Post-Father's Day Post

• Technology: I was upset to see news about a fatal crash on Metro's Red Line... fortunately I'm not aware of any friends who were hurt but that does little to allay the sadness I feel for those who lost loved ones on the commute home. After the situation in California a few months ago involving an engineer who was texting prior to his accident, I sincerely hope that is a mechanical flaw, not operator error. Very, very sad.
• War: it'll take a lot more than some nuts-o midget to break Hawaiians from their 'hang loose' attitude. It would be one thing if anyone had a modicum of confidence that North Korea actually has the technological know-how to build a ham radio, to say nothing of a ballistic nuclear device... our island-dwelling countrymen have little (or nothing) to fear.
• Politics: one thing that's been conspicuously absent from Washington, DC in recent years is pragmatism and, contrary to sentiments from the left, I'm happy President Obama is a practitioner. Government isn't a zero-sum game and it takes silence and compromise to get great things done... too many folks looked forward to the change in administration as an opportunity to go hog wild and I'm glad we haven't gone down that road... yet. We wanted a smart, thoughtful President and now we've got one... I can't wait for the first Republican to bust Obama's chops about his (non) response to the Iranian election.
• Iran: forget Western news outlets, a preferred source of information for the Middle East has a fairly unbiased perspective about what's going on in the wake of apparent fraud... regardless of how newsworthy the Iranian struggle is, let's not forget some of the bigger fish in the sea; the situation in (and threat posed by) Pakistan makes almost any other country look like a joke.
• Society: Given the gravity of current events, I couldn't care less whether President Obama still smokes... it says something about the apparent laziness of White House reporters when their overwhelming focus is a childish game of Got Cha! And folks wonder why news organizations are going out of business....
• Technology, pt. 2: Methinks blow back to Nokia et al. will not be good when the whole Iranian vote thing simmers down... it's one thing to pick up a fat, juicy government contract; it's quite another when you know your work will be used to ill ends.

Feels like summer post!

• Iran: what better way to get a rogue government into the fold than to invite them over for hot dogs, beers, and fireworks? Say what you will about the more distant future, this is a brilliant attempt at reconciliation!
• Politics: at this point (actually, far earlier), Pelosi just needs to shut up... we've got enough to worry about from the right without further fueling the fire with inane sound bites and further waffling... enough, already.
• Government: just when I thought we'd turned a corner on the bumbling incompetence of the previous administration, someone goes and gives the enemy our playbook... I (obviously) have a ton of respect for the men and women who work for our country but man, do stories like this make it tough sometimes.
• Irony: I don't know what I enjoy more, thinking about the demise of Hummer or knowing current owners now own a foreign vehicle... oh sweet, sweet, justice!
• Asia: the idea that Kim Jong-il might appoint his son is both disturbing and vaguely amusing... it's difficult to imagine how someone who digs Micheal Jordan- Air Jordan!- would be interested in harming anyone, to say nothing of unleashing thermonuclear war on unsuspecting masses; might this be a good thing?

Post-Memorial Day post

• Michigan: while I take my hat off to Gov. Granholm for acting as the state's cheerleader, the phrase "too little, too late" comes to mind... the entire tenor of this piece makes it sound like the waste and greed and stupidity that's existed for decades can be washed away by so much good PR. Sadly, it's going to take much, much more than that.
• Politics: in perhaps on of the sickest episodes of this new Congress, Democrats in grain-producing states are threatening to kill the climate bill to save wasteful, nearly criminal subsidies for a government-contrived business... we need to move away from fossil fuels, but this isn't the way to do it. Further, how can you mandate an analysis such as the on conducted by the EPA, the disregard their findings? I thought we were beyond this stuff.
• Public Health: consider the number of victims claimed by "swine flu" and our response to that threat... then think about what that response would have been if the number was anywhere near 100,000. $3.5 million from the international community is an insult.
• Justice: I don't know which is sicker, starting an incestuous relationship with an 8-year old girl or limiting jail time for such an offender to 50 years in prison... if ever there was need for exception, this would be it.

Ides of May Hump Day!

