Friday, July 06, 2007
Americans Prepared To Vote Black and Female
Hopefully, Americans are prepared to vote for the right President, regardless of whether he's black and she's, well, a woman. A single vote for a woman or a black man rather than for a candidate who stands for the right things is a vote to perpetuate racism.
Google Earth Shows Chinese Sub
I'm assuming--just assuming, mind you--that this picture of China's new nuclear sub, or others like it, had already been reviewed in detail by the military. Catching it on Google Earth had better be coincidental, or someone's ass should be pretty well reamed by now.
"Sicko" Creates Mob Mentality
If enough people have this sort of reaction to Michael Moore's "Sicko," then our helathcare system in trouble. There's nothing worse than an ill-informed mob out to lynch someone.
Boing Boing, of course, sees this as just the greatest thing.
Boing Boing, of course, sees this as just the greatest thing.
Boing Boing Takes a Swipe at Disney
This is generally an interesting story about efficiency, where Disney animators reuse animation sequences when possible. For an animator in particular, it's probably of some professional interest.
Boing Boing, though, has to take a cheap shot and throw out the headline, "Disney animators swipe from themselves." I'm sure it's supposed to be a joke, but given their take on intellectual property, it's easy to see it as a subtle display of how Boing Boing just doesn't really understand intellectual property at all.
Boing Boing, though, has to take a cheap shot and throw out the headline, "Disney animators swipe from themselves." I'm sure it's supposed to be a joke, but given their take on intellectual property, it's easy to see it as a subtle display of how Boing Boing just doesn't really understand intellectual property at all.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Hyperion the Sponge
I'm amazed and at the same time sort of freaked out (in a sci-fi kind of way) when I see picture like this one of Saturn's moon Hyperion. This sucker's a long ways away, and yet we have a picture taken from a scant 384 miles away.
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 2902 Diggs, is a story about a lady who wore an (inappropriate?) shirt on July 4th. I think it's the lady wearing the Union Jack.
Back to Digg silliness, I guess, but it is a bit early in the day.
Back to Digg silliness, I guess, but it is a bit early in the day.
The West to Blame for Darfur?
Interesting: place blame for the genocide in Darfur on global warming, which of course is blamed on developing nations, thus directly make the West guilty of crimes against humanity. That's what this story seems to be implying, anyways (although I may be connecting some of my own dots here).
With one stroke, the blame is shifted from African tribalism and radical Islam to the West. I'm telling you, someone out there has some real political chops.
With one stroke, the blame is shifted from African tribalism and radical Islam to the West. I'm telling you, someone out there has some real political chops.
Ahmadinejad Buys Gas from Chavez
This New York Times headline is surreal: "Iran, Low on Gasoline, to Be Supplied by Venezuela." I knew that Imajihadi (or whatever his name is) and Chavez are buddies and influential members of the anti-America crowd, but I didn't know that Iran's refinery capacity was so low that it needs to import gasoline.
Bizarre.
Bizarre.
Putin Continues to Play Bush
Putin continues to play Bush like a fiddle. This time, he's trying to virtually take over the missille defense shield, essentially (as far as I can tell) suggesting that the entire radar infrastructure be based in Russia. So far, Bush has said "Nyet" to that proposal, but stranger things have certainly happened.
We lack real leadership throughout government, which puts us at a distinct disadvantage. I dream of a Jefferson or Madison or Washington to come out of nowhere, but dreaming doesn't really help.
Update: Putin puts some teeth into his "offer."
We lack real leadership throughout government, which puts us at a distinct disadvantage. I dream of a Jefferson or Madison or Washington to come out of nowhere, but dreaming doesn't really help.
Update: Putin puts some teeth into his "offer."
China Covers Up 750,000 Pollution-Related Deaths
An environmental coverup! And no, it's not by Bush. I'm sure the environmentalist movement will be all over this story.
Bill Gates No Longer #1
It's odd that a third-world tycoon would take over the #1 spot as richest man on the planet. Not that it matters, since such astronomical wealth is based on the vagaries of the stock market, but still, something strikes me as, not wrong exactly, but not exactly right about it, either.
Boing Boing Wants One-Sided Debate Starring MIchael Moore
Boing Boing wants to see the healthcare debate an entirely one-sided affair, with the one side being... Michael Moore. They're publicizing a MoveOn effort that calls on presidential candidates to refuse money from the healthcare industry, and they're doing so by handing out flyers at screenings of "Sicko."
I fear for the future healthcare of my children. Michael Moore is known by everyone to make exploitative, sensationalist movies (which I refuse to call documentaries) that twist and evade facts to make his point. That anyone would consider this to be the definitive statement on healthcare, and to want to disallow the healthcare industry from trying to influence in some way the laws that will destroy their ability to provide quality care, is beyond my ability to comprehend.
The Left has moved into a world into which I, and I hope most Americans, can't and won't follow.
