The Fulcrum
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Late Friday Dog Blogging
So late, in fact, that it's going to be the first-ever Saturday Dog Blogging. I've been busy this week...
So, without further ado, here's Baylea in a classic action shot.
So, without further ado, here's Baylea in a classic action shot.
Friday, February 20, 2004
Shiny, Happy People
Lots of bloggers have been writing about what's going on in San Francisco this past week, including me. But words sometimes lack the emotional impact of a picture. Unfortunately the pictures we've seen from the media have been nearly as lifeless as the words they've written about it.
I found, via Atrios, the blog of author/designer/photographer Derek Powazek. He lives in SF and has taken his camera to city hall to witness the marriages taking place there. In the process, he has captured the joy, the pride and the sheer beauty of these events. His pictures, especially those of the new couples convey such a sense of drama and pathos and most importantly of love that words never will. Derek doesn't have comments on his blog, but drop him an e-mail if you like his stuff.
Derek also has a Cafeshops store set up and is selling a great poster from one of his photos that captures it all, simply and elegantly. Please check it out
I found, via Atrios, the blog of author/designer/photographer Derek Powazek. He lives in SF and has taken his camera to city hall to witness the marriages taking place there. In the process, he has captured the joy, the pride and the sheer beauty of these events. His pictures, especially those of the new couples convey such a sense of drama and pathos and most importantly of love that words never will. Derek doesn't have comments on his blog, but drop him an e-mail if you like his stuff.
Derek also has a Cafeshops store set up and is selling a great poster from one of his photos that captures it all, simply and elegantly. Please check it out
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Is Chicago Next?
Chicago mayor, Richard Daley said he would have "no problem" with allowing his county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. He stopped just short of actually telling the clerk to begin, but my guess is that before the week is out we may be seeing the same wonderful scenes we've witnessed in San Francisco over the past week.
Daley really hit all the important points during the interview:
And where is our preznit, who's "done more for civil rights than any other president?" He remains "deeply troubled" by all of this and his extreme right-wingnut supporters are saying that he's definitely going to come out in favor of the first Constitutional amendment to restrict the rights of a minority in our history.
Shrubby also had this to say:
Daley really hit all the important points during the interview:
Daley urged sympathy for same-sex couples because "they love each other just as much as anyone else."And David Orr, the county clerk was just as adamant that this was the right thing to do:
Daley also dismissed a suggestion that marriage between gay couples would undermine the institution. "Marriage has been undermined by divorce, so don't tell me about marriage,"he said. "Don't blame the gay and lesbian, transgender and transsexual community."
"I'm fed up with people being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation," Orr said."(But) whatever you do when it comes to challenging laws, you want it to be effective and not knee-jerk."If the mayors of a few more large cities take the same view, we really could be in the midst of a sea-change in civil rights as occured in the 1960s. And once the numbers reach a critical mass, which they may have done already in California, it will be almost impossible to stuff the genie back into the closet, as it were...
And where is our preznit, who's "done more for civil rights than any other president?" He remains "deeply troubled" by all of this and his extreme right-wingnut supporters are saying that he's definitely going to come out in favor of the first Constitutional amendment to restrict the rights of a minority in our history.
Shrubby also had this to say:
"People need to be involved in this decision," Bush said. "Marriage ought to be defined by the people, not by the courts."I'm getting tired of saying this, but really... they sets 'em up, I just knocks 'em down: how can you honestly say that irony is dead?
George and the Wall
I wish I could remember now which blog I should credit with pointing out this Britt cartoon. Go check it out. It's powerful stuff - and it gets to the heart of why aWol's National Guard service - or lack of service - is so important.
It's about character.
Shrubby's character is probably in the same place as the rest of his military service records.
It's about character.
Shrubby's character is probably in the same place as the rest of his military service records.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Dean Bows Out
See here and here.
Dean said he would not run as a third-party candidate and urged his followers to support the eventual Democratic nominee.Remember: ABB.
"The bottom line is that we must beat George W. Bush in November, no matter what," he said.
Pardon Me, Your Geek is Showing...
I completely forgot to blog about one of the biggest news stories I've heard recently. It was last week, I believe, and when I heard it I had to stop for a moment and catch my breath. My heart pounded, my eyes bulged nearly out of their sockets and I began to jump up and down like a little kid.
