Basil the Killer Sheep

10-11-05-- Humor, Find the Brownie, Miers

2005-10-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

Busy Busy Busy! One wonders where the time goes. The answer--homework. To quote my younger brother---blarg.

Humor
The internet is a random, random place.

25 More Reasons to laugh: stupid quotations from hurricane Katrina aftermath:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/currentevents/a/katrinaquotes.htm

A Complete History of the Codpiece
http://www.r3.org/life/articles/codpiece.html

Frnech Fries: At a vending machine near you...
http://www.patatachef.com/patatachef.html

Politcal Pictures of Amusing Calibre.
http://derenegade.blogspot.com/

Find the Brownie
Come play with us. What exactly are the qualifications of the men and women who are ruling over us?

Krugman's Original Article (that the New York Times attempts to shield but fails)
http://atcloserange.blogspot.com/2005_09_25_atcloserange_archive.html#112775288069184366

Blog devotees
http://findthebrownie.squarespace.com/

Articles:

"Hackocracy" (The New Republic)
http://liberaltopia.org/?p=3460

"Send in the Cronies" (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/World/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4427031

Bush Nominates Miers Out of Left Field
Because Snuppy the Puppy has more opinions in print.

Columns:
http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-opcoc114464543oct11,0,762326.column?coll=ny-news-columnists
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/47/news-dubose.php
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1011/p09s01-codc.html
http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/0000000CADA5.htm
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007354

Actual Writing:

Harriet Miers promotes the administration: (I love how she refers to compliments as questions, reminds me of a Bush town hall meeting...)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20041029.html

Samples put together by Time:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1112940,00.html

Profiles:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/03/AR2005100300305.html
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/005630.php

Fake Miers' Blog (heh)
http://harrietmiers.blogspot.com/

"Cynical silence is the plan. Miers was meant as the ultimate black box, an empty vessel into which Senate Democrats would peer and find nothing around which to mount a serious battle. But the Republican right has looked into this container and found it so bereft of information that many conservatives flame with rage. What was supposed to be a brilliant ploy against the political opposition has turned out to be too cute by half."
-Marie Cocco

"[H]er paper trail is shorter than your average celebrity marriage."
-Dante Chinni

9/16/05 -- Fire in their Bellies, Utah Thunder

2005-09-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

The Columnists Are Getting Cranky
Nothing like the end of a slow Summer to bring out a bit of interesting punditry. The past few days have been impressively vitriolic. School's almost starting, by the way, so that means that I'll be on a less random posting schedule.

I am less than a month away from being twenty-two. I find the thought strangely unprovocative.

Roberts' Nomination:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/opinion/15brooks.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists
David Brooks gets nasty, even on the Republicans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/13/opinion/13tierney.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists
John Tierney mocks the hearings as pointless. Still, one does miss Safire.
http://www.uexpress.com/anncoulter/?uc_full_date=20050914
Ann Coulter doesn't much like the New York Times.

Hurricane Katrina
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/14/opinion/14dowd.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists
Maureen Dowd gets a little graphic about the deaths of the elderly in New Orleans. Coincidentally, I met a person this weekend with whom she regularly corripsonds with. Small world.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/15/AR2005091502355.html
Donna Britt discusses the "trendy" poor.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/12/opinion/12herbert.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists
Bob Herbert looks at personal stories, some of which are pretty heart-wrenching.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/13/AR2005091302372.html
Steven Pearlstein examines economics in the wake of Katrina. And insults Barbara Bush.

Turning Utah into More of a Dump (kidding)
I grew up in Utah and it's a beautiful state full of beautiful people (well, some of them, at any rate.) The nuclear waste waiting for Yucca now might be dumped in Utah. The New York Times endorses it, probably everyone else on the East Coast too. "Wow! Dump it in Utah! Sounds like a great idea!"

Here's an idea: you reaped the benefits of nuclear power, dump it on your own land. Int he NYtimes editorial on the subject, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/16/opinion/16fri2.html the newspaper stresses the temporary nature of the project. I'm not the first to cry BULLSHIT! Once it's placed somewhere, will anyone take it off the hands of Utahns? No way. It's the inebriated elephant that everyone's longing to avoid. The New York Times also stresses how Utah should allow a private citizen's deal, being that they're all Republicans. So, what, now you guys are conservatives? Now you guys think we should allow a bunch of impoverished Native Americans to accept a deadly, dangerous package and place it within 50 miles of the state capital? Environmental racism is what we call it in the debate community. Republican does not, contrary to some people's opinions, mean stupid. It's not our problem if you guys have messed up your own area and want to stick your waste somewhere else. Go bury it in the Hamptons and leave my people the hell out of it.

As you might guess, I'm not even going to pretend to be unbiased. The same people who would decry dumping nuclear waste in Africa are perfectly happy to bury it in Utah's backyard, and the contempt that many Utahns feel for Easterners leaks out in many, many columns. Perhaps they don't understand our sensitivity, after all, they've forgotten the generations of people still dying of leukimia from unneccessary nuclear tests on Nevadan soil. Never again will we let there be another family of downwinders, the inevitable result of a surface storage facility protected by little more than a chain-link fence.

Various Attacks on the Utah Solution. The last one accuses Americans of treating "the Rocky Mountain area is a giant toilet for their lethal trash." As always, some are higher quality than others. The first article is the most in-depth and provides the best overview, I think, both on the politics and the poverty of the region.
http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1223/article12097.asp
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,605155261,00.html
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3016885
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20050914/OPINION/109140062
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_3016060
http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=63352
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0507/S00346.htm
http://www.newutah.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=64058
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600122761,00.html

Other Utah-Nuclear News
Uranium Mining on Navejo land
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,605155073,00.html
Timeline on Nuclear Standoff
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3019264
Transportation Worries.
http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/yucca/st_george.html
Documentary Links on Skull Valley
http://www.kued.org/skullvalley/controversy/
Discussion of Goshute Economic Situation
http://www.swans.com/library/art9/gsmith07.html

Unfortunately, Utah and Nevada are probably going to be in competition with each other over who has to take the waste, instead of joining together and fighting both. Even if they did join together, let's face it: not the most politically powerful state, Utah. Maybe if a bunch of Democrats move in, it'll have a little more sway, but until then the state is just going to have to rely on itself for political salvation. The legislators are quite clever, I'm sure they'll come up with something to keep the ball going for another ten or twenty years.

Meanwhile, if a nuclear train comes into my house, I'll be the first one to lay down on the tracks and try and send it back where it came from.

9/9/05 -- Hurricane Katrina: The race/poverty nexis

2005-09-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

Vacation. It can make a girl lazy. I was in the air when Katrina hit, then safely ensconced in the news bubble of my parents’ suburban apartment. Now I feel free to quote one of my younger brothers about the Katrina catastrophe. “Being poor sucks.”

So many university students don’t understand how grateful they should be for the chances they have. Too many people don’t stretch themselves when it comes to the socioeconomic. God knows that I have the tendency, sometimes, to treat the poor like lepers, afraid to touch them for fear of getting some disease (never mind the reluctance spawned from the TWO middle-aged homeless men who have tried to put their arms around my shoulders and asked to be my date. Single, yes. Desperate, never). I try to reform myself, but usually that contents itself to randomly shoving ten dollars into the hands of some teenage, druggie waif once a year. (I gave fifteen to a blonde, scraggly woman who reminded me of my mother. She gave me a hug and cried on my shoulder, and all the ungrateful part of me could think was how much she needed a bath.)

The same, inner revulsion and fear that WE could end up just like THEM if we have a bad turn of luck has been projected onto the macro level in New Orleans. We have tried to find everyone to blame. Honestly, if I knew who to blame for poverty, I’d have won a Nobel prize. It’s a cocktail that no one seems to be able to cure or decipher.

