Great SNL bit from last night http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/telemundo-winter-olympics/1205282/

The waves caused by the Chile quake are coming in to Hawaii A live feed is available here

Whenever a quake happens we always hear all kinds of discussions regarding how to measure intensity. While I am not a trained seismologist I have always had an interest in the subject and thought I’d offer a little mini primer. There are a number of different scales for measuring quake impact. The most commonly used is the Richter scale. As many have discussed the Richter scale is logarithmic. There are two ways that this comes into play. In terms of shaking intensity it is a base 10 scale....

An earthquake which may have registered as high as 8.8 on the Richter scale has struck the nation of Chile. The quake struck at 3:34am local time and the epicenter was just off the coast near the city of Conception (population near 1 million) and within 200 miles rom the capital city of Santiago (population 5 million). Just to compare, the Haitian quake registered 7.0 while the 1906 San Francisco quake came in around 7.9 (est). The Richter scale is logarithmic which means this quake is roughly 10...

The man who was best known for dismissing reports of approaching planes on December 7, 1941 has died. Although many movies unfairly blamed him for the incident, he was exonerated by the military. Radar was a new invention and it was only his 2nd day on the job. But it haunted him for the rest of his life. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/us/26tyler.html

This is one of the sweetest things ever

I probably should not say what I want done to this guy but I do hope something happens http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/26/puppy-had-been-choked-owner-dies/?imw=Y

As others have noted there have been some political developments in New York today involving Governor Paterson and Congressman Rangel. In news that is slightly less surprising than the idea that the sky is blue, grass is green and rain is wet, the reactions of the two men have been slightly hypocritical. Governor Paterson announced he won’t seek re-election. In his statement he spent most of the time talking about all the things he’s done as Governor. He then indicated that because he...

Sad news out of Vancouver Canada. Actor Andrew Koening, son of Walter (aka Chekov) has been missing for several weeks. His body was found today, the victim of a suicide brought on by depression. If you know somebody who is dealing with this horrible condition please be sure to watch over them. A heartbreaking video of his parents press conference. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/andrew_koenig/index.html

In looking at the debate over health care reform both on the TV and here on the internet I couldn’t help thinking how part of the problem is that many people on both sides are coming in to the debate with assumptions that prevent any real discussion. For many on the left it is just a given that passing a large scale package with a public option and/or single payer will lower costs while insuring more people. For many on the right it is just a given that passing such a program will cause costs...

We all know California is amazingly dysfunctional. But here’s a new one that I heard today. A friend needs a new catalytic convertor on their car. The repair quote is around $ 700. When they mentioned this cost at work one day someone (from out of state) said they had the work done and it only cost $ 70. The reason is because we have such strict emissions laws that we have to use a super fancy version of the convertor. Now my friend has a hybrid car so 1) they don’t have to meet the smog...

A very busy work day prevented me from posting earlier but it was 65 years ago this week, on February 23, 1945, that the Marines raised the US flag over Iwo Jima. While the famous picture was re-enacted for the cameras there is no way we can deny the bravery of the Marines who fought and died there. For once we may have a post where everybody agrees that it’s a week to say thank you to all who have served this nation. Semper Fi !

With full credit to SNL for coming up with the commentary concept I have a few thoughts on the news today. Driving home I caught the noon news and the first words I heard were “In our top story today Tiger Woods” (this on CNN Radio but I assume all are the same). So let’s consider that statement. On the international scene what is going on ? War in Iraq and Afghanistan Iran on the verge of being a nuclear power A coup in Niger (a major supplier of uranium) Possible instability in...

So much for the idea that all of those capitalists/businessman/rich people are evil and greedy. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011111010_birthdaygift18.html

He says he’s no hero but I respectfully dissent from that opinion http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2542080.html

This is an amazingly cool story ! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/16/chris-scott-911-operator_n_463725.html Semper Fi !

We got word yesterday that New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg had been taken to the hospital. The information now is he has undergone surgery for a bleeding ulcer. Initial reports say he is expected to recover and be back to work soon. However when an 86 year old man has surgery you always have to take his age into account. Obviously politics plays a distant second place to the health of a fellow human being and I am sure we all hope for a speedy recovery. But you also cannot ignore the fact that...

I had previously posted a statement on Keith Olbermann’s latest commentary about the Tea Party movement. Although I felt my basic criticism of his stand was fair I also thought some of the language was less than precise so I am offering this newer and somewhat broader version. Just to make my own views clear, I have both agreements and disagreements with the movement. I think they are on many levels too conservative and that in other areas they press the idealistic over the practical. But...

One interesting side aspect of the retirement of Senator Bayh is how his spot will be filled on the ballot. Under Indiana law a candidate seeking a spot on the ballot has to get 4,500 signatures (500 from each of the states nine congressional districts) before the filing deadline, which is this Friday. If nobody does that then the partycentral committee has until June 30th to pick a nominee. However if anyone, even a fringe candidate, manages to get the signatures by Friday then, at least in theory,...

For most of us one of the big questions about the economic chaos of 2008 is how in the world did it all happen ? Although to a degree it is still something of a mystery to even the best experts there is a fascinating book that tries to explain the story in relatively understandable language. The title of the book is Too Big To Fail by Andrew Sorkin. The book follows the story during the fall months of 2008 but also gives some background on the characters, the events that led to the collapse. Perhaps...

In the days leading up to the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver there was a bit of speculation in the media as to what direction the event would take. Because the last games in Bejing were so over the top in terms of special effects and mega spending people wondered what Vancouver would do with much less of a budget For me, the Canadians came up with the perfect response, a ceremony that combined the required level of effects with a level of stunning simplicity that placed...

In a sad start to the games an athlete has died in a training accident. CNN

It looks like we won’t have any Kennedys in Congress next year. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Senator, is retiring. Assuming no other Kennedy runs it would mean no Kennedy in the Congress for the only the 2nd time in the last 64 years. JFK was elected in 1946 and served until 1961, then there was a brief space from 61-62 after which Ted Kennedy took office. His district in Rhode Island is heavily Democratic so it is unlikely to switch parties.

Former President Bill Clinton has been hospitalized in New York. A press release says he admitted after suffering chest pains and was given two stents in his coronary arteries. If so then it would be a fairly minor incident. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

The NY State Senate voted 53-8 to expel Democrat Hiram Monserrate over a variety of issues relating to his attack on his girlfriend. Since the NY Constitution does not give the legislature the power to expel (state law does) he is going to file an appeal in the courts so this will likely drag out for some time. That could be an issue as the Democrats have a narrow majority and in theory if he is appealing his removal they cannot hold a special election to fill his seat.