Tag: 2012

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence.


As the Exxon Valdez churned through chalky turquoise port waters toward the Gulf of Alaska, Captain Joseph Hazelwood descended to his quarters.

Private Empire – ExxonMobil and American Power, Steve Coll (2012)

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Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence.


As the Exxon Valdez churned through chalky turquoise port waters toward the Gulf of Alaska, Captain Joseph Hazelwood descended to his quarters.

Private Empire – ExxonMobil and American Power, Steve Coll (2012)

View Post

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence.


As the Exxon Valdez churned through chalky turquoise port waters toward the Gulf of Alaska, Captain Joseph Hazelwood descended to his quarters.

Private Empire – ExxonMobil and American Power, Steve Coll (2012)

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence


About a mile beyond the main square in the village of Józefów, in Eastern Poland, several dozen wooden stakes poke out among the weeds and bushes on a patch of forest strewn with pinecones and covered in velvety green moss.

Beautiful Souls – Saying No,…

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Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence


About a mile beyond the main square in the village of Józefów, in Eastern Poland, several dozen wooden stakes poke out among the weeds and bushes on a patch of forest strewn with pinecones and covered in velvety green moss.

Beautiful Souls – Saying No,…

View Post

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence


About a mile beyond the main square in the village of Józefów, in Eastern Poland, several dozen wooden stakes poke out among the weeds and bushes on a patch of forest strewn with pinecones and covered in velvety green moss.

Beautiful Souls – Saying No, Breaking Ranks, And Heeding The Voice of Conscience in Dark Times, Eyal Press (2012)

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence


In December, 2009, patrons of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, experienced a mild jolt of biological future shock when their pre-performance and intermission drinks – their beers, wines, and sodas – were served to them in a new type of clear plastic cup.

Regenesis – How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves, George Church and Ed Regis (2012)

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence.


Across America on February 6, 2011, millions of people were settling into their couches, splitting open bags of nachos and spilling beer into plastic cups in preparation for the year’s biggest sporting event.

We Are Anonymous – Inside the Hacker World of Lulzsec, Anonymous, and the Global Cyber Insurgency, Parmy Olsen (2012)

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence.


We’ve grown to appreciate the way our eyes give everything away, our hips sway, our voices flow up and down and then up again: hold me.

Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots? – Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification, and the Desire to Conform, ed. by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (2012)

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentence


American food is in crisis, and rarely has more disruption loomed before us.

An Economist Gets Lunch – New Rules for Everyday Foodies, Tyler Cowen (2012)

Functionally Literate – Opening Sentences


During the past thirty-three years the difference in America between being rich and being middle class became much more pronounced.

The Great Divergence – America’s Growing Inequality Crisis And What We Can Do About It, Timothy Noah (2012)


inothernews:

sexxxisbeautiful:

quitecamille:

madziontist:

viktoribleu:

mohandasgandhi:

thisheartwontdie:

theconjecturer:

Why yes, that is Rick Santorum’s face made out of gay porn.

Oh. My. God.

Sometimes, I have great hope for this world.

I can’t think of a caption.  This speaks for itself.

‘Murica.

oh my.

GOD

BLESS

AMERICA.

CAPSLOCK SERIOUS.

oh joy. Hooray for America.


inothernews:

sexxxisbeautiful:

quitecamille:

madziontist:

viktoribleu:

mohandasgandhi:

thisheartwontdie:

theconjecturer:

Why yes, that is Rick Santorum’s face made out of gay porn.

Oh. My. God.

Sometimes, I have great hope for this world.

I can’t think of a caption.  This speaks for itself.

‘Murica.

oh my.

GOD

BLESS

AMERICA.

CAPSLOCK SERIOUS.

oh joy. Hooray for America.


yahoopolitics:

HuffPo made you a super cut of politicians on “What Makes America Great”

This video is what makes America great. I love you America. You are mental like a crazy Uncle.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

yahoopolitics:

HuffPo made you a super cut of politicians on “What Makes America Great”

This video is what makes America great. I love you America. You are mental like a crazy Uncle.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

10 reasons why politicians are like crack addicts.


It is true that Politicians want votes and Crack Addicts want crack yet there the differences seem to end:

  1. They will say anything to get what they want. 
  2. They will do anything to get what they want. 
  3. Once they have what they want from you they will ignore you. 
  4. Their facial expressions stay too long in one position. 
  5. They have a very loose relationship with reality. 
  6. After they have got what they want they will have feelings of euphoria, supreme confidence and a craving for more. 
  7. If they don’t get what they want they will devolve into a pit of self-destructive paranoia. 
  8. You don’t want to go round to their house. 
  9. You don’t want them in your house.
  10. You check all your pockets once they have left the room. 