I did find some articles of interest on the issues of race and poverty in the aftermath of Katrina, however.

The Washington Post sums up current feelings about race and poverty (check the Craig’s List personal at the end. You can’t make this stuff up).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/09/09/BL2005090900567.html?sub=AR

Here's a...um…a frank column blaming black people for black deaths. Includes a complaint that back people talk like Jar-Jar Binks. (An infuriating read to be sure and a reminder about there being crazy people on both sides.) While Dean gets absurb criticism for saying that race could be a factor, idiots like these are spreading messages of overgeneralized hate.
http://www.commonconservative.com/adkins/adkins090105.shtml

To be tangential, I found an ad on one of these websites advertising conservative t-shirts that I hope no reasonable conservative will be found wearing. Don’t take the conservative name in blame, you right-wing extremists. (It took me a moment to find a word that wasn’t obscene.)
http://www.cafepress.com/rightwingstuff/133383

And now for something completely different...a column about media reactions. My favorite phrase of the day comes from it. "Far from being reassuring, the sinister-looking Homeland Secuity czar Michael Chertoff possessed the mediocre hauteur of a dinner theater Voldemort." Pure column-y goodness.
http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/42/on-powers.php

Nicholas Kristof’s thought-provoking NYT Column About Poverty is below. Note the infant-death rate statistics. Those always frighten me.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/06/opinion/06kristof.html?incamp=article_popular

Finally, one of the tragic, snapshot fiascos of whoever is managing things down there (and granted, it must be a tough job, and mistakes are bound to happen) Hyatt Hotel guests are given priority to starving Superdome garbage-dwellers. In related news, in another article, I read that the toilets were so choked up these people regularly went to the bathroom in cardboard boxes. Talk about sanitary.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1125721982187540.xml&coll=1

I presume by now the whole world has seen the Kaynes West clip accusing Bush of not caring about black people. If not, you should find it. Just to see the regular newscaster’s horror at someone going off teleprompter. I have faith that y’all can google it yourselves.

Beware of dinner theater Voldemorts!

8/9/05 -- Jennings, Attack of the Clones, Siege at Crawford

2005-08-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

An Era Dies
I seldom a watched Peter Jennings, but having him gone is like a kick in the stomach. All those newscasters, the heroes of my youth, seem somehow immortal. The world is now a bleaker place.

Everyone (see picture at left) is shocked and saddened by his passing. Even Mr. Snooch The Evil Man.

Some People Jennings interviewed (including two former Presidents) remember him:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/080905_nw_jennings_update.html
An article praising Jennings for his documentary on the nuclear bombing of Japan: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001011694
ABC News' Biography: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=126542

Snuppy the Clone
He's not a Stormtrooper, but the cute, fuzzy dog is only the beginning. Considering how many unwanted pets die, cloning a much beloved pet seems a little...ammoral. I also worry about too much genetic similarity making it too easy for diseases to spread, etc., but I guess the expense of the cloning process puts Franken-dogs a long way into the future.

Editorials about Snuppy
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/3298809
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/opinion/12333330.htm
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5546029.html

Next: Clones of Bill Frist
http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s4i8826

More Clone Humor:
http://www.theonion.com/wdyt/index.php?issue=4132
http://www.thecoffeeplace.com/Jokes/aaaaabpk.html

" If my clone had a sex change operation could I legally marry her? After all, she'd have an irresistible dry wit."

Waiting for G.W.
Cindy Sheehan has been protesting against the war in Iraq for awhile. Personally, usually I find political protesting to not necessarily be the most constructive way to move society, but you have to admire this woman's determination (and media savvy, call me a cynic.)

http://nytimes.com/2005/08/09/opinion/09tue1.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/06/AR2005080600679.html?sub=AR

Interview: (pro-left website)
http://www.buzzflash.com/interviews/04/10/int04050.html

Articles/Speeches by Ms. Sheehan
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/38/9839
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00280.htm
http://www.lewrockwell.com/sheehan/sheehan10.html

Her Webpage
http://www.angelfire.com/sk3/spkhntrca/Casey.html

It'll hit the fan if the media gets to see her hauled away in handcuffs, I think, all over CNN...
http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/08/41976.php

8/3/04-- Disneyland, Fun with sociology, Fahd Dies

2005-08-03T17:36:00.000-07:00

You hate that it's funny but it kind of is...

Disneyland is accident-prone. You hate to see people getting hurt, but there's an appealing kind of irony to the whole thing, I'm sorry to say.
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=15800309&method=full&siteid=106694&headline=15-hurt-in-disneyland-roller-coaster-crash--name_page.html

Disney's fireworks may be also be dangerous. Environmentalist are rallying against the happiest place on Earth.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GH04Ak02.html

And if you mistype Disneyland, you might make something really happy, if it's not your childlike sense of wonder...
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=99380&section=News

You always suspected but need a study to prove it...
Was the Iraq war caused by testosterone? Apparently, men who are told they are feminine are more likely to modify their opinions in support the Iraq war. Interesting.
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Aug05/soc.gender.dea.html

Random liberal author confirms writes an essay talking about how Iraq and masculinity are interlinked. Mostly, he talks about the sexualization of war. The only thing I don't find sexy is cantelope mold, call that what you may.
http://www.eurowrc.org/06.contributions/1.contrib_en/52_contrib.en.htm

Sociologists are full of other information. For example, increases in threat level are linked to increases in Bush's popularity.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041004193120.htm

Saudi Arabia
Overall, King Fahd seemed like a good guy. Not a perfect guy, but a good one. For a monarch.

Here's a BBC timeline. The poor man's history of Saudi Arabia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/820515.stm

Interesting profile of King Faud from the perspective of a U.S. ambassador
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=67955&amp;d=4&m=8&y=2005

A website about King Faud. Propagantastic!
http://www.kingfahdbinabdulaziz.com/

Of course, I do think the whole not allowing anybody but Muslim men into the funeral is odd. To quote the WSJ Best of the Web: "King Fahd has a proud legacy. He helped lead his country into the seventh century."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050803/ap_on_re_mi_ea/king_fahd

7/30/005 -- Republican Humor, North Korea, Energy Bill

2005-07-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

Yadda, yadda. Papers. Life. I lack time.

Campus Taboos: Republicans
I've been thinking about sneaking into the college Republican meetings just out of curiousity. I'd like to know how "the other side lives" and what draws them to become campus pariahs, to stand around on sidewalks hoisting giant, yellow flip-flops instead of doing what most of us cynics do and ignoring everything except for the occaisional snide remark.

http://www.yaleherald.com/article.php?Article=3461
I like this article talking about the pure, underepresented class. Having been in several classes that devolve into screaming matched between the fifty hippies and the one Bushy, I am tired of hearing lectures on tolerance from those who can't even listen to a list of reasons why the war on Iraq might have been justified without spitting fire. There was a lost of frustration over Jon Stewart's recent interview with Rick Santorum, though I liked it. I thought Jon Stewart managed to show a lot of respect to a person whom he disagreed with. There are some fights you will never win, and not much point in winning them even so since Stewart's crowd ain't exactly leaning to the right. If we could discuss our views with more rationality, maybe we could get along better.

Still, I can't help being amused by Repblican hate. Futile gestures of resistance against the dominating power.
http://www.cafepress.com/shop/humor/browse/Ntt-Sex_Ntk-All_N-10040_pv-shittoshinola.25820079_D-Sex_Ne-10036_bt-1
http://www.lifeisajoke.com/politics31_html.htm
http://web.infoave.net/~dennmac/reich-wing/antigoptaglines.html

"Why do republicans wear earmuffs?
To avoid the draft."

Heh. Puns.

North Korea Policy Shift
Rove isn't the only one in this adminsitration who knows a little something about twisting words.

Bilateral (dictionary.com): Affecting or undertaken by two sides equally; binding on both parties.

