Two recently-elected governors, John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, both ran on scrapping plans for high-speed rail lines in their respective states that would have been paid for with stimulus funds. Both felt, correctly in my view, that construction of these lines is a wasteful boondoggle destined to lose money in the long run and isn't driven by any real-world … [Read more...] about Obama admin slaps down OH, WI govs on high-speed rail
Sarah Palin’s Alaska Has The Ingredients To Be A Big Hit
The Hollywood Reporter: TLC is set to make one of the biggest bets of the year by taking arguably the most polarizing figure in politics and giving her a reality show... “Look at what happened in the election: A lot of people will tune in for Sarah Palin,” says Gary Carr, senior vp at media buyer TargetCast. TLC president and GM Eileen O’Neill is likewise confident Palin … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin’s Alaska Has The Ingredients To Be A Big Hit
Dave Niehaus dies at 75
It was just reported that longtime voice of the Mariners Dave Niehaus died today. An official statement of the cause of death has not yet been released. I'm including an article I wrote when Niehaus entered the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is a Seattle sports legend. God may love you and me, but his love for the Seattle Mariners is less certain. If he does love the … [Read more...] about Dave Niehaus dies at 75
PC Trivia
A little break from politics. Who manufactured one of the first personnel computers? Hint - it wasn't IBM or Apple. In the 70s and early 80s I worked at Tektronix as a manufacturing engineer in the CRT division. At the time Hiro Moriyasu developed the digital oscilloscope and the 4051 computer the best microprocessors were 8 bit which meant only 64K of memory could be … [Read more...] about PC Trivia
Dangerous Dollars: America’s ‘QEII’: Estadao, Brazil
Can the Federal Reserve revive the U.S. economy with a second round of 'quantitative easing', also known as QEII? In essence, this means injecting $600 billion that never existed before into the U.S. and global economy in $75 billion monthly increments. Reflecting the growing interconnectedness of the global economy, two of the articles we've posted on QEII demonstrate … [Read more...] about Dangerous Dollars: America’s ‘QEII’: Estadao, Brazil
Judge Sacked For Her Courtroom Reality Show
The California Commission on Judicial Performance has given the wackiest San Diego Superior Court judge in modern times five days to resign. The last caper for Judge DeAnn M. Salcido was filming a TV reality show in her El Cajon branch courtroom. In May she sued her boss, the presiding judge, for not enforcing domestic law the way she preferred. The suit was … [Read more...] about Judge Sacked For Her Courtroom Reality Show
Non Shocking News Story of the Year
Lou Dobbs lands at Fox. … [Read more...] about Non Shocking News Story of the Year
Supreme Court Hard(ly) At Work
Looking for an update on the U. S. Supreme Court? Here it is. Since returning to session on the first Monday in October, the Court has decided…wait for it…one case, Wilson v. Corcoran. That case was decided two days ago. The Court devoted seven pages of a per curiam opinion to let the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals know that the Supreme Court meant what it said 20 years … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Hard(ly) At Work
Attention Congress: Fix the Potholes (Guest Voice)
Attention Congress: Fix the Potholes by Tina Dupuy It’s an odd Americanism to elect someone to be in government who freely admits they don’t like government. As if reluctance translates into competence. “Oh he’ll be a great husband, especially since he doesn’t believe in marriage.” For some reason, we buy the premise of politicians begging to be a part of the thing they … [Read more...] about Attention Congress: Fix the Potholes (Guest Voice)
Stay Nancy Stay
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to appear on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Stay Nancy Stay
Do Nothing Party Prophecy
I wrote this column for a small Seattle area paper (The Auburn Reporter) in March of 2007. When I reread it today, I was struck by my unintentional prophecy. It’s Time To Do Nothing! by Doug Bursch I’ve decided to form a new political party. We’ll call ourselves the “do-nothings”. Our goal will be to complain about everything while we do absolutely nothing to change … [Read more...] about Do Nothing Party Prophecy
Peyote In Short Supply
For most Americans peyote is an illegal drug, outlawed both by federal and state law. But, for the 500,000 members of the Native American Church, peyote can be legally purchased and used for religious and ceremonial purposes. As an hallucinogenic substance that can invoke a dreamlike state for up to twelve hours, the naturally occurring substance also has a following in the … [Read more...] about Peyote In Short Supply
The Democratic Party’s Last Chance?
One definition of a lousy poker player is someone who throws away a winning hand, someone who loses with two pair to the guy across the table who's sitting with eight high and bluffs a win. That's also a pretty good definition of a lousy politician. Or a political party whose time has passed. The big issue before the coming lame duck session of Congress, an issue that will … [Read more...] about The Democratic Party’s Last Chance?
To Voters Who Wanted & Like 2010 Election Results: Tell Me Why I Should Not Feel Scared
Tell me why I should not be scared. Tell me why I should not worry. Tell me why I should not get a little nauseous every time I read a new sound bite or idea promoted by the newly elected public servants. Because when I open the paper, I find a lot about these folks that scares me – and they scared me before. Specifically, I feel the need for a very honest and thoughtful … [Read more...] about To Voters Who Wanted & Like 2010 Election Results: Tell Me Why I Should Not Feel Scared
Perspective
It's possible that we are all aliens from outer space. … [Read more...] about Perspective
Worth the Wait
Engineers began testing the Ground Zero memorial waterfall yesterday. The 30-foot black granite fountains, "Reflecting Absence," will be the largest man-made waterfalls on the continent. They are set to open next year in time for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack. National 9/11 Memorial website. AP video: Flickr Photo via Flatbush Gardner. … [Read more...] about Worth the Wait
A Veteran’s Story Made for the Movies
One meets some of the most interesting, some of the most endearing people sometimes by pure chance. So it happened that I met an unassuming young lady, a veteran, about two years ago. She had been an Air Force medic during Operation Southern Watch in 1999. She is a hero who was awarded the Airman’s Medal, one of the highest military decorations for heroism involving risk of … [Read more...] about A Veteran’s Story Made for the Movies
Kristallnacht, and the Lessons of History
Yesterday, 72 years ago, the Holocaust was ushered in by the two nights of organized rioting against Jews called Kristallnacht (night of broken glass). One of Michael Stickings' co-bloggers at The Reaction reminds us that the significance of Kristallnacht was that it moved Hitler's Germany from the first stage of the Holocaust -- legislated disenfranchisement and persecution of … [Read more...] about Kristallnacht, and the Lessons of History
Keith Is Back, And How
Here is Keith Olbermann commenting, at the end of his first show back from suspension last night. Perhaps most of you have already seen this, but I hadn't, since I don't get cable and I just now spotted this video at Talking Points Memo. … [Read more...] about Keith Is Back, And How
Waterboarding and Fetuses
That title is actually relevant because this post is about George W. Bush's new memoir, Decision Points. Gen. J.C. Christian, Patriot, was not impressed: … [Read more...] about Waterboarding and Fetuses