First Looks category archive

I can’t vote for this guy. I don’t live in Florida.

I’ve spent lots of time in Florida. Frankly, I wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t frankly. Also, I wouldn’t live in Florida on a bet.

But, if I could vote for this guy, I would.

What the future holds, from Radio Times:

The rising political clout of Hispanic voters. First we’ll hear about a new population projection from the Pew Hispanic Center. In 2005 Hispanics accounted for 14 percent of the U.S. population, that’s expected to increase to 29 percent by 2050. We’ll talk with JEFFREY PASSEL co-author of the new report, then we’ll look at the role Hispanic voters are playing in this year’s Presidential election. Our two guests are LUIS CLEMENS editor of Candidato USA, an internet publication that helps clients reach Hispanic voters and MARISA ABRAJANO co-author of a forthcoming research article The Hispanic Voter in the 2004 Presidential Election.

Listen here or go to the website and search for the February 13, 2008, show.

Read the Pew Hispanic Center’s report here.

Diva Dog had dental work today.

(We call her Diva Dog because she never asks for anything. She knows someone will come to do her bidding. For example, she will not bark to go outside. She will lay down in front of the door and wait. She knows someone will come to accede to her wishes without her having to ask.)

The vet says she has a bad case of cocker mouth (and she’s part Cocker). That means that it’s easy for her to develop dental problems. Unlike most dogs–and people–in Cockers, the gums do not recede from infection; they grow to cover it and hold the bacteria more tightly to the teeth.

She lost seven teeth today. And her annual physical last year was just fine.

I came home with a fist full of doggie dental products.

Ever since she came home from the vet, the World’s Largest Yorkie ™ has refused to leave her side.

The vet promises that she’ll be pretty much back to normal tomorrow.

So far, she’s only had to take one doggie Rushie.

She’s a good dog. I’m sorry she had to go through this.

Fell victim to the layer of ice on I-95. Personally, I think this weather should have stayed in Illinois, where it could feel at home.

But there’s good news tonight.

Tomorrow.

Tangier Restaurant, 18th and Lombard, just a block from South Street, Center City, Philadelphia.

I haven’t tried the Ostrich Burger yet.

Last week, several cables connecting the Middle East and the Inidan subcontinent to the Internet were cut, prompting speculation among some that there was some kind of conspiracy.

The Network Security podcast took a sane look at this. I commend it to your attention. From the show notes:

Tonight’s special guest is Mike Murray the author of Epistime.ca. We headed into the land of paranoia and conspiracy theories given recent goings on under the sea in the Middle East. We all agree that these events probably are random, but it still leaves us with raised eyebrows.

The show also took a look at the implications of the Protect America (Yeah! Right!) Act’s and the Patriot Act’s on the civil liberties of American citizens as they relate to computer network security, also in a rational way.

“Rational,” natch, means not wingnut.

You can follow the link or listen here.

Steve over at ASZ has the scoop on them.

He’s at it again.

John Cole on “Conservatives”:

I am now completely convinced that there is no such thing as “conservative” principles. It is a joke, an empty suit- it means whatever you want it to mean, and right now it means double Gitmo, permanent war, hating on liberals, and tax cuts forever. I guess, in that light, Mitt is the true “conservative,” as he has shown himself willing to do whatever and pay whatever it takes to win the nomination. I simply can not believe that the folks who cheerleaded the Bush administration and who are not even flinching about the new 700 billion dollar military budget have the balls to pretend to be conservative, but, hey, it is their party. I hope they keep wrecking it.

But when folks say “conservative,” and they will say it seriously as if it means something, no doubt also invoking the “mantle of Reagan,” just laugh at them. They might as well be talking about phlogiston. Whatever conservative used to mean, if anything, it no longer does.

NFC rules, AFC drools.

Brendan makes another phone call.

This one is a hoot.

Tommywonk looks at then and now.

Cold economy:

Dover officials are seeing an increase in the number of Dover utility customers who are failing to pay their bills.

The city collected more than $250,000 last year in bounced check fees and fees charged to reconnect customers who have had their electricity turned off. That’s nearly $50,000 more than the amount collected in 2006, which was nearly $50,000 more than collected in 2005.

Kathy Divver, customer service manager at the city’s utility office, thinks people are having a harder time making ends meet.

Upyernoz.

Delaware Liberal has the skinney.

Because it’s a really messed up state commonwealth:

Mary Jo Pletz was really, really good at eBay. But now the former stay-at-home mom and gonzo Internet retailer fears a maximum $10 million fine for selling 10,000 toys, antiques, videos, sports memorabilia, books, tools and infant clothes on eBay without an auctioneer’s license.

An official from the Department of State knocked on Pletz’s white-brick ranch here north of Allentown in late December 2006 and said her Internet business, D&J Virtual Consignment, was being investigated for violating state laws.

“I was dumbfounded,” said Pletz, who led the dark-suited investigator to a side patio area where he grilled her. “I told him I would just shut down,” she said.

The Pletz case has unleashed a political storm in Harrisburg over what – if anything – should be done about regulating Internet auctions in Pennsylvania.

Words fail me.

Ebay is certainly not an auction house as contemplated by the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Of course, it’s the same state commonwealth where the lawmakers are quite happy voting themselves a huge raise in the dead of night.

Brendan suggests going there to drown your sorrows tomorrow after watching the Straightjacket of the Union screech tonight.

I don’t plan to watch the screech.

I’m tired of the lies and really don’t see any point to subjecting myself voluntarily to them.

If you plant to watch it, drink and play bingo.

But I’m still going to try to be at Tangier Restaurant, 18th and Lombard, Philadelphia, 6 p. m. to 9 p.m., tomorrow evening.

I’d say the odds are about 60-40 that I’ll make it.

So be there in case I can’t.

Bingo card via Susie.

Let us welcome Ray and his first post on From Pine View Farm.

I look forward to many more.

Susie lays it out.

The following is an excerpt from a New York Times article dated 10/7/1931 during the last days of the Hoover administration:

Census authorities are moving apple sellers from their list of jobless to the category of “employed” because they say many people selling “unemployed apple” are earning a good living.

“It’s a great life.”