2012 archive
Twits on Twitter 0
Selective twits:
The company has insisted that it will not use the gagging system in a blanket fashion, but would apply it on a case-by-case basis, as already happens when governments or organisations complain about individual tweets.
Much more at the link.
Protect Our Vote (Sticky)
0
Rally at the Bell Tower to preserve the franchise, sponsored by the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.
Dr. Benjamin Chavis, keynote speaker.
When: 9 a. m., January 31.
Where:
9th and Franklin Streets
Richmond, Va. (map).
More Info: Call 757-287-0277 or email vlbc2011@yahoo.com.
View the announcement (jpg).
Dustbiters 0
I forgot to tune into the FDIC last night to see the parade of fiscal responsibles being honored for their acumen at destroying jobs, money, and trust(s).
I shall recognize them now for their mastery of the universe.
These banks are now blanks:
-
BankEast, Knoxville, Tennessee
Patriot Bank Minnesota, Forest Lake, Minnesota
Tennessee Commerce Bank, Franklin, Tennessee
Brain Pain 0
Listen to this episode of Radio Times, which explores the complexities of the U. S. Income Tax code, including (and this is the part that pains) the rationales for the favoritism to the rich over the poor and the middle class.
It will make your brain hurt.
Arizona Parodies Itself 0
See Delaware Liberal for details on Arizona’s latest move in its attempt to become the Alabama of the Southwest.
The Bully Pulpit 0
In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jay Bookman considers Newt the Gingrinch’s performance in the most recent episode of Survivor: Wingnut Studio Republican media circus debate. A snippet.
But when the critical moment comes, he deflates. As speaker, he shrunk from Bill Clinton, to the point that his aides and lieutenants didn’t want to have them in the same room lest a passive Gingrich agree to too much. In these debates, once Romney decided to fight back aggressively, Newt has repeatedly retreated. In the previous debate, he was left speechless and flustered by a pressing Romney, and apparently he still hasn’t recovered his bluster.
Cliches that Come to Life 0
“So much money he can’t count it all.” TPM:
Details at the link.
Spill Here, Spill Now, Weasel 0
Buccaneer Petroleum loses a round in its attempt to weasel out of its contracts.
A U.S. federal judge on Thursday said BP must uphold a clause in its contract with Transocean Ltd that would shield the Swiss-based driller from compensatory damage claims related to the 2010 disaster.
That means London-based BP may have to shoulder alone compensation claims brought by the likes of fishermen and hoteliers whose livelihoods were affected by largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
However, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier left open the possibility that Transocean might still have to pay all or part of any punitive damages and civil penalties imposed by the U.S. government under the federal Clean Water Act.
I notice that BP is now a Swiss company. Guess they wanted a new hideout.
The Facebook Frolics Files 3
Fed app with it all.
The FBI is seeking to develop an early-warning system based on material “scraped” from social networks.
It says the application should provide information about possible domestic and global threats superimposed onto maps “using mash-up technology”.
Absolutely nothing could go wrong with this.
Also, pigs, wings.
Update from the Foreclosure-Based Economy 0
Foreclosures continue to work their magic.
(snip)
A key reason for the dismal 2011 sales is that builders must compete with foreclosures and short sales—when lenders accept less for a house than what is owed on the mortgage.
Goo-Goo-Googling Eyes on You 0
The ACLU takes a look at Google’s new privacy policy.
If you ever log in to Google (Gmail, Docs, Calendar, Plus, YouTube, or anything else Googly), you should read it.
Kudos to Google for explaining in plain English that you can check in, but you can never leave.
The Global Mitt the Flip 0
Bank accounts all over the world, tonight, 
all over the world the sound of money in banks . . .
Meta: Color Me CSS 0
As my two or three regular readers will see, I played around with the CSS a bit yesterday, changing the
- font size of posts,
- color of links,
- padding, margins, and background color of blockquotes.
Anyone who was watching while I was testing would have seen thing change with every page refresh.
I leaned towards green rather than blue for links because of the whole pine tree thing.
Feedback welcome.
A Newt Is a Small Lizard 0
Ahem. And some may have questioned that. Larry Van Meter explains:
Newt Gingrich has spent the past 17 years in a box.
It’s an aquarium, actually, and a modest one. It measures about 500 cubic inches, which makes it a pretty small place to spend 17 years.
Newt Gingrich is a fire belly newt.
Newt is named after Newt. Follow the link for his tail tale.
When I started the article, I was wondering whether “aquarium” would turn out to be an analogy for Washington, which is also a hothouse environment with glass walls protecting unusual lifeforms and in need of frequent cleaning.
QOTD 0
George Orwell, from the Quotemaster (subscribe here):
Political language … is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
Naming Frights 0
Well-timed in view of the Regent’s desire to sell (what remains of) Virginia’s dignity for a few pieces of silver comes Daniel Ruth’s evaluation of a similar proposal in Florida:
Now that would be truth in advertising.
Follow the link, then write your delegate.
Decode De Code 0
Leonard Pitts, Jr., decodes the dogwhistles. A snippet:
In this, Gingrich joins a line of Republicans stretching back at least to Richard Nixon. From that president’s trumpeting of “law and order” (i.e., “I will get these black demonstrators off the streets.”) to Ronald Reagan’s denunciation of “welfare queens” (i.e., “I will stop these lazy black women from living high on your tax dollars.”) to George H.W. Bush’s use of Willie Horton (i.e., “Elect me or this scary black man will get you..”) the GOP long ago mastered the craft of using nonracial language to say racial things.
(snip)
One of my students shared this parable: A rich white man sits with a poor white man and poor black man at a table laden with cookies. The rich white man snatches all the cookies but one, then turns to the poor white man and says, “Watch out for that darky. I think he wants to take your cookie.”
I’m a Southern white boy. I know the damned code.
So does Mr. Pitts.
Click to read the rest.