Thursday, March 25, 2004
Did you think that the battle between creationists and rational people was over, and we won? Me too, but apparently they are still out there, hiding behind the term "Intelligent Design" (which sounds to me like the new motto for some German car company: it beats farfegnugen). The Panda's Thumb, some kind of scientist/lawyer co-operative weblog, is fighting the good fight against such offenders as (I was as shocked as you are about to be) the Harvard Law Review. My friends at the Ivies won't be acting so high and mighty now.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
I got my National Review in the mail today. In their "The Week" section, which is not available online as far as I can tell, they ran this blurb:
A new planet has swum into our ken, an icy sphere 1,000 miles across and four times farther from the sun than Pluto. Though astronomers were pleased to observe this object, its existence was not much of a surprise. Theory has long suggested that planetoids made of rock and ice should be scattered through trans-Plutonian space. There is in fact a debate about whether these objects are properly planets at all. Be that as it may, this new object has been provisionally named Sedna, after an Eskimo sea-goddess. Here is yet another bit of pointless "diversity" pandering. What part did he Eskimos play in the development of astronomy, either practical or theoretical? In the invention of the telescope, or understanding of celestial mechanics? Planets were traditionally named after Greco-Roman gods, nymphs, and heroes. This tradition is more apt than ever, since new celestial objects can be discovered only with the aid of advanced technology, itself a product of the Greco-Roman cultural inheritance. When the Eskimos have their own telescopes and space shuttles, let them name whatever they find up there. Until then, let Western civilization continue to mine its own traditions to supply names for discoveries.
I quoted this whole so I could not be accuse of taking any part out of context. Yes they really wrote this (without attribution, so I can't say exactly who). I could point out that "diversity" did not find this, but Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology did. I could point out that the name is probably at least partly a joke on how cold it is out near Sedna. I could point out that the people at the National Review aren't polytheists. I could point out a lot of things. Instead, I'll just say what is in my heart.
Assholes.
A new planet has swum into our ken, an icy sphere 1,000 miles across and four times farther from the sun than Pluto. Though astronomers were pleased to observe this object, its existence was not much of a surprise. Theory has long suggested that planetoids made of rock and ice should be scattered through trans-Plutonian space. There is in fact a debate about whether these objects are properly planets at all. Be that as it may, this new object has been provisionally named Sedna, after an Eskimo sea-goddess. Here is yet another bit of pointless "diversity" pandering. What part did he Eskimos play in the development of astronomy, either practical or theoretical? In the invention of the telescope, or understanding of celestial mechanics? Planets were traditionally named after Greco-Roman gods, nymphs, and heroes. This tradition is more apt than ever, since new celestial objects can be discovered only with the aid of advanced technology, itself a product of the Greco-Roman cultural inheritance. When the Eskimos have their own telescopes and space shuttles, let them name whatever they find up there. Until then, let Western civilization continue to mine its own traditions to supply names for discoveries.
I quoted this whole so I could not be accuse of taking any part out of context. Yes they really wrote this (without attribution, so I can't say exactly who). I could point out that "diversity" did not find this, but Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology did. I could point out that the name is probably at least partly a joke on how cold it is out near Sedna. I could point out that the people at the National Review aren't polytheists. I could point out a lot of things. Instead, I'll just say what is in my heart.
Assholes.
Copeland has a column on Market Square. It's decent, if a little alarmist. Downtown pittsburgh has not been "destroyed," but if all of our plans involve moving in more and more department stores and chains, we're on the way. It happened to my beloved Walnut Street. The only reasons I go there anymore are for Classic Video and Le Mardi Gras, two of the last of the independents.
Kevin (can I call you Kev?) Drum points out an article on blogging in Vanity Fair. He points out that it is pro-liberal, and imagines that may be the reason it has not gotten much coverage in the big conservative weblogs. OK, maybe so, but I haven't seen much on it in the liberal blogs either. I went and borrowed the magazine, and figured out right quick why. The piece is by James Wolcott. Like all Wolcott's articles, it is both insightful and mind numbingly boring. I couldn't make it to the end.
From George Bush's "Compassion" page:
In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. The President believes that as Americans, we have responsibilities. There are millions of men and women across the nation who want to end their dependence on government and improve their lives. The Administration is committed to applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need.
Linked to on the Compassion page, "First Lady Encourages Every American to Give to Those in Need". I did not make that headline up.
On Super Bowl weekend, I encourage every American to give what they can and to give hope to those in need. President Bush and I are grateful for volunteers across America for inspiring others to love their neighbors. And we're especially thankful for the idealism and the spirit of the young people from Souper Bowl of Caring. Thank you all very, very much.