What in the world could possibly make me react like that?
Only this: "Star Wars original trilogy to be released on DVD in September."
Truly geek heaven.
What in the world could possibly make me react like that?
Only this: "Star Wars original trilogy to be released on DVD in September."
Truly geek heaven.
How Do You Say "Overstretched" in French?
When our military is stretched too thin, lots of really bad things can happen. And not just to our troops' morale.
While clothed in the usual mealy-mouthed diplomatic language of international affairs, BushCo. has indicated they have "no enthusiasm" for sending troops to Haiti, where a violent coup appears poised to spiral out of control. And this for the Haitian president, Jeanne Bertrand Aristide, that American troops helped re-take the presidency he overwhelmingly won after a previous coup attempt.
There are lots of reasons why Aristide himself should likely not be helped; he has grown more corrupt and allowed roving bands of government supporters and thugs to enforce his tenuous hold on power. But the Haitian people, some of the poorest in the Caribbean, already dependent in large part on government and international food aid, are in dire need of help. Deploying even a regiment of US troops, in coordination with the UN or a couple of European allies would be a relatively easy way to bring some stability to the country and allow its fragile democracy a chance to heal itself.
From The Seattle Times:
While clothed in the usual mealy-mouthed diplomatic language of international affairs, BushCo. has indicated they have "no enthusiasm" for sending troops to Haiti, where a violent coup appears poised to spiral out of control. And this for the Haitian president, Jeanne Bertrand Aristide, that American troops helped re-take the presidency he overwhelmingly won after a previous coup attempt.
There are lots of reasons why Aristide himself should likely not be helped; he has grown more corrupt and allowed roving bands of government supporters and thugs to enforce his tenuous hold on power. But the Haitian people, some of the poorest in the Caribbean, already dependent in large part on government and international food aid, are in dire need of help. Deploying even a regiment of US troops, in coordination with the UN or a couple of European allies would be a relatively easy way to bring some stability to the country and allow its fragile democracy a chance to heal itself.
From The Seattle Times:
Secretary of State Colin Powell responded that the United States, which sent in soldiers to restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power in 1994 after he was ousted in a coup that led to an influx of Haitian boat people to Florida, had "no enthusiasm" for sending military forces to Haiti.And they say irony is dead.
He said the administration was working toward a political solution.
[edit]
He is accused of using police and armed militants to stifle dissent and allowing corruption to fund lavish lifestyles for his cronies as the majority of the 8 million people suffer deeper misery.
But other countries say they cannot condone the use of force by Aristide's opponents to remove him.
"Certainly there needs to be some changes in the way Haiti is governed and the security situation as well," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. But he added, "That's a matter for the people of Haiti to decide."
Doctor, Heal Thy Self! [UPDATED]
UPDATE:Thanks to regular reader Bob James, I realize I misread the Snopes article that I quoted below: this appointment - after a fashion - has already happened. Dr. Hager was appointed to the FDA committee, but was not appointed to chair the committee.
While outdated in the specifics, this article remains topical. This still serves as a warning: If BushCo remains in our White House beyond his current term, we can expect more appointments like this. We can expect a continued erosion of our rights and liberties.
My apologies for the mistake. My original post remains below - minus the call to action.
Keith at The Invisible Library, posted the following at the Liberal Coalition Blog, it's originally from Snopes.com. It is vitally important to get this information out as broadly as possible (all bold emphasis is mine):
While outdated in the specifics, this article remains topical. This still serves as a warning: If BushCo remains in our White House beyond his current term, we can expect more appointments like this. We can expect a continued erosion of our rights and liberties.
My apologies for the mistake. My original post remains below - minus the call to action.
Keith at The Invisible Library, posted the following at the Liberal Coalition Blog, it's originally from Snopes.com. It is vitally important to get this information out as broadly as possible (all bold emphasis is mine):
President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W. David Hager to head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee has not met for more than two years, during which time its charter has lapsed. As a result, the Bush Administration is tasked with filling all eleven positions with new members. This position does not require Congressional approval.
