're not the only ones.
And here, one of the best headlines ever: Nude Man Accused in 10th-Floor Balcony Break-In
And here, an argument for stepdad Paul about the environmental benefits of urban living. My carbon footprint's smaller than yours! So there!
Robert Darnton, renowned historian and director of the Harvard University Library, and author of the fascinating Great Cat Massacre: and other episodes in French cultural history (the title story available, and well worth reading, online here) has an interesting piece in the current New York Review of Books called (and here my geekdom shows through yet again) The Library in the New Age.
Finally, and on a more serious note, U.S Withdraws Fulbright Grants to Gaza, meaning we are canceling scholarships to Palestinian students to come study in the United States because the Israeli government might not permit them to leave the Gaza Strip. Which seems like an incredibly bad PR move, not to mention a just plain unfair situation. The Fulbright Program is an amazing thing, offering not only the opportunity for American students to study abroad (my father in 1978, for example, thus our year in Germany), but also the opportunity for foreign students to come study here in America (Abdulrahman Abdullah, Hamas opponent, 30 years old, wants to earn an MBA, for example). Or, in its own words, the Fulbright program "was established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress to enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries." Doesn't this seem like something that would be to everyone's benefit to encourage in the ongoing powder keg that is the Middle East? I understand the U.S. government's problem --- money, being the bottom line, wasted on students who might not be able to partake in the program. I'm not sure what the Israeli government's problem is.
First, our own dear Governor Patterson recently climbed up a notch on my politicians-who-don't-always-suck totem pole with his recent directive to all New York State agencies to prepare for fully recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Of course there's the ever present anxiety and fear that the Republicans might challenge said directive, but I'm not sure what the challenge would be. Back in February a State Appellate Court ruled that NY has to recognize gay marriages from other states or countries, so Patterson's move is merely upholding a judicial ruling. Though I'm sure State Senator Bruno & his senate followers will find something to complain about.
Next up, Naomi Campbell just can't seem to stop getting into physical altercations with people. Now, as you can probably imagine, I'm not generally one to follow the fashion industry, or fashion at all, for that matter. But when a high-end celebrity supermodel can't seem to stop acting like a spoiled brat, I can't seem to stop being fascinated. Get it together, Naomi, or go back to kindergarten.
Also in the realm of the ridiculous, the Chinese premier debuted on Facebook earlier this week! How hip and youthful of him!
It seems the good people at the Times have a preoccupation with Portland, Oregon these days. They're not the only ones.
And here, one of the best headlines ever: Nude Man Accused in 10th-Floor Balcony Break-In
And here, an argument for stepdad Paul about the environmental benefits of urban living. My carbon footprint's smaller than yours! So there!
Robert Darnton, renowned historian and director of the Harvard University Library, and author of the fascinating Great Cat Massacre: and other episodes in French cultural history (the title story available, and well worth reading, online here) has an interesting piece in the current New York Review of Books called (and here my geekdom shows through yet again) The Library in the New Age.
Finally, and on a more serious note, U.S Withdraws Fulbright Grants to Gaza, meaning we are canceling scholarships to Palestinian students to come study in the United States because the Israeli government might not permit them to leave the Gaza Strip. Which seems like an incredibly bad PR move, not to mention a just plain unfair situation. The Fulbright Program is an amazing thing, offering not only the opportunity for American students to study abroad (my father in 1978, for example, thus our year in Germany), but also the opportunity for foreign students to come study here in America (Abdulrahman Abdullah, Hamas opponent, 30 years old, wants to earn an MBA, for example). Or, in its own words, the Fulbright program "was established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress to enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries." Doesn't this seem like something that would be to everyone's benefit to encourage in the ongoing powder keg that is the Middle East? I understand the U.S. government's problem --- money, being the bottom line, wasted on students who might not be able to partake in the program. I'm not sure what the Israeli government's problem is.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
a new low (or two)
The Times reports this morning the story of a U.S. soldier forced back to the States from Iraq because he was being threatened by fellow U.S. soldiers for being an atheist. I somehow hadn't realized that being a God-fearing Christian was a prerequisite for serving our country. My bad.
Also in the news, the military is preparing to start it's first war crimes trial of a Guantanamo detainee! It's only taken six years! But it might not happen because the detainee in question, Osama Bin Laden's driver, has apparently been essentially driven mad by his years in confinement at Gitmo.
Guantanamo's defense? Come on! We're not so bad! Only ten percent of our prisoners are mentally ill whereas more than half of the general American prison population can be diagnosed as such.*
Poor military. So close, and yet thwarted (by itself) once again.
*See also this article on the sheer size of our prison population. Doesn't make for a pretty picture, does it?
Also in the news, the military is preparing to start it's first war crimes trial of a Guantanamo detainee! It's only taken six years! But it might not happen because the detainee in question, Osama Bin Laden's driver, has apparently been essentially driven mad by his years in confinement at Gitmo.
Guantanamo's defense? Come on! We're not so bad! Only ten percent of our prisoners are mentally ill whereas more than half of the general American prison population can be diagnosed as such.*
Poor military. So close, and yet thwarted (by itself) once again.
*See also this article on the sheer size of our prison population. Doesn't make for a pretty picture, does it?
Friday, April 04, 2008
81% & other semi-newsworthy tidbits
According to a recent NYTimes/CBS News poll, 81% of Americans believe that the United States is headed in the wrong direction, up from a mere 69% last year and a wispy 35% at the outset of the Iraq War. Just look how far we've come.
Coincidentally enough, 81 is also the number of pages in a memo by the notorious John C. Yoo. This infamous memo, written in early 2003 but just recently made public, is basically a roadmap for the Bush administration to get around various laws prohibiting torture and other legally (not to mention morally) questionable behavior.
In the vein of Henry the Hexapus, I was amused to see yet another article on the octopuses of the world. (Am I the only one to always want to write octopi? I mean, octopuses? It just seems so wrong.)
In from Chris earlier this week, a disturbing tale of dogs gone wild. Quite literally. Can you imagine 30,000 - 200,000 semi-feral dogs wandering the streets of NYC, or any city, for that matter? That's what the residents of Bucharest have to deal with every day, and it's only going to get worse.
Speaking of NYC, welcome to my world - the adventure of weekend subwaying.