In other words, "We care. Now fix it by yourselves." I'll refrain from commenting on the part about taking responsibility.
By the way, the headline for this section is "The President's Compassion Agenda."
Also in Bush campaign news, here is the official campaign Weblog. Bush doesn't write it himself of course. As president, he has a lot of work to do. It does, however, look as if he might have made the logo himself, possibly with help from Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.
In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. The President believes that as Americans, we have responsibilities. There are millions of men and women across the nation who want to end their dependence on government and improve their lives. The Administration is committed to applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need.
Linked to on the Compassion page, "First Lady Encourages Every American to Give to Those in Need". I did not make that headline up.
On Super Bowl weekend, I encourage every American to give what they can and to give hope to those in need. President Bush and I are grateful for volunteers across America for inspiring others to love their neighbors. And we're especially thankful for the idealism and the spirit of the young people from Souper Bowl of Caring. Thank you all very, very much.
In other words, "We care. Now fix it by yourselves." I'll refrain from commenting on the part about taking responsibility.
By the way, the headline for this section is "The President's Compassion Agenda."
Also in Bush campaign news, here is the official campaign Weblog. Bush doesn't write it himself of course. As president, he has a lot of work to do. It does, however, look as if he might have made the logo himself, possibly with help from Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.
Safire on "under God":
The only thing this time-wasting pest Newdow has going for him is that he's right. Those of us who believe in God don't need to inject our faith into a patriotic affirmation and coerce all schoolchildren into going along. The key word in the pledge is the last one.
The insertion was a mistake then; the trouble is that knocking the words out long afterward, offending the religious majority, would be a slippery-slope mistake now.
Of course, I take offending the religious majority as a duty. That aside, Safire leans toward a good point. I said "under God" every damned day in school, and I'm still an atheist. Why bother taking it out? If atheists are going to go around being offended every time someone expresses an opinion that differs from ours, we're no better than Christians. Anyway, are we trying to recruit? It's not like we have a church to support or a mission to save souls. Let them believe in their zombie superheros.
The only thing this time-wasting pest Newdow has going for him is that he's right. Those of us who believe in God don't need to inject our faith into a patriotic affirmation and coerce all schoolchildren into going along. The key word in the pledge is the last one.
The insertion was a mistake then; the trouble is that knocking the words out long afterward, offending the religious majority, would be a slippery-slope mistake now.
Of course, I take offending the religious majority as a duty. That aside, Safire leans toward a good point. I said "under God" every damned day in school, and I'm still an atheist. Why bother taking it out? If atheists are going to go around being offended every time someone expresses an opinion that differs from ours, we're no better than Christians. Anyway, are we trying to recruit? It's not like we have a church to support or a mission to save souls. Let them believe in their zombie superheros.
Samantha Bennett:
As if we in the news biz don't have enough threats to our livelihood, with declining readership and widespread distrust and computers that make us wish we had become professional shepherds, now there's another.
The Department of Health and Human Services has been shooting infomercials about the complicated and controversial new Medicare legislation and sending them out to TV stations, some of which put them in their local news broadcasts.
Which might make them look like news rather than PR. Which might create the impression the voiceover "reporting from Washington" is an actual reporter rather than a paid flack reading a script. Which makes me think TV news directors who use these videos unedited must have slept through Journalism 101.
Samantha Bennett is, as you might guess, a columnist. That is to say, someone who makes her living expressing her opinion. Recent hard-hitting journalism from this intrepid reporter include this report on what Samantha Bennett thinks of dead people getting married and this investigation of Samantha Bennett's opinion on the breakup of Barbie and Ken.
Thanks for holding the line for serious journalism, Samantha!
As if we in the news biz don't have enough threats to our livelihood, with declining readership and widespread distrust and computers that make us wish we had become professional shepherds, now there's another.
The Department of Health and Human Services has been shooting infomercials about the complicated and controversial new Medicare legislation and sending them out to TV stations, some of which put them in their local news broadcasts.
Which might make them look like news rather than PR. Which might create the impression the voiceover "reporting from Washington" is an actual reporter rather than a paid flack reading a script. Which makes me think TV news directors who use these videos unedited must have slept through Journalism 101.
Samantha Bennett is, as you might guess, a columnist. That is to say, someone who makes her living expressing her opinion. Recent hard-hitting journalism from this intrepid reporter include this report on what Samantha Bennett thinks of dead people getting married and this investigation of Samantha Bennett's opinion on the breakup of Barbie and Ken.