I fear for the future healthcare of my children. Michael Moore is known by everyone to make exploitative, sensationalist movies (which I refuse to call documentaries) that twist and evade facts to make his point. That anyone would consider this to be the definitive statement on healthcare, and to want to disallow the healthcare industry from trying to influence in some way the laws that will destroy their ability to provide quality care, is beyond my ability to comprehend.
The Left has moved into a world into which I, and I hope most Americans, can't and won't follow.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
The Declaration of Independence
An important 4th of July read. One needn't wait until today, of course, but it's certainly a good enough occasion for a review.
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at 4229 Diggs, is a link to an editorial that's as inappropriate for the 4th of July as could be imagined. I didn't read the entire thing, but I don't need to; it's a topic about which I'm a bit ambivalent. And I'm not faulting the editorial's author--he wrote it yesterday. But the Diggsters voted it, so far, as the number one story on this day, and that tells me a lot about Digg.
I'm not linking to it. If you want to read it, you'll have to find it yourself.
I'm not linking to it. If you want to read it, you'll have to find it yourself.
Presidential Power the Greatest Since, Well, the Last Major War
What I find most interesting about this story is the line about Bush being "the most powerful American leader since at least WWII." I got to this story via Digg, which of course implied that the story is about Bush being so powerful, when in fact it's about growing Presidential power in general beginning in the 20th Century. But then, that's just Digg's typical anti-Bush slant.
What struck me most about that particular line, though, is that we're at war today, making the correlation between now and WWII painfully obvious to anyone willing to see it. And, the stakes are just as high, and far more complex (or, at least, we're making it that way, by waging war against an ideology instead of against those States that sponsor it).
That subtlety would be lost, of course, on the Diggsters, but unfortunately on many other Americans, as well.
What struck me most about that particular line, though, is that we're at war today, making the correlation between now and WWII painfully obvious to anyone willing to see it. And, the stakes are just as high, and far more complex (or, at least, we're making it that way, by waging war against an ideology instead of against those States that sponsor it).
That subtlety would be lost, of course, on the Diggsters, but unfortunately on many other Americans, as well.
Politics and the 4th of July
Of course, Cox and Forkum have a relevant cartoon for the 4th. It says something different about the nature of American politics that we should all try to remember--even though I myself don't often do so.
Happy 4th of July!
And, of course, a happy 4th to all Americans.
Let this day serve as a reminder that a handful of heroes can accomplish something remarkable and still unmatched in human history: to create, from nothing, a nation based on a fundamental moral and political principle, that every human being has a right to his or her own existence. Although the Founders' legacy is under attack, it is a testament to their genius that so much of their vision remains intact after centuries of anti-man philosophies that have sought to destroy it.
To the men and women serving overseas, my thanks. You make this day possible, year after year. I hope that each and every one of you sees your service not as a sacrifice for me or any other American, but as your own defense of liberties that you, yourself, hold dear. Let the politicians argue over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin--for yourselves, know that by killing our enemies, you are protecting your values and preserving for yourselves and those you love the freedom afforded by this great nation.
But, most of all, everyone: enjoy, celebrate, eat, drink, and be merry. Today is a day to engage in that which should be the goal of every human being: to be happy, and to bring happiness to those family and friends whom we value the most. The Founders' recognized this in the Declaration of Independence, when they included "the pursuit of happiness" as one of the rights that our government was created to defend. You do no disservice to any American hero by enjoying yourself today, but rather the opposite. You honor them.
And so, off with you now. And again, a Happy 4th of July!
Let this day serve as a reminder that a handful of heroes can accomplish something remarkable and still unmatched in human history: to create, from nothing, a nation based on a fundamental moral and political principle, that every human being has a right to his or her own existence. Although the Founders' legacy is under attack, it is a testament to their genius that so much of their vision remains intact after centuries of anti-man philosophies that have sought to destroy it.
To the men and women serving overseas, my thanks. You make this day possible, year after year. I hope that each and every one of you sees your service not as a sacrifice for me or any other American, but as your own defense of liberties that you, yourself, hold dear. Let the politicians argue over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin--for yourselves, know that by killing our enemies, you are protecting your values and preserving for yourselves and those you love the freedom afforded by this great nation.
But, most of all, everyone: enjoy, celebrate, eat, drink, and be merry. Today is a day to engage in that which should be the goal of every human being: to be happy, and to bring happiness to those family and friends whom we value the most. The Founders' recognized this in the Declaration of Independence, when they included "the pursuit of happiness" as one of the rights that our government was created to defend. You do no disservice to any American hero by enjoying yourself today, but rather the opposite. You honor them.
And so, off with you now. And again, a Happy 4th of July!
Stop the Presses: Google Celebrates American Holiday!
Yes, it's true. Google has recognized the 4th of July in their logo. I don't know if they've done this in the past, but I'm still steamed over the Memorial Day snubbing. So, recognition where it's due.
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