And last, algae. When we were kids growing up a block away from Mohegan Lake, we were always grossed out by the algae slowly encroaching on our swimming spot. It smelled bad, it felt slimy, and it was killing the lake. But apparently algae's the wave of the future, renewable-energy wise, at least. And I say all the more power to it.
Coincidentally enough, 81 is also the number of pages in a memo by the notorious John C. Yoo. This infamous memo, written in early 2003 but just recently made public, is basically a roadmap for the Bush administration to get around various laws prohibiting torture and other legally (not to mention morally) questionable behavior.
In the vein of Henry the Hexapus, I was amused to see yet another article on the octopuses of the world. (Am I the only one to always want to write octopi? I mean, octopuses? It just seems so wrong.)
In from Chris earlier this week, a disturbing tale of dogs gone wild. Quite literally. Can you imagine 30,000 - 200,000 semi-feral dogs wandering the streets of NYC, or any city, for that matter? That's what the residents of Bucharest have to deal with every day, and it's only going to get worse.
Speaking of NYC, welcome to my world - the adventure of weekend subwaying.
And last, algae. When we were kids growing up a block away from Mohegan Lake, we were always grossed out by the algae slowly encroaching on our swimming spot. It smelled bad, it felt slimy, and it was killing the lake. But apparently algae's the wave of the future, renewable-energy wise, at least. And I say all the more power to it.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
quote of the day & other miscellanies
"I must say, I'm a little envious. If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed. It must be exciting for you … in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks."
-our illustrious leader, addressing troops currently stationed in Afghanistan
I must say, Georgie darling, that you won't be employed here much longer, that the war will certainly continue beyond your termination date, and that some might argue you have the mental capacity of an adolescent (or, alternatively, a psychopath -- I hear the military's hard up for recruits these days). So go. Act out your romantic fantasies of combat duty since you missed out during Vietnam. Confront danger. Spread democracy. Make history. And, you know, thanks.
On a more domestic note, my beloved alma mater, Barnard, figured prominently in an article recently about the ever expanding horizons of gender. Specifically the place of transmale students at women's colleges. Just don't ask me about my take on this, because I haven't quite figured it out yet myself.
In yet another addition to the chronicles of Texas, a woman threw her children off a bridge the other day, and then jumped. Somehow they all survived.
Last, and I'm not sure which rock I've clearly been living under, but I just recently saw that there's a Broadway musical about my beloved neighborhood! Huh.
-our illustrious leader, addressing troops currently stationed in Afghanistan
I must say, Georgie darling, that you won't be employed here much longer, that the war will certainly continue beyond your termination date, and that some might argue you have the mental capacity of an adolescent (or, alternatively, a psychopath -- I hear the military's hard up for recruits these days). So go. Act out your romantic fantasies of combat duty since you missed out during Vietnam. Confront danger. Spread democracy. Make history. And, you know, thanks.
On a more domestic note, my beloved alma mater, Barnard, figured prominently in an article recently about the ever expanding horizons of gender. Specifically the place of transmale students at women's colleges. Just don't ask me about my take on this, because I haven't quite figured it out yet myself.
In yet another addition to the chronicles of Texas, a woman threw her children off a bridge the other day, and then jumped. Somehow they all survived.
Last, and I'm not sure which rock I've clearly been living under, but I just recently saw that there's a Broadway musical about my beloved neighborhood! Huh.
Monday, February 18, 2008
odds & ends VIII
I know I'm being obtuse, but it continues to rile me that the Environmental Protection Agency, at least in its current incarnation, seems intent on allowing the destruction of as much of the environment as possible before next January. This doublespeak grates on the nerves, to put it mildly. Can't these people just rename themselves the Corporate Protection Agency or the Environmental Destruction Agency and be done with it? Why is honesty such a bad, bad thing? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that, come this time next year, the EPA nomenclature will no longer be a lie.
Speaking of incarnations, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry upon learning that my heroes Harold & Kumar, of White Castle fame, will be making their great escape from Guantanamo Bay this April. This article in today's Times, on the shifting place that Guantanamo holds in popular culture and the world's imagination, was fascinating. It got me thinking about the little I know of my parents' experience being stationed at the Guantanamo naval base back in the early 1970s. It mostly consists of mangoes, officers' dances, flying cockroaches, and gin and tonics, honestly, though that could be mostly my own imagination at play. Then there was the Guantanamo made famous back in 1992 by Tom Cruise and Jack "You Can't Handle The Truth" Nicholson in A Few Good Men. And somehow we've moved all the way through injustice and torture and horror, all the way back around to (hopefully) satirical humor. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this, despite my undying devotion to good old Kumar and Harold.
I was pleased to see, though, that Samantha Power, renowned author of A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide and founder of Harvard's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, is coming out swinging for Obama this election cycle.
And last, my favorite bookstore in the whole wide world was featured this month in BookSense. Should you ever find yourself on beautiful Fidalgo Island, stop by the Watermark Book Company and give Patti a big hug for me.
Speaking of incarnations, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry upon learning that my heroes Harold & Kumar, of White Castle fame, will be making their great escape from Guantanamo Bay this April. This article in today's Times, on the shifting place that Guantanamo holds in popular culture and the world's imagination, was fascinating. It got me thinking about the little I know of my parents' experience being stationed at the Guantanamo naval base back in the early 1970s. It mostly consists of mangoes, officers' dances, flying cockroaches, and gin and tonics, honestly, though that could be mostly my own imagination at play. Then there was the Guantanamo made famous back in 1992 by Tom Cruise and Jack "You Can't Handle The Truth" Nicholson in A Few Good Men. And somehow we've moved all the way through injustice and torture and horror, all the way back around to (hopefully) satirical humor. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this, despite my undying devotion to good old Kumar and Harold.
I was pleased to see, though, that Samantha Power, renowned author of A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide and founder of Harvard's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, is coming out swinging for Obama this election cycle.