10 reasons why politicians are like crack addicts.


It is true that Politicians want votes and Crack Addicts want crack yet there the differences seem to end:

  1. They will say anything to get what they want. 
  2. They will do anything to get what they want. 
  3. Once they have what they want from you they will ignore you. 
  4. Their facial expressions stay too long in one position. 
  5. They have a very loose relationship with reality. 
  6. After they have got what they want they will have feelings of euphoria, supreme confidence and a craving for more. 
  7. If they don’t get what they want they will devolve into a pit of self-destructive paranoia. 
  8. You don’t want to go round to their house. 
  9. You don’t want them in your house.
  10. You check all your pockets once they have left the room. 

Lessons from the past #23


(I stole this thought from another blog that I barely use)

As I happened to be reading Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, this Sunday morning, I came across a passage that resonated as regards the current and approaching Circus. Here I share it with you now:

For a long while before the appointed time is at hand the election becomes the most important and the all-engrossing topic of discussion. The ardor of faction is redoubled; and all the artificial passions which the imagination can create in the bosom of a happy and peaceful land are agitated and brought to light. The President, on the other hand, is absorbed by the cares of self-defence. He no longer governs for the interest of the State, but for that of his re-election; he does homage to the majority, and instead of checking its passions, as his duty commands him to do, he frequently courts its worst caprices. As the election draws near, the activity of intrigue and the agitation of the populace increase; the citizens are divided into hostile camps, each of which assumes the name of its favorite candidate; the whole nation glows with feverish excitement; the election is the daily theme of the public papers, the subject of private conversation, the end of every thought and every action , the sole interest of the present. As soon as the choice is determined, this ardor is dispelled; and as a calmer season returns, the current of the State, which had nearly broken its banks, sinks to its usual level: but who can refrain from astonishment at the causes of the storm.

Thus do we continue to return to the thing that we try to escape from.

Lessons from the past #23


(I stole this thought from another blog that I barely use)

As I happened to be reading Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, this Sunday morning, I came across a passage that resonated as regards the current and approaching Circus. Here I share it with you now:

For a long while before the appointed time is at hand the election becomes the most important and the all-engrossing topic of discussion. The ardor of faction is redoubled; and all the artificial passions which the imagination can create in the bosom of a happy and peaceful land are agitated and brought to light. The President, on the other hand, is absorbed by the cares of self-defence. He no longer governs for the interest of the State, but for that of his re-election; he does homage to the majority, and instead of checking its passions, as his duty commands him to do, he frequently courts its worst caprices. As the election draws near, the activity of intrigue and the agitation of the populace increase; the citizens are divided into hostile camps, each of which assumes the name of its favorite candidate; the whole nation glows with feverish excitement; the election is the daily theme of the public papers, the subject of private conversation, the end of every thought and every action , the sole interest of the present. As soon as the choice is determined, this ardor is dispelled; and as a calmer season returns, the current of the State, which had nearly broken its banks, sinks to its usual level: but who can refrain from astonishment at the causes of the storm.

Thus do we continue to return to the thing that we try to escape from.


pantslessprogressive:

On federal income tax rates – the moderators ask the candidates what their magic number would be:

Perry: 10%

Santorum: 10% and 28%

Romney: 25%

Gingrich: 15%

Paul: 0%

mundusnovus:

Surely everyone knows that 3 is the magic number…


pantslessprogressive:

On federal income tax rates – the moderators ask the candidates what their magic number would be:

Perry: 10%

Santorum: 10% and 28%

Romney: 25%

Gingrich: 15%

Paul: 0%

mundusnovus:

Surely everyone knows that 3 is the magic number…


Lest we forget, in the juggernaut one body, two headed political system of big business, that there are other parties out there, vying for votes they will never get with energy that will never be appreciated. Here, today, Stewart Alexander, representing the Socialist Party of America. Here is his platform. Watch as it is crushed and ignored. So sad. 

Here, for the few who follow this blog, is their dream for a better tomorrow:

A man can dream, a man can dream.

