…we have been witness to a tale of two Gulfs, where until today, the protagonist seemed completely without understanding of one of the fundamentals of leadership, which is accepting and admitting aloud responsibility even when it appears detrimental. Will we be witness to a transformation of character, or is this merely a false hope?

This post is categorized “Some thoughts…” at my own weblog, Random Fate, because it demands that you think outside your prior, canalized, familiar paths of “logic”. — Step outside your partisan box for a moment and consider this: What if the decoding and delivery of the message the Japanese Ambassador was supposed to give to the Secretary of State of the United States had not been delayed on December 6, 1941 (Washington, DC time)? Would we still call the attack...

…there are no answers, only questions.

…until I had an epiphany today: No one is allowed to question the masks.

…ghosts have long existed, and they walk the streets still.

A preface is needed, something that was said best at Obsidian Wings: Criticizing the administration’s response to this or any other disaster is not ‘politicizing’ it. There are, I think, two ways of politicizing something. One is to drag politics into a discussion where it does not belong. Thus, if I decided to make a big issue out of Laura Bush’s birthday party, that would be ‘politicizing’ it. I can’t imagine in what possible world criticism of the administration’s...

Without requiring any additional details, it is painfully apparent that there is a massive failure of planning and coordination at all levels of government in the response to Hurricane Katrina, both before and after the storm struck. Recently, at my primary weblog, Random Fate, I posted a link to a Scientific American article published in October of 2001 that predicted with remarkable accuracy the physical effects of a hurricane hitting along the path taken by Katrina. Wired News has posted a Reuters...

…of the need that will exist for months or even years afterwards. When the horrific images are no longer being broadcast and posted… When the outraged statements are no longer being made… When the shame of the lack of preparedness has faded into dim memory, a fading accelerated by the ADD nature of the modern world… When the media attention has moved on… When most have forgotten those who have lost all… ..there will still be people who need help. Do not forget...

…they should have been answered by now, we are seeing what the Apocalypse will look like; how fragile the veneer of civilization truly is. Some are trying to use the situation as a political lever for an ephemeral “advantage” for “their side”, despicable individuals on BOTH the left AND the right. Yet… We are ALL human. A major American city is being wiped out while being broadcast on television. And the sniping continues. I have read in multiple locations, “America...

The New York Times has issued an editorial that is nothing more than a blanket condemnation of the leadership of President George W. Bush as reflected in his reaction to the disaster created by hurricane Katrina. The nature of the leadership exhibited by President Bush was apparent before the events of this week, and a natural disaster should not be used as an opportunity to find leverage for any kind of partisan or political gain.

…in more than one place, with large scale terrors where hundreds die or widespread horrors where at the least hundreds if not thousands of lives are lost and even more lives are changed irrevocably, sometimes the ending of a single life can still have resonance. Does life or death ever have any greater meaning than what first appears? Perhaps it is nothing more than that we give to, or take from, either the life or the ending thereof.

…cut a swath of devastation through the Lousiana, Mississippi, and Alabama coasts that may have resulted in the deaths of thousands in New Orleans alone. After perusing many weblogs and comments to posts on those same various weblogs, what is found? A partisan blame game. For those who preach cultural relativsm, this is a strong blow against their preferred culture. For those who decry the same relativism, this is a strong blow against the worth of the human race. For those disgusted by this...

…if you are not asking the correct question. The furor around Cindy Sheehan exists for a reason, and it is not simply the right-wing canard of “a biased MainStream Media”. It would behoove any of those who care about the direction our nation chooses to take to understand what is occurring and, more importantly, why.

…if the irony meters for all those associated with the current Bush administration have either been burned out or simply turned off.

…who chooses which “intelligent designer” is discussed in the class? Given how poorly American high schools teach science, why would anyone of a strong faith want their beliefs distorted in the oubliette of knowledge and education that the public schools have become?

…but is it still the “property” of a company when it is inside the head of a departing employee?

A rather lengthy attempt to analyze the recent trends in public opinion and the politics of the right-wing from a centrist position can be found here. If you prefer your reading of trends to be more partisan, a view of recent events from definitely the left side of the center can be found here.

…looking at pornography can make you go blind (temporarily). No mention about that hairy-palms thing, though…

…and all the nutjobs and moonbats are out in force.

Recent developments in carbon nanotubes indicate that there may be a new technological revolution soon, one that may have effects as far ranging as those of microelectronics in the past decade. Something to keep in mind while the political sound and fury rages.

NEWS FLASH: John Roberts was a conservative 20 years ago! I am shocked, SHOCKED to discover this…

Protesters (as distinct from settlers) at a Gaza synagogue are being forcibly removed, and it appears that the protesters are using some type of chemical to repel the police (this chemical is being identified as “acid” by the Israeli police, as broadcast on CNN International – link). Police officers were seen coming out of the synagogue in their underwear and being doused with water, and the reporter on the scene described a burning sensation in his eyes. The protesters are being...

…I believe it is of vital importance that we separate the method of delivering the message from the message itself. Ms. Sheehan is not the first to invoke the dead to convey a political message, nor will she be the last. Once we actually do the mental work of separating the gut reaction out to analyze the methods used, we might see how our emotions are being cynically manipulated by those on both sides of the political spectrum seeking to gain a momentary partisan advantage in an emotional...

NEWS FLASH: John Roberts is conservative!

Google Earth A Security Risk Nothing more to add…