... turned to shit.
Me? If I were the head of the DNC, I'd NEVER let the country forget this:
EVERYTHING W TOUCHED TURNED TO SHIT!
... and play multiple fugues upon this theme.
EVERYTHING the GOP touched turned to shit!
Repeat, over and over. Ad nauseam.
Whenever a GOP opponent says anything, laugh...
LOUDLY!
- and remind folks that EVERYTHING THE GOP TOUCHES TURNS TO SHIT!
Don't be afraid to trash Saint Reagan!
- Tax-cuts for the wealthy?
"Oh, you mean voodoo economics!"
- De-regulation?
"Oh, you mean the Savings & Loan disaster!"
EVERYTHING THE GOP TOUCHES TURNS TO SHIT!!!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
More: the gift that keeps on giving
NKorea sentences 2 US journalists to 12 years jail
By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press
7 June 2009
SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea said its top court convicted two U.S. journalists and sentenced them to 12 years in labor prison Monday, intensifying the reclusive nation's confrontation with the United States.
Recall:
Never forget: EVERYTHING that W touched turned to shit!
[an old bumper sticker: "I never thought I'd miss Nixon!"]
p.s On the lighter side... from an old segment of "The Capital Gang", following a trip by NM Governor Bill Richardson to North Korea:
By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press
7 June 2009
SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea said its top court convicted two U.S. journalists and sentenced them to 12 years in labor prison Monday, intensifying the reclusive nation's confrontation with the United States.
Recall:
On March 7, 2001, barely a month into Bush's new term, South Korean president Kim Dae-jung made a working visit to Washington in hope of keeping the Clinton policy on North Korea on track under the new US administration. On the eve of the Kim visit, Powell told reporters that the Bush administration would build on the Clinton momentum on North Korea. The White House instantly rebuked Powell, with Bush making it clear that his administration would do no such thing.The fruits of W's misguided rejection of diplomacy with North Korea?
[PART 8: Bush's bellicose policy on N Korea , Asia Times, 5 Jan 2007; emphasis added]
North Korea has actively re-started its nuke program.Quite a coup, W!
North Korea has actively continued testing ICBMs.
... and now, North Korea is playing high-stakes international politics with American journalists.
Never forget: EVERYTHING that W touched turned to shit!
[an old bumper sticker: "I never thought I'd miss Nixon!"]
p.s On the lighter side... from an old segment of "The Capital Gang", following a trip by NM Governor Bill Richardson to North Korea:
CARLSON: ... I think we should all sleep better tonight knowing that peace is at hand between New Mexico and North Korea.
[CNN CAPITAL GANG, 11 Jan 2003]
This doesn't sound good
1Q credit card delinquency rate jumps 11 percent
I note that the professionals who get their views published are almost all citing various indicators to support the "forecast" that the recession is bottoming out.
Me? Until SecTreas Geithner presents a clear strategy for dealing with the big banks and other Wall Street powers, I'm skeptical.
... and I've pretty much lost hope that SecTreas Geithner will EVER present a clear strategy.
I'm coming to the conclusion that a half-dozen randomly selected voters could do a better job crafting an economic policy than the economic whizzes in Obama's administration.
I note that the professionals who get their views published are almost all citing various indicators to support the "forecast" that the recession is bottoming out.
Me? Until SecTreas Geithner presents a clear strategy for dealing with the big banks and other Wall Street powers, I'm skeptical.
... and I've pretty much lost hope that SecTreas Geithner will EVER present a clear strategy.
I'm coming to the conclusion that a half-dozen randomly selected voters could do a better job crafting an economic policy than the economic whizzes in Obama's administration.
Hmmm... I wonder... [update]
Lebanon's pro-Western majority declares victory
Ya think Obama's Cairo speech might have helped?
(... or maybe just that Obama's now in the White House - not his blustering, belligerent predecessor?)
[Update: I'm not the only one thinking these thoughts. Here's the HuffPost headline:
p.s. Why do I use the descriptor "so-called"? In today's political debate, I prefer to think of myself not as "progressive" but as "sane"!
Ya think Obama's Cairo speech might have helped?
(... or maybe just that Obama's now in the White House - not his blustering, belligerent predecessor?)
[Update: I'm not the only one thinking these thoughts. Here's the HuffPost headline:
The Obama Effect? Pro-Western Majority Declares Victory Over Hezbollah In LebanonNote the framing: The Obama Effect is first - the eye-catching phrase!... and the explicit Victory Over Hezbollah is prominent. (Recall: Hezbollah is the axis-of-evil-Iranian-supported terrorist group.) THESE are the rhetorical devices we so-called progressives oughta be using FREQUENTLY!]
p.s. Why do I use the descriptor "so-called"? In today's political debate, I prefer to think of myself not as "progressive" but as "sane"!