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan (way to find a backbone, press). http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050728-3.html

Q Scott, the U.S. has now had three lengthy bilateral meetings in China with the North Koreans. Are you now having direct talks with the North Koreans?

MR. McCLELLAN: I wouldn't say "now." Let me back up and remind you that we have met with the North Korean delegation and other delegations within the context of the six-party talks. It is something we have done in each of the round of talks. So I would disagree with you saying "now." North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a concern of all nations in the region. That is why the President pursued a multilateral diplomatic approach. And in terms of the bilateral discussions that are going on, those are discussions that relate to the modalities of the talks, and it's a way for us, also, to understand North Korea's position and for us to explain our views, as well. But we have had, previously, bilateral discussions with other delegations within the context of the six-party talks --

Q Oh, come on.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- and this is happening within the context of the six-party talks.

What I think it's important to keep in mind, and this might be what Helen is grumbling about, is that -- (laughter.)

Q You have rejected time and time again.

MR. McCLELLAN: We have -- we have no intention of negotiating any bilateral agreement with North Korea. That approach was tried and it failed. North Korea, I will remind you, violated the '94 agreed framework.

Q What do you see in this joint statement that the two sides, or the six sides are working on?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think I'll let the Assistant Secretary Chris Hill talk about it. We want to see progress made toward the goal of a denuclearized peninsula. He's been talking about it. This is something that is going to be a deliberative, methodical process. It's going to take time, as Chris Hill said earlier today. There's a lot of work to do. But we are committed to making progress, and we think the other parties are committed to making progress in this round of talks. And we'll just have to see as the talks continue. But they continue at this point.

Q Since the first time, now, you've had three separate meetings where the North Koreans and Americans have met together alone, in private.

MR. McCLELLAN: We've had meetings with all the delegations.

Q It's the first -- pardon?

MR. McCLELLAN: We've had meetings with all of the delegations.

Q I know, but this is not -- it's not comparable. North Korea is the issue, and we have met privately with them. But we've always said we weren't going to. Why do you keep rejecting the whole idea that there's a possibility for rapprochement? There are negotiations going on, obviously. We have heard their side now, and we are telling them what we think, and so forth.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the place to negotiate is in the context of the six-party talks and with all parties at the table. All parties that are involved in this share the concern. All of us want to see a nuclear-free peninsula, and that's why the President --

Q I'm asking you a specific question. The two sides are getting together privately. Why don't you admit that?

MR. McCLELLAN: I just said it.

Q No, you only say it within -- you're so afraid --

MR. McCLELLAN: Did I not just say that? I think I did.

Q There's always a -- you're afraid to say there's been a change --

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, David. Have a question?

Q -- that's what you're afraid to say.

MR. McCLELLAN: There has been change. We're pursuing this in a multilateral format with all six parties in it, but not in terms of negotiations.

Q They just go together -- (laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not going to get the last word in here....

Anyone remember the Presidential debates? (http://www.debates.org/pages/trans2004a.html)

"The minute we have bilateral talks, the six-party talks will unwind." - George W. Bush.

Interview from the Newshour: (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/july-dec05/rice_7-28.html)

"...we've always talked to the North Koreans within the context of the six-party talks, one-on-one, if necessary in bilaterals...We're going to concentrate on the policy goal here and the policy goal is that within a six-party framework -- in other words not as a bilateral agreement between the United States and North Korea..." -Condoleeza Rice.

The distinction between talking in bilaterals in context of the sixty-party talks and bilateral talks in the context of bilateral talk is that, in one, the other parties will be involved in the deal. To put more pressure on North Korea. Either way, I think talking's a good start, even if they adminstration's dancing around what it means to be "bilateral."

New Republic Article Supporting Bilateral Talks (from 2003):
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1295/is_3_67/ai_99818429

Energy Bill
No one was going to be completely fond of this bill, but I think most of it's a travesty, side-stepping any real progress or help in favor of throwing money at corporate donors.

Editorials:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/30/new_energy_bill_doesnt_do_enough/
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/3288530
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=51035

Environmental Groups' Responses:
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2005/7/emw267521.htm
http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=1033

Fun Quote:

"...what people object to in these kinds of bills is they pick winners and losers among industries, but this time they solved that problem by making everybody a winner. Everybody gets a subsidy. The only people who lose are taxpayers. It seems to me that if there's been a crisis of not subsidizing enough energy producers and corporate America, well that crisis is now fully solved."
-Ramesh Ponnuru (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/political_wrap/july-dec05/sp_7-29.html)

7/21/05 -- London, Yuan, Bananas

2005-07-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

Bombings in London
Again with the explosions. Thank goodness no one was killed this time.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/22/news/london.php

Unfortunately, every nation in the world is susceptible to death and there's nothing we're going to able to do to make things 100% safe, but on the home front, the least we could do is minimize the harm. The best way to do that is to not give funds in equal amounts to all states, but instead look at risk management. People have been complaining about the governmnent's foolishness over defending Colorado and California with equal amounts of cash forever, but politicians seem more interested in pork than in protection. I know Oregon would probably get less money if the system was changed, but I still think there's got to be a better division of funds.

Homeland Funding article from a year ago
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/22/homesec.tm/

Recent funding editorial
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/opinion/opinionspecial/14thu1.html

China Finally Changes its Currency
I didn't think it would, but China has given in to world demands to change the yuan. Not float it, but its a step a step closer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/21/business/worldbusiness/21cnd-china.html?ei=5094&en=e12a13cb678ded22&hp=&ex=1122004800&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1121988351-b2TuzJUKFoLKDZ9K+JpBlg

Forbes' Breakdown
http://www.forbes.com/business/2005/07/21/china-yuan-dollar-cx_pm_0721chinayuan.html

Christian Science Monitor's Analysis
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0526/p02s01-usfp.html

If you're not into economics, like I am, one must ask: why does it matter? What's the effect? Well, my guess is very little, in the short term. In the long term, hopefully reducing trade surplus and possibly decreasing outsourcing, that sort of thing. As long as China kept devalueing its currency, pegging it to the U.S. dollar, U.S. goods would find it difficult to compete without protectionist policies, which might have colaesced sooner or later (though I doubt it. We need China more than they need us.) It might also result in less dependence on Asian countries as they release their strangehold on our currency in their banks, something that has left the U.S. in a tricky position.

Proposed China/U.S. tarriffs article:
http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10002319.shtml

Greenspan says the effect will be minimal:
http://www.forbes.com/facesinthenews/2005/05/20/0520autofacescan07.html

China and U.S. t-bills (treasury-bills):
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Markets/GG06Ag04.html

Not all people think changing China's currency will have benefits for U.S. businesses. The Globalist worries about dollar dumping, though the gradual action the Chinese government is taking will probably not have the predicted catastrophic effect.
http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=4539

Bananas!
If you missed the all "bananas are going to go extinct" fury back in '03, you won't be getting the odd feeling of deja vu I feel upon learning that farmers are killing their ability to produce bananas. What fruit will be next?
http://allafrica.com/stories/200507061088.html

All you ever wanted to know about bananas going extinct, and then some.
http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/bananas.asp

Ten Years Ago: July 21, 1995
The Cardinal Kung Foundation (devoted to underground Chinese Catholics) released a press release stating that 30,000 underground Catholics observed a "supernatural celestial phenomenon." Apparently, the Holy Mother appeared in the changing colors of the sun to her followers.
http://www.cardinalkungfoundation.org/press/950721.htm

Ironically enough, that day was also the day when celestial bodies moved to form a "not a total earth-water" star of David. Whatever that means.
http://www.maryshea.com/1995.html

7/20/05 -- Roberts

2005-07-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

Been wrapped up in a police investigation (not for anything I did) so I've been too busy to post. But, quickly.

