*
Captain Beefheart was a much better beat poet than Allen Ginsberg.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Joementum III: the owning
*
Up a little late tonight, insomnia blogging, so I'll share what I'm thinking about Joe The Lieberman. Here it is:
I'm not concerned about Joe Lieberman getting off with a wrist slap, and don't care about his advisor punking "the left" in a way that has Jane Hamsher all tied up in knots. Howard Dean thinks it's a smooth move by Obama, and Dean's logic makes sense to me. Joe can strut and fret his hour on the stage, if he likes, but Obama owns him. Basically Joe has a 2-year probation, and his only hope of even a whiff of relevance is to do exactly as Obama's crew directs him. Without Joe, Dems don't have a chance at a filibuster-proof majority; with him, they do. But there is an election in 2 years. If the Dems pick up the 60-seat majority then, Joe is irrelevant no matter what. If he goes off the reservation, though, Obama's' crew has no reason not to throw him to the wolves --- heave him out of the caucus at a well selected time. If that happens, Lieberman has no chance whatsoever of being re-elected in 2012. So I suspect Obama has Lieberman at quite the disadvantage, despite what the knee-jerk lefties think.
Back to you, Oil Can Harry.
Up a little late tonight, insomnia blogging, so I'll share what I'm thinking about Joe The Lieberman. Here it is:
I'm not concerned about Joe Lieberman getting off with a wrist slap, and don't care about his advisor punking "the left" in a way that has Jane Hamsher all tied up in knots. Howard Dean thinks it's a smooth move by Obama, and Dean's logic makes sense to me. Joe can strut and fret his hour on the stage, if he likes, but Obama owns him. Basically Joe has a 2-year probation, and his only hope of even a whiff of relevance is to do exactly as Obama's crew directs him. Without Joe, Dems don't have a chance at a filibuster-proof majority; with him, they do. But there is an election in 2 years. If the Dems pick up the 60-seat majority then, Joe is irrelevant no matter what. If he goes off the reservation, though, Obama's' crew has no reason not to throw him to the wolves --- heave him out of the caucus at a well selected time. If that happens, Lieberman has no chance whatsoever of being re-elected in 2012. So I suspect Obama has Lieberman at quite the disadvantage, despite what the knee-jerk lefties think.
Back to you, Oil Can Harry.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
More exoplanets!
*
The other day, Wired reprinted this picture of two exoplanets photographed at the Keck Observatory at Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The picture was first published earlier the same day, 13 November, in Science Express. The image actually depicts part of a three-planet exo-solar system hosted by the unglamourously named HR 8799, about 130 light years from Cafe Kopi. Planet "a" is not visible in this image. The Wired article provides some technical background on the photographic technique used as well as the planetary system. It was taken in the nonvisible infrared spectrum, which to me is not as cool as the visible-light Fomalhaut b picture I reproduced the other day. But it's still a direct observation rather than an indirect, inferred one, and it's a real, live exo-solar system!
I think the highest priorities relating to this discovery should be (1) assigning a cool name to HR 8799 and (2) developing new extraterrestrial markets for American automobiles and toxic financial assets.
The other day, Wired reprinted this picture of two exoplanets photographed at the Keck Observatory at Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The picture was first published earlier the same day, 13 November, in Science Express. The image actually depicts part of a three-planet exo-solar system hosted by the unglamourously named HR 8799, about 130 light years from Cafe Kopi. Planet "a" is not visible in this image. The Wired article provides some technical background on the photographic technique used as well as the planetary system. It was taken in the nonvisible infrared spectrum, which to me is not as cool as the visible-light Fomalhaut b picture I reproduced the other day. But it's still a direct observation rather than an indirect, inferred one, and it's a real, live exo-solar system!I think the highest priorities relating to this discovery should be (1) assigning a cool name to HR 8799 and (2) developing new extraterrestrial markets for American automobiles and toxic financial assets.
Saturday afternoon
*
These "guys" could have found something more comfy to do on 15 November in Champaign, Ill., because the wind was slicing through the intersection of Green and Neil at over 10 mph and the temperature was about 35 when I shot this.
The group's cause is self-explanatory from the sign on the left. The leaflets they handed me explain their view that Scientology is a "dangerous cult with a criminal past" that "uses brainwashing and intimidation to financially bankrupt its members." I did not tell them that, if their beliefs were true, that would put Scientology in a category similar to about half the organized religions I've heard of. But I don't have any problem with them having their say-so about cults on a college-town street corner in November 2008.
After kindly correcting my inexcusable assumption that they were observing Guy Fawkes Day ("no, that was on November 5th"), one of the "guys" told me that they wore the masks as a sign of solidarity with each other, and referred to the closing scenes of V. Another reason for the masks, unstated, may have been that they take L. Ron Hubbard's "Fair Game Law" seriously.
