WARNING: This post qualifies for the coveted R.D.S. ALERT Award. First, a disclaimer. I have not read, nor intend to read, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s memoir. I know that “reviewing” or discussing a book without reading it is the epitome of arrogance, ignorance and so many other “ances.” However, please indulge me because as the magnanimous … [Read more...] about ‘Known and Unknown’: A Review of Reviews
President Obama’s Strong Response
The White House has just released President Obama's response to the confusing antics of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. That statement reads as follows: President Obama on Egypt Posted by Jesse Lee on February 10, 2011 at 07:59 PM EST Moments ago, the President released the statement below: The Egyptian people have been told that there was a transition of … [Read more...] about President Obama’s Strong Response
The Third Vector in Egypt: Historically, Weakened Dictators Can Be Overwhelmed by Ambitious Generals In Their Own Army
Throughout history, dictators have had a hard time of it in at least one way: There is no security for them, no peaceful sleep really, no true protection other than iron-fist reaction to uprisings. A dictator traditionally, as in the case of the Romanovs, Joseph Stalin, various European Emperors, and others who left the populace to rot, had to fear -- the people they … [Read more...] about The Third Vector in Egypt: Historically, Weakened Dictators Can Be Overwhelmed by Ambitious Generals In Their Own Army
Egypt protestors might still be shot at
Sadly, Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman and the army are preparing to shoot live rounds at pro-democracy protestors even as Hosni Mubarak refuses to step down. Mubarak’s obduracy will anger the White House but Suleiman may believe that he has tacit support from the Obama administration to put down protests before they snowball further. The gap between Suleiman and the … [Read more...] about Egypt protestors might still be shot at
Egyptian Army Tanks: Military Mentality When Communication is Weak and Close Leadership Absent: Peril Becomes Far More Present
The first breakdown for any army is communication. As I understand it, many of Egypt's army forces were in cell phone and internet connection with headquarters and one another. How orders are now dissemanated at the same time and to all units is no longer tidy and dependable. This can cause disorder amongst units and their commanders, as each group does only what it sees … [Read more...] about Egyptian Army Tanks: Military Mentality When Communication is Weak and Close Leadership Absent: Peril Becomes Far More Present
Egypt’s Biggest Day of Protest to Come.
(Update to first post: Seems there is confusion to what President Hosni Mubarik actually did today. Some say he has succeeded power to the Vice President. Does not seem that the protesters heard this in the speech) Egyptian President Hosni Mubarik waited until about one hour before midnight to announce his unwillingness to succeed to the wishes of protesters. … [Read more...] about Egypt’s Biggest Day of Protest to Come.
Mubarak Said to Have Agreed to Step Down Tonight… but into what? He Holds the Roots, that is, The Army
I've often wondered what Nicolae Ceausescu , the former and cruel dictator of Romania who enslaved the Romanian and Swabian people post-Uncle Joe (Stalin), literally selling human beings as slaves to other countries, thought when he came to his balcony one day, and saw the streets crammed with demonstrators demanding his resignation. And more. Much more. Ceausescu too, like … [Read more...] about Mubarak Said to Have Agreed to Step Down Tonight… but into what? He Holds the Roots, that is, The Army
Mubarak Plays the Chaos Card
Update: After a day of false reports that he would be stepping down, Hosni Mubarak appears on Egyptian TV to offer a rambling self-justification and enrage protesting crowds with double-talk about peaceful transition. By doing so, he is inviting the chaos his supporters have been warning about--a self-fulfilling prophecy. The question arises, "Would you buy a used camel from … [Read more...] about Mubarak Plays the Chaos Card
Mubarak Seemingly Allowed Monty Pythonesque Quasi Resignation
For hours we had been waiting for the speech and everyone was wondering what had been taking so long. It now seems the delay was because the military and Mubarak were trying to hash out some sort of deal that would satisfy everyone. It does not look like they succeeded. The speech began with a litany of all the amazing things that he's done for Egypt, seemingly skipping … [Read more...] about Mubarak Seemingly Allowed Monty Pythonesque Quasi Resignation
The Sun Is Setting On Windows
Jeffrey Van Camp counts down the reasons why Microsoft is soooo last century. Number 3: Unfortunately, Windows is not a part of this growing smartphone ecosystem. While Microsoft continues to tinker and perfect Windows 7, it is largely the same operating system as it was when it was first released as Windows 95... For the longest time, its familiarity was one of Windows’ … [Read more...] about The Sun Is Setting On Windows