Roberts & Rove
Bush made a shrewd political move with his choice. I think he'll please most conservatives without generating enough public outcry to embarrass him. The white house needs a win right now, and unless Roberts does something or did something incredibly bad in the past, he'll probably be a shoe-in. Some of the more liberal Democrats are going to protest and I'm already getting interest-group emails telling me Roberts is evil, but unless Dems can delay for a year and a half and do it in such a way that they don't lose the midterm elections, he's probably what we can expect. I'm surprised Roberts wasn't crying like a baby with joy. If I was nominated to even the appeals court, I would have gone through ten or fifteen kleenix. David Brooks made an interesting comment on Newshour with Jim Lehrer yesterday that I agree with. While Bush was certainly looking for some political points, Brooks think that Bush chose his nominee based on his finding "a kindred spirit." I think that's true. One of Bush's best qualities is that he does have a lot of loyalty to his friends (sometimes more than is justified, Tenet, Rumsfield, etc.) but I think that, while politics never left his mind, the decision must have been profoundly personal. He talked with someone he thought he liked. I think he would have supported someone he liked even if the nominee would rip Washington apart with its teeth.

You've got to admire the Bush administration's method of handling this. A lot of people are saying Bush chose so quickly to save Karl Rove, but I don't think Bush would make a decision so important so quickly to save his top advisor and himself from more embarrassment, especially considering that I still think Rove is smart enough to avoid doing anything technically illegal. Still, Fitzgerald better find something. I hate to see journalists go to jail for what turns out to be a case that he can't prosecute. It's almost better, I think, that the media is distracted for awhile anyway. Everyone was probably on the verge of being burned out about hearing it. This way, if anything really important comes up after the hoopla has settled, it'll seem fresh and interesting. If nothing new comes up, Democrats can never mention it again except at rallies without losing face or political capital for looking somewhat petty. I also think that the Rove story probably wouldn't have occupied the media long even if Bush had waited to nominate Roberts. The London bombings, Condi's trip to Israel, the Patriot Act renewal, and the neverending death march in Iraq are a lot to contend with even in a 24-hour newscycle. Still, if Bush's Brain was right about Karl Rove being part of the leak, maybe I'm not giving the far left fringe of the media enough credit. The biggest effect on me personally will be the acceptance that not all of them are crackpots.

The really brilliant timing I'd say comes from the early nomination. Not only did Bush supporters throw out the wrong name, diverting interest groups so that their campaign was wrong-footed from the start, but also chosing a nighttime venue when congress was not in session. Also, the public will be so sick of talking about Roberts that by the time the actual congressional hearings come around, people won't pay as close attention as they might otherwise. I think everyone, in the end, will want the vote to come quickly so they can get on with their lives. Especially any Democrats eyeing a run in 2008. Trying to court the liberals for the primary and the money but the moderates for the election is going to be a little difficult., like Waltzing along a razor's edge.

The New Republic has some interesting theories on how Robert's nomination will effect Bush's base groups and his reasons for choosing someone less conservative than expected. http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w050718&s=lizza072005

Of course, no one can go as crazy as other bloggers when it comes to speaking. You can find an opinion or link to just about any topic having to do with Roberts at http://www.sctnomination.com/blog/

The same people have some excellent excerpts and summaries rulings Roberts has been involved in (as few as they are). http://www.sctnomination.com/blog/archives/2005/07/selected_opinio.html

Some of the more interesting cases include dismissing a case against former U.S. P.O.W.s from the gulf war against Iraq (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/dc/035232a.pdf), the dissent against hearing an E.P.A. en banc because the endangered species act might violate the commerce clause (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=dc&navby=case&no=015373B) and one that has something to do with a girl arrested for eating French Fries on a subway (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/20/AR2005072001257.html). Ah, the American legal system.

Of course the print media has something to say.

The Washington Post is in favor: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/19/AR2005071902035.html

The New York Times demands close scrutiny: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/20/opinion/20wed1.html?hp&oref=login

Excerpts from other newspaper editorials: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000981711 I especially like the Boston Globe. "As for the inevitable whining from some Senate Democrats, well, there's that inconvenient fact that Bush did win the election."

7/11/05 -- Courthouse News

2005-07-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

The Lower Courts Make Headlines
I found a cute little site that sums up a lot of important, little cases that you never get to hear about but that are interesting anyway, if you're a law-freak like me. I like the headlines:

"Teen Has Tort Claim for Loss of Virginity"
"Dog Case Ruled Unfit for Federal Court"
"Pasta War Ends in 'Puffery' Finding"

Sigh.
That's all for today. I have a quiz to study for and two papers to write. Legal stuff. I'm pretending to sue the conservative Oregon paper on campus for libel and justifying my cases more than necessary.

7/8/05 -- 7/7 Mourning

2005-07-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

To the City of London.
William Dunbar (written in Old English)

Soveraign of cities, semeliest in sight,
Of high renoun, riches, and royaltie;
Of lordis, barons, and many goodly knyght;
Of most delectable lusty ladies bright;
Of famous prelatis in habitis clericall;
Of merchauntis full of substaunce and myght:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.
Gladdith anon, thou lusty Troy Novaunt,
Citie that some tyme cleped was New Troy,
In all the erth, imperiall as thou stant,
Pryncesse of townes, of pleasure, and of joy,
A richer restith under no Christen roy;
For manly power, with craftis naturall,
Fourmeth none fairer sith the flode of Noy:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.
Gemme of all joy, jasper of jocunditie,
Most myghty carbuncle of vertue and valour;
Strong Troy in vigour and in strenuytie;
Of royall cities rose and geraflour;
Empresse of town{.e}s, exalt in honour;
In beawtie beryng the crone imperiall;
Swete paradise precelling in pleasure:
London, thow art the floure of Cities all.
Above all ryvers thy Ryver hath renowne,
Whose beryall stremys, pleasaunt and preclare,
Under thy lusty wallys renneth down,
Where many a swanne doth swymme with wyngis fare;
Where many a barge doth saile, and row with are,
Where many a ship doth rest with toppe-royall.
O! towne of townes, patrone and not-compare:
London, thou art the floure of Cities all.
Upon thy lusty Brigge of pylers white
Been merchauntis full royall to behold;
Upon thy stretis goth many a semely knyght
In velvet gownes and cheyn{.e}s of fyne gold.
By Julyus Cesar thy Tour founded of old
May be the hous of Mars victoryall,
Whos artillary with tonge may not be told:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.
Strong be thy wallis that about the standis;
Wise be the people that within the dwellis;
Fresh is thy ryver with his lusty strandis;
Blith be thy chirches, wele sownyng be thy bellis;
Riche be thy merchauntis in substaunce that excellis;
Fair be thy wives, right lovesom, white and small;
Clere be thy virgyns, lusty under kellis:
London, thow art the flour of Cities all.
Thy famous Maire, by pryncely governaunce,
With swerd of justice the rulith prudently.
No Lord of Parys, Venyce, or Floraunce
In dignytie or honoure goeth to hym nye.
He is exampler, lood{.e}-ster, and guye;
Principall patrone and roose orygynalle,
Above all Maires as maister moost worthy:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

7/07/05 -- Speculation, Earth Day, Energy Policy

2005-07-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

More Supreme Court Speculation
Maybe President Bush is as sick of Pat Robertson dictating what is right or wrong as the rest of us. He called for less aggression against Gonzales, it's nice to see him defending a friend and nice to see him criticizing both sides for their battlefield mentality. I think everyone's jumping the gun a little. Can't we save the smear campaign until after he's chosen his nominee? My guess is that he's going to close his eyes and pick someone with little or no record, just so that the screaming inside his office will stop.

I think the spectacle to come will deter Supreme Court Justices from stepping down until they are literally drooling at the hearings.