  1. Genuine democracy for the 99%
  2. Free speech, press, assembly, association
  3. An end to wars and military occupation
  4. Bring the troops and the money home
  5. Initiate global disarmament
  6. Deploy our troops for disaster relief
  7. Create a democratically-controlled national bank
  8. End Bush-Obama tax cuts to the wealthy
  9. Productive jobs and/or a living wage for all
  10. Single payer universal health care
  11. Free dental, mental, optical and long term care
  12. Decent affordable housing for all
  13. Free or inexpensive reliable public transit
  14. Hire more teachers – Reduce classroom size
  15. Free education through college level
  16. Legalize and tax marijuana – End the drug war
  17. Restore our air, water, land – Protect the environment
  18. Rebuild America’s infrastructure

Lest we forget, in the juggernaut one body, two headed political system of big business, that there are other parties out there, vying for votes they will never get with energy that will never be appreciated. Here, today, Stewart Alexander, representing the Socialist Party of America. Here is his platform. Watch as it is crushed and ignored. So sad. 

Here, for the few who follow this blog, is their dream for a better tomorrow:

A man can dream, a man can dream.

  1. Genuine democracy for the 99%
  2. Free speech, press, assembly, association
  3. An end to wars and military occupation
  4. Bring the troops and the money home
  5. Initiate global disarmament
  6. Deploy our troops for disaster relief
  7. Create a democratically-controlled national bank
  8. End Bush-Obama tax cuts to the wealthy
  9. Productive jobs and/or a living wage for all
  10. Single payer universal health care
  11. Free dental, mental, optical and long term care
  12. Decent affordable housing for all
  13. Free or inexpensive reliable public transit
  14. Hire more teachers – Reduce classroom size
  15. Free education through college level
  16. Legalize and tax marijuana – End the drug war
  17. Restore our air, water, land – Protect the environment
  18. Rebuild America’s infrastructure

nationaljournal:

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has a Cuban coffee at the Versailles restaurant in the Little Havana area of Miami on Friday. (PHOTO: Alan Diaz/AP)

mundusnovus:

That is a normal size coffee cup. Newt Gingrich has become as Goliath.


nationaljournal:

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has a Cuban coffee at the Versailles restaurant in the Little Havana area of Miami on Friday. (PHOTO: Alan Diaz/AP)

mundusnovus:

That is a normal size coffee cup. Newt Gingrich has become as Goliath.

Books to warm the political soul


So many books so little time. Here are a few books that perfectly capture the flavour and passion that American Politics engenders. I enjoyed them. I hope you do too.

  1. Democracy in America: Everything you need to know about how little everything has changed.
  2. Primary Colors: Insights into a “fictional” Democratic Primary and the treasures therein.
  3. Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime: Melodrama, soap opera, tele-novella. Reality, once again, trumps fiction.
  4. Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ‘72: Gonzo peels the flesh off the bones.

Books to warm the political soul


So many books so little time. Here are a few books that perfectly capture the flavour and passion that American Politics engenders. I enjoyed them. I hope you do too.

  1. Democracy in America: Everything you need to know about how little everything has changed.
  2. Primary Colors: Insights into a “fictional” Democratic Primary and the treasures therein.
  3. Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime: Melodrama, soap opera, tele-novella. Reality, once again, trumps fiction.
  4. Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ‘72: Gonzo peels the flesh off the bones.

Continuing with my theme of being so far behind the curve that I don’t even realise that I’m on a curve, it was with great sadness that I learnt that Alvin Greene, hero of the South Carolina Democratic Party, is no longer running for President this year. Click on his picture to hear the sad sad news that he revealed, er, last year.

  • Then try and remember who he is. 
  • Then click on this link Alvin Greene’s comic book and click further, if your short term brain can cope, on the links to his comic book.
  • Then if you are still bored click on this link here which is a great video of Alvin.
  • Then go and do something more productive.

Continuing with my theme of being so far behind the curve that I don’t even realise that I’m on a curve, it was with great sadness that I learnt that Alvin Greene, hero of the South Carolina Democratic Party, is no longer running for President this year. Click on his picture to hear the sad sad news that he revealed, er, last year.

  • Then try and remember who he is. 
  • Then click on this link Alvin Greene’s comic book and click further, if your short term brain can cope, on the links to his comic book.
  • Then if you are still bored click on this link here which is a great video of Alvin.
  • Then go and do something more productive.

Don’t forget your flame-proof spray…


Don’t forget your flame-proof spray…


Average Joe Schriner. He’s Average. He’s called Joe. He has a website and he wants your vote. He wants to be President too. Go Joe.


Average Joe Schriner. He’s Average. He’s called Joe. He has a website and he wants your vote. He wants to be President too. Go Joe.


Lest we forget about the others because The Republicans are getting all of the press. Pity the poor Libertarian for he too needs attention. Click on him here. He is an Iron Man.