[edit]
Dr. Hager is a practicing OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-life" and refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women. Hager is the author of "As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring Women Then and Now." The book blends biblical accounts of Christ healing women with case studies from Hager's practice. In the book Dr. Hager wrote with his wife, entitled "Stress and the Woman's Body," he suggests that women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome should seek help from reading the bible and praying. As an editor and contributing author of "The Reproduction Revolution: A Christian Appraisal of Sexuality, Reproductive Technologies and the Family," Dr. Hager appears to have endorsed the medically inaccurate assertion that the common birth control pill is an abortifacient.
For some women, such as those with certain types of diabetes and those undergoing treatment for cancer, pregnancy can be a life-threatening condition. We are concerned that Dr. Hager's strong religious beliefs may color his assessment of technologies that are necessary to protect women's lives or to preserve and promote women's health. Hager's track record of using religious beliefs to guide his medical decision-making makes him a dangerous and inappropriate candidate to serve as chair of this committee. Critical drug public policy and research must not be held hostage by antiabortion politics. Members of this important panel should be appointed on the basis of science and medicine, rather than politics and religion. American women deserve no less.
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Hiatus
Today was just crazy at work; all day meeting, getting pulled out at odd times to make additions and corrections to a big presentation coming up (I'm the local expert in all things applications at work; PowerPoint, Excel, etc.), then finally making my way home a little late.
So tonight, I'm going to sit down and watch an old favorite movie of mine and do nothing. Perhaps a glass of wine while I watch the movie would be nice.
Oh, the movie? One of the best suspense/horror movies ever made - that just also happens to be an excellent science fiction movie: Alien.
Talk among yourselves - and have a great night (and keep your fingers crossed for your favorite democrat in Wisconsin)
So tonight, I'm going to sit down and watch an old favorite movie of mine and do nothing. Perhaps a glass of wine while I watch the movie would be nice.
Oh, the movie? One of the best suspense/horror movies ever made - that just also happens to be an excellent science fiction movie: Alien.
Talk among yourselves - and have a great night (and keep your fingers crossed for your favorite democrat in Wisconsin)
Monday, February 16, 2004
Regulations, Regulations, Regulations; And Why That's A Good Thing
Three stories caught my eye this evening and they illustrate clearly why government regulation - when applied logically and for the good of people (as opposed to industry) - can be a very good thing.
The first two stories involved disasters in China and Russia where building codes, while they exist, are enforced laxly, if at all (as long as you can afford the bribes). In the first instance, the glass roof to an indoor water park collapsed in Moscow on Saturday. Rescuers estimate that up to 38 may have died and over 100 were injured. In the second instance a fire in a multi-storey shopping pavilion in northeast China and in a bamboo temple in an eastern province killed 93 people. In what are considered civilized states, these kinds of failures of structures and codes should be unthinkable. They are not, however all that rare in either country.
In a similar vein think back to the major earthquakes this year in Turkey and Afghanistan and the thousands of people who died because poorly built structures collapsed.
The third story that caught my attention was about a construction crane that fell off of an Interstate construction site on an overpass, killing 3 construction workers. This is major news here in the U.S. because it it is rare and points out a potential failure of the complex of safety regulations, rules and inspections that keep such a story rare.
Tragedies of the type that happened in Russia and China are not so rare in what we would consider third-world countries; and the reasons are clear: insufficient or poorly enforced regulation of construction. They are rare in the US and most western countries for exactly the opposite reasons. Keep these stories in mind the next time some shrink-the-government-until-it-dies conservative complains about government regulations. But you don't have to restrict yourself to just the examples I've provided here. A very small amount of effort researching the topic will provide you with a wealth of examples to use. Everything from gas fires in China to tens of thousands dead in collapsed structures in earthquakes all over the world.
Government can be a force for good; regulations that secure our safety are but a single, wonderful proof of that.
The first two stories involved disasters in China and Russia where building codes, while they exist, are enforced laxly, if at all (as long as you can afford the bribes). In the first instance, the glass roof to an indoor water park collapsed in Moscow on Saturday. Rescuers estimate that up to 38 may have died and over 100 were injured. In the second instance a fire in a multi-storey shopping pavilion in northeast China and in a bamboo temple in an eastern province killed 93 people. In what are considered civilized states, these kinds of failures of structures and codes should be unthinkable. They are not, however all that rare in either country.
In a similar vein think back to the major earthquakes this year in Turkey and Afghanistan and the thousands of people who died because poorly built structures collapsed.