Photography notes: I grabbed this shot with my trusty Sony F717 snapshooter. Quickly processed the shot, uncropped, in Adobe Bridge to correct for overexposure and to recover highlight detail. I avoided "color correcting" the exposure to warm up the tones, though, because I wanted to try to depict how freakin' cold it was in that intersection. My exposure adjustment looked fine on screen in Bridge. But everything, colorwise, tends to change when I upload to Blogger. This is because I'm undereducated about color rendering on the web versus in a photo application on screen versus output from a color printer. I'll have to sit down and RTFM sometime.
These "guys" could have found something more comfy to do on 15 November in Champaign, Ill., because the wind was slicing through the intersection of Green and Neil at over 10 mph and the temperature was about 35 when I shot this.
The group's cause is self-explanatory from the sign on the left. The leaflets they handed me explain their view that Scientology is a "dangerous cult with a criminal past" that "uses brainwashing and intimidation to financially bankrupt its members." I did not tell them that, if their beliefs were true, that would put Scientology in a category similar to about half the organized religions I've heard of. But I don't have any problem with them having their say-so about cults on a college-town street corner in November 2008.
After kindly correcting my inexcusable assumption that they were observing Guy Fawkes Day ("no, that was on November 5th"), one of the "guys" told me that they wore the masks as a sign of solidarity with each other, and referred to the closing scenes of V. Another reason for the masks, unstated, may have been that they take L. Ron Hubbard's "Fair Game Law" seriously.
Photography notes: I grabbed this shot with my trusty Sony F717 snapshooter. Quickly processed the shot, uncropped, in Adobe Bridge to correct for overexposure and to recover highlight detail. I avoided "color correcting" the exposure to warm up the tones, though, because I wanted to try to depict how freakin' cold it was in that intersection. My exposure adjustment looked fine on screen in Bridge. But everything, colorwise, tends to change when I upload to Blogger. This is because I'm undereducated about color rendering on the web versus in a photo application on screen versus output from a color printer. I'll have to sit down and RTFM sometime.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I await our new overlords from Fomalhaut b
*
This is pretty big news in the world I inhabit. The false-color image below documents the first direct photographic observation of a planet circling a star outside our home solar system. The planet, thought to be a ringed gas giant along the lines of Jupiter, orbits Fomalhaut (pronounced foam-uh-low, I think). It's located about 25 light years distant from good old Sol. All previously announced planetary discoveries outside our solar system have been made through supportable inferences based on astronomical spectral observations. (I'm oversimplifying here because I'm currently too tired not to.)
The planet has been named Fomalhaut b, although I have little doubt that it will some day be named after the prime contractor for the Hubble Space Telescope, which was used to make the discovery. An informed interpretation of the image can be found here.
I first became aware of Fomalhaut in one of the more obscure Philip K. Dick novels, but I can't remember which one at the moment. The Dickian future continues to take shape approximately on schedule. This discovery is really cool, and big, big news. I have spoken. Long Live StuporMundi.
This is pretty big news in the world I inhabit. The false-color image below documents the first direct photographic observation of a planet circling a star outside our home solar system. The planet, thought to be a ringed gas giant along the lines of Jupiter, orbits Fomalhaut (pronounced foam-uh-low, I think). It's located about 25 light years distant from good old Sol. All previously announced planetary discoveries outside our solar system have been made through supportable inferences based on astronomical spectral observations. (I'm oversimplifying here because I'm currently too tired not to.)
The planet has been named Fomalhaut b, although I have little doubt that it will some day be named after the prime contractor for the Hubble Space Telescope, which was used to make the discovery. An informed interpretation of the image can be found here.
I first became aware of Fomalhaut in one of the more obscure Philip K. Dick novels, but I can't remember which one at the moment. The Dickian future continues to take shape approximately on schedule. This discovery is really cool, and big, big news. I have spoken. Long Live StuporMundi.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Chronicles of VapoRub bioavailability 1(2)
*
As promised in a previous comments thread, this post presents my latest datum on VapoRub from the night of 8 - 9 November 2008. The investigation attempts to verify the rumored utility of VapoRub as a cough suppressant during sleep when it is applied to the soles of a person's feet and covered with socks.
Immediately before retiring last evening, I once again slathered a moderate amount of Vick's VapoRub on the soles of my feet. As in the experimental run of 7 -8 November 2008, I began with the left foot, using my right hand, then carefully drew on a clean, lightweight cotton sock (black/brown houndstooth check if you must know). I took care not to wipe any VapoRub off the foot onto the sleeve of the sock. I then repeated the same sequence on the right foot, this time applying the medicated goo with the left hand. The sensation, as in the previous experimental run, was both comforting and slightly annoying; the moisture felt a bit sloppy, but not to any extent that should dissuade your own experimentation. Also, to preserve my original methodology, I used the Vick's inhaler thingy before conking out.
