Governments should not privilege one company over another. The World Wide Web had as its genesis the problem of proprietary systems. These two truisms make the District of Columbia website an affront beyond compare. The DC Corp Online system, although designed for "businesses to conduct many transactions online", can also serve as a citizen tool for finding information … [Read more...] about DC Government: Stop Designing Proprietary (Discriminatory) Online Systems
Boehner and Cantor
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A Way Out of the Debt Ceiling Deadlock?
Is there a way out of the debt ceiling deadlock? As always, CNN's David Gergen, who has served Presidents of both parties, steps back and gives an analysis that suggests that, despite the uproar in the blogosphere and ideological talk shows of the left and right and talk radio, the seeds of a possible solution that could signal a partisan "cease fire" can be seen. Gergen … [Read more...] about A Way Out of the Debt Ceiling Deadlock?
Confusing Principle with Intransigence
prin•ci•ple [prin-suh-puh l] noun 1. an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct: a person of good moral principles. 2. a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived: the principles of modern physics. 3. a fundamental doctrine or tenet; a distinctive ruling opinion: the principles of the Stoics. in•tran•si•gent [in-tran-si-juh nt] … [Read more...] about Confusing Principle with Intransigence
Taxes and Job Creation
My state of Oregon used to be dependent on logging and lumber but that was replaced by manufacturing in the 80's. When the economy goes south both suffer quickly. This recession was no different - at one point Oregon unemployment was two points higher than the national average. In January of 2010 the voters in Oregon passed a tax increase for the wealthy and business. Of … [Read more...] about Taxes and Job Creation
The ALEC Right-Wing State Distopia
A state government of the corporation, by the corporation and for the corporation may be coming to a state near you. If you like your laws drafted and passed by corporate politicians for the corporations which own them, apparently you can call ALEC to arrange it. A secret group, until now, whose sole purpose is to diminish your rights in favor of corporations has been … [Read more...] about The ALEC Right-Wing State Distopia
Ride Safety Video
For your enjoyment, especially if you've ridden Soaring Over California Rollercoaster Safety with Patrick Warburton - watch more funny videos … [Read more...] about Ride Safety Video
Nostalgia TV Bringing A Smile.
With the passing of Peter Falk I am taking the evening to watch a couple Columbo episodes via Netflix streaming. I may follow it up with a few episodes of the Brady's or Gilligan in respect for Sherwood. I'm a junkie for shows of the 60's and 70's (and to a lesser degree the 80's) and when I watch I can't help but marvel that this was network programming. When you look at … [Read more...] about Nostalgia TV Bringing A Smile.
Budget Talks
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Crowdsourcing Request: Votes On Debt Ceiling (And Reagan’s Legacy)
Updated: Chart: There have been a lot of Congressional votes to raise the debt ceiling since FDR (1940). I've put together a public spreadsheet based on White House data. Vote dates and PL info are there, as well how much the debt ceiling was raised. Note: if you have ever had any doubts about the effects of Reagan's tax cuts and expanded military spending, I hope this … [Read more...] about Crowdsourcing Request: Votes On Debt Ceiling (And Reagan’s Legacy)
Small Town America
Let me warn you up front: I don't pretend to have the answers here, and if the question is too disturbing, or you'd prefer to chase butterflies through greener pastures, well, I don't blame you. But we DO have a problem and it DOES need a solution. Let me tell you a story about a little petty larceny -- the larceny of memory, not of dollars. There was a man who served in the … [Read more...] about Small Town America
U.S. Help with Mexican Drug War Insufficient’ (El Universal, Mexico)
Is the United States doing enough to put an end to the drug violence south of the border? According to this editorial from Mexico's El Universal, while the Obama government has taken tiny steps in the right direction, opposition from the U.S. gun lobby and the legalization of marijuana in 15 U.S. states has hindered progress. The editorial from El Universal says in … [Read more...] about U.S. Help with Mexican Drug War Insufficient’ (El Universal, Mexico)
Mea Culpas In The Digital Era
There have always been mistakes made in journalism. Newspapers report "errata", usually on page two. Unknown how many people actually read those corrections. In the digital space, it is easier to make corrections, but there is no agreed-upon norm for how to go about it. This hasn't been a good week for me; ditto Reuters and Wired. An original analysis that I wrote Sunday … [Read more...] about Mea Culpas In The Digital Era
Debt Ceiling “Debate” – The Hottest Show on Earth
As the Hottest Show on Earth rages in the mainstream media, a very much less-than-sexy campaign is being waged for structural political reform from the grassroots. For example, Michael Lewis and William Bowe from Independent Kentucky (IK) met with Congressman John Yarmouth. IK has been leading a fight to open the primaries. Said Lewis "We highlighted how Kentucky and other … [Read more...] about Debt Ceiling “Debate” – The Hottest Show on Earth
Eric Cantor Singalong
If Eric Cantor, the Tea Party's rep in Congress, were singing karaoke these days, it might be in the style of an old Frank Sinatra favorite. They'll Do It My Way And now, though defaults loom, I hold one steadfast notion; It's that, tax hikes mean doom, To this I swear, my full devotion; For me, negotiate, A lesser rich folks exalted payday, That game I'll never … [Read more...] about Eric Cantor Singalong
Of “Dits” and “Dahs”
As a young U.S. Air Force airborne radio operator in the late 50s and early 60s, I became very good at using Morse code---you know, the art of sending dots and dashes in the form of short and longer bursts of radio energy through the atmosphere, and beyond. I became very good partially out of necessity. You see, as a recent immigrant to the United States, I still had a … [Read more...] about Of “Dits” and “Dahs”
An Economic 9/11 on 8/2?
Tea Party terrorists elected last fall promised to change Washington, and they have—-turning it from a flawed vehicle that moves the nation’s business along, however bumpily, to a cockpit of fighting over a fabricated issue that is steering a shaky economy toward a smashup. The sorry spectacle has roused the largest American corporations to sound alarms and rating agencies … [Read more...] about An Economic 9/11 on 8/2?
The GOP Finds a Briar Patch (Guest Voice)
The GOP Finds a Briar Patch by The Magicial Sky Father Mitch McConnell may be politically craven and devoid of any pretense of a spine of the ideological variety but he should not be solely blamed for his latest attempt to resolve the debt ceiling debate. You see he is stuck between a rock and a hard place within his own party's coalition. The rock in this scenario is the … [Read more...] about The GOP Finds a Briar Patch (Guest Voice)
TPaw Flatlines in Quinnipiac Poll, While Many Await Perry
WASHINGTON - Frankly, I wouldn't even be writing this piece if it wasn't for Tim Pawlenty falling off the grid, because early polls aren't very illustrative. It's just that even after "Meet the Press," debates and pimping the press, he still can't get any respect. I don't know how it gets any worse for TPaw, someone I said from the start wouldn't pass muster and didn't have … [Read more...] about TPaw Flatlines in Quinnipiac Poll, While Many Await Perry
Rupert and James Murdoch “Too Busy” to Appear Before British Parliament
With each passing day it is more and more apparent that Rupert Murdoch at the very least is going to find his ascent has been curtailed in the UK and possibly eventually in the United States. Reports of phone hacking by his papers of the royal family, a murder victim, British veterans and a report (not particularly well sourced but there are now calls from two U.S. Senators for … [Read more...] about Rupert and James Murdoch “Too Busy” to Appear Before British Parliament