The third story that caught my attention was about a construction crane that fell off of an Interstate construction site on an overpass, killing 3 construction workers. This is major news here in the U.S. because it it is rare and points out a potential failure of the complex of safety regulations, rules and inspections that keep such a story rare.
Tragedies of the type that happened in Russia and China are not so rare in what we would consider third-world countries; and the reasons are clear: insufficient or poorly enforced regulation of construction. They are rare in the US and most western countries for exactly the opposite reasons. Keep these stories in mind the next time some shrink-the-government-until-it-dies conservative complains about government regulations. But you don't have to restrict yourself to just the examples I've provided here. A very small amount of effort researching the topic will provide you with a wealth of examples to use. Everything from gas fires in China to tens of thousands dead in collapsed structures in earthquakes all over the world.
Government can be a force for good; regulations that secure our safety are but a single, wonderful proof of that.
Sunday, February 15, 2004
To Infinity, And Beyond!
Humans have such a short attention span. We also are cursed - and blessed - by a very limited sense of time. Our temporal horizons are typically some fraction of a human lifetime; some fraction of a human lifetime from about 2500 years ago. Which means something less than about 40 years.
Even though most people realize intellectually that they will live for some four score of years or more, our brains have not overcome the shorter time spans our ancestors lived. It's partly, I believe why teenagers can't imagine what it's like to be forty. It's why adults have a hard time saving for retirement. It's why governments have such a difficult time convincing citizens to think about the next generation, much less the seventh generation. It is, in a very fundamental way I think, why we have such a hard time solving so many problems. The future is just "too far away."
In particular, conservatives - especially during the last 40 to 50 years - seem to have a difficult time with the concept of the future. Their political, philosophical and often their religious frame of reference denies the classical action-reaction dialectic. So that we get a denial of the need to steward and protect the environment; the denial that we need to conserve non-renewable energy sources; the lack of interest in renewable sources. In other words, it seems that their temporal horizons are especially short and they are incapable - or, even worse, unwilling to see that their actions now have an impact later. But the particular brand of conservatism in vogue now is not the sole province of short-sightedness. We are all guilty.
So, besides a nice glass of Cabernet, what brought on this post? The discovery of what is perhaps the most distant object ever observed. A galaxy, visible only because of gravitational lensing, about 13 billion light years away. The big bang is currently dated at about 13.7 billion years ago, so the light from this small galaxy has been traveling outward since the universe was less than a billion years old.
The atoms that make up our bodies and our computers and everything around us had not even been created yet when this galaxy first coalesced. The stars in which our atoms were forged were still billions of years in the future.
Now that's a long horizon.
In truth, I'd be happy if we could just convince some of the people in this country to think about things 20 years in the future.
Even though most people realize intellectually that they will live for some four score of years or more, our brains have not overcome the shorter time spans our ancestors lived. It's partly, I believe why teenagers can't imagine what it's like to be forty. It's why adults have a hard time saving for retirement. It's why governments have such a difficult time convincing citizens to think about the next generation, much less the seventh generation. It is, in a very fundamental way I think, why we have such a hard time solving so many problems. The future is just "too far away."
In particular, conservatives - especially during the last 40 to 50 years - seem to have a difficult time with the concept of the future. Their political, philosophical and often their religious frame of reference denies the classical action-reaction dialectic. So that we get a denial of the need to steward and protect the environment; the denial that we need to conserve non-renewable energy sources; the lack of interest in renewable sources. In other words, it seems that their temporal horizons are especially short and they are incapable - or, even worse, unwilling to see that their actions now have an impact later. But the particular brand of conservatism in vogue now is not the sole province of short-sightedness. We are all guilty.
So, besides a nice glass of Cabernet, what brought on this post? The discovery of what is perhaps the most distant object ever observed. A galaxy, visible only because of gravitational lensing, about 13 billion light years away. The big bang is currently dated at about 13.7 billion years ago, so the light from this small galaxy has been traveling outward since the universe was less than a billion years old.
The atoms that make up our bodies and our computers and everything around us had not even been created yet when this galaxy first coalesced. The stars in which our atoms were forged were still billions of years in the future.
Now that's a long horizon.
In truth, I'd be happy if we could just convince some of the people in this country to think about things 20 years in the future.