The result of this run was that I had even a better night's sleep than during the first run, which itself was of a very high quality. For background purposes, it should be noted that I typically awaken briefly once or twice a night at the conclusion of one or two 90-minute sleep cycles. These awakenings are either used for (1) voiding or (2) confirming that it's not time to wake up yet, immediately heralding the start of a fresh sleep cycle. I judge sleep quality by how well rested I feel in the morning; normal interruptions do not detract from good basic sleep quality, but fewer interruptions do enhance the quality significantly. [Editor's note: StuporMundi provides this personal sleep information to document the metrics for sleep quality used in this study, not because he's a lifestyle exhibitionist.]
Without knowing the mechanism of the cough-suppressing effect, I have become confident that there is a direct correlation between this medical application and my enjoyment of a restful sleep despite my being gruesomely ill. Without hesitation, I will repeat the application until I have recovered.
I don't know if Big Otis was ribbing us about the feet being "conduits of health", but something like that idea is present in folk medicine. It is said that if you rub the bottom of your feet with garlic cloves, you will taste it in your mouth in about 20 minutes, even without sucking on your own toes. Or at least that's what I read in an email chain letter. I may try the garlic experiment at a later date.
BO, who is a trained and degreed scientist, also hypothesized that the cough-suppressing effect may simply be the same one you get by simply rubbing the stuff on your chest. Using the foot modality of delivery, I experienced no sensation of "mintiness" or "warmth" anywhere near the chest --- only in the nose tubes that sucked up the vapors from the inhaler. The onset of the effect must be slow or subtle; the last thing I remember before drifting off to sleep was to wonder if it was going to work, because I felt like I could start coughing at any time. Upon awakening in the morning, I had no impulse to cough, and no significant sensation of irritation in the lungs. And it is worth noting that, according to my memory, having VapoRub smeared over one's upper torso is quite annoying in terms of the "sloppiness" metric, and I also seem to recall that the torso application causes excessive sweating, which aggravates the discomfort of stewing in one's own mentholated, virus-infested sauce.
In this second run I added an observational phase in the morning. Checking the bottoms of my feet, there was absolutely no trace of greasy residue from the VapoRub. Assuming it had wicked into the socks, I checked. Neither sock felt the slightest bit greasy to the touch, and I smelled no hint of menthol. I did, however, smell the miasma of podobromidrosis, which I did not expect. No single mechanism cries out as an explanation for the conspicuous vanishing of all traces of the aromatic grease. Bioabsorption does not sound farfetched to this simple country editor, but as the scientific community always says, "more research is needed."
As promised in a previous comments thread, this post presents my latest datum on VapoRub from the night of 8 - 9 November 2008. The investigation attempts to verify the rumored utility of VapoRub as a cough suppressant during sleep when it is applied to the soles of a person's feet and covered with socks.
Immediately before retiring last evening, I once again slathered a moderate amount of Vick's VapoRub on the soles of my feet. As in the experimental run of 7 -8 November 2008, I began with the left foot, using my right hand, then carefully drew on a clean, lightweight cotton sock (black/brown houndstooth check if you must know). I took care not to wipe any VapoRub off the foot onto the sleeve of the sock. I then repeated the same sequence on the right foot, this time applying the medicated goo with the left hand. The sensation, as in the previous experimental run, was both comforting and slightly annoying; the moisture felt a bit sloppy, but not to any extent that should dissuade your own experimentation. Also, to preserve my original methodology, I used the Vick's inhaler thingy before conking out.
The result of this run was that I had even a better night's sleep than during the first run, which itself was of a very high quality. For background purposes, it should be noted that I typically awaken briefly once or twice a night at the conclusion of one or two 90-minute sleep cycles. These awakenings are either used for (1) voiding or (2) confirming that it's not time to wake up yet, immediately heralding the start of a fresh sleep cycle. I judge sleep quality by how well rested I feel in the morning; normal interruptions do not detract from good basic sleep quality, but fewer interruptions do enhance the quality significantly. [Editor's note: StuporMundi provides this personal sleep information to document the metrics for sleep quality used in this study, not because he's a lifestyle exhibitionist.]
Without knowing the mechanism of the cough-suppressing effect, I have become confident that there is a direct correlation between this medical application and my enjoyment of a restful sleep despite my being gruesomely ill. Without hesitation, I will repeat the application until I have recovered.
