In 1884 the International Meridian Council suggested a zero point and a way to match clock time with the position of the sun. It looked good on paper but hasn't always made sense. We can see in the map below that times zones can be chaotic, Time zones are often social instruments rather than logical ones. China should have five time zones but only has one. India … [Read more...] about The sense and sometimes nonsense of time zones
The Current Presidential Race
Aristotle said that Man by nature is a political animal. When he said "animal", he wasn’t referring to the kind of animal that one might find in a petting zoo. Political animals are more like the carnivores that one might encounter during an African safari. When dealing with one, it is a good idea to be armed with an elephant gun and plenty of ammunition. Speaking of … [Read more...] about The Current Presidential Race
Donald Trump’s diabolical plan to own centre stage
I think everyone is noticing a phenomenon that Steve Benen wrote about a few days ago, which is that Donald Trump is driving a lot of the debate amongst Republican presidential candidates. It reminds me of something a counsellor friend once said to me, which is that in any group of people, whether family or friends or co-workers or whatever, one person frequently gets the … [Read more...] about Donald Trump’s diabolical plan to own centre stage
The Past Through Pictures V
It's not as hot today but it's still warm so how about some more winter pictures from Munich. Swans in the Isar river that cuts through Munich. Ice skating: Links to previous posts. Change Is Hard – II The Past Through Pictures The Past Through Pictures II The Past Through Pictures III The Past Through Pictures IV … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures V
South Carolina Senate Approves Flag Removal Bill
State Senate gives final passge of the bill on a vote of 36-3 with 5 not voting. They needed 67% they got 92% of those who voted and 82% of overall membership. Goes to State House next, where test votes suggest similar margins. One test vote passed 93-18 which is 83% or 75% of overall membership. … [Read more...] about South Carolina Senate Approves Flag Removal Bill
Bernie Sanders, Guns, And A Respect For Individual Liberty
Clinton supporters have increasingly been trying to smear Bernie Sanders by claiming he is pro-guns and supports the NRA. Actually the NRA has in various years given him grades of F and D- on gun control measures which he has supported, including bans on assault weapons, restrictions on concealed weapons, ending the “gun-show loophole,” and expanded background checks, plus … [Read more...] about Bernie Sanders, Guns, And A Respect For Individual Liberty
The American Nightmare
In my old age I find myself musing more and more. So what is the American nightmare? It's the suburbs. I grew up in a middle to upper middle class neighborhood less than 2 miles from downtown Portland. Our neighborhood was a community. We interacted with each other and helped each other as needed. We had community barbecues on the weekends and occasionally took a weekend … [Read more...] about The American Nightmare
Eugene McCarthy 2.0?
WASHINGTON -- Is Bernie Sanders the political reincarnation of Eugene McCarthy? I doubt it, but let's hope he makes the Democratic presidential race interesting. I don't know if front-runner Hillary Clinton shares my wish, but she ought to. I'm not of the school that believes competition for competition's sake is always a good thing. But Sanders has an appeal for … [Read more...] about Eugene McCarthy 2.0?