And last, my favorite bookstore in the whole wide world was featured this month in BookSense. Should you ever find yourself on beautiful Fidalgo Island, stop by the Watermark Book Company and give Patti a big hug for me.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
weekend roundup
Susan Jacoby, author of Freethinkers, has a new book coming out about the dumbing down of America. You may recall the moment Miss South Carolina earned her fifteen minutes of fame awhile back, but you'll be blown away Kellie Pickler's bright and shining moment on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader if you haven't seen it already. What seems most disturbing to me is not the stupidity, per se, but these girls' utter lack of curiosity about the world in which they live. Kind of reminds me of a certain resident in the White House who can't be bothered to read the newspapers himself because he has people to tell him what they say. And who really enjoyed reading The Stranger a year or two ago. Not that The Stranger isn't an amazing book, but it's a book most of us read when we were fifteen, for Christ's sake.
Mom & Paul joined the insanity that comprises a caucus last weekend out in Washington State and were pleased that the vast majority in their location went on to support Obama. I still can't quite wrap my head around this whole caucus notion, though, and Gail Collin's recent piece describing the process really didn't do much to convince me that it works. At all. Not to mention friend Maia's experience at the Democratic caucus in Anchorage, Alaska last week. Democracy in action, indeed.
A therapist was murdered earlier this week here in Manhattan, on the Upper East Side. I am left with this image of thousands of Manhattanites neurotically obsessing over this with their own therapists in the coming weeks. I got it out of my system on Thursday during my session with Sarah, was reassured that especially at night she always checks the door before buzzing anyone into the suite. But it does make me wonder about the lives of professionals who interact daily with unstable, depressed, needy, sometimes desperate people.
The tale of a Texas mayor 'rustling' a dog made it into the Times this week. I really don't know about Texas. Can we change our minds, let it be its own country after all?
As the CNN lead put it, this is a case that melts in your mouth. Take that as you will.
I posted a rather mocking link about the Saudi Arabian government the other day, and its antipathy towards Valentine's Day. But unfortunately the Saudi government continues to demonstrate its unabated antipathy towards women. Most recently, the story of Fawza Falih's upcoming execution for being a witch is enough to make your blood curdle.
On the homefront, Senator Joe Lieberman declared this week that waterboarding isn't really torture because it's only psychological. And besides, according to Lieberman logic, we're at war, so even if it is torture, which of course it isn't, it would still be okay! I can't believe I voted for this guy, even if only for VP, back in November of 2004. Maybe he should go read this article, an interesting take on the American waterboarding controversy from a British perspective. Or even better, he should absolutely read this piece by Malcolm Nance, a "20-year veteran of the US intelligence community's Combating Terrorism program."
Mom & Paul joined the insanity that comprises a caucus last weekend out in Washington State and were pleased that the vast majority in their location went on to support Obama. I still can't quite wrap my head around this whole caucus notion, though, and Gail Collin's recent piece describing the process really didn't do much to convince me that it works. At all. Not to mention friend Maia's experience at the Democratic caucus in Anchorage, Alaska last week. Democracy in action, indeed.
A therapist was murdered earlier this week here in Manhattan, on the Upper East Side. I am left with this image of thousands of Manhattanites neurotically obsessing over this with their own therapists in the coming weeks. I got it out of my system on Thursday during my session with Sarah, was reassured that especially at night she always checks the door before buzzing anyone into the suite. But it does make me wonder about the lives of professionals who interact daily with unstable, depressed, needy, sometimes desperate people.
The tale of a Texas mayor 'rustling' a dog made it into the Times this week. I really don't know about Texas. Can we change our minds, let it be its own country after all?
As the CNN lead put it, this is a case that melts in your mouth. Take that as you will.
I posted a rather mocking link about the Saudi Arabian government the other day, and its antipathy towards Valentine's Day. But unfortunately the Saudi government continues to demonstrate its unabated antipathy towards women. Most recently, the story of Fawza Falih's upcoming execution for being a witch is enough to make your blood curdle.
On the homefront, Senator Joe Lieberman declared this week that waterboarding isn't really torture because it's only psychological. And besides, according to Lieberman logic, we're at war, so even if it is torture, which of course it isn't, it would still be okay! I can't believe I voted for this guy, even if only for VP, back in November of 2004. Maybe he should go read this article, an interesting take on the American waterboarding controversy from a British perspective. Or even better, he should absolutely read this piece by Malcolm Nance, a "20-year veteran of the US intelligence community's Combating Terrorism program."
Sunday, February 10, 2008
in the news
Voters in Bexar County, Texas, were disappointed to find out that Super Tuesday wasn't so super for them after all.
People tend to mock New Jersey but I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't time to change that tune. New Jersey has become probably the most progressive state in the union these last few years, and that's something to admire.
Given my recent pet situation, and given how torn I'm feeling about getting another cat, I found this article from Salon very comforting. (For all you non-Salon readers out there, just a heads-up that you have to click on "Enter Salon" in the upper right hand corner in order to access Salon articles. No sign-in necessary though!)
Mark Bittman, aka the Minimalist of the New York Times dining page and author of my beloved and well-thumbed How to Cook Everything (now also available in a vegetarian edition!), has joined the blogging epidemic with the brand spanking new Bitten.
Columbia University has a way with attracting interesting students, it seems. I suppose it's commendable that she used identity theft to get an education, at least.
On a more serious note, the heartbreaking and infuriating story of a Guantanamo Bay prisoner who was accused of being a Taliban leader but in fact was an Afghan war hero for resistance against the Soviets back in the 1980s and later against the Taliban itself. Unfortunately our military didn't really go out of its way to figure out his actual identity, and he has since died of cancer in Gitmo.
On a lighter note, and bringing me first to the Northwest, is this story of a leatherback turtle that swam from Indonesia to Oregon!
And then there's the craziness of Washington State politics and the thrilling news that Obama swept all three states yesterday, winning handily in Washington, Nebraska, and Louisiana.
That said, I just read an old editorial by Anna Quindlen (fellow Barnard alumn, I might add), on our political leaders and their superior wives. This was written back in 1992, mind you, but it still holds true today. I mean, much as I like Barack, I think that I'd rather be voting for Michelle.
People tend to mock New Jersey but I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't time to change that tune. New Jersey has become probably the most progressive state in the union these last few years, and that's something to admire.
Given my recent pet situation, and given how torn I'm feeling about getting another cat, I found this article from Salon very comforting. (For all you non-Salon readers out there, just a heads-up that you have to click on "Enter Salon" in the upper right hand corner in order to access Salon articles. No sign-in necessary though!)