The New York Times and Washington Post, respectively, wade into the gauntlet for some analysis. So much for a politically independent judiciary. The Washington Post focusses on the Gonzales question. PBS is at the bottom, consulting senate judiciary members. The award for understatement of the week goes to committee chair Arlen Specter, who notes: " ...it's understandable that Americans would be concerned about who her replacement should be."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/politics/politicsspecial1/03groups.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/06/AR2005070602320.html?sub=AR
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/congress/july-dec05/scotus_7-6.html

Or Bush could save us all a lot of time and trouble and just annoint Judge Judy. (I'm not advocating this, for all you sarcasm-challenged types.)
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/325877p-278366c.html

Founder of Earth Day Dies over the Weekend
In Eugene, OR, environmentalism has an appeal that Christianity might elsewhere. Surprisingly, the campus community (perhaps because there is no community during the summer) isn't in mourning. He didn't even get a mention in the campus newspaper.

Still, his influence is certainly deserving of note. He helped bring environmentalism to the forefront of the national mind (if only for a moment) and because of him and others, industrial projects have to take note of enviornmental damage (example--Alaska) . I know the environment is something that only hippies are supposed to care about, but I'd certainly prefer if my children weren't born with lung cancer in an oil-soaked neighborhood. Or underwater, for that matter.

Luckily, others did remember him. CNN did a very nice profile.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/03/obit.nelson.ap/

Speaking of the environment [cough, cough, obvious transition], the G8 are still stumped on global warming. I don't care whether Bush believes the science or not, we could spend millions of dollars pursuing research that still ends with a question mark. If he doesn't believe in it now, then he never will. BUT even if sea levels aren't rising, it would be nice if we stopped throwing noxious gasses up into the air, or try to reduce it. I guess the only question is of approach. The Kyoto treaty may have liberals swearing on it like the book of God, but it's still just a piece of paper. Even the ratifiers of the treaty continue to smear our air with smog.

An interview, again from PBS, shows the advantages and flaws of Kyoto. I question the conservatives' hope that all we need to do is invent a magic technology and all these petty energy problems will just disappear, but it's certainly a good thing to try.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/july-dec05/climate2_7-5.html

China makes fun of the U.S. for its poor environmental record. I find it somewhat amusing that every other country likes to slam on the U.S. whenever possible. We're not a rolemodel, we're a country, and the other nations shouldn't use our flaws to justify their own. Still, China puts out so much pollution I'd be more than happ to see a shift. The question is, can China put its money where its mouth is?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/07/06/MNG6UDJJL01.DTL

Energy Policy
Speaking of emmissions, the senate's energy bill passed. I'm looking forward to seeing what gets chopped in committee. I bet nobody's going to be happy and, as soon as this court thing is finished, we're in for yet another epic dogfight. The Senate and House will probably pass whatever comes out, but I bet it's going to be a close thing.
http://www.rednova.com/news/science/161703/headed_to_conference_committee_energy_spendingbill_clears_senate/

7/02/05 -- Sandra Day O'Connor

2005-07-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a shocker. I was home for the day, studying, so I didn't hear about her retirement announcement until now. If you want my opinion, I'm guessing that this means that Rehnquist will try and hold on a season.

I think Sandra Day O'Connor might be remembered among liberals as "not as bad as she could have been" but that's a poor summation of how great this woman was. We may not always have agreed on the law or the ways in which she justified the law, but I respect her not only for the challenges she went through but also because of the way she always seemed to approach things with an open mind. Perhaps too open... you could throw her in a field and have no clue where she was going to land... but I think that willingness to think about an issue rather than come to table predecided is one of the best traits of any person.

She was a Spectacular Woman
I remember the first time I ever saw O'Connor speak was on C-SPAN. She talked about how she had to have people put in a women's bathroom because before, there wasn't one.

While her bios are many, this seems to be one of the most extensive
http://www.supremecourthistory.org/myweb/justice/o'connor.htm

Swinging Sandra has been pivotal in a number of votes. Some of the opinions (pre-1998) that Sandra Day O'Connor has written. http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/justices/oconnor.dec.html

Some excerpts of her key opinions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/politics/politicsspecial1/01court-opinions.html

ACLU's list of her recent pivotal votes
http://www.aclu.org/court/court.cfm?ID=18623&c=286

A nice interivew with her
http://www.cardozo.net/life/summer2000/interview/

Speculation
It's a sad day for Democrats and civil libertarians when Alberto Gonzales looks like the best hope. Personally, I think President Bush's sagging poll ratings (dubbed "self-inflicted" by one broadcaster) would be helped tremedously if he had the courage to propose a moderate candidate (preferrably female). However, I think it would be best for the Republican party to start a fight because then the money would be coming in, the base would be happy, etc. So, the question is: does Bush want to deal with this quickly and with grace so he can get through the rest of his agenda in Congress easily, or does Bush want money and a legacy and is willing to forget his agenda in the coming brawl?

My guess is, after his stubborness on stem-cells, that he's going to dig in his heels and we're going to have one terrific fight. I watched his press release where he asked for a dignified process. My snort was certainly less than dignified. I don't think that's even possible.

So who's it going to be? Speculating is probably just as pointless as speculated who's going to run in 2008, but ain't it fun?

USA Today's Usual Suspects:

"Lower court judges who have been on the White House's radar as potential nominees include Michael Luttig and J. Harvie Wilkinson, both based in Virginia, on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit; Emilio Garza and Edith Jones, both in Texas and on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit; John Roberts, of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; and Samuel Alito, based in New Jersey on the U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit."

CNN has a nice internal link inside the article that lists replacements and gives brief profiles (search for Potential Nominees)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/07/01/resignation.supreme/

Their list: Samuel Alito, Janice Brown, Frank Easterbrook, Emilio Garza, Alberto Gonzales, Edith Jones, Alex Kozinski, Michael Luttig, Michael McConnell, Theodore Olson, John G. Roberts, and Harvie Wilkinson.

Bloomberg also has a list, some profiles, and some reasons why the Bush administration might choose said person in their article, which includes the aforementioned Alito, Brown, Garza, Gonzales, Jones, Luttig, McConnell, John G. Roberts, and Wilkinson. The new name they throw into the midst are Edith Brown Clement
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aBk2T7IVS.i0&refer=top_world_news

Just to throw my hat into the ring, I'm guessing the President with nominate Edith Jones. I think she's conservative enough to power-up the base and moderate enough to make the more mainstream Democrats reluctant to oppose her.

Addendum: Journalists and Novak
There's a lot fo speculation that Rove was Novak's source and Novak is cooperating with the prosecutor because he knows Rove won't get in trouble. These accusations have been floating since the Plame affair. Some examples:
http://www.bustbob.com/view.asp?ID=5
http://www.warblogging.com/archives/000740.php

Personally, I don't think Karl Rove would be stupid enough to leak to Novak personally. I respect Rove's intellect. He's a genius at public relations. I would guess that if Rove had any involvement, it's going to be one of his underlings who bites the bullet, pays a fine and get slapped around by the press, sending the whole issue to an unsatisfying close.

Dissent and Art
I don't usually watch NOW but political art is one of my passions. "The Design of Dissent," an art exhibit featuring designs of protest graphics contains some pretty provocative and interesting imagery. You can look at some of the pictures at the links below.
http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/sa/index.jsp?sid0=5&page_id=139&event_id=222
http://www.pbs.org/now/arts/designofdissent.html

A lot of the stuff is really stunning. The book "Design of Dissent" is definitely going on my Christmas list. Amazon.com has sample pictures from the chapter on Communism
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1592531172/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-7925961-6040807#reader-page

6/29/05 - Safire Returns, International Women's Rights, and The Supreme Court Cops Out

2005-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

I've been sick and stressed out so I've been writing less. Maybe I'll be able to do more when I feel accustomed to my Summer schedule.