• Terrorism: I'm torn with the latest decision by the Obama administration... on the one hand I think it will ultimately be helpful for these pictures to finally come out so that the nation might collectively heal and several really bad lawyers will get disbarred (at least). On the other hand, this move reflects the sort of thought that wasn't present in the past administration and, until proven otherwise, I have to think about it as a delay and not obstructionism. We'll see.
• Government: so I saw a story in WAPO a little while ago about that I thought was sort of interesting... what if governmental employees in myriad departments could communicate without the usual bureaucracy? While I'm not sure it will ever compete with Facebook, I joined GovLoop and I'm cautiously optimistic that something positive will come out of this experiment in social networking; at least it isn't blocked on my machine at work... yet.
• Science: I've spent too much time mucking around inside DNA to think of it as anything other than a type of Trust, placed on researchers to explore and share for the betterment of society. I'm fundamentally opposed to the idea of patenting those little strands of A and T and C and G and, while I'm aware that this research costs money and some mechanism for recouping those investments should be constructed, these data (and the little bits of information inside our bodies represented therein) belong to all of us.
• Finance: while I'm in favor of regulating banking and credit companies, limiting interest rates isn't the way to do it. Yes, it makes me sick that folks are socked with 30%+ rates but those situations can be avoided- tear up the envelope when it arrives at your house. As noted, serious offenders can be hauled into court and made accountable... as for those holding the cards, it's a tough lesson to learn but the government can't play parent for everyone.
• Environment: regardless of whether someone believes in Global Warming (as if there's a real doubt), loss of coral reefs is a catastrophe beyond comprehension. Saying nothing about the staggering amount of biodiversity, these areas represent one of the most unique treasures on earth... this should concern anyone with a soul.
• Society: after visiting Holland a few years ago, I became painfully aware of the absolutely stupid laws this countries has; banning absinthe is a throw-back to a time when people knew far less than they do now. It was dumb to exclude this spirit and I'm happy to see the times, they are a changin'... drink up!

Cinco de Mayo!

• Food: my love for pork is well-documented but there's something fundamentally wrong with the exportation of an American crop to some far-flung local... it's one thing to buy blackberries from Mexico when they're out of season, but buying animals grown in the middle of nowhere (even if they're used for bacon) is something completely different.
• Religion: we've backed Israel's idiotic policies long enough, it's time to work toward a practical solution to the issues facing the most volatile region in the world. I've long advocated turning the whole region into a UN protectorate but, short of that, there needs to be movement toward a two state solution.
• Finance: so let me get this straight...lenders made bad bets, the company they were invested in went belly up (and found a solution to that problem), the lenders refused reconditioned terms, and now they're suing...can anyone say "Screw them"? The whole reason American companies are in the situation they're in is because lenders and unions don't realize the landscape changed... these guys are counting on a governmental bailout (in contrast to necessary intervention) and they should go broke because of their inflexibility and greed.
• Health: the notion that Mexicans are feeling slighted because of swine flu isn't just absurd, it's laughable. Any responsible government would have done the same thing the Chinese did, and let's not forget that out buddies south of the border refused to acknowledge this thing until it spread to the U.S. Tough as it may be, quit griping and work on transparency.
• Society: what's more American than having naked photos taken while trying to make millions as a Victoria's Secret model? I'm so tired of this "qualification" being used to discount models from competitions... what, exactly, is this standard of excellence that purport to extol? Who actually looks to these women as roll models?

NYT Wednesday

• Heath: I just ate here to show support for all things porcine... verdict? Phase 6 awesome! Lips that touch mine should dig on swine.
• Education: if you don't read anything else, read the first line of this Op-Ed piece... the American higher education system is a mess, the only industry that hasn't changed in the last 200 years. Coupled with a crazy, Baby-Boomer fueled value system, kids today are getting a bum steer and have a better chance of getting in debt than actually learning. As a totally biased entity, I seriously hope they figure out how to change (for the better).
• Afghanistan: it's no secret that the real battle isn't going to be what we've been screwing around with in Iraq... what, with a couple of million gallons of RoundUp, we could be done with the entire scourge known as heroin. Turns out that the Taliban isn't planning to turn tail, though, and this fight is going to be bloody, tough, and long.
• Civil Rights: the fact that the NRA does more to undermine the United States, its Constitution, and general civil rights is indisputable; the fact that their power lead to the expiration of the assault weapons ban is criminal. More than almost any issue, we as a society need to agree that these weapons have no place in our society and treat people who support their manufacture and sale like the psychopaths they are. Oh, and Carter still rocks!
• Drugs: it seems like everyone in Mexico is stuck between a rock and several hard places, and their cops are no exception... difficult as their job may be, there is never any legitimate reason to cause more fear than you quell. Corruption in Third World law enforcement is rampant and folks in this part of the world need to be able to trust someone; people who abuse the badge should be treated just like the crooks they're supposed to be chasing - string 'em up.
• Africa: there's going to be a steep learning curve on the part of Somali pirates, starting with the lesson that you don't get caught by Russians... it's sort of like the hostage deal (don't take Russians hostage), because these dudes are nuts and they don't play. It would surprise me if they shoot these guys and post photos of it.
• Sex: imagine how much could get done in this country is women banded together and collectively held out? I can't think of a more persuasive way to get a point across....

• Michigan: just when you think the state has hit rock bottom, there's something like this... it's like someone took all the good ideas and just ran away. Do yourself a favor and read the comments, too.
• Judgement: much has been made about Bush era torture memos and it will certainly be interesting to see who, if anyone, is ever held accountable. In the meantime, plenty of fear mongers will champion the necessity of tough treatment, and it's important to remember what we're "fighting" for after all.
• More soon....