Mark Bittman, aka the Minimalist of the New York Times dining page and author of my beloved and well-thumbed How to Cook Everything (now also available in a vegetarian edition!), has joined the blogging epidemic with the brand spanking new Bitten.
Columbia University has a way with attracting interesting students, it seems. I suppose it's commendable that she used identity theft to get an education, at least.
On a more serious note, the heartbreaking and infuriating story of a Guantanamo Bay prisoner who was accused of being a Taliban leader but in fact was an Afghan war hero for resistance against the Soviets back in the 1980s and later against the Taliban itself. Unfortunately our military didn't really go out of its way to figure out his actual identity, and he has since died of cancer in Gitmo.
On a lighter note, and bringing me first to the Northwest, is this story of a leatherback turtle that swam from Indonesia to Oregon!
And then there's the craziness of Washington State politics and the thrilling news that Obama swept all three states yesterday, winning handily in Washington, Nebraska, and Louisiana.
That said, I just read an old editorial by Anna Quindlen (fellow Barnard alumn, I might add), on our political leaders and their superior wives. This was written back in 1992, mind you, but it still holds true today. I mean, much as I like Barack, I think that I'd rather be voting for Michelle.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
catching up
Yesterday marked the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
I thought the rat I saw scurrying around the north end of the subway platform at 125th Street the other day was big, but that little guy didn't have anything on this particular rodent.
This from Erik, who clearly also spends too much time surfing the web.
Shockingly enough, the pharmaceutical industry has been misleading us about the effectiveness of certain antidepressants. I just saw a Law & Order rerun about that very notion last week.
Which brings me to a bit of happier news. Fred Thompson officially withdrew from the presidential race yesterday and I can go back to watching Law & Order reruns without thoughts of the most annoying DA ever being the next leader of the free world.
The great state of Virginia demonstrated its ongoing commitment to guns for everyone last week. I mean really, why shouldn't the mentally ill or the criminally minded have open access to guns?
This from the Onion earlier this week.
The New York Times came out swinging against Giuliani yesterday in this rather disturbing look at a man way to petty and vindictive to be in charge of weapons of mass destruction.
There was an excellent piece in the Times awhile back about an abortion provider by the name of Susan Wicklund, and yesterday Salon ran a short interview with her. I'm very much wanting to read her book.
Somehow, years ago, I ended up on a CNN breaking news email list, or something, and so I get an email or two a day about the latest, greatest, tidbit of information, sometimes actual news, political or otherwise, but more often the latest scandal (O.J. arrested again!). Yesterday's was an announcement that Heath Ledger had been found dead in his apartment. Apparently of a drug overdose. I'm feeling pretty sad about this, more than I would have expected certainly, perhaps due to coming to terms recently with the fact that I actually really liked him.
And that's it. As Hard Harry would say, "I'm done. Stick a fork in me, it's been grand."
I thought the rat I saw scurrying around the north end of the subway platform at 125th Street the other day was big, but that little guy didn't have anything on this particular rodent.
This from Erik, who clearly also spends too much time surfing the web.
Shockingly enough, the pharmaceutical industry has been misleading us about the effectiveness of certain antidepressants. I just saw a Law & Order rerun about that very notion last week.
Which brings me to a bit of happier news. Fred Thompson officially withdrew from the presidential race yesterday and I can go back to watching Law & Order reruns without thoughts of the most annoying DA ever being the next leader of the free world.
The great state of Virginia demonstrated its ongoing commitment to guns for everyone last week. I mean really, why shouldn't the mentally ill or the criminally minded have open access to guns?
This from the Onion earlier this week.
The New York Times came out swinging against Giuliani yesterday in this rather disturbing look at a man way to petty and vindictive to be in charge of weapons of mass destruction.
There was an excellent piece in the Times awhile back about an abortion provider by the name of Susan Wicklund, and yesterday Salon ran a short interview with her. I'm very much wanting to read her book.
Somehow, years ago, I ended up on a CNN breaking news email list, or something, and so I get an email or two a day about the latest, greatest, tidbit of information, sometimes actual news, political or otherwise, but more often the latest scandal (O.J. arrested again!). Yesterday's was an announcement that Heath Ledger had been found dead in his apartment. Apparently of a drug overdose. I'm feeling pretty sad about this, more than I would have expected certainly, perhaps due to coming to terms recently with the fact that I actually really liked him.
And that's it. As Hard Harry would say, "I'm done. Stick a fork in me, it's been grand."
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
in the news
Texans report seeing UFO
Rahm Emmanuel of the US House of Representatives recently gave Bush a light smack
Have I said how much I love Bob Herbert? I love Bob Herbert. That's not to say that I necessarily agree with everything he says, even in this article, but I love that he consistently writes for people who do not or can not write or speak for themselves. He is a moral compass in the newspaper world and I admire him greatly.
Yet another Texan in trouble, this time for inappropriate emails
Pre-emptive funerals are apparently gaining popularity in South Korea
New birthing center to open in Manhattan, which pleases me immensely, having been very disappointed that the Seton one closed several years ago.
Things get confusing when the pharmaceutical industry outruns the medicine it's supposed to be helping
A shout-out here to Maia, in the form of Anchorage in the news, or, when bald eagles go kamikaze
Rahm Emmanuel of the US House of Representatives recently gave Bush a light smack
Have I said how much I love Bob Herbert? I love Bob Herbert. That's not to say that I necessarily agree with everything he says, even in this article, but I love that he consistently writes for people who do not or can not write or speak for themselves. He is a moral compass in the newspaper world and I admire him greatly.
Yet another Texan in trouble, this time for inappropriate emails
Pre-emptive funerals are apparently gaining popularity in South Korea
New birthing center to open in Manhattan, which pleases me immensely, having been very disappointed that the Seton one closed several years ago.