I don't know if Big Otis was ribbing us about the feet being "conduits of health", but something like that idea is present in folk medicine. It is said that if you rub the bottom of your feet with garlic cloves, you will taste it in your mouth in about 20 minutes, even without sucking on your own toes. Or at least that's what I read in an email chain letter. I may try the garlic experiment at a later date.
BO, who is a trained and degreed scientist, also hypothesized that the cough-suppressing effect may simply be the same one you get by simply rubbing the stuff on your chest. Using the foot modality of delivery, I experienced no sensation of "mintiness" or "warmth" anywhere near the chest --- only in the nose tubes that sucked up the vapors from the inhaler. The onset of the effect must be slow or subtle; the last thing I remember before drifting off to sleep was to wonder if it was going to work, because I felt like I could start coughing at any time. Upon awakening in the morning, I had no impulse to cough, and no significant sensation of irritation in the lungs. And it is worth noting that, according to my memory, having VapoRub smeared over one's upper torso is quite annoying in terms of the "sloppiness" metric, and I also seem to recall that the torso application causes excessive sweating, which aggravates the discomfort of stewing in one's own mentholated, virus-infested sauce.
In this second run I added an observational phase in the morning. Checking the bottoms of my feet, there was absolutely no trace of greasy residue from the VapoRub. Assuming it had wicked into the socks, I checked. Neither sock felt the slightest bit greasy to the touch, and I smelled no hint of menthol. I did, however, smell the miasma of podobromidrosis, which I did not expect. No single mechanism cries out as an explanation for the conspicuous vanishing of all traces of the aromatic grease. Bioabsorption does not sound farfetched to this simple country editor, but as the scientific community always says, "more research is needed."
Moron, off the wagon, or something else entirely
*
The adults are going to be in charge of the White House for only a few more weeks, unfortunately. I'm expecting a huge loss of dignity for the office of the presidency once Mr. Bush is gone.
Do you remember the Bush Administration's very first major lie, while Bush was still only President Elect? I do: click here if you don't.
Personally, I can't wait for the Obama team to tag the Resolute Desk; it would look so much more peppy that way. It would make Obama a President who I'd like to sit down with for an orange juice and baby greens.
The adults are going to be in charge of the White House for only a few more weeks, unfortunately. I'm expecting a huge loss of dignity for the office of the presidency once Mr. Bush is gone.
Do you remember the Bush Administration's very first major lie, while Bush was still only President Elect? I do: click here if you don't.
Personally, I can't wait for the Obama team to tag the Resolute Desk; it would look so much more peppy that way. It would make Obama a President who I'd like to sit down with for an orange juice and baby greens.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Socks full of Vick's VapoRub
*
In a comments thread for the Lieberman post on 7 November Big Rock Head suggested that I fill some warm socks with VapoRub and wear them to bed, or something, to treat my chest cold. Matter of fact, earlier yesterday I got email from VAR Of The DAR who suggested the same thing. I was feeling so miserable, and couldn't breathe, that I saw no harm in trying. So I greased up the soles of my feet and put on some socks, then went night-night. The damp chemical warmth was a little weird, but not too weird for Science.
Guess what? I had the best sleep of my illness. My airway stayed clear for the duration. This was not a formal scientific study because I also used a Vick's inhaler shortly before bed, and there was at least one other variable I temporarily forget (probably B&B). But I'm trying it again tonight. Will publish results sometime tomorrow, maybe with an update on my shaving razor field research!
In a comments thread for the Lieberman post on 7 November Big Rock Head suggested that I fill some warm socks with VapoRub and wear them to bed, or something, to treat my chest cold. Matter of fact, earlier yesterday I got email from VAR Of The DAR who suggested the same thing. I was feeling so miserable, and couldn't breathe, that I saw no harm in trying. So I greased up the soles of my feet and put on some socks, then went night-night. The damp chemical warmth was a little weird, but not too weird for Science.
Guess what? I had the best sleep of my illness. My airway stayed clear for the duration. This was not a formal scientific study because I also used a Vick's inhaler shortly before bed, and there was at least one other variable I temporarily forget (probably B&B). But I'm trying it again tonight. Will publish results sometime tomorrow, maybe with an update on my shaving razor field research!
Wise sayings
*
President Elect Obama could never bring Malia to Nana's apartment because it is not hypoallergenic.
President Elect Obama could never bring Malia to Nana's apartment because it is not hypoallergenic.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Wise sayings
*
A very special moose-droppings-themed "wise saying":
Obama and Biden were more civil to Sarah Palin than her own campaign staff.
A very special moose-droppings-themed "wise saying":
Obama and Biden were more civil to Sarah Palin than her own campaign staff.