Thanks for holding the line for serious journalism, Samantha!
Post-Gazette:
The city's fiscal oversight board could recommend refinancing debt and selling off assets to help fill the cash shortfall facing Pittsburgh later this year.
James Smith III, chairman of the five-member Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority and a bond underwriter, said yesterday that he has been studying the city's staggering debt load and has determined that some of it could be refinanced, saving some money in the short term.
Smith said the savings would be rather small compared to the city's estimated $40 million cash problem looming this fall, but should be considered anyway.
"It is small relief, but a viable opportunity exists," said Smith, who works for Merrill Lynch. "It doesn't solve the problem, it doesn't even make a dent, but it needs to be looked at."
You know what I bet would help? Another oversight committee. Maybe one that doesn't get its ideas from daytime TV commercials.
Not that they have a lot of options. They can't raise taxes. They can't cut much more spending. Can't convince the politicians that it is stupid to sell off the city's assets for a short term gain when that won't solve the long term problem. It's a real conundrum.
The city's fiscal oversight board could recommend refinancing debt and selling off assets to help fill the cash shortfall facing Pittsburgh later this year.
James Smith III, chairman of the five-member Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority and a bond underwriter, said yesterday that he has been studying the city's staggering debt load and has determined that some of it could be refinanced, saving some money in the short term.
Smith said the savings would be rather small compared to the city's estimated $40 million cash problem looming this fall, but should be considered anyway.
"It is small relief, but a viable opportunity exists," said Smith, who works for Merrill Lynch. "It doesn't solve the problem, it doesn't even make a dent, but it needs to be looked at."
You know what I bet would help? Another oversight committee. Maybe one that doesn't get its ideas from daytime TV commercials.
Not that they have a lot of options. They can't raise taxes. They can't cut much more spending. Can't convince the politicians that it is stupid to sell off the city's assets for a short term gain when that won't solve the long term problem. It's a real conundrum.
Stop the presses! Kids have a mild stomach flu! It seems as if our local news sources have gotten hooked on disease stories since the excitement of the Chi-chi's of Death story earlier this year. I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that this is the worst disease they can find to crow about.
Monday, March 22, 2004
Here's the website of Joe Hoeffel, a Democrat who's running for Arlen Specter's senate seat. He seems like a pretty decent guy, although his website is a bit thin on information. He's running meetups all over Pennsylvania. The next one is on April 21 (administrative professionals day!), so anybody who has some time might want to go see what this guy's about. That's six days before the primary, although Hoeffel doesn't seem to be facing a real primary challenge.
I'd say it's worth checking Hoeffel out, even if you (like me) think Arlen Specter is a pretty decent guy. After all, Pat Toomey might win the Republican nomination, and if that happens we'll have to get behind somebody or risk allowing Rick Santorum to become Pennsylvania's liberal senator.
I'd say it's worth checking Hoeffel out, even if you (like me) think Arlen Specter is a pretty decent guy. After all, Pat Toomey might win the Republican nomination, and if that happens we'll have to get behind somebody or risk allowing Rick Santorum to become Pennsylvania's liberal senator.
Why are British Newspapers better than American newspapers? I think the answer speaks for itself.
Who's giving to whom? Check here. The answer is, surprisingly few people. I searched my own last name (OK, it isn't as common as "Smith" or "Jones", but still), and only a dozen or so people showed up. I am very disappointed in you out there, extended family.
What's that? You say I'm not on that list either? Well ... I mean ...
Shut up.
What's that? You say I'm not on that list either? Well ... I mean ...
Shut up.
This means war: when Pitt News pundits attack.
College newspaper columnists begin a battle royale!
The attack!
The riposite!
Where will the bloodshed end? If it comes to fisticuffs, will the fight be broadcast on Pittsburgh Cable Access? Answers to these questions and more forthcoming...
College newspaper columnists begin a battle royale!
The attack!
The riposite!
Where will the bloodshed end? If it comes to fisticuffs, will the fight be broadcast on Pittsburgh Cable Access? Answers to these questions and more forthcoming...
Pittsburgh gets no respect. Space Imaging, a company that does what its name implies, has pictures for sale of major and minor cities around the world. Pittsburgh is included, sort of. There is a big white hole right in the middle of the city. I guess it's appropriate that even the most advanced satellites are unable to find life Downtown.
Sorry to all my loyal fan, but I've been gone for a while, working on things like a story all about a guy who has a sexual fixation involving midgets. If it ever gets published anywhere, I'll let the blogworld know. In the meantime, here are some good articles by people who are not me:
Bush and wonks v. hacks.