Things get confusing when the pharmaceutical industry outruns the medicine it's supposed to be helping
A shout-out here to Maia, in the form of Anchorage in the news, or, when bald eagles go kamikaze
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
new year ranting
I flew back to NY on the red eye Saturday night, got home early Sunday morning and saw this piece on airport security in the Times. Nate flew back to NY last week and was telling me yesterday of his security (mis)adventures at SeaTac Airport. He got to the front of the security line and suddenly remembered that he still had his half-empty water bottle in his back pack. He pulled it out, showed it to the security personnel, asked if he could just quickly drink it or throw it away. They said no. He had to leave the security checkpoint, find a trash can back in the main terminal, and wait on line again. This is insane. And this doesn't do anything to thwart terrorism, it just pisses people off so much that they're likely to punch someone in the face. I at least had no such hassles, and in fact was offered a free drink on my flight as thanks for switching seats with someone who wanted to be next to his family. Fell asleep almost immediately, though, and missed out on said drink. More than made up for it last night, though.
On the political front, Bloomberg Moves Closer to Running for President. Not sure how I feel about this one yet.
Yesterday, the last day of yet another year, saw yet another scathing, and heartbreaking, take on the Bush administration and the shaming of America.
Then there's Dahlia Lithwick's smackdown of the Bush legal team in yesterday's Slate.
And lastly, a little geeking out. Okay, a lot of geeking out.
Late Library Books Can Take Toll on Credit Scores, about the Queens Public Library System cracking down on recalcitrant library users, and a follow-up op-ed piece condemning this practice. Yes, this kind of stuff interests me. I had a woman come into my library a few years back to take out a book, but it turns out her borrowing privileges had been suspended because she'd exceeded the maximum fine limit of $299 (recently reduced to $99). In fact, she had exceeded the limit by about, oh, $32,000, give or take. And she was furious with me and my coworker for refusing to let her take the book, demanding to know who we thought we were, when her husband could buy our entire measly library! Given that we have about 400,000 volumes in our collections, and one of the most extensive Tibetan manuscript collections in the world, I doubt that he in fact could buy the whole thing. But if he could, then he clearly could pay off her library fines, too. So I'm not overly sympathetic to those complaining about the Queens system's harsh tactics. When you take out library books and do not return them, you have essentially stolen them, and are depriving other people of having access to them. The library should be able to take measures to get its property back. Of course, on the other hand, having your credit history destroyed by an $80 library fine might be a little excessive.
On a more pleasing library note, it turns out that adolescents aren't as stupid as I thought they were! Or at least, they seem to read more than I gave them credit for.
And really lastly, my new crush, librarian extraordinaire David Smith.
On the political front, Bloomberg Moves Closer to Running for President. Not sure how I feel about this one yet.
Yesterday, the last day of yet another year, saw yet another scathing, and heartbreaking, take on the Bush administration and the shaming of America.
Then there's Dahlia Lithwick's smackdown of the Bush legal team in yesterday's Slate.
And lastly, a little geeking out. Okay, a lot of geeking out.
Late Library Books Can Take Toll on Credit Scores, about the Queens Public Library System cracking down on recalcitrant library users, and a follow-up op-ed piece condemning this practice. Yes, this kind of stuff interests me. I had a woman come into my library a few years back to take out a book, but it turns out her borrowing privileges had been suspended because she'd exceeded the maximum fine limit of $299 (recently reduced to $99). In fact, she had exceeded the limit by about, oh, $32,000, give or take. And she was furious with me and my coworker for refusing to let her take the book, demanding to know who we thought we were, when her husband could buy our entire measly library! Given that we have about 400,000 volumes in our collections, and one of the most extensive Tibetan manuscript collections in the world, I doubt that he in fact could buy the whole thing. But if he could, then he clearly could pay off her library fines, too. So I'm not overly sympathetic to those complaining about the Queens system's harsh tactics. When you take out library books and do not return them, you have essentially stolen them, and are depriving other people of having access to them. The library should be able to take measures to get its property back. Of course, on the other hand, having your credit history destroyed by an $80 library fine might be a little excessive.
On a more pleasing library note, it turns out that adolescents aren't as stupid as I thought they were! Or at least, they seem to read more than I gave them credit for.
And really lastly, my new crush, librarian extraordinaire David Smith.
Monday, December 17, 2007
it's official
This morning, Governor Jon Corzine signed a law abolishing the death penalty, bringing the state of New Jersey into alignment with much of the developed world. According to Amnesty International, 133 countries world wide have done away with the death penalty. Also according to Amnesty International, the top five executioners are China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the good old USA. Such impressive company we keep.
In other news, an interesting (yet simple enough for us lay people) take on the recent doings concerning federal sentencing in our judicial system.
And last but not least, the House of Representatives declared Christmas and Christians to be important last week. Really! Check out House Resolution 847 and try not to choke on your drink of choice. Now, I love Christmas. I love candy canes and sparkly lights and silver bells and Santa Claus and giving and getting gifties just as much as the next person. But seriously, don't these people have more important things to waste (I mean spend) their time on? Like the cost of a war, maybe, and the ever increasing national debt, or extreme weather, or teen pregnancy, or something?
In other news, an interesting (yet simple enough for us lay people) take on the recent doings concerning federal sentencing in our judicial system.
And last but not least, the House of Representatives declared Christmas and Christians to be important last week. Really! Check out House Resolution 847 and try not to choke on your drink of choice. Now, I love Christmas. I love candy canes and sparkly lights and silver bells and Santa Claus and giving and getting gifties just as much as the next person. But seriously, don't these people have more important things to waste (I mean spend) their time on? Like the cost of a war, maybe, and the ever increasing national debt, or extreme weather, or teen pregnancy, or something?
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
mid-week news roundup
First, there was that great little article yesterday in Salon about the soon-to-be-released film The Golden Compass, and from a Catholic's perspective, no less.
Here, finally, is an argument supporting global warming that perhaps even the Bushes can understand, being all about the bottom line.
Poor Larry Craig just can't seem to get a break, at least as far as the Idaho Statesman is concerned.
Christine Castillo Comer, the director of science for the Texas Education Agency, was forced to resign recently because she didn't remain neutral enough on evolution. I kid you not. Her crime? Forwarding an email about a lecture being given by a philosophy professor who was an expert witness in the Kitzvmiller vs. Dover Area School District case a few years ago, and who had testified against intelligent design.
I'm sure most people were as relieved as I was yesterday to see that Iran in fact does not have a nuclear weapons strategy at the moment, at least according to the most recent National Intelligence Estimate, which says in part, "Tehran’s decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005. Our assessment that the program probably was halted primarily in response to international pressure suggests Iran may be more vulnerable to influence on the issue than we judged previously."