Another way to solve the Democrats' Lieberman problem
*
I addressed this problem yesterday in a post where I shared a letter that I wrote to Senator Durbin about stripping "Tailgunner Joe" Lieberman of his Senate Homeland Security Committee chairmanship. But just now, after a night of no sleep, I had an even better idea: Obama should nominate Lieberman to be Ambassador to Israel. Then appoint a strong, knowledgeable Obama favorite to be Joe's highest-ranking deputy ambassador in order both to keep an eye on him and to be involved in all substantive matters.
This solution would be a three-fer for Barack: he could make a show of personal forgiveness and "reaching out" (which could, as an option, actually be genuine); he could delight both the Israelis and AIPAC by sending them our very own little Little Knesset Man (as the other BO calls him); and most importantly, he could finally rid the Sentate of this pathetic, creepy pest.
Bonus "fer": if Joe had not succeeded in bringing the Israelis along toward moderation and a netotiation framework after about a year, the President could tell the li'l fella his services were no longer required and then ceremoniously exterminate him altogether.
I addressed this problem yesterday in a post where I shared a letter that I wrote to Senator Durbin about stripping "Tailgunner Joe" Lieberman of his Senate Homeland Security Committee chairmanship. But just now, after a night of no sleep, I had an even better idea: Obama should nominate Lieberman to be Ambassador to Israel. Then appoint a strong, knowledgeable Obama favorite to be Joe's highest-ranking deputy ambassador in order both to keep an eye on him and to be involved in all substantive matters.
This solution would be a three-fer for Barack: he could make a show of personal forgiveness and "reaching out" (which could, as an option, actually be genuine); he could delight both the Israelis and AIPAC by sending them our very own little Little Knesset Man (as the other BO calls him); and most importantly, he could finally rid the Sentate of this pathetic, creepy pest.
Bonus "fer": if Joe had not succeeded in bringing the Israelis along toward moderation and a netotiation framework after about a year, the President could tell the li'l fella his services were no longer required and then ceremoniously exterminate him altogether.
Mind-numbing media duplicity
*
Republican hand-wringing about "one-party rule" in Washington is absurd enough even before you consider the childlike gullibility of celebrity pundits, such as those paid large salaries by "The Most Trusted Name In News" to cast GOP pearls before us swine. HuffingtonPost gives us a video in which Keith Olbermann (MSNBC) dutifully points out to the audience and unnamed CNN news personalities that it was in fact George W. Bush, not Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton, who most recently enjoyed the perks of one-party rule in DC. Does CNN truly not remember Denny Hastert and Bill Frist?
As an aside, on election night I noticed that CNN continually ran a screen graphic that stated Democrats need 60 Senate seats for a "majority." The corporate media bias in favor of Republicans runs, as The Boxtops sang, soul deep: the GOP rules the world from City Hall until Democrats can break Republican legislative filibusters. The trouble is that people absorb TV as reality. This past week alone, I've unexpectedly ended up in two short heated discussions when I suggested to people that TV news and commentary are not literally reality or even necessarily a close approximation of it. Even educated people seem preconditioned to sop up TV swill like tainted Chinese baby formula just because people with suave voices and professional makeup tell it to through an electric box perched in the the living room.
Republican hand-wringing about "one-party rule" in Washington is absurd enough even before you consider the childlike gullibility of celebrity pundits, such as those paid large salaries by "The Most Trusted Name In News" to cast GOP pearls before us swine. HuffingtonPost gives us a video in which Keith Olbermann (MSNBC) dutifully points out to the audience and unnamed CNN news personalities that it was in fact George W. Bush, not Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton, who most recently enjoyed the perks of one-party rule in DC. Does CNN truly not remember Denny Hastert and Bill Frist?
As an aside, on election night I noticed that CNN continually ran a screen graphic that stated Democrats need 60 Senate seats for a "majority." The corporate media bias in favor of Republicans runs, as The Boxtops sang, soul deep: the GOP rules the world from City Hall until Democrats can break Republican legislative filibusters. The trouble is that people absorb TV as reality. This past week alone, I've unexpectedly ended up in two short heated discussions when I suggested to people that TV news and commentary are not literally reality or even necessarily a close approximation of it. Even educated people seem preconditioned to sop up TV swill like tainted Chinese baby formula just because people with suave voices and professional makeup tell it to through an electric box perched in the the living room.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Moose droppings
*
Via HuffingtonPost, the following headline is found on an LA Times story: Sarah Palin's Clothes: GOP Lawyer Dispatched To Alaska To Retrieve Some.
I call dibs on the dirty undies, fool! WORD! B&B, suckers!!!