Hooray for the Iraqis!
Iraqis detain 5 US contractors in Baghdad
By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press
7 June 2009
BAGHDAD – Five U.S. contractors have been detained in the investigation of the slaying of another American in Baghdad's Green Zone, officials said Sunday, in what may become the first case of U.S. citizens facing Iraqi justice under a security agreement that took effect this year.
Three thoughts.
Thought #1: Hooray for the Iraqis! - legitimately exercising their sovereignty.
Thought #2: I'm wondering how many more similar events it'll take before even Bill Kristol thinks it's time for us to LEAVE IRAQ!
Thought #3 (related to Thought #2): How many more similar incidents will it take till KBR, Parsons, Xe, and the other thieves, criminals, and war profiteers decide that maybe they'd rather not be in Iraq?
By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press
7 June 2009
BAGHDAD – Five U.S. contractors have been detained in the investigation of the slaying of another American in Baghdad's Green Zone, officials said Sunday, in what may become the first case of U.S. citizens facing Iraqi justice under a security agreement that took effect this year.
Three thoughts.
Thought #1: Hooray for the Iraqis! - legitimately exercising their sovereignty.
Thought #2: I'm wondering how many more similar events it'll take before even Bill Kristol thinks it's time for us to LEAVE IRAQ!
Thought #3 (related to Thought #2): How many more similar incidents will it take till KBR, Parsons, Xe, and the other thieves, criminals, and war profiteers decide that maybe they'd rather not be in Iraq?
Our MBA president: The gift that keeps on giving
APNewsBreak: Major problems found in war spending
By RICHARD LARDNER, Associated Press
7 June 2009
WASHINGTON – This is one Christmas gift U.S. taxpayers don't need. Construction of a $30 million dining facility at a U.S. base in Iraq is scheduled to be completed Dec. 25. But the decision to build it was based on bad planning and botched paperwork.
...
In its first report to Congress, the Wartime Contracting Commission presents a bleak assessment of how tens of billions of dollars have been spent since 2001. The 111-page report, obtained by The Associated Press, documents poor management, weak oversight, and a failure to learn from past mistakes as recurring themes in wartime contracting."
Ah, yes: the miracle of the market!
- Private enterprise is inherently efficient
- No need for oversight... No-bid contracts will work like a charm
- No patriotic company would ever give us anything but the very best
Quoting Karl Rove:
By RICHARD LARDNER, Associated Press
7 June 2009
WASHINGTON – This is one Christmas gift U.S. taxpayers don't need. Construction of a $30 million dining facility at a U.S. base in Iraq is scheduled to be completed Dec. 25. But the decision to build it was based on bad planning and botched paperwork.
...
In its first report to Congress, the Wartime Contracting Commission presents a bleak assessment of how tens of billions of dollars have been spent since 2001. The 111-page report, obtained by The Associated Press, documents poor management, weak oversight, and a failure to learn from past mistakes as recurring themes in wartime contracting."
Ah, yes: the miracle of the market!
- Private enterprise is inherently efficient
- No need for oversight... No-bid contracts will work like a charm
- No patriotic company would ever give us anything but the very best
Quoting Karl Rove:
“I know lots of stupid people who went to Ivy League schools.”Yes, Karl, I bet you do... I can name one of 'em!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
A "thought for the day"
"SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES; NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS."
[via email]
[via email]
Friday, June 5, 2009
Fun with statistics
On Tuesday I had 11 visitors (excluding me!).
On Wednesday I had 17 visitors (ditto).
On Thursday I had 21 visitors (ditto).
At this rate, I should have 100K+ visitors/day in just over... 54 years!
On Wednesday I had 17 visitors (ditto).
On Thursday I had 21 visitors (ditto).
At this rate, I should have 100K+ visitors/day in just over... 54 years!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
... and now for something completely different!
A few posts back I included an embed of a YouTube vid: "The Court of King Caractacus".
There were a number of reasons for this pointless post:
Once upon a time I was an industrial statistician (as in, "a statistician working in industry"... not "a tough, resilient statistician"). Among my duties? Training engineers to do statistics relevant to their jobs.
I was also required to TAKE classes - continuing-education for industrial statisticians & others. One of the very few classes that had an impact on my behavior as a practicing industrial statistician? "Accelerated Learning": designing effective training classes. The basic idea? Make classes activity-based.
Tonight, in a completely different context, I had occasion - for the first time in a long while - to think about this again. Here are a few reflections on the topic:
There were a number of reasons for this pointless post:
1. My interest in it derives from G&S'sIt is that last point to which THIS post is addressed!
The Pirates of Penzance.The Major-General's song:2. It's simply fun!"... and tell you every detail of Caractacus's uniform."(More on which - if you're truly bored - to be found here.)