You'd think that, given the no nukes thing, maybe Bush & Co. would ratchet down their scary WWIII rhetoric. But no. Bush, as we all know by now, is not a man at ease with new ideas. As he so eloquently explained yesterday morning at a press conference, "And so I view this report as a warning signal that they had the [nuclear weapons] program. They halted the program. And the reason why it’s a warning signal is that they could restart it.”
So let me get this straight. Bush has been claiming that the Iranians have nuclear weapons, or are on the verge of having nuclear weapons, and are thus dangerous. Turns out, they not only do not have nuclear weapons, but they haven't really been trying to get them since late 2003, perhaps in response to our invasion of Iraq. But nothing has changed, because Iran could still, some day in the future, again try to get nuclear weapons.
And also, a warning signal, kind of by definition, happens before the thing itself. That's what a warning is. That's even often what a signal is. So this new report cannot be a warning signal that Iran had, in the past, a nuclear weapons program. That's just dumb.
What was it that Stephen Colbert said at the White House Press Dinner a few years back?
"The greatest thing about this man is he's steady. You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change; this man's beliefs never will."
All righty then.
Here, finally, is an argument supporting global warming that perhaps even the Bushes can understand, being all about the bottom line.
Poor Larry Craig just can't seem to get a break, at least as far as the Idaho Statesman is concerned.
Christine Castillo Comer, the director of science for the Texas Education Agency, was forced to resign recently because she didn't remain neutral enough on evolution. I kid you not. Her crime? Forwarding an email about a lecture being given by a philosophy professor who was an expert witness in the Kitzvmiller vs. Dover Area School District case a few years ago, and who had testified against intelligent design.
I'm sure most people were as relieved as I was yesterday to see that Iran in fact does not have a nuclear weapons strategy at the moment, at least according to the most recent National Intelligence Estimate, which says in part, "Tehran’s decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005. Our assessment that the program probably was halted primarily in response to international pressure suggests Iran may be more vulnerable to influence on the issue than we judged previously."
You'd think that, given the no nukes thing, maybe Bush & Co. would ratchet down their scary WWIII rhetoric. But no. Bush, as we all know by now, is not a man at ease with new ideas. As he so eloquently explained yesterday morning at a press conference, "And so I view this report as a warning signal that they had the [nuclear weapons] program. They halted the program. And the reason why it’s a warning signal is that they could restart it.”
So let me get this straight. Bush has been claiming that the Iranians have nuclear weapons, or are on the verge of having nuclear weapons, and are thus dangerous. Turns out, they not only do not have nuclear weapons, but they haven't really been trying to get them since late 2003, perhaps in response to our invasion of Iraq. But nothing has changed, because Iran could still, some day in the future, again try to get nuclear weapons.
And also, a warning signal, kind of by definition, happens before the thing itself. That's what a warning is. That's even often what a signal is. So this new report cannot be a warning signal that Iran had, in the past, a nuclear weapons program. That's just dumb.
What was it that Stephen Colbert said at the White House Press Dinner a few years back?
"The greatest thing about this man is he's steady. You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change; this man's beliefs never will."
All righty then.
Friday, November 30, 2007
in the news
I always knew there was a reason to not use cellphones.
Also, an article by Columbia's own Ray Fisman (I think...) explains why Hillary's screwed even if she does win next November.
Two more reasons to cry over religion:
Boy who refused treatment on religious grounds dies
Calls in Sudan for teacher's execution
I was going to include here a Pope quote explaining that atheism "has led to some of the greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" in human history, but then I actually went and read this article about it, and it sounds worse taken out of context. I still find it pretty remarkable, though, that people would argue that atheism, despite the Stalins of the world, is more cruel than religion. I mean, we've got people all gung-ho about comparing Ahmadinejad (a devout Muslim) to Hitler (raised a Catholic, later used Christian arguments to justify his rabid anti-Semitism), and then we've got the Pope, leader of the church of the Crusades and the Inquisition, saying that lack of religion is the root of all evil.
So here, instead is my quote of the day, Bush waxing poetic about his role in the Mid-East peace talks taking place this week in Maryland:
"I work the phones, I listen, I encourage, I have meetings. I do a lot of things."
After all, he is the great decider.
Also, an article by Columbia's own Ray Fisman (I think...) explains why Hillary's screwed even if she does win next November.
Two more reasons to cry over religion:
Boy who refused treatment on religious grounds dies
Calls in Sudan for teacher's execution
I was going to include here a Pope quote explaining that atheism "has led to some of the greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" in human history, but then I actually went and read this article about it, and it sounds worse taken out of context. I still find it pretty remarkable, though, that people would argue that atheism, despite the Stalins of the world, is more cruel than religion. I mean, we've got people all gung-ho about comparing Ahmadinejad (a devout Muslim) to Hitler (raised a Catholic, later used Christian arguments to justify his rabid anti-Semitism), and then we've got the Pope, leader of the church of the Crusades and the Inquisition, saying that lack of religion is the root of all evil.
So here, instead is my quote of the day, Bush waxing poetic about his role in the Mid-East peace talks taking place this week in Maryland:
"I work the phones, I listen, I encourage, I have meetings. I do a lot of things."
After all, he is the great decider.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
pre-thanksgiving roundup
Let's start with the bad, so at least things will get better.
We all know the military is hard up for cash, but this is ridiculous. Apparently the government is asking soldiers to return part of their signing bonuses if they haven't completed their full tour of duty. The reason they haven't completed their full tour of duty? Missing legs, arms, eyes, and other miscellaneous serious bodily injuries due to . . . serving in the military.
Saudi Arabia once again is proving its commitment to human rights this week (and yes, this is meant facetiously) by condemning a kidnapping/rape victim to 6 months in prison and 200 lashes for the crime of going out in public with a man not related to her.
New Jersey continues on its wobbly way to outlawing the death penalty.
Our dearly beloved president continues to talk like a bumbling idiot, or maybe an intoxicated frat boy.
Lauren has commissioned me to make a shawl for her mother's next birthday, and we spent a lovely half-hour this past Saturday picking out yarn for said shawl. Two sumptuous skeins of Great Adirondack Sirino in Maple Leaf, to be delivered to my apartment. I can't wait until they arrive and I can get started on this project!