[LOL ROFLMAO JK]
Via HuffingtonPost, the following headline is found on an LA Times story: Sarah Palin's Clothes: GOP Lawyer Dispatched To Alaska To Retrieve Some.
I call dibs on the dirty undies, fool! WORD! B&B, suckers!!!
[LOL ROFLMAO JK]
Blogging surge
*
In case you're wondering, a severe cold plus OTC medicines plus liberal doses of B&B add up to favorable blogging conditions. Nevertheless, I still feel like the following:
In case you're wondering, a severe cold plus OTC medicines plus liberal doses of B&B add up to favorable blogging conditions. Nevertheless, I still feel like the following:
Rahm Emanuel: radic-lib
*
If anything there seems to be a proliferation of stupid talk now that Obama is President Elect. I heard a bite by John Boehner on the BBC World Service this evening (via local NPR affiliate; sorry, no link) complaining that Obama's first appointment --- Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff --- was "ironic" since Barack had promised to "govern from the middle." I guess Emanuel is being characterized by the corporate media as some kind of radic-lib who engineered the new Democratic House majority a few years ago. Coupla things:
First --- the "middle" is not whatever John Boehner thinks it is. And Obama can do whatever the fuck he wants without the blessing of John "Boner," as the BBC reporter pronounced it, because he'll be the fucking Unitary Executive soon. And Boehner needs to mind his own chief of staff, who rumor has it is possibly a gay Teletubbie.
Second --- Emanuel is no radic-lib, but a full-fledged member of the DLC. As such, he is closer to being a Rockefeller Republican than a Roosevelt Democrat. (And I'm not as worried about Emanuel as Mick at DLCWatch, either, for reasons given below.)
Third --- Emanuel had basically nothing to do with the 2006 Democratic insurgence back into the House. His defeated pet 2006 candidate, disabled veteran Tammy Duckworth, calls herself a "fiscal conservative and a social moderate" (i.e., a "new kind of Democrat" like the Clintons).* Significantly, Rahm is also responsible for this character getting the backing of the DCCC to run for the seat Mark Foley (another person reputed to have sexual impulse control problems) in Florida. Everybody who has closely followed Democratic politics for the past 6 or 7 years knows that Howard Dean is the unsung hero of the new Democratic majority, and that Everybody includes the President Elect.
Fourth --- I really think Obama is too smart to give his administration away to the DLC or any other faction. He knows where his contributions and volunteers come from, and it's not from the DLC. In fact, I believe the DLC may already be in hock to the Obama campaign for helping to bail Hillary Clinton out of some campaign debt. Although the following may be wishful thinking, I think as a former con law professor, Obama will strive for something analogous to a balance of power between the DLCers and traditional lefties in his administration. A coalition is a coalition, and it needs to remain intact to stay successful; by definition, they are formed by divergent interests to promote a candidate or a policy that they all are interested in. The coalition won't hold together unless every major faction --- including small campaign donors, collectively --- has a vested interest in the project. Other than Machiavelli Himself, who better to manage that sort of group than a community organizer?
Fifth --- The COS is really not a policy position; it's a execution position. The COS is there to things done, but they're the things that other people tell him to get done. Of course the COS is influential, but Obama is 10 times smarter than Emanuel, so I don't think Rahm will be in a position to do anything too pernicious while COS. If he pisses off too many members of the coalition, I'm certain that Obama would reassign him to other duties.
So, in conclusion, John Boehner is an ignorant jackass who needs to watch his mouf. Don't you agree? I do.
____________________
* I don't remember the exact amount of money, but Rahm wasted somewhere on the order of $2 million in DCCC funds trying to help elect Duckworth, but not surprisingly she was out-conservatived by her GOP opponent. I might expect to see Duckworth nominated by Obama for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with Emanuel's blessing, which would be fine by me.
If anything there seems to be a proliferation of stupid talk now that Obama is President Elect. I heard a bite by John Boehner on the BBC World Service this evening (via local NPR affiliate; sorry, no link) complaining that Obama's first appointment --- Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff --- was "ironic" since Barack had promised to "govern from the middle." I guess Emanuel is being characterized by the corporate media as some kind of radic-lib who engineered the new Democratic House majority a few years ago. Coupla things:
First --- the "middle" is not whatever John Boehner thinks it is. And Obama can do whatever the fuck he wants without the blessing of John "Boner," as the BBC reporter pronounced it, because he'll be the fucking Unitary Executive soon. And Boehner needs to mind his own chief of staff, who rumor has it is possibly a gay Teletubbie.
Second --- Emanuel is no radic-lib, but a full-fledged member of the DLC. As such, he is closer to being a Rockefeller Republican than a Roosevelt Democrat. (And I'm not as worried about Emanuel as Mick at DLCWatch, either, for reasons given below.)