Lest we forget about the others because The Republicans are getting all of the press. Pity the poor Libertarian for he too needs attention. Click on him here. He is an Iron Man.

To begin at the beginning.


Even before you, as a prospective Presidential candidate, can ever hope to be adored by the fickles masses,

there are a couple of hoops you have to jump through. Let us ignore, for a moment, all the various humiliations you will have to endure during the campaign itself and focus on the starting gate. Do you want to be President? Does anyone else want you to be President? 

First things first: You can do one of two things.

1. If you’re not sure you or anyone else wants you to be President then you can set up an exploratory committee. You are, as the wonderful link tells you, testing the waters. During this time you don’t need to reveal how much money you’re spending and how you’re spending it. You cease to be testing the waters when you find yourself doing, among other things, one of the following:

– making statements that refer to yourself as a candidate

– using advertising to publicize your intention to campaign

– taking action to qualify for the ballot.

2. Now, if you find that testing the waters has yielded a bite or if you were already confident enough in your potential to be the President of the United States then you make a formal announcement and then apply to the Federal Elections Commission

This body of fine people, as they say on their website was set up…

In 1975, Congress created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer and enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) – the statute that governs the financing of federal elections. The duties of the FEC, which is an independent regulatory agency, are to disclose campaign finance information, to enforce the provisions of the law such as the limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee the public funding of Presidential elections.

So that’s what it does. It makes sure that everything goes smoothly and by their book as regards the Presidential Race.

It’s critics know it by another name. The Toothless Anaconda. I say critics – it has two critics and this is their report: 

A Toothless Anaconda: Innovation, Impotence and Overenforcement at the Federal Election Commission

I don’t know what their agenda is. I’m guess it’s an anti-FEC agenda. Regardless of that the fact is – if you want to be President of the USA you need to register with the FEC. Also, I am sure that this relatively new body  has more than two critics. I have made no effort to find any as that was not the purpose of this posting.

I think that next time there will be a brief overview of the declared candidates so far.

To begin at the beginning.


Even before you, as a prospective Presidential candidate, can ever hope to be adored by the fickles masses,

there are a couple of hoops you have to jump through. Let us ignore, for a moment, all the various humiliations you will have to endure during the campaign itself and focus on the starting gate. Do you want to be President? Does anyone else want you to be President? 

First things first: You can do one of two things.

1. If you’re not sure you or anyone else wants you to be President then you can set up an exploratory committee. You are, as the wonderful link tells you, testing the waters. During this time you don’t need to reveal how much money you’re spending and how you’re spending it. You cease to be testing the waters when you find yourself doing, among other things, one of the following:

– making statements that refer to yourself as a candidate

– using advertising to publicize your intention to campaign

– taking action to qualify for the ballot.

2. Now, if you find that testing the waters has yielded a bite or if you were already confident enough in your potential to be the President of the United States then you make a formal announcement and then apply to the Federal Elections Commission

This body of fine people, as they say on their website was set up…

In 1975, Congress created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer and enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) – the statute that governs the financing of federal elections. The duties of the FEC, which is an independent regulatory agency, are to disclose campaign finance information, to enforce the provisions of the law such as the limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee the public funding of Presidential elections.

So that’s what it does. It makes sure that everything goes smoothly and by their book as regards the Presidential Race.

It’s critics know it by another name. The Toothless Anaconda. I say critics – it has two critics and this is their report: 

A Toothless Anaconda: Innovation, Impotence and Overenforcement at the Federal Election Commission

I don’t know what their agenda is. I’m guess it’s an anti-FEC agenda. Regardless of that the fact is – if you want to be President of the USA you need to register with the FEC. Also, I am sure that this relatively new body  has more than two critics. I have made no effort to find any as that was not the purpose of this posting.

I think that next time there will be a brief overview of the declared candidates so far.

2012 here we come…


Ignoring, for a moment, the fact that there is an entire year between now and then, let us prepare for the next President of the United States. Not only will we have that pantomime to come but there is the combined joy of Queen Elizabeth’s Anniversary, the Olympic Games in London, the end of the long form Mayan Calendar and the 200th Celebration of Charles Dickens birth. It’s going to be a party.

2012 here we come…


Ignoring, for a moment, the fact that there is an entire year between now and then, let us prepare for the next President of the United States. Not only will we have that pantomime to come but there is the combined joy of Queen Elizabeth’s Anniversary, the Olympic Games in London, the end of the long form Mayan Calendar and the 200th Celebration of Charles Dickens birth. It’s going to be a party.