November, 2010 archive
QOTD 0
Bertrand Russell, from the Quotemaster (subscribe here):
The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.
Pot. Kettle. 0
In the San Jose Mercury-News, Tony Hicks rails about San Franncisco’s ban on Happy Meals (more specifically, a ban on including toys in meals for kids to make for the lack of real food unless the meal meets certain nutritional requirements).
(Aside: I think the ban is silly and stupid, just as Happy Meals.)
The headline:
S.F.’s ban on Happy Meal toys strikes at the heart of America
Ahem.
So, for that matter, does a Happy Meal.
Olbermann and Others 0
I haven’t paid a lot of attention to Keith Olbermann’s being suspended for daring to support candidates. I sometimes find Olbermann entertaining, but rarely watch. By the time his show comes on, I’ve put away my outrage for the day.
Nevertheless, the idea that reporters and commentators (and Olbermann has been as much a commentator as a reporter) shouldn’t have opinions or express in a legal way legitimate political positions in their private lives seems rather silly, especially in view of the Foxes who rampage daily in the henhouse.
As John Cole pointed out
Tthis week’s On the Media thoughtfully explores the issue of forbidding news staffs to express, in private, political positions.
Follow the link to the website for the story (transcript to be posted Monday afternoon) or listen here:
Spill Here, Spill Now 0
Speaking of the diligence and integrity of American business (see “Dustbiters,” below), Ann Woolner comments at Bloomberg:
Last week a commission investigating the disaster reported that the Houston-based company had reason to suspect from its own work that the kind of cement similar to that which it used at the well wouldn’t hold. The material had failed three out of four stability tests, and Halliburton didn’t test the final formula used.
If it had, it might have found what experts at Chevron discovered when testing that formula at the request of investigators. Nine times they tested the formula used, and nine times the stuff was unstable.
“Do As I Say, Not As I Do” 0
Joseph Stiglitz points out the doube-standard of foreclosure fraud. Banks expect homeowners to obey the law, while the banks disobey it. A nugget:
To many bankers, these are just details to be overlooked. Most people evicted from their homes have not been paying their mortgages, and, in most cases, those who are throwing them out have rightful claims. But Americans are not supposed to believe in justice on average.
Dustbiters 0
While I was fine-tuning the Debian load on my file server (Slackware 13.1 didn’t seem to like the box for some fool reason; also, the mouse seemed to be having intermittent attacks of the vapors causing weird screen lockups so I swapped out the rat), the FDIC was busy recognizing the diligence and integrity of the business community by closing more banks:
-
First Vietnamese American Bank, Westminster, California
Pierce Commercial Bank, Tacoma, Washington
That’s over 300 FDIC citations for diligence and integrity since George W. Bush took office.
Light Bloggery 0
I have a computer to troubleshoot, or perhaps just shoot.
Facebook Frolics 0
Energizer reminds you to change your smoke detector batteries and to use Facebook to remind others (emphasis added):
The Energizer Bunny Facebook page is unclear as to whether Energizer expects you to post your escape plan. One hopes not; what one may use to get out, another may use to get in.
Bill Shein Has Had Enough 0
Enough of hearing about the Afghan war during the campaign:
Thankfully, Campaign 2010 kept this issue front and center, and for that we can all be proud. Fortuitously, the new leadership of Congress promises that its first order of business will be to restore sanity to the federal budget. And after an election focused so overwhelmingly, and necessarily, on the war in Afghanistan, it would be unimaginable if they didn’t start by putting an end to the trillion dollars we’re spending each year on so-called “defense.”
uh, yeah.
Make TWUUG Your LUG 0
Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source.
What: Monthly TWUUG Meeting.
Who: Everyone in TideWater/Hampton Roads with interest in any/all flavors of Unix/Linux. There are no dues or signup requirements. All are welcome.
Where: Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk-Employee Cafeteria. See directions below. (Wireless and wired internet connection available.)
When: 7:30 PM till whenever (usually 9:30ish) on Thursday, November 4.
Directions: Lake Taylor Hospital-1309, Kempsville Road, Norfolk, 23502 (Kempsville Rd. at Lowry Rd.) 461-5001
Pre-Meeting Dinner at 6:00 PM (separate checks) at Uno Chicago Grill, Virginia Beach Blvd. & Military Highway (Janaf Shopping Center). Accessible through the Janaf parking lot or directly from the ramp from Virginia Beach Blvd. to Military Highway north.
Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go 0
Back above 450k:
The pace of firings has held within a narrow range in 2010, showing employers continue to focus on cutting costs more than a year into the economic recovery. Calling progress toward lower joblessness and faster growth “disappointingly slow,” Federal Reserve policy makers yesterday announced plans to bolster the recovery through another round of large-scale asset purchases.
The Voter Fraud Fraud 1
Facing South analyzes cases of “voter fraud,” in which illegal voters are alleged to have cast improper votes, and finds not much of anything. Elections are stolen in the counting room (and in the Supreme Court), not in the voting room.
So why is this an issue: It’s all about the scary black folk (emphasis added):
. . . Republicans tapped into — and inflamed — these fears with outrageous claims of black voter fraud, which not only riled up the conservative base, but also laid the groundwork for “anti-fraud” campaigns that could depress Democratic turnout.
In 1964, the Republican National Committee launched “Operation Eagle Eye,” which appointed a “ballot security” official in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The odious Republican Southern Strategy lives on. As Dennis G is fond of pointing out, the Republican Party has become the Confederate Party.