Third --- Emanuel had basically nothing to do with the 2006 Democratic insurgence back into the House. His defeated pet 2006 candidate, disabled veteran Tammy Duckworth, calls herself a "fiscal conservative and a social moderate" (i.e., a "new kind of Democrat" like the Clintons).* Significantly, Rahm is also responsible for this character getting the backing of the DCCC to run for the seat Mark Foley (another person reputed to have sexual impulse control problems) in Florida. Everybody who has closely followed Democratic politics for the past 6 or 7 years knows that Howard Dean is the unsung hero of the new Democratic majority, and that Everybody includes the President Elect.
Fourth --- I really think Obama is too smart to give his administration away to the DLC or any other faction. He knows where his contributions and volunteers come from, and it's not from the DLC. In fact, I believe the DLC may already be in hock to the Obama campaign for helping to bail Hillary Clinton out of some campaign debt. Although the following may be wishful thinking, I think as a former con law professor, Obama will strive for something analogous to a balance of power between the DLCers and traditional lefties in his administration. A coalition is a coalition, and it needs to remain intact to stay successful; by definition, they are formed by divergent interests to promote a candidate or a policy that they all are interested in. The coalition won't hold together unless every major faction --- including small campaign donors, collectively --- has a vested interest in the project. Other than Machiavelli Himself, who better to manage that sort of group than a community organizer?
Fifth --- The COS is really not a policy position; it's a execution position. The COS is there to things done, but they're the things that other people tell him to get done. Of course the COS is influential, but Obama is 10 times smarter than Emanuel, so I don't think Rahm will be in a position to do anything too pernicious while COS. If he pisses off too many members of the coalition, I'm certain that Obama would reassign him to other duties.
So, in conclusion, John Boehner is an ignorant jackass who needs to watch his mouf. Don't you agree? I do.
____________________
* I don't remember the exact amount of money, but Rahm wasted somewhere on the order of $2 million in DCCC funds trying to help elect Duckworth, but not surprisingly she was out-conservatived by her GOP opponent. I might expect to see Duckworth nominated by Obama for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, with Emanuel's blessing, which would be fine by me.
Writed a letter
*
I wrote this one to the only Senator I have left for the moment, Dick Durbin. Let's join me now as I express my opinion to him on an issue of the day:
Senator Durbin,
This evening I am writing to you in your capacity as a member of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. It is my understanding that Senator Lieberman may petition the Committee for the privilege of retaining his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. If he does, I urge you to do everything in your power as a committee member to reject Senator Lieberman's request.
I believe that President Elect Obama's ability to provide leadership in the area of national security will be encumbered or undermined if Senator Lieberman is permitted to retain his committee chairmanship. My conclusion seems self-evident as Mr. Lieberman has actively worked with the Bush/Cheney administration and the McCain campaign to thwart the will of most U.S. citizens as well as your party on critical security and constitutional issues within the purview of his committee.
Again, I urge you to do everything you can to remove Mr. Lieberman from this important committee chairmanship and act to replace him with a Senator whose views and objectives complement and harmonize with Mr. Obama's.
Thank you.
You weigh in on this issue with your own voice, if you like, or sign the electronic petition available here. Personally, I don't care for web petitions, so I rolled my own for Senator Durbin to put in his pipe and smoke, if he likes. Notice the fancy way I expressed my concern to my Senator in terms of national security rather than pure "partisan bickering." Watch and learn, my impressionable disciples.
I know that if Lieberman defects to the GOP when stripped of his Democratic chairmanship, the Democrats will be one vote further away from a filibuster-proof majority. Too bad: he can't be trusted so he has to go. Furthermore, he has to be punished as an example to any Blue Dogs who may want to push back against the better intentions of President Obama. Democrats quickly need to relearn the homespun skills of arm-twisting and/or persuasion --- Tip O'Neill style, maybe --- for use on so-called "moderate" Republicans to break filibusters on Obama's SCOTUS nominations (for one example). True, there really are no "moderate" Republicans --- only ones who pretend to be moderate for the consumption of their home constituencies. But I'm betting those phony creatures might wise up a bit now as Bush heads for his Poppy's basement in Kennebunkport, Cheney heads for Arkham Asylum, McCain heads for well earned oblivion, and Palin heads for the political equivalent of a shallow grave. Lieberman can launch a U.S. Likkud Party for all I care.
I wrote this one to the only Senator I have left for the moment, Dick Durbin. Let's join me now as I express my opinion to him on an issue of the day:
Senator Durbin,
This evening I am writing to you in your capacity as a member of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. It is my understanding that Senator Lieberman may petition the Committee for the privilege of retaining his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. If he does, I urge you to do everything in your power as a committee member to reject Senator Lieberman's request.
