Ordinarily, I would have posted this to my personal weblog, Random Fate, but it is currently down because of some issues related to WordPress and how it needs to be properly configured to not overwhelm system resources with the host computer. Unfortunately, I'm not enough of a guru to tell my hosting service how to fix the issue. For almost two decades, I've been searching … [Read more...] about My Quest for the Perfect Computer
Glenn Beck is an Idiot
But he's a useful idiot in showing off the infirmity of "color-blind" thinking. … [Read more...] about Glenn Beck is an Idiot
It’s Russert Versus Libby In Libby Plamegate Trial
So who are you going to believe? NBC's Tim Russert (who it turns out was a favorite of Dick Cheney's people in getting their spin out) or "Scooter" Libby (who frequently scooted to do Mr. Cheney's bidding)? To wit:NBC's Tim Russert, the last prosecution witness in I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's perjury trial, testified Wednesday he did not inform Libby of CIA operative Valerie … [Read more...] about It’s Russert Versus Libby In Libby Plamegate Trial
NOTE: My Own Posting Will Be Erratic Next Few Days
THIS IS FROM JOE GANDELMAN, NOT CAGLE CARTOONS: In response to emails: YES. My own posts have been erratic and limited for nearly a week due to a family emergency, a long roundtrip flight from San Diego to the east coast and some other matters. Between tomorrow and Saturday I'll also drive about 1200 miles. When you fly or drive, you simply can't post. And posting … [Read more...] about NOTE: My Own Posting Will Be Erratic Next Few Days
Boom Times: Busting Big Oil
In an email from the Hillary campaign team was the following problem statement: It's time to end our country's dependence on foreign oil. Unstable prices at the pump are a burden for families. Our dependence props up extremist regimes that threaten our national security. And the threat to our environment from burning fossil fuels is very real. Hillary is proposing a plan that … [Read more...] about Boom Times: Busting Big Oil
Astronaut Diaper Jail
Literary Quote of the Day: William Somerset Maugham
Today's literary quote of the day is from William Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage: People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise. H/t S.L. As always share your thoughts on today's literary quote in the comment section of this post. P.S. … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: William Somerset Maugham
Nonviolent Communication
Yesterday, commenter Christine Stanley linked to websites about 'nonviolent communication', wondering what commenter Chuck and yours truly (and everyone else of course) thought of the concept. For those interested, here are the links as provided by Christine: nonviolent communication website Wikipedia on nonviolent communication Wikipedia article on the creater of this … [Read more...] about Nonviolent Communication
(Updated) New Baghdad Security Sweep Is Underway
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki may have been the last to know, but Operation Baghdad, the new security sweep promised in President Bush's "surge" strategy is officially underway. The New York Times reports that: “It is ongoing as we speak,â€? said Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, a spokesman for the American military. “The implementation of the prime minister’s … [Read more...] about (Updated) New Baghdad Security Sweep Is Underway
Pot As a ‘Gateway’ Drug and Other Fictions
Not a month goes by without a new study on the evils or benefits – or beneficial evils – of marijuana. USA Today has entered the fray with an interesting story on how millions of baby boomers smoked pot in their youth and quit with little effort, while their kids are having a tougher time kicking the reefer habit. The story states that: [S]tudies have shown that … [Read more...] about Pot As a ‘Gateway’ Drug and Other Fictions
Haggard the Happy Heterosexual
I don't have too much to add to the whole sordid Ted Haggard affair beyond what I wrote back in November, which included this: The drug use, the closeted homosexuality, the solicitation of prostitution -- a life of hypocrisy, of empty moralism, of fear and self-loathing. And then the initial denials and subsequent admissions. And now the confession. It's such a good story, … [Read more...] about Haggard the Happy Heterosexual
Open Thread
Play nice. … [Read more...] about Open Thread
Reality Check
The Senate is locked in stalemate, a great deliberative body ground down by procedural minutiae, but, beyond the immediate politics of resolutions, debates on resolutions, and debates on debates on resolutions, where do the one hundred members of that august body stand on Iraq? As MyDD's Chris Bowers is reporting, The Politico has conducted a survey of all senators, asking … [Read more...] about Reality Check
The Event Club
I linked to chapter 6 of The Event yesterday, right after Mick LaSalle published it. A week ago, we had a long and passionate debate about The Event, some people liked it, some people didn't. Anyway, from now on I will link to the new chapter whenever it is published and, the next day, after everybody read the chapter, I thought it would be a good / fun idea to publish … [Read more...] about The Event Club
Joe Lieberman: The Lorax
With John Kerry out of the picture, it is difficult to find a Democrat whose political stock has fallen more than Joe Lieberman. There is much to admire about Lieberman, but much to dislike, and the portrait that Jeffrey Goldberg paints of the self-described “independent Democratâ€? from Connecticut in a New Yorker profile titled “The Loraxâ€? (after the Dr. Seuss … [Read more...] about Joe Lieberman: The Lorax
Who’s the Man?
John McIntyre wrote an interesting article for Real Clear Politics in which he deals with the 'conventional wisdom' that Rudy Giuliani "is un-nominatable as a Republican for President given his less than conservative positions on many social issues." In McIntyre's opinion... this conventional wisdom is wrong: Not only can Giuliani win the GOP nomination, but as the Republican … [Read more...] about Who’s the Man?
Arab Newspaper: U.S. Finally Realizes It Must Use Overwhelming Force
From the indispensible site Watching America, comes this translation from Kuwait's Arab Times that in effect says the U.S. has finally realized it must use "overwhelming force" (the Powell Doctrine) in Iraq:FOUR years after invading and occupying Iraq, allowing thousands to drown in lakes of blood and forcing huge numbers to migrate to other countries to escape sectarian … [Read more...] about Arab Newspaper: U.S. Finally Realizes It Must Use Overwhelming Force
Five More Reasons To Love Global Warming
From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about Five More Reasons To Love Global Warming
We’re the Government — and You’re Not
A video that shows you how to be a good citizen: Special thanks to moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe for the tip. … [Read more...] about We’re the Government — and You’re Not