3. It illustrates a principle of effective training:"Engage as many senses as possible!"
Once upon a time I was an industrial statistician (as in, "a statistician working in industry"... not "a tough, resilient statistician"). Among my duties? Training engineers to do statistics relevant to their jobs.
I was also required to TAKE classes - continuing-education for industrial statisticians & others. One of the very few classes that had an impact on my behavior as a practicing industrial statistician? "Accelerated Learning": designing effective training classes. The basic idea? Make classes activity-based.
Tonight, in a completely different context, I had occasion - for the first time in a long while - to think about this again. Here are a few reflections on the topic:
A book was included with the class:My experience re-designing stat classes to be 'experiential' and focused on DOING is that...
Creative Training Techniques Handbook.
- Note the title word: "training" - this is focused on 'training' NOT on 'education'. One of the things it took me way too long to realize as a trainer in industry was that there's a difference between 'education' and 'training'. 'Education' is aimed at 'understanding'; 'training' is aimed at 'changing behavior'.
Random thoughts (things I remember) from the class:Provide crayons & scrap paper to all participants - encourage doodlingSome chord-striking quotations from the first few chapters of the book:pedagogical value: doodling really can promote memory/learningProvide a cartoonish 'course map' to further encourage doodling & using the crayonspedagogical value: helps students figure out where we are, where we're going, and what the objective is... + doodling/coloring promotes memory/learningCheating is good.When I re-designed my stat classes, I almost always started out with a 'final exam' - 10-20 questions to be answered in teams of 2-3If you want students to leave the class knowing how to DO something, build the class around 'em DOING those things!Students were told explicitly: "If you can't find the answer in the student workbook, ask another team for help!"(note: I typically had a LOT of activites designed to drive home this point: "Everything you need to know is in the book, AND YOU CAN FIND IT!")pedagogical value: ALL the stuff you need to know is in the student workbook... AND YOU CAN FIND IT! (... Oh, and, by the way: how do you do things at work? - if you don't know, you ask a colleague!)
(Recall: leaving the class knowing how to DO something is what distinguishes 'training' from 'education'!)"Adults are babies with big bodies."More chord-striking quotations:
(Babies learn by playing - so do adults)
"Learning is directly proportional to the amount of fun you have."
"Learning has not taken place until behavior has changed."
(Recall - we're talking about 'training')"You cannot motivate other people."Finally:
"All people are motivated."
"People do things for their reasons, not your reasons."When designing 'activity-based' classes, it's important (critical) to remember that the activities aren't simply tacked on to the material, the activities ARE the material!
1. it takes a LOT MORE up-front work to design the class effectivelyNow you know.
2. it takes a LOT LESS work to teach the class once it's designed (with all materials in place, activities designed, etc.)
Old News
Headlines for Apr/May 2009:
Published bimonthly (which in this context means every other month).
Subscription? $17/year (six issues); $33/2 yrs (12 issues).
p.s. disambiguation: "bimonthly" in American English can mean either
Nevertheless, as stated, it's the cleanest disambiguation I've discovered.
Any other suggestions?
Alcock and Brown Fly Atlantic OceanOld News is one of the three periodicals to which I subscribe. It's formatted as a newspaper (typically 12 pages), with short articles from history - from ancient times to WWII. Pictures (all black & white) accompany most articles - photos when available; etchings, woodcuts, paintings otherwise.
Jack Johnson Wins Championship Fight
Lord Grey Reforms British Government
Apple-Tree Grower Inspires FolkloreA Camping Trip with Johnny Appleseed
Published bimonthly (which in this context means every other month).
Subscription? $17/year (six issues); $33/2 yrs (12 issues).
Old NewsNow you know.
3 W. Brandt Blvd
Landisville, PA 17538-9964
p.s. disambiguation: "bimonthly" in American English can mean either
every-other month;or
twice a month.The easiest disambiguation I've discovered is to adopt the British "fortnightly" for "twice-a-month", and to use "bimonthly" to mean "every-other-month"... Tho' "fortnightly" really means every fourteen days, which isn't the same as "twice a month".
Nevertheless, as stated, it's the cleanest disambiguation I've discovered.
Any other suggestions?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
I didn't know he had a vote!
Rush flips; may support Sotomayor
Andy Barr, Politico.com
3 June 2009
After calling Judge Sonia Sotomayor a “reverse racist” last week, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh said Wednesday that he may now possibly support President Barack Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court.
Is Limbaugh delusional?
Does he really believe he gets to vote on her?
note: as one of the ABQ Old-Guy Bloggers reminds me - she was a Bush I appointee to the federal bench!
Andy Barr, Politico.com
3 June 2009
After calling Judge Sonia Sotomayor a “reverse racist” last week, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh said Wednesday that he may now possibly support President Barack Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court.