I'm not quite sure how I'm feeling about Thanksgiving tomorrow. I've spent the last five Thanksgivings with various permutations of Chris's family, usually at his parents' beautiful apartment on Riverside Drive overlooking the Hudson River. And I miss them. A lot. His parents, I mean, much more so than him at this point. But instead I'll be heading upstate to spend the day with my beloved Arielle, and various permutations of her family, and I'm looking forward to this immensely. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays, perhaps in part due to my fondness for sweet potatoes and pumpkin, but more due to my love for family and friends and warmth and wine and food and feeding these family and friends and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. My contribution to the festivities? A New Zealand pinot noir, a Washington gewurztraminer, roasted rosemary cashews, and black-bottomed cupcakes. And just 'cause I love Ari so very, very much, season four of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Speaking of family, thank you cousin Eric for your very kind comments the other day! I'm glad and flattered that you read this stuff.
Lastly, Bookstore Patti was kind enough to email me about an upcoming event celebrating Philip Levine's 80th birthday. Philip Levine is one of my favorite poets, and I just might have to go home tonight and dig out something of his to post here.
We all know the military is hard up for cash, but this is ridiculous. Apparently the government is asking soldiers to return part of their signing bonuses if they haven't completed their full tour of duty. The reason they haven't completed their full tour of duty? Missing legs, arms, eyes, and other miscellaneous serious bodily injuries due to . . . serving in the military.
Saudi Arabia once again is proving its commitment to human rights this week (and yes, this is meant facetiously) by condemning a kidnapping/rape victim to 6 months in prison and 200 lashes for the crime of going out in public with a man not related to her.
New Jersey continues on its wobbly way to outlawing the death penalty.
Our dearly beloved president continues to talk like a bumbling idiot, or maybe an intoxicated frat boy.
Lauren has commissioned me to make a shawl for her mother's next birthday, and we spent a lovely half-hour this past Saturday picking out yarn for said shawl. Two sumptuous skeins of Great Adirondack Sirino in Maple Leaf, to be delivered to my apartment. I can't wait until they arrive and I can get started on this project!
I'm not quite sure how I'm feeling about Thanksgiving tomorrow. I've spent the last five Thanksgivings with various permutations of Chris's family, usually at his parents' beautiful apartment on Riverside Drive overlooking the Hudson River. And I miss them. A lot. His parents, I mean, much more so than him at this point. But instead I'll be heading upstate to spend the day with my beloved Arielle, and various permutations of her family, and I'm looking forward to this immensely. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays, perhaps in part due to my fondness for sweet potatoes and pumpkin, but more due to my love for family and friends and warmth and wine and food and feeding these family and friends and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. My contribution to the festivities? A New Zealand pinot noir, a Washington gewurztraminer, roasted rosemary cashews, and black-bottomed cupcakes. And just 'cause I love Ari so very, very much, season four of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Speaking of family, thank you cousin Eric for your very kind comments the other day! I'm glad and flattered that you read this stuff.
Lastly, Bookstore Patti was kind enough to email me about an upcoming event celebrating Philip Levine's 80th birthday. Philip Levine is one of my favorite poets, and I just might have to go home tonight and dig out something of his to post here.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
odds & ends VII
My for all intents and purposes brother-in-law, Alec, makes television commercials. Pretty hilarious commercials, actually, at least the couple that I've seen. This is more of a spoof.
New Jersey moves ever closer to banning capital punishment.
I was watching Jerry Maguire on TNT the other day, I am embarrassed to say, and found myself thinking maybe football isn't so bad after all. And then I saw this article. New Jersey, you've still got a long way to go.
Ghosts in the machine. I found this article about a rogue cell phone really upsetting, in a creepy, haunted kind of way.
If you Google budweiser customer guess who's blog you'll find? I'm not quite sure how I feel about this.
A book came out recently called My Last Supper, and is a rather indulgent look at what some of the world's top chefs would want to eat their last night on earth. This kind of grossed me out, though I'm not quite sure why. I'd be interested to know what these chef's favorite foods are, maybe, but the idea of putting together a book around the notion that this is the last meal seems callous to me. This is probably because I've been thinking about the death penalty lately, and remembering an hour or so a few years back that I spent in a Barnes & Noble pouring over Last Suppers. When a book like this can exist in the world, a book like My Last Supper seems almost offensive. But there I go over-thinking things again.
New Jersey moves ever closer to banning capital punishment.
I was watching Jerry Maguire on TNT the other day, I am embarrassed to say, and found myself thinking maybe football isn't so bad after all. And then I saw this article. New Jersey, you've still got a long way to go.
Ghosts in the machine. I found this article about a rogue cell phone really upsetting, in a creepy, haunted kind of way.
If you Google budweiser customer guess who's blog you'll find? I'm not quite sure how I feel about this.
A book came out recently called My Last Supper, and is a rather indulgent look at what some of the world's top chefs would want to eat their last night on earth. This kind of grossed me out, though I'm not quite sure why. I'd be interested to know what these chef's favorite foods are, maybe, but the idea of putting together a book around the notion that this is the last meal seems callous to me. This is probably because I've been thinking about the death penalty lately, and remembering an hour or so a few years back that I spent in a Barnes & Noble pouring over Last Suppers. When a book like this can exist in the world, a book like My Last Supper seems almost offensive. But there I go over-thinking things again.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
maureen does it again
I've said this before and I'll say it again. I really can't stand Maureen Dowd. Today, in the context of the bitch-slapping that Clinton handed down to the boys in Vegas last week, Dowd can't help but sexualize the whole thing. Once again she emasculates the boys (Obambi, Breck Girl) and turns a powerful, intelligent woman into a dominatrix, relying on sex, not intellect, to tame the menfolk. What greater purpose does it serve to dish up Clinton in black leather, whip in hand, or to further infantalize Obama by explaining that his wife is a master of the "conjugal putdown"?
I know that Obama, Edwards, and Clinton all have their faults and shortcomings, but I honestly believe, however stupidly optimistic this may be, that one of them will be the president-elect come this time next year. Or perhaps one of the so-called second-tier Democrats still in the race. But either way, I'm pretty sure that Dowd doesn't want McCain or Giuliani in office any more than the rest of us diehard liberal New Yorkers, what good does it do to discuss politics in this way? Argue policy all you want, argue ethics, argue economics, argue something, anything, real. But why, oh why, write "Mistress Hillary started disciplining her fellow senator last winter." It just makes me cringe.