Whether Greece stays or goes, Europe must do what it can to protect the future of the EU
Thousands of Greeks spent Sunday celebrating their overwhelming rejection of their creditors' terms for assistance in managing the country's massive debt. It was a picturesque reaction, but raised the question: just what, exactly, were they celebrating? They awakened Monday to find themselves citizens of a country that is in default of €240 billion ($335.7 billion), and… … [Read more...] about Whether Greece stays or goes, Europe must do what it can to protect the future of the EU
Obama to Meet With Vietnam Communist Party Chief
Forty years after the fall of Saigon and the end of one of America’s most unpopular, divisive and costly wars, President Barack Obama will be hosting none other than Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong in the White House on Tuesday. While economic relations and trade issues with Pacific Rim nations are important -- Trong's support for the Trans-Pacific … [Read more...] about Obama to Meet With Vietnam Communist Party Chief
Obama Plans Clemency to Free Nonviolent Drug Offenders
Obama plans to free dozens of federal prisoners held on nonviolent drug offenses. The New York Times reported: Sometime in the next few weeks, aides expect President Obama to issue orders freeing dozens of federal prisoners locked up on nonviolent drug offenses. With the stroke of his pen, he will probably commute more sentences at one time than any president has in nearly … [Read more...] about Obama Plans Clemency to Free Nonviolent Drug Offenders
Global Warming
A friend of mine on Facebook said last night that it is a good thing global warming is a hoax -imagine how hot it would be if it wasn't. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have had a record breaking heat spell. And I do mean record breaking. I have lived here most of my life and I remember 2, 3 or even 4 hot days of hot temperatures followed by a cool down - this has been … [Read more...] about Global Warming
South Carolina Likely To Remove Flag (Updated)
Updated: 1:11pm/4:11pm The South Carolina Senate has voted 37-3 in favor of the bill to remove the confederate battle flag This was the 2nd of 3 procedural votes with the final vote likely tomorrow. It could be that some who voted yes on this one will vote no on the next but 37-3 provides more than enough margin to get the needed 2/3rds. One chamber down, one to … [Read more...] about South Carolina Likely To Remove Flag (Updated)
Silly Comments for a Silly Presidential Election Season
Fair Warning: As we enter the 2016 presidential election silly season, what was once the GOP presidential candidates “Clown Car” has now grown into an oversized, overladen, over ripe “Clown Bus” packed with characters trying to attract the voters’ attention by competing to see who can offend the most people the most with their dog whistles and red meat “rallying … [Read more...] about Silly Comments for a Silly Presidential Election Season
Three Commandments for Every State Capitol
The Oklahoma Supreme Court this past week ordered the legislature and the executive branch to remove a six-foot tall Ten Commandments granite monument from the front of the state house. The monument was placed there in January and is a direct violation of the First Amendment. The response by dozens of legislators, most of whom may be illiterate about the Constitution, was … [Read more...] about Three Commandments for Every State Capitol
Politix Update: Why Hillary Clinton’s State Department Emails Are Much Ado About Little
It is said that the cover-up is always worse than the crime, but in the case of Hillary Clinton's State Department emails, what is the crime? And beyond the partisan ankle biting, is the cover-up -- such as it is -- over something any different than what other government bigs, not the least of whom were Bush administration officials, have done? Perhaps I'm like the last … [Read more...] about Politix Update: Why Hillary Clinton’s State Department Emails Are Much Ado About Little
The Past Through Pictures IV
About an hour south of Munich is Austria. A country of splendid alpine vistas and beautiful lakes and rivers. In addition there are ancient cities and towns. One of my favorites was Gmunden, one of the first homes of the Celts as they migrated into Western Europe. Gmunden had a couple of things going for it - a mountain of salt and a lake full of fish. They sold … [Read more...] about The Past Through Pictures IV
Greeks defy Europe with overwhelming referendum “No”
By Lefteris Papadimas and Renee MaltezouATHENS (Reuters) - Greeks overwhelmingly rejected conditions of a rescue package from creditors on Sunday, throwing the future of the country's euro zone membership into further doubt and deepening a standoff with lenders.As the euro slid more than 1 percent against the dollar and European stock and bond markets were poised to take a … [Read more...] about Greeks defy Europe with overwhelming referendum “No”
Single Payer Coming?
It looks like we might be heading in the direction of a single payer health care system, but not in the way we wanted. Aetna is seeking to buy Humana. While this would not actually be single payer, it would further decrease competition in the insurance industry. There is also speculation that UnitedHealth is interested in purchasing Cigna and Aetna. Instead of a single=payer … [Read more...] about Single Payer Coming?
SciFi Weekend: Hannibal; Summer Television Briefs Including Extant, Under The Dome,The Last Ship, Mr. Robot, Humans
This week's episode of Hannibal, Contorno, has finally moved past set-up and it finally feels like the real action for the season has begun. Generally, when someone thinks they have the upper hand against Hannibal, in reality Hannibal is already several steps ahead of them. Pazzi decided to seek a bounty for capturing Hannibal rather than have the authorities arrest him in a … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Hannibal; Summer Television Briefs Including Extant, Under The Dome,The Last Ship, Mr. Robot, Humans