William Safire Strikes Back
Even though I completely disagree with most of William Safire's opinions, he's one of my favorite column writers. His style, honestly and logic are almost always immpeccable and I tried never to miss a day. I like the fact he tried to appeal to audiences that didn't necessarily agree with him, a necessity for a conservative columnist writing for the New York Times. Anyway, he wrote a guest editorial today, and just seeing his name in print again (and not on treatises about language) makes my heart beat a little giddier.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/opinion/29safire.html?oref=login

Note the Novak point. Seriously, why hasn't he been thrown in jail. I mean, the people being prosecuted didn't even write stories about it... The Supreme Court's choice not to extend the shield laws has ramifications that go beyond just national security. For example, because reporters refuse to reveal which govenmental officials violated a man's right to privacy, they have been sentenced for contempt. The chill on press speech does not need to be innumerated. The media can't justify their stories by the fact they're true, but also have to justify the means their sources went about collecting facts. Nobody will be willing to talk to the press about anything controversial if that means they'll be dragged to court, and the harder courts lean on reporters, the more risk there will be that good journalism will be executed at the point of a gavel.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/politics/29contempt.html

Yes, Women have Writes
I didn't know women were allowed to become novelists in Iran. I kind of assumed that it would be something that was frowned upon. Apparently, I'm wrong.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/books/29wome.html

Normally, human interest stories aren't my thing, but I find the plight of women's rights in fundamentalist countries compelling. Moreso, now that Iran has elected a leader who is offended by the sight of women's bare ankles. I am especially interested in how women use inneudo to write about passion and sex even when its taboo. Repression is only going to get worse, I think.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iran-freedoms.html

Speaking of women and sex, a protest in South Korea was held today over the enforcement of an anti-prostitution law.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-korea-sex.html

Though the spokesperson paints the industry as fairly healthy and women-friendly, I am not so sure. Researcher David Scofield wrote an article last year suggesting that government resources would be better spent targeting the worst abuses caused by forced prostitution but the industry's widespread roots makes it impossible to eliminate completely. Scofield even suggests that it might be helpful to the public as a form of tax revenue. The only thing I know for sure is that putting women and girls into jail probably won't stop the problem of prostitution, as exemplified by the United States.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/FE26Dg03.html

Finally, at least some judges in Pakistan can see sense. Mukhtaran Mai was allegedly gang-raped by order of her city council as a punishment for her brother's affair with a woman from a rival clan. The perpetrators were acquitted, but Pakistan's Supreme Court has locked them up again.
http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2005%20News%20Archives/June/29%20n/Supreme%20Court%20Orders%20Rearrest%20of%20Rape%20Suspects.htm

The Court Prioritizes Laws, not People
There's been a fair amount of criticism for the Supreme Court's refusal to grant constitutional relief to a woman who begged the police to fulfill her restraining order on the grounds that their negligence resulted in the death of her two daughters.
http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0629-02.htm

Full text of the opinion: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/27jun20051200/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/04pdf/04-278.pdf

People may be shocked by the Court's callous treatment of people's lives and wellbeing, but this isn't the first case where the Court has found people hurt by government negligence have no constitutional remedy. Apparently, you have a right to free speech, but not to be safe. Deshaney v. Winnebago, decided in 1989, was a case about a child abused by his father. Social workers were aware of his abuse but did nothing to stop it, resulting in severe mental retardation. The child now lives in an institution, his motor capacities damaged by horrible abuse. In a 6-3 decision, the Court found that "nothing in the language of the Due Process Clause itself requires the State to protect the life, liberty, and property of its citizens against invasion by private actors."

The full text of Deshaney:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=489&invol=189

The cases are very similiar. In both, the lives of children (who are especially precious in government sight due to en loco parentis) are jeopardized by state officials who know something is wrong but refuse to do anything about it. The results are horrific. The difference is in matter of approach: Deshaney focussed on a liberty interest and Castle Rock examined the due process clause. I'm not quite sure why the Supreme Court is ruling on Colorado's constitutional law also, but I haven't waded through the entire opinion yet.

At any rate, I don't think it's too much to ask for a government that takes our taxes to have an affirmative obligation to protect us. When you have knowledge of a wrong and still refuse to act, I'd certainly call that egregious and reckless disregard of a person's right to life. Unfrtounately, if the court is not going to impose one, we'll have to tackle the laws in a different ways. States should amend their constitutions to protect citizens from governmental negligence as a way to ensure accountability. I have no idea how to word a provision without also opening a thousand other Pandora's boxes (if the state has to protect life, when does abortion become illegal?) but that's what real lawyers are for. As it is, our government does so little for abused children. I blame the difficult case loads-- it's not surprising overburdened case workers make mistakes. Surely, we can do better for the next generation of young Americans then let them die at the hands of their parents.

Well, it could be worse. Iran's high court is allowing somebody's eyes to be gouged out. Now that's cruel and unusual punishment.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/a8619f48c99683f07596984f48d916ca.htm

6/22 -- Bush speechwriting, PBS

2005-06-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

My summer classes are more intense than I thought so I'm not going to be posting regularly or extensively. Still...

Bush Speechwriting
You can write a speech for George Bush out of his most common speeches. It's kind of fun.
http://www.actofme.co.uk/bush_speech/bushspeechwriter.html

PBS
An editorial about the Buster episode.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40188-2005Jan26.html
Funny how the conservatives make so much hay about 1) an episode that never aired (though it should have-- I don't think teaching about alternative lifestyles is liberal) and 2) Bill Moyers, a man who retired. You'd think they'd base their insults of bias on something, you know, actually happening at the moment. I do tend to believe that PBS might lean a little to the liberal, but I still think it's the best news on television and has the best documentaries. I'd hardly call Nova or Reading Rainbow furthering the liberal agenda. NPR too is one of the only places where I find quality programming. If I weren't a starving college student, PBS would be getting a lot more of my donations.

On Vacation

2005-06-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm visiting my parents in Washington, so I'm going to take a break for awhile.

6/6/05 - Afghani Progress, Medical Marijuana, FBI screw-ups

2005-06-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Afghanistan
Good news and bad, it's important that the U.S. and the world at large pays attention to Iraq's little sis who is too often neglected by the media because its glitzy sibling is often more interesting. How is the war going? It varies from section to section depending on who people talk to, and it's hard for me to believe almost any collective reports because of the partisan atmosphere of late. So, for contrast, here are articles on Afghanistan... the good, the bad, and the, well, ugly.

Good
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110006782
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/6/6/latest/20050606210024&sec=Latest

Bad
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/da78eadbf0365f8e579c412c1d82c82a.htm
http://i-newswire.com/pr23942.html

Ugly: No women allowed at the circus? Women voters not withstanding, there's still a long way to go in the search for women's rights.
http://www.freep.com/news/nw/afghan6e_20050606.htm

So Much for States' Rights
The Supreme Court decided that the federal government has the right to prosecute people using medical marijuana. Seriously, can't the government find something better to do with our assets? Like, tax cuts or deficit reduction? I never thought I'd see the day when I'd agree on an opinion of Thomas' and Rehnquist's.
http://nytimes.com/2005/06/06/politics/06cnd-scot.html?hp&ex=1118116800&en=166cf10948687873&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Text of the Decision
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=03-1454&friend=nytimes

FBI Inefficiency
Proof that Homeland Security is in need of resources wasted on the frivelous pursuit of victimless crimes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/05/AR2005060501213.html?sub=AR

Ten Years Ago Today: June 6th, 1995-- The fiftieth anniversary of D-Day. Looking back from my snug point in history, I see WWII as a fairly clean victory. Somehow we managed to smash Germany and rebuild it successfully without, as far as I know, the intense guarilla action we see in Iraq. Why? Was it politics? Was it weapons? Was it troop numbers? Was it something about the German mindset? I haven't met many people who think WWII was an unjust war, that the U.S. wasn't right to go after Hitler even though Germany didn't technically attack us. I think maybe that's because we can all see now that the consequences were good. How can we make sure the consequences are good from now on? Is there something we can do better that will ensure no bloody sacrifices are in vain?