I know that Obama, Edwards, and Clinton all have their faults and shortcomings, but I honestly believe, however stupidly optimistic this may be, that one of them will be the president-elect come this time next year. Or perhaps one of the so-called second-tier Democrats still in the race. But either way, I'm pretty sure that Dowd doesn't want McCain or Giuliani in office any more than the rest of us diehard liberal New Yorkers, what good does it do to discuss politics in this way? Argue policy all you want, argue ethics, argue economics, argue something, anything, real. But why, oh why, write "Mistress Hillary started disciplining her fellow senator last winter." It just makes me cringe.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
quote of the day and other things to be annoyed about
I use the term "annoyed" loosely here, in that these are also actually kind of entertaining.
First, the White House was recently ordered by a Federal judge to save all of its emails. Apparently the White House was fighting tooth and nail to be able to delete various communications. Scary that our government "of the people, by the people, for the people" has fallen to this level of secrecy.
Second, Joseph Stiglitz, economist extraordinaire, takes on Bush and his abysmal economic record in next month's Vanity Fair, of all places. We're not talking a gentle critique here, either. "In breathtaking disregard for the most basic rules of fiscal propriety, the administration continued to cut taxes even as it undertook expensive new spending programs and embarked on a financially ruinous 'war of choice' in Iraq."
Third, and perhaps an indirect effect of the dissatisfaction caused by the first and the second, Americans Announce They're Dropping Out of Presidential Race
Fourth, I'm really beginning to not like J.K. Rowling. Last summer she threw a hissy fit because the New York Times reviewed her book before its release date, thus apparently ruining the lives of millions of the world's children. Then she saw fit to out Dumbledore. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Dumbledore's gay. But I also find it kind of sad that the most powerful gay man in literature has been celibate for the vast majority of his life, ever since his first lover went over to the dark side. And now, she's just being petty. Not to mention frighteningly controlling in her idea of what creativity means, and how people enjoy and share it. I had a Narnia encyclopedia-type compendium as a child, and I can't quite picture C.S. Lewis gnashing his teeth in frustration at the idea of children enjoying it along with the Chronicles themselves. So what's Rowling's problem, exactly, with the Harry Potter Lexicon? I mean, other than that this guy has way too much time on his hands.
And last but not least, Representative Tancredo's wife had to get in on the presidential race recently. When asked what her key issues might be as First Lady, she explained that she feels "very strongly that child safety, whether it be physical safety in the school or protection from other predators such as those on the Internet, are vital to the well-being of our children."
Let me write that one more time, with just a little editing. Child safety are vital to the well-being of our children.
Indeed.
This coming from the wife of the man who thinks we should threaten to preemptively blow up Mecca and Medina because, you know, all Muslims are dangerous Muslims. This is one couple we certainly do not want occupying the White House come January of 2009.
First, the White House was recently ordered by a Federal judge to save all of its emails. Apparently the White House was fighting tooth and nail to be able to delete various communications. Scary that our government "of the people, by the people, for the people" has fallen to this level of secrecy.
Second, Joseph Stiglitz, economist extraordinaire, takes on Bush and his abysmal economic record in next month's Vanity Fair, of all places. We're not talking a gentle critique here, either. "In breathtaking disregard for the most basic rules of fiscal propriety, the administration continued to cut taxes even as it undertook expensive new spending programs and embarked on a financially ruinous 'war of choice' in Iraq."
Third, and perhaps an indirect effect of the dissatisfaction caused by the first and the second, Americans Announce They're Dropping Out of Presidential Race
Fourth, I'm really beginning to not like J.K. Rowling. Last summer she threw a hissy fit because the New York Times reviewed her book before its release date, thus apparently ruining the lives of millions of the world's children. Then she saw fit to out Dumbledore. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Dumbledore's gay. But I also find it kind of sad that the most powerful gay man in literature has been celibate for the vast majority of his life, ever since his first lover went over to the dark side. And now, she's just being petty. Not to mention frighteningly controlling in her idea of what creativity means, and how people enjoy and share it. I had a Narnia encyclopedia-type compendium as a child, and I can't quite picture C.S. Lewis gnashing his teeth in frustration at the idea of children enjoying it along with the Chronicles themselves. So what's Rowling's problem, exactly, with the Harry Potter Lexicon? I mean, other than that this guy has way too much time on his hands.
And last but not least, Representative Tancredo's wife had to get in on the presidential race recently. When asked what her key issues might be as First Lady, she explained that she feels "very strongly that child safety, whether it be physical safety in the school or protection from other predators such as those on the Internet, are vital to the well-being of our children."
Let me write that one more time, with just a little editing. Child safety are vital to the well-being of our children.
Indeed.
This coming from the wife of the man who thinks we should threaten to preemptively blow up Mecca and Medina because, you know, all Muslims are dangerous Muslims. This is one couple we certainly do not want occupying the White House come January of 2009.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
decadence run amok
For the man who has everything, what's next? A private $300 million jumbo deluxe airplane, that's what.
When I first saw this headline, I thought it was Prince, as in Purple Rain Prince, not Saudi oil baron Prince. I was relieved to see that it was not, and that I was wrong. Purple Rain Prince is surely decadent in his way, but not in a "You could single-handedly end the world's poverty in one fell swoop, but no, you go and buy a plane with a built-in movie theater" kind of way. This guy has shares in everything from Citigroup to Apple to PepsiCola, to the tune of a total worth of about $20 billion (and he's only the 13th richest person in the world, the poor dear). Makes me feel guilty about owning an iPod, damn it.
When I first saw this headline, I thought it was Prince, as in Purple Rain Prince, not Saudi oil baron Prince. I was relieved to see that it was not, and that I was wrong. Purple Rain Prince is surely decadent in his way, but not in a "You could single-handedly end the world's poverty in one fell swoop, but no, you go and buy a plane with a built-in movie theater" kind of way. This guy has shares in everything from Citigroup to Apple to PepsiCola, to the tune of a total worth of about $20 billion (and he's only the 13th richest person in the world, the poor dear). Makes me feel guilty about owning an iPod, damn it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
