At the time, it seemed like hyperbole, and Alan Grayson was widely criticized for his interpretation of Republican ideas.
Funny how, with 20/20 hindsight, Grayson’s assessment looks less like hyperbole and more like prescience.
Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson made the mistake of having had Jon Stewart on as a guest on their show “Crossfire”. Apparently, Stewart had been satirizing their show, and they wanted a chance at the lion in their own den.
It may not have gone as planned. Watch here:
Vesta is almost large enough to fall into what’s called “a relaxed state”; the term for a body with enough mass to pull itself into a sphere, like Earth.
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From the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: The View From Vesta
Video Advisory: 2011-293
Sept. 16, 2011
NASA’s Dawn Collects a Bounty of Beauty from Vesta Continue reading
As is probably true of any thinking person, I’ve thought a lot about the death penalty. Is it fair? Is it state-sanctioned murder? Is there any crime or criminal that justifies it or deserves it?
The answer I’ve arrived at over the years is, Yes and no. And I don’t mean that in a wishy-washy, ‘I’m-not-sure’ sort of way. Continue reading
For most of us, this video speaks for itself.
Libertarian Vs. Tea Party
RD40 – Libertarian vs. Republican
Libertarian vs NeoConservative at a Tea Party Rally
Okay, granted the neo-conservative character is unfairly represented by a zombie avatar, but the arguments are interesting.
The Diffrence. Democrat vs. Republican [sic]
Forgive the typo in the title, and consider the context of the video itself. I think it accurately frames the difference between rightwing expression of views and leftwing expression of views, in spirit at least. Also, the stats in the map at the end, if accurate, are intriguing. (I have not done the research, but let me know if you do.)
Last night (September 1, 2011), Lawrence O’Donnell’s The Last Word ran part of a speech given by President Franklin D. Roosevelt just before the 1936 election. The most striking thing about his speech was the political fearlessness of it. One line in particular could be lifted by President Obama and cited in his speech to Congress: “Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred.”
If only he would…
Below is the link to the page with the transcript, and the introduction written there.
Continue reading
Wow! So many memories! So many choices (35)! How do you decide??
The possibilities range from campy fun some by great composers (“Lost In Space” by ‘Johnny’ Williams, and “Tales From The Crypt” by Danny Elfman), to the self-consciously dramatic (“Space: 1999”). There’s also the oddly included. (“Get Smart” as science fiction? Why not just include “The Simpsons”?)
Some omissions were a disappointment. The “Twilight Theme” you can vote for is the Marius Constant version (arguably the best known), rather than the Bernard Herrmann version used for the first two seasons. The latter, imho, is musically much superior and rather creepier, but alas, not a voting option.
Based on the voting results (which you see after you cast your own), the voters were mostly youthful; more recent themes did better, suggesting that living memory and sentimental attachment made a difference in the outcome.
There were several to which I found myself strongly drawn , but with the vote limited to only four, I had to make some hard choices.
Ultimately, I found a simple guide: I voted my goosebumps. For those who are curious, but don’t want to be influenced by my choices, I’ll post them as a SPOILER ALERT here in white font. You can see them by highlighting the gap just below.
Battlestar Galactica (old), Battlestar Galactica (new), Dr. Who (Tom Baker era), Stargate: Atlantis (a surprise to me, since I never loved the show).
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Welcome to the first io9 music smackdown! We’re putting together the ultimate science fiction (and fantasy) playlist — all the music that everyone should have on his or her iPod.
Today, help us decide which theme tunes absolutely must be in the mix. Which would you rather have in your ultimate science fiction playlist: the theme from Firefly or BSG?
Here are the rules for this particular playlist. Only original TV theme songs are eligible (so Chuck’s Cake tune and True Blood’s “Bad Things” are out, but just for this round). There are no cartoons for this round as well, you’ll get your TMNT cartoon theme song smack down soon enough. You can vote for 4 total. The winners will be added to io9’s ultimate play list. The poll is at the bottom of the posts, and we’ve included every single song on the list so you can decide first-hand.
Remember: you can vote for up to four items.
Click here to hear the candidates and vote ==> Vote for the greatest science fiction theme song of all time
by Michael R. Honig
As a native-born Brooklynite, I’ve been watching the networks and cable channels covering Hurricane Irene as it bears down on the northeast, and specifically the reporting on the City of Greater New York (its formal name) and Long Island. From this coverage, you would think that New York City is comprised of New Jersey and Lower Manhattan; particularly the Battery & World Trade Center areas.
I totally get the global news significance of New York City getting hit by a major storm, but …
News Flash: There are 8 million people in the City of Greater New York, and over 6 million of them don’t live in Manhattan. For that matter, most of the low-lying areas of the City of Greater New York are not in Manhattan at all. They’re in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
Continue reading
Science matters. Discovery, understanding, application, improvement of our lives and our society; none of it happens without science, and science doesn’t happen without both money and the ability of scientists to follow their evidence wherever it leads them.
Below is the text of an appeal for scientific freedom. You can click on this link to see the full page, and opportunities to sign a message to NOAA Administrator Lubchenco: https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2972&s_src=socnet&s_subsrc=twitter
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Help Protect Scientists From Political Interference
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comment on a draft