The history channel's been doing D-day stuff. I had no clue how close a call it really was, I always kind of assumed that the invasion was kind of a gimme. Shows what I know.

On a less serious note, June 6th, 1995 is supposedly the day "Talk Like A Pirate Day" (Sept. 19th) was conceived by these louts (according to them). http://www.talklikeapirate.com/about.html

6/5/05-- Northern Mariana Islands, Psychology of War, Books

2005-06-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

Delay and The Northern Mariana Islands
Though everyone seems to know that Tom Delay is in trouble over ethics, the Northern Mariana Islands, a part of the U.S. many people didn't even know existed, doesn't seem to have entered the national lexicon. It's like a whole U.S. territory is under the rule of corporations invoking the worst Walmart-style abuses with government sanction. I find it somewhat appalling that within our own borders, the labor movement is quashed so thoroughly. I find it disgusting that the plight is ignored, even though Mariana almost falls within the boundaries of the U.S. itself. Even Republicans call for a change.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/05/09/real.delay/

Some general information on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
http://www.prel.org/pacserv/mariana.asp

An E.P.A. report on CNMI
http://www.epa.gov/region09/cross_pr/islands/northern.html

More accusations of sweatshop-style labor, published by the World Socialist Website (obvious a bastion of unbiased reporting)
http://www.wsws.org/news/1998/apr1998/mari-a02.shtml

Similiar accusations were outlined in a 1999 proposed house resolution.
http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/dcfeb2.html

How do we Train Ordinary People to Become Warriors?

Some interesting notes on U.S. soldier psychology and the impact of killing
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heart/themes/prep.html

Are Books Dead?
In a world of high-paced computer animation, where everything we have the capability to imagine can just be pasted on a movie screen, we ask ourselves: are books an anachronism? I have always preferred the company of my books to the company of almost anyone else, so the idea of the art of reading for pleasure becoming completely extinct is one of my worst nightmares. What is a writer to do?

Thankfully, reading is not as outdated as some people claim it to be, but still, we have to make sure we preserve the practice. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve curling up with my mother and younger brother while she read to me, and I hope that lots of people are passing the same experience on to their offspring.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/05/opinion/05sun3.html?oref=login

Ten Years Ago, Today: On June 5th, 1995, "Saucer Smear" published a report about their ufology tour through New Mexico, including references to Roswell as the "Holy City". It also has a cute political cartoon of aliens being chased by N.O.W. feminists.

6/3/05-- Profiles in Courage, Lebanon's Election, Rape Counselor's Legal Protection

2005-06-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't been writing, but it's finals week and I feel sick.

Profiles in Courage
Recieving so many nasty emails makes me extremely grateful that I live in a place in a time that all I'm likely to get are nasty emails. There are certainly people a lot worse off in the world. I have never admired people willing to stand up against violence to do what they believe more than I do today. I'm not sure I'd have the same strength in me, and I pray to God that I'll never have to find out.

Lidia Cacho, who runs a women's and children's shelter in Mexico, was raped for protecting people who couldn't even go to the police. She is often threatened at gunpoint.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/31/international/americas/31mexico.html

Israeli soldiers contradict their government and speak of murders they committed. I'm glad I don't live in Israel. It seems to me that both sides' hands are drenched with blood and I have no clue how the situation could possibly end nonviolently. Sometimes, there's no such thing as justice.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/international/middleeast/03cnd-mideast.html

Samir Kassir, a prominant journalist, died in a car bombing in Lebanon, probably because he was vocally anti-Syrian.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/02/africa/web.0602lebanon.php

Lebanon's Election
I suppose suggestions that America tampered with Lebanon's election were inevitable. Still, the Speaking of anti-Syrian, hooray for elections help away from the influence of armed troops and occupiers from another nation. U.S. would have a hard enough time in the Middle East exerting pressure to get Saad al-Hariri to tie his shoe, much less elected.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/65A47CBF-FBF4-4F52-998D-B6DC76E4913A.htm

And Nixon was apparently overthrown by the Jews (eyes rolling).
http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=689

If we were exerting pressure, we'd probably be trying to appear like we had nothing to do with the election, instead of attempting to claim credit.
http://lebop.blogspot.com/2005/05/bush-freed-lebanon.html
http://www.perspicacityonline.com/Articles/2005/03/Bush050330.htm

It's good to see that maybe the people who are dying in Iraq aren't doing so in vain. Speaking of which, Syria needs to clean up its act in dealing with Iraq. Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq's foreign minister, accused Syria of intentionally not doing enough to stop the pipeline of terror on the Syrian-Iraqi border.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/jan-june05/iraq_6-2.html

Of course, Syria has long denied these accusations
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8543597

Another Rape Counselor Goes to Jail to for Trying to Help People
Even the U.S., people are forced to make moral decisions. I really think that it's not fair that rape councillors are still subject to subpoena. Like normal psychiatric care, without the safety and privacy that such institutions afford, they would be unable to help people. Patient-doctor legal privelege should be extended to rape crisis centers, otherwise people who are unable to afford psychological care will be offered unequal access to services, and to the right of privacy. I'm glad some people are willing to go to jail to protect people who are violated once already and who don't need to be violated again with a court's blessing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/national/29rape.html

Ten Years Ago Today: On June 3rd, 1995 China News Digest published a special issue in memory of the sixth anniversary of the Beijing Massacre.
http://museums.cnd.org/CND-Global/CND-Global.95.2nd/CND-Global.95-06-02.html

Think the repression is history?
http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,15350095-23109,00.html

5/31/05, Headlines more Outrageous than Mine, D.O.E. criticism, CAFTA

2005-05-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I didn't think you had to reapply to maintain your old job at the Emerald, so alas, I ended up accidentally losing it. That said, if anyone wants to syndicate me... promise I can be controversial ;)

Headlines More Outrageus than Mine: They do exist. (Many cribbed from WSJ.com's Opinion Journal email)

"Study Links Plastics to Small Genitals." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157882,00.html

"Army Wants Soldiers to Get Used to Guns" http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/11776292.htm

"Cinematic Necessity of WWII" http://www.thesimon.com/magazine/articles/old_issues/0016_cinematic_necessity_world_war_ii.html

"Compliments make a woman feel better, study concludes"
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/nation/11767628.htm

"Russian Official: Terror Suspected in Crashes" http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,130103,00.html

"Congo volcano eruption will hurt wildlife-experts" http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/14113/story.htm

"Oregon School Bans Hugs" http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1404333/posts

Other collections of dumb headlines: http://giggle.ultimate-results.net/headlines.php, http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/002478.html, http://omega13a.ultimate-results.net/modules.php?name=Dumb_Headlines

Proposed College Student Database by the Department of Education
Because I really want my grades, class choices, etc. easily handled by a department that is less than competent. And, apparently, open to other governmental bodies that might want to stop terrorism. Something tells me the title of some curses at U of O would change really fast...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/27/politics/27privacy.html?oref=login

It's especially disturbing given that the department of education is communist. http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41802, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/backgrounders/department_of_education.html

It's also expensive and inefficient. That I can believe. http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb105-11.html
https://www.cato.org/research/articles/gryphon-040211.html

I've heard accusations about the missing $6 billion from a conseravtive friend. Or more, depending on which websites you listen to.
http://freerepublic.com/forum/a3b209eb64855.htm
http://www.usasurvival.org/ck03082001.html
http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/A997_0_2_0_C/

My friend also told me that States weren't using their federal money. I thought he was being fallacious.
http://www.mackinac.org/pubs/mer/article.asp?ID=6726
http://edworkforce.house.gov/press/press109/first/02feb/unspent020705.htm

Regardless of the database, it does seem that something in American education needs to change. I wish I knew how to fix things. Throwing money at a system doesn't work, throwing more tests at the system doesn't work... I think the real solution might be more involvement by the parents, or making work as a teacher more attractive/more competitive, but I'm not sure how much you can do. I think it might just be something about the psychology right now.

