Ice Storm
Ice Storm
- Vacation science reading: …a cat is locked in a box where the decay of a radioactive particle will cause the release of poison that will kill it. If the particle has a 50-50 chance of decaying, then according to quantum mechanics the cat is… [Punch line coming up...] — Quantum Trickery: Testing Einstein’s Strangest Theory is a fascinating article about quantum mechanics, or “spooky action at a distance,” as Einstein criticized. Deepak Chopra might call this phenomenon the work of God. — The punch line to that joke? …the cat is both alive and dead before we look in the box… –(0) ¶
This is Not a Christmas Tree
Shock and Awe
No, this is not a Christmas tree. It is the shock and awe of a thousand flying sleighs diving down out of the sky, runners white-hot from the friction of re-entry, and out of the smoke of battle as the War on Christmas rages on. Once again, through overwhelming force, the pagans, secularists, anti-consumerists, and non-Christian observers of other holidays will be vanquished and sent away for another year.
Screw You, We’re Taking a Vacation
Holy smokes! Your Montag forgot to feed the blog today. Actually it’s not so much that I forgot. It’s more like I just didn’t fucking do it. It was a busy day, holiday-preparation wise, in terms of wrapping everything up at work prior to vacation, (a whole week,) and getting home in time to meet the delivery truck bringing the kids big present.
All of this brings us to this post’s main point. The coming week is vacation. If you thought the past week was sparse for legitimate posting, then next week will seem downright desolate. You’ll get your Saturday photos, and maybe, just maybe a post or two. Maybe not.
Have a good week.
- Transit union leader hangs talks on pension issue — The strike continues. Workers (read: people) vs. exploitive institution. Support the Union (read: people.)
Appeals Court Rejects U.S. Bid to Transfer Terror Suspect — and Norbizness breaks it down nicely.
Stevens: ‘This is the saddest day of my life’ — Stevens humbled by having his ass handed to him over his perfidious manuver to insert ANWR oil drilling into the defense budget.
Chinese, Indian Firms to Buy Oil Assets — Interesting wrinkle in whatever it is we have planned for Syria.
Fuck all that shit. We’re goin’ to the Moon! — Senate backs US space policy legislation
FIA proposals – key details — The FIA [Formula 1 racing's governing body] has released a draft Technical and Sporting Regulations for the 2008 season. It includes provisions such as, “A 19,000 rpm rev limit . . . “redirect engine research towards road-relevant technologies.” . . . reducing the minimum weight of a Formula One car . . . the use of fuel partially derived from bio-power sources . . . allow manufacturers to experiment with the use of hybrid technology, storing and then reusing energy normally lost under braking. — More of this stuff, please. Be relevant to the future, Formula 1!
Johnny Damon is a whore. — Damon’s switch strikes blow at heart of Boston — Not only did he leave Boston for just $3 million more per year ($13M vs. $10M,) but he also has to cut his hair. Have fun bein’ Steinbrenner’s punk, Johnny! –(0) ¶ - Back in April of 2004, OFFAL said, “…we value the Constitution.” And, “A wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed.“ — He also says things like, “We do not torture.” ACTIONS.
words.
Was Bush lying when he said “nothing” had “changed” [see above] and suggested that his administration was continuing to obtain warrants for its wiretaps? Maybe, but maybe he was just choosing his words carefully. —Did Bush lie about wiretaps to cover up his spying program?
Judge Resigns in Protest, Newspaper Says — A judge from that special court that handles the government surveillance.
A Senator’s Bold Ploy on Arctic Drilling — You say “bold ploy,” I say “devious plot.” You say “potato,” I say “fuck you.” Fuck you, sick motherfuckers running our country (into the ground.) Listen up. As of now, we at the Stump forbid the adding of unrelated provisions and amendments to legislation. If you persist in this practice we will propose a bill of our own. A bill to allow drilling for oil in your ass.
So long, chicken wing. You will be missed. — [The Red Sox] lost free-agent center fielder Johnny Damon to the [hated] Yankees[.] –(0) ¶
Chilling Implications when Lobbyists Testify
The New York Times reports that lobbyist Jack Abramoff may be trying to cut a deal in exchange for testimony on Congressional corruption.
[NYT: Lobbyist Is Said to Discuss Plea and Testimony]
Well, that’s as wrong as four left feet! Lobbyists often rely on the corruptibility of politicians, who in turn rely on lobbyists to provide some level of confidentiality around the sometimes illegal, and often unethical, activities they engage in in the throes of governing.
Lobbyists testifying about their activities, and revealing the identities of their political sources, amounts to a breach of confidence that could place in jeopardy many lobbyist-politician relationships.
Abramoff’s testimony could have a chilling effect on the corruptibility of politicians, and their willingness to work with lobbyists to reach politically viable solutions to our nation’s problems. Congress will likely grind to a halt. The entire political process will be in peril of failing once the conduit for donations, perks and bribes is effectively removed from the system.
Jack Abramoff should follow Judith Miller’s lead and take one for the profession. He should allow himself to be imprisoned; both to uphold his promise to his sources and to protect the integrity of lobbyism in general.
Just think how petty those prosecutors will look, Jack, when they send you to jail because you wouldn’t compromise your ethics or break your word to your source(s). You’ll come out a martyr on the other end of this thing.
- NYC transit workers on strike — And, as I understand it, because the strike is illegal they will be fined two days pay for each day they strike. Wait, isn’t union busting illegal?
In the current discussion of civil liberties and national security, Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn says, “None of your civil liberties matter much after you’re dead[!]“ — Hilarious! Reminds me of that quote by Benjamin Franklin, “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.” Oh, hold on, that’s not the same thing at all. Forget it.
What law does the administration say gave it the power to conduct wiretaps of US citizens without a warrant? Why, it was the “Authorization to Use Military Force, which Congress passed and Bush signed a week after [9-11]“ of course! — Bush cites 9/11 law to justify eavesdropping
Hey, all this war, torture and civil liberties infractin’ keeps on getting bizarrer and bizarrer every day. All this couldn’t just be the smoke and mirrors of diversion could it? Lets check on Congress to see what they’re up to while we’re busy worrying about this stuff… House OKs Budget Cuts, ANWR Oil Drilling — The savings included $4.8 billion from Medicaid, the health care program for the poor[.] (I guess I shouldn’t have asked.) It seems like it was just a month ago that Medicaid took one for the deficit. Shit on it. Them old poor people are old and poor. They might not even be around for the next election, anyway!
Pro-Wal-Mart Group Forms to Tout Benefits — “I know Wal-Mart is good for working families, because I know men and women in my congregation who work at Wal-Mart, shop at Wal-Mart, and whose lives are touched by the compassion and commitment of this company every day[.]“ — Finally some strong real voices from the community— funded by Wal-Mart —will be heard in defense of poor timid Wal-Mart who suffers tremendously from her detractors all over the media!
Oh, that kooky Mahmoud Ahmadinejad! — Iran bans Western music on radio — Now, I could understand banning Country-Western music, as has been banned in my house; but what does Iran have against Western music as a whole? — Songs such as George Michael’s Careless Whisper, Eric Clapton’s Rush and Hotel California by the Eagles regularly accompany Iranian TV and programmes, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G. Oh. –(0) ¶
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JRB
Randal Graves
Montag