Ralph Reed turns respectable.
Al Franken hits the big time.
What is your name on the internet? This one hits home for me, because I had to change my name (slightly) for the sake of this weblog. Some guy in Germany already controlled my real name.
Letter to the editor of the Post-Gazette. Instead of forcing you to scroll all the way down to the bottom of this link, here is the letter in its entirety (with the exception of the editor's headline ):
I don't want to put the damper on the magical beauty of spring, but I am not looking forward to the litter that comes with it.
I am writing this letter in regard to some destructive children and some parents who could care less what their kids do
When you try to approach their parents to remedy the problem, they are insulted and come back with a retort like, "My kid would never do that." I've got news for them: They do that and more. I had nine of these little angels and surprise, surprise and surprise what they do and did.
Some of these kids and adults eat pizza and then throw the empty box in front of your house, along with empty pop bottles and candy and snack wrappers. If I caught the kid who did it and gave him or her a swift kick in a place that parents should have located years ago, I would be arrested for child abuse.
What are they going to do if you have to start paying for your garbage pick-up? I certainly am not going to be their janitor for free. "Show me the money, honey."
Instead of buying their kids all those videos and cell phones, buy them a broom and show them how to use it. Some kids think a broom is on Halloween with a witch flying through the air with it. Some of these so-called kids are flying up in space right now with their drugs.
This is Hazelwood, not Kansas, so come to Earth and face reality.
DOROTHY HOPKINS
Hazelwood
On a personal note, I saw The Passion of the Christ. It is the most total failure I have ever seen put on film in every possible area except profits. It makes Christianity look like a masochistic personality cult. It drops into slow motion for no reason. When the bad thief ridicules Jesus on the cross, a crow lands on his cross-bar and pecks his eyes out. Everyone should be offended by this movie. The Jews are bloodthirsty. The Romans are cruel and, if possible, even more bloodthirsty. The Christians are cowardly and weak. Jesus is a loser. Harod is a flamboyant homosexual. Pilate is kind of nice, but weak (you wonder how he managed to keep these rowdy Jerusalemites in check for so long). In short, anyone who sees this movie and doesn't hate it is an idiot. Also, Jesus's teeth were way too white for a first century itinerant preacher.
Last thing: America's enemies are more and mote like Bond villians every day.
Bush and wonks v. hacks.
Ralph Reed turns respectable.
Al Franken hits the big time.
What is your name on the internet? This one hits home for me, because I had to change my name (slightly) for the sake of this weblog. Some guy in Germany already controlled my real name.
Letter to the editor of the Post-Gazette. Instead of forcing you to scroll all the way down to the bottom of this link, here is the letter in its entirety (with the exception of the editor's headline ):
I don't want to put the damper on the magical beauty of spring, but I am not looking forward to the litter that comes with it.
I am writing this letter in regard to some destructive children and some parents who could care less what their kids do
When you try to approach their parents to remedy the problem, they are insulted and come back with a retort like, "My kid would never do that." I've got news for them: They do that and more. I had nine of these little angels and surprise, surprise and surprise what they do and did.
Some of these kids and adults eat pizza and then throw the empty box in front of your house, along with empty pop bottles and candy and snack wrappers. If I caught the kid who did it and gave him or her a swift kick in a place that parents should have located years ago, I would be arrested for child abuse.
What are they going to do if you have to start paying for your garbage pick-up? I certainly am not going to be their janitor for free. "Show me the money, honey."
Instead of buying their kids all those videos and cell phones, buy them a broom and show them how to use it. Some kids think a broom is on Halloween with a witch flying through the air with it. Some of these so-called kids are flying up in space right now with their drugs.
This is Hazelwood, not Kansas, so come to Earth and face reality.
DOROTHY HOPKINS
Hazelwood
On a personal note, I saw The Passion of the Christ. It is the most total failure I have ever seen put on film in every possible area except profits. It makes Christianity look like a masochistic personality cult. It drops into slow motion for no reason. When the bad thief ridicules Jesus on the cross, a crow lands on his cross-bar and pecks his eyes out. Everyone should be offended by this movie. The Jews are bloodthirsty. The Romans are cruel and, if possible, even more bloodthirsty. The Christians are cowardly and weak. Jesus is a loser. Harod is a flamboyant homosexual. Pilate is kind of nice, but weak (you wonder how he managed to keep these rowdy Jerusalemites in check for so long). In short, anyone who sees this movie and doesn't hate it is an idiot. Also, Jesus's teeth were way too white for a first century itinerant preacher.
Last thing: America's enemies are more and mote like Bond villians every day.