Is Limbaugh delusional?
Does he really believe he gets to vote on her?
note: as one of the ABQ Old-Guy Bloggers reminds me - she was a Bush I appointee to the federal bench!
eBay currency index
That 499.99 GBP item?
It's now at $821.38!
On 17 Mar I reported:
p.s. from $704.34 on 17 March to $821.38 on 2 June is about a 42% decline of the dollar.
At an annualized rate: 58%!
We're getting poorer by the minute!
It's now at $821.38!
On 17 Mar I reported:
the dollar dropped today...Again: it may be time to re-think that European vacation!
how do i know?
eBay! - a "buy it now" item listed at 499.99 GBP is currently at $704.34.
Yesterday it was in the mid-$690s.
Yes - even eBay is a source of financial information!
p.s. from $704.34 on 17 March to $821.38 on 2 June is about a 42% decline of the dollar.
At an annualized rate: 58%!
We're getting poorer by the minute!
I'd be more sympathetic... IF
I'd be more sympathetic to the pro-life folks IF:
They didn't applaud murder.As it is, my impression is that once fetus metamorphoses into newborn, they lose all interest in the LIFE before them.
They were pro-LIVING: supporting, e.g.,S-CHIP
Aid to single mothers
Early childhood education
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
"How I start my day"
The right nav bar includes a list of sites labeled "How I start my day."
Both the list & the descriptor are accurate...
BUT: my day frequently starts at about 10 p.m.!
Both the list & the descriptor are accurate...
BUT: my day frequently starts at about 10 p.m.!
Probably not wise, but was this really a "secret"?
U.S. Releases Secret List of Nuclear Sites Accidentally
By WILLIAM J. BROAD, NYT
Published: June 2, 2009
The federal government mistakenly made public a 266-page report, its pages marked “highly confidential,” that gives detailed information about hundreds of the nation’s civilian nuclear sites and programs, including maps showing the precise locations of stockpiles of fuel for nuclear weapons.
Okay - this was a screw-up.
BUT: how much of the information was truly "secret" - unknown and unknowable via publicly available sources?
Me? I think our "classification" system needs radical reform... pretty much starting from scratch.
With very few exceptions, everything gets declassified TOMORROW! - if it really ought to be kept secret, the owner provides a cogent, clear, defensible rationale TODAY.
By WILLIAM J. BROAD, NYT
Published: June 2, 2009
The federal government mistakenly made public a 266-page report, its pages marked “highly confidential,” that gives detailed information about hundreds of the nation’s civilian nuclear sites and programs, including maps showing the precise locations of stockpiles of fuel for nuclear weapons.
Okay - this was a screw-up.
BUT: how much of the information was truly "secret" - unknown and unknowable via publicly available sources?
Me? I think our "classification" system needs radical reform... pretty much starting from scratch.
With very few exceptions, everything gets declassified TOMORROW! - if it really ought to be kept secret, the owner provides a cogent, clear, defensible rationale TODAY.
Sorry, but I can't resist the temptation...
Al-Qaida criticizes Obama's upcoming Cairo speech
Hmmm... al Qaeda is criticizing Obama's speech before he's delivered it!
Sounds a lot like the GOP!!!
Hmmm... al Qaeda is criticizing Obama's speech before he's delivered it!
Sounds a lot like the GOP!!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
One more reason to publish the photos...
Why'd Obama switch on detainee photos? Maliki went ballistic
By Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers
1 June 2009
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama reversed his decision to release detainee abuse photos from Iraq and Afghanistan after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki warned that Iraq would erupt into violence and that Iraqis would demand that U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq a year earlier than planned, two U.S. military officers, a senior defense official and a State Department official have told McClatchy.
[emphasis added]
I favored releasing the photos before.
This news has only added another reason! - Please: let's get out of Iraq TODAY!
By Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers
1 June 2009
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama reversed his decision to release detainee abuse photos from Iraq and Afghanistan after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki warned that Iraq would erupt into violence and that Iraqis would demand that U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq a year earlier than planned, two U.S. military officers, a senior defense official and a State Department official have told McClatchy.
[emphasis added]
I favored releasing the photos before.
This news has only added another reason! - Please: let's get out of Iraq TODAY!
NO!!! (altenatively: Why???)
Gates: More missile defense spending possible
I've previously posted my opinion of our high-tech missile defense system.
Short version: Maginot Line.
I've previously posted my opinion of our high-tech missile defense system.
Short version: Maginot Line.
Token post
To reward regular readers I need to post something.
This is it!
Rehearsals + analyzing NM1 election results is keeping me otherwise engaged... and I'm lazy.
Have I missed anything?
This is it!
Rehearsals + analyzing NM1 election results is keeping me otherwise engaged... and I'm lazy.
Have I missed anything?
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