Some Object To Cost of Super Bowl Flyover
Amid the riveting news in Egypt is a story out today about the cost of the flyoverat the Super Bowl this year, estimated at around 400,000. I'm not much of a sports fan and only half watched the Super Bowl but I have to say this seems like a bit of an overreaction. As pointed out by some of the comments to the linked article, pilots have to log a set number of hours in … [Read more...] about Some Object To Cost of Super Bowl Flyover
Corruption Kills – Especially in Sub-Saharan Africa
Guest post by Aaron Scheinberg In a region where over 70 percent of citizens still depend on subsistence farming to survive, and where the number of people living on less than a dollar a day has increased fifty percent over the last 15 years, any barrier to growth in farming and agro-business can literally kill millions. And who is to blame for strengthening this hideous … [Read more...] about Corruption Kills – Especially in Sub-Saharan Africa
Senator Kyl To Retire
After seeing two of their seats (ND and Va) tip heavily to the GOP the Senate Democrats got some better news today with the retirement of Arizona Senator Jon Kyl (R). While the GOP certainly has a strong bench in Arizona (as noted in linked story) the Democrats also have good contenders including former governor and homeland security chief Janet Napolitano and potentially … [Read more...] about Senator Kyl To Retire
Internet Skepticism Laid Bare
In a lovely New Yorker essay, Adam Gopnik looks at the ever-expanding literature explaining why books no longer matter, now that it's the internet that's transforming our culture. The typical flavors -- the eulogistic, the alarmed, the sober, and the gleeful -- he reduces to three: All three kinds appear among the new books about the Internet: call them the Never-Betters, the … [Read more...] about Internet Skepticism Laid Bare
NBC News: Mubarak Will Resign Tonight UPDATE: Army To Take Over?
Amid reports that the Egyptian Army is considering an enhanced role in the its country's increasingly turbulent political situation, NBC News reports that Egyptian President Hosni Mubaraka will resign on Thursday. And a new report says power will go to a military junta. Here's the video: Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the … [Read more...] about NBC News: Mubarak Will Resign Tonight UPDATE: Army To Take Over?
Like Wikipedia But With Less of the Pesky Reading
I.B.M.’s Watson, named after IBM's founder, Thomas J. Watson, is an artificial intelligence program running on approximately 2,500 parallel processor cores, each able to perform up to 33 billion operations a second. Designed to answer questions posed in natural language, Watson will play “Jeopardy!” next week against the show’s top two living players, Ken Jennings and Brad … [Read more...] about Like Wikipedia But With Less of the Pesky Reading
Santorum Jabs Palin for Skipping CPAC
As we get closer and closer to 2012, more and more Republicans seem to be taking shots at one another, mostly subtle jabs meant to knock an opponent, or potential opponent, down a notch or two, as well as to reinforce one's own partisan, ideological bona fides. Take this, for example: Rick Santorum knocked Sarah Palin's decision to skip CPAC, saying on Tuesday that she must … [Read more...] about Santorum Jabs Palin for Skipping CPAC
Time To Bring Back The Spoils System?
With a new party taking a major share of power in Washington, bringing with it smaller government priorities, it's time to think about dramatic moves to reorganize the federal bureaucracy. It's time, in other words, to consider abolishing the present merit-based system of federal employment, and bringing back the old spoils system of hiring and firing. There's nothing … [Read more...] about Time To Bring Back The Spoils System?
Christine O’Donnell Just Keeps Embarrassing Herself
Sign #45,396 America has a sick political system: Christine O'Donnell, one of the most embarrassing Senate candidates in recent memory, has her own political action committee, ChristinePAC. She just won't go away. And -- gasp! -- she's targeting liberals: O'Donnell, who wrote that her losing campaign sent "shockwaves" throughout the nation, said in an e-mail to … [Read more...] about Christine O’Donnell Just Keeps Embarrassing Herself
Pentagon Program Moves Forward On Brain-Controlled Prosthetic
When you see the videos, you may think of Star Trek and The Borg. But a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration priority review program for exceptional medical devices will fast-track a DARPA-funded, brain-controlled prosthetic arm. FastCompany reports: The arm, which was developed at a cost of over $100 million by DARPA and Johns Hopkins University over the past five … [Read more...] about Pentagon Program Moves Forward On Brain-Controlled Prosthetic