The Huffington Post has just announced some new hires and new positions that illustrate how the new media is gobbling up print talent and aggressively getting into info-collecting areas that were once dominated by the now-ailing print media. It also shows how the Huffington Post/AOL connection is most likely going to result in a 21st century news and media powerhouse. d Most … [Read more...] about New Huffington Post AOL “Intergration” Moves Show Shift from Print Media to New Media
Republicans’ New Push: English Only Bill that Requires Government English Testing
How far do some members of the Republican seemingly want to go to alienate away a f the country's growing Hispanic voter block? This far: Republicans introduce legislation in the House and Senate to make English the official language of the U.S. Republicans in both the House and Senate have introduced legislation that would declare English the official language of the … [Read more...] about Republicans’ New Push: English Only Bill that Requires Government English Testing
The High Cost of a Broken Metaphor
WASHINGTON -- "We're broke." You can practically break a search engine if you start looking around the Internet for those words. They're used repeatedly with reference to our local, state and federal governments, almost always to make a case for slashing programs -- and, lately, to go after public-employee unions. The phrase is designed to create a sense of crisis that … [Read more...] about The High Cost of a Broken Metaphor
Bill Maher Channels Peter King
WASHINGTON -- As an avowed atheist, Bill Maher is harsh on all religions, but he has a particular disdain for Islam. He's taken out against Muslim men and their treatment of women before as well, which is deserved. Just look at their reaction in Egypt when women came out to march for their own freedom on International Women's Day. But Friday night on "Real Time," Bill Maher … [Read more...] about Bill Maher Channels Peter King
Why The 2012 Election Is Obama’s To Lose
With the exception of the year 2000, I have picked every winner in every presidential election since I was old enough to vote for the first time in 1968, and of course the Supreme Court stole that one for Dubya. I did think that John Kerry had a good chance of wresting the White House from him in 2004, but that was before I became aware of how hapless a campaigner he was. My … [Read more...] about Why The 2012 Election Is Obama’s To Lose
Post-Fukushima Shakes: Just How Scared Should We Be?
The paradox of material and technological progress is that we seem to become more risk-averse the safer it makes us. Thus begins the close of a must-read op-ed in Monday's Wall Street Journal. It's not a surprise that the WSJ would lament risk-aversion. What was a surprise is that many of the arguments put forth are the same ones I have been making for two … [Read more...] about Post-Fukushima Shakes: Just How Scared Should We Be?
CORRECTION: Reported Hydrogen Explosion in Fukushima Daiichii Nuclear Power Plant
CORRECTION: for a short period of time, this article erroneously carried the word ‘nuclear’ in the headline, when the copy within the article clearly said ‘hydrogen.’ This has been corrected immediately. Full apology from me for this error. Here follows the rest of the original article. “… officials say they believe a hydrogen explosion occurred at the nuclear plant early … [Read more...] about CORRECTION: Reported Hydrogen Explosion in Fukushima Daiichii Nuclear Power Plant
Rationality from Right on Manning? Not Much.
Ed Morrissey thinks that “The White House acted appropriately in kicking Crowley out at State …” in response to Crowley’s public criticism of Pfc. Bradley Manning’s abusive treatment in detention. Then he defends the abuse itself (although of course he doesn’t consider it to be abuse) thusly: … [Read more...] about Rationality from Right on Manning? Not Much.
Video of the Moment the Tsunami Hit in Japan
The BBC offers this powerful video showing the moment the tsunami hit in Japan. … [Read more...] about Video of the Moment the Tsunami Hit in Japan
P.J. Crowley Has Resigned
I have a post up at Liberty Street. … [Read more...] about P.J. Crowley Has Resigned
Getting Past The Headlines: What’s Happening In Japan’s Nuclear Power Plants?
The situation in Japan is serious. But, as of 1.30 3.00 9.30 pm PDT, there has been no "nuclear explosion" even though you may have seen headlines or tweets to that effect. Officials assume, but have not confirmed, a "partial meltdown" which does not appear to be either a "China Syndrome" (thank you, Hollywood) or a "Chernobyl" (thank you, media). Four nuclear power plants … [Read more...] about Getting Past The Headlines: What’s Happening In Japan’s Nuclear Power Plants?
Between Two Nuclear Nightmares
What a difference 66 years makes! In 1945, the Japanese homeland was devastated, not by Nature, by my country dropping atomic bombs to save lives of soldiers like me in what surely would have been a bloody invasion. Now, an earthquake and tsunami have set off scrambling in that unwarlike nation to avert another nuclear catastrophe, and reports show the 8.9 magnitude seizure … [Read more...] about Between Two Nuclear Nightmares
Pentagon ‘Boondoggles’?
The New York Times today has an “Op-Chart” purporting to depict “The Pentagon’s biggest boondoggles.” According to the Times, the list of “boondoggles” is “just a sampling of what systems could be ended without endangering America; indeed, abandoning some of them might actually enhance national security.” Some of the alleged “boondoggles” whose abandonment, according to … [Read more...] about Pentagon ‘Boondoggles’?
Japan Earthquake Shifted Earth’s Axis and Moved Japan’s Coast 8 Feet
The massive 8.9 earthquake that slammed into Japan with a one-two-punch of a mega-powerful tsumani was so potent that it moved Japan's coastline 8 feet -- and shifted the earth's axis. See the before/after NASA photos above. CNN reports: The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and … [Read more...] about Japan Earthquake Shifted Earth’s Axis and Moved Japan’s Coast 8 Feet
Walker Union Buster
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Walker Union Buster
Japan Toll May Reach10,000 “Worst Crisis Since World War II”
The death toll from the earthquake/tsunmani that belted Japan could exceed 10,000 making it the country's worst crisis since World War II: The death toll from Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami on Friday is expected to exceed 10,000, Japanese news services announced Sunday. There are already 1,300 confirmed dead and 10,000 people are missing in just one … [Read more...] about Japan Toll May Reach10,000 “Worst Crisis Since World War II”
“I Have Come To The Paradoxical Conclusion That Technology Must Be Protected From Man”
As a scientific rationalist I get irritated when people argue without understanding all the facts, but as a student of history I get more irritated when people with the facts argue without understanding their limits. One of the things that engineers tend to do incorrectly is assess risk factors largely independent of each other: if X happens then part 1 will address it and if Y … [Read more...] about “I Have Come To The Paradoxical Conclusion That Technology Must Be Protected From Man”
Reminders From Japan
While the disaster in Japan impacted the Pacific Coast of the US, here in Oregon a few million dollars damage at Depot Bay and Brookings, it was mostly a reminder that a subduction zone like the one responsible for earthquake and tsunami in Japan can be found 75 miles of the Oregon Coast. An earthquake of similar magnitude occurred along that zone on January 26th, 1700. We … [Read more...] about Reminders From Japan
Explainer: Nuclear Power, Meltdowns and Why Japan Is Not Chernobyl
Updated In the wake of Friday's earthquake and tsunami, Japan has reported having problems with nuclear reactors at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, located about 150 miles north of Tokyo. This explainer provides an overview of nuclear power generation, summarizes what has happened (effective Saturday March 12, 5 pm PST), and rebuts an Internet meme that Japan is on … [Read more...] about Explainer: Nuclear Power, Meltdowns and Why Japan Is Not Chernobyl
“English-Only” in Texas?
Texas State Representative Leo Berman, R-Tyler, has sponsored a bill “relating to the establishment of English as the official language of Texas" and the requirement that official acts of government be performed in English. The proposed legislation cites several reasons why such a bill is necessary, including: * the people of the United States have brought to this … [Read more...] about “English-Only” in Texas?