Personally, I think I wuld have scored higher on many tests if there'd been more gifted/talented programs. Most of the time in class I hid behind my desk and read books because the teachers talked about things I already knew about. For me, public school was day care and a place to hone my social skills (not that it did much good in that respect >_<) The New York Times Likes Free Trade
NYT editorial supports CAFTA...I'm looking out the window for the flying pigs.
http://nytimes.com/2005/05/31/opinion/31tue2.html

Others, not so much.
http://www.stopcafta.org/article.php?list=type&type=2
http://www.alternet.org/story/22114/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11310-2005Mar29.html

More Endorsements:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11310-2005Mar29.html
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/trade/cafta/editorials/wsj.pdf

General bullet points good and bad:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8AEABU80.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down

The person sitting next to me just picked up my New York Times and fled. Guess he doesn't know they're free outside.

5/29/05 Gender-neutral pronouns, Hassan al-Nuaimi, Michael Moore Treason Petition,

2005-05-29T16:07:00.000-07:00

Definition of Gender
I'm looking for a mysterious website that I read about that is supposed to contain 150 different words to define gender. If anyone finds it, leave a comment, sil vous plait.

For writers who wish to employ words that are epicene:
http://www.aetherlumina.com/gnp/
Everything you ever wanted to know about gender neutral pronouns. Has an interesting bibliography.

A list of epicine words
http://www2.english.uiuc.edu/baron/essays/epicene.htm
Includes Klingon.

Eulogy for Hassan al-Nuaimi

"Let's not keep silent. Let our voices rise high to speak of our commitment to peace for all times to come and let us tell those who live in darkness, who are the enemies of light ... This is where we stand."

-King Hussein of Jordan's Eulogy for Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin

Torture is not just in Gitmo
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/27/international/middleeast/27sectarian.html?8bl
It's a bad way to go. I hope the violence ends soon. It seems all so pointless.

Same al-Nuaimi? If so, I bet there are rumors of U.S. assasination.
http://www.cnu.edu/studlife/captains/Bin/04/Issue15/News/WNiraqelections.html

Petition to Prosecute Michael Moore for Treason
Some people are drafting a petition to Attorney General Gonzales in hopes of getting Michael Moore charged with treason. Because the fairest justice can only be achieved by nationwide votes...
http://www.conservativepetitions.com/petitions.php?id=277
You know Michael Moore wants you to sign it.

10 Years Ago Today: May 29, 1995
Denis Rodman poses on the cover of Sports Illustrated with a parrot...
http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1995/0529.html
...in a leopard print chair. Does he ever look in the mirror and laugh his teeth off?

5/28/05 Partisanship, Togo, & Proliferation.

2005-05-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

Partisanship
In the future, I wouldn't be at all surprised if news media stations were rated with "Partisan Alert Levels", color-coded just like the terror system. I would rate myself somewhere between orange and yellow.

I'm beginning to like David Brooks more and more. I didn't used to. either i'm getting more conservative, or he's getting more liberal. There was a really great quotation from his recent essay, "A Natural Alliance" (NYT, 5/26/05). It generally reveals my feelings about the tendancy of our media to get sidetracked on dumb tangents and empty projects with the only goal being to socre political points. David Brooks: "...liberals and conservatives can go on bashing each other for being godless hedonists and primitive theocrats, or they can set those differences off to one side and work together to help the needy."

I'd rather see the latter. We are a nation who seems to be violently partisan but violently afraid of being partisan. For example, our news media seems somewhat reluctant to say why liberals oppose nominees like Bill Pryor to the bench, but are perfectly willing to air conservative accusations that blame everything on religion. It annoys me to no end.

I find myself falling in love with people like Voinovich. His emotional appeal against Bolton touched even my cynical heart, despite the fact I don't think that his appointment matters as much as the Dems think it does. His tender words are the kind that go beyond politics to truth. (Highlights here.) http://www.townhall.com/news/politics/200505/POL20050526a.shtml

Unfortunately, not everyone loves a man who's not afraid to cry for his country. Read and be sickened at the insults to a passionate and dedicated person who I hope will continue to have our prayers and support. http://mensnewsdaily.com/blog/malven/2005/05/bolton-debate-reid-lies-voinovich.html and http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/editorial/24446.htm

Ten years ago today: The Associations of the Togolese Diaspora formed the Network of the Togolese Diaspora for the Democracy (DIASTODE). This organization of Togolese outside of the nation of Togo itself pushes for a more humane Togo. Unfortunately the elections in this small African country that nobody has heard of are far from free and democratic.

CIA Factbook entry on Togo
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/to.html

The DIASTODE homepage
http://www.diastode.org/about.html

Articles about Togo's recent unrest:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28712350.htm
http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:42982714:d0f6a88906c4b1f?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA&storyID=8632583

Togo and Sanctions:
http://english.people.com.cn/200505/28/eng20050528_187209.html
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/11757043.htm

Child Trafficking in Togo
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2005-05-25-voa54.cfm

Articles of Interest

Nuclear Proliferation Map
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/proliferation/map_flash.html
This PBS site features a flash map charting the chronology of nuclear proliferation from 1945 onward and has country profiles of nuclear achievement (from Algeria to Yugoslavia). It also has quick and dirty summaries of international treaties and types of atomic weapons. Very informative.

IAEA Failing
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/proliferation/diplomacy.html
Some interesting notes on the IAEA's "carrot and stick" approach to nuclear weapons and also some of its politics. Again, authored by PBS/Newshour with Jim Lehrer.

NPT Meeting Ends in Disaster
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050527-065122-7167r.htm
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/581039.html
Everyone blames everyone else for the way the committee meeting fell apart. Observe, all those who trumpet the perfect morality of a multilateral approach-- this is just one more example of why the UN will never work the way many anti-war doves think it will.

Correction

2005-05-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

I meant the countdown in Ten Reasons Not to Kill Bush to go from 10-1, not 1-10. Actually, the reasons are arbitrarily numbered. I didn't mean to give heightened preference to any of the reasons, but many readers took my choice to list morality last as some kind of Bush burn. On my PERSONAL list (since this isn't my personal list, it's just A LIST) not to kill the President, it would probably be #1 because I don't like assasinating other leaders, having seen the results in Latin America.

EDIT: Second correction: America is already pulling our troops out of Saudi Arabia. Oops.

5/27/05 Judicial Nominees, Unsafe Abortion, Darth Vader Strikes Again

2005-05-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

Links on News I find interesting:

Judicial Nominees
http://www.independentjudiciary.com/index.cfm
An excellent collection of criticisms for Bush's current crop of nominees, including links to editorials of many major newspapers. Please ask your senators to vote down judicial extremists, like William Pryor, who equates homosexuality to bestiality and necrophilia, and Myers, who have very little judicial experience and has been rebuffed many times by his own department.

Unsafe Abortion Statistics
http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/MSM_97_16/MSM_97_16_table_of_contents_en.html
The World Health Organization states that worldwide, 78,000 women die yearly from unsafe abortions. The Global Gag rule is a travesty.

Of Interest
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/052205_ap_ns_robbery.html
Darth Vader is evil onscreen and off.

Mission Statement

2005-05-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Jennifer McBride's political blog. Watch this space for articles of interest and any comments I have on current issues.

Basil the Killer Sheep is a truly, deadly beast. It's strange how the most innocent looking beings end up being the most dangerous.