I believe that President Elect Obama's ability to provide leadership in the area of national security will be encumbered or undermined if Senator Lieberman is permitted to retain his committee chairmanship. My conclusion seems self-evident as Mr. Lieberman has actively worked with the Bush/Cheney administration and the McCain campaign to thwart the will of most U.S. citizens as well as your party on critical security and constitutional issues within the purview of his committee.
Again, I urge you to do everything you can to remove Mr. Lieberman from this important committee chairmanship and act to replace him with a Senator whose views and objectives complement and harmonize with Mr. Obama's.
Thank you.
You weigh in on this issue with your own voice, if you like, or sign the electronic petition available here. Personally, I don't care for web petitions, so I rolled my own for Senator Durbin to put in his pipe and smoke, if he likes. Notice the fancy way I expressed my concern to my Senator in terms of national security rather than pure "partisan bickering." Watch and learn, my impressionable disciples.
I know that if Lieberman defects to the GOP when stripped of his Democratic chairmanship, the Democrats will be one vote further away from a filibuster-proof majority. Too bad: he can't be trusted so he has to go. Furthermore, he has to be punished as an example to any Blue Dogs who may want to push back against the better intentions of President Obama. Democrats quickly need to relearn the homespun skills of arm-twisting and/or persuasion --- Tip O'Neill style, maybe --- for use on so-called "moderate" Republicans to break filibusters on Obama's SCOTUS nominations (for one example). True, there really are no "moderate" Republicans --- only ones who pretend to be moderate for the consumption of their home constituencies. But I'm betting those phony creatures might wise up a bit now as Bush heads for his Poppy's basement in Kennebunkport, Cheney heads for Arkham Asylum, McCain heads for well earned oblivion, and Palin heads for the political equivalent of a shallow grave. Lieberman can launch a U.S. Likkud Party for all I care.
Illness creeps across the land
*
I'm dealing with a 5-year cold event here, so I haven't felt like showering you with my well considered and smoothly phrased opinions about what happened on 4 November. I will try to check in this evening, but right now I'm all about some comfy rest in the blue recliner.
I'm dealing with a 5-year cold event here, so I haven't felt like showering you with my well considered and smoothly phrased opinions about what happened on 4 November. I will try to check in this evening, but right now I'm all about some comfy rest in the blue recliner.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Networks "calling" things "for" candidates
*
During recent national election evenings I've always been bemused by the concept of networks "calling" states for one candidate or the other. It's not the act of "calling" things, per se, but the way people react to these announcements. They're statistical projections only, twice removed from reality. Our only source for these network "calls" is an electronic box that transmits scripted interpretations of a third party's expertise to us in audiovisual format. That expertise is in turn based on the output of numerical models whose content is unknown to us out here in TV Land.
Back in 2000, when few people were looking in the middle of the night, one obscenely biased infotainment network started a stampede of network "calls" that declared victory for the candidate who, in fact, had fewer votes than his opponent. By morning, there was a mass media consensus that George Bush was our President Elect. It all happened in plain sight: the theft of a presidential election gained irreversible momentum because the herd of corporate news media said "me to" in order to share in the glory of the most awesome Fox News political "prediction" of all time.
I apologize in advance for any incoherence in this little essay; I am worried sick about systematic Republican efforts to disenfranchise Democratic voters, and the fact that virtually all of us mistake corporate network news as a reliable account of reality.
During recent national election evenings I've always been bemused by the concept of networks "calling" states for one candidate or the other. It's not the act of "calling" things, per se, but the way people react to these announcements. They're statistical projections only, twice removed from reality. Our only source for these network "calls" is an electronic box that transmits scripted interpretations of a third party's expertise to us in audiovisual format. That expertise is in turn based on the output of numerical models whose content is unknown to us out here in TV Land.
Back in 2000, when few people were looking in the middle of the night, one obscenely biased infotainment network started a stampede of network "calls" that declared victory for the candidate who, in fact, had fewer votes than his opponent. By morning, there was a mass media consensus that George Bush was our President Elect. It all happened in plain sight: the theft of a presidential election gained irreversible momentum because the herd of corporate news media said "me to" in order to share in the glory of the most awesome Fox News political "prediction" of all time.
I apologize in advance for any incoherence in this little essay; I am worried sick about systematic Republican efforts to disenfranchise Democratic voters, and the fact that virtually all of us mistake corporate network news as a reliable account of reality.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Rhetorical question
*
Did the morbidly overweight person in Espresso Royale this morning order a large "carmel" latte or a large "karma" latte?
Did the morbidly overweight person in Espresso Royale this morning order a large "carmel" latte or a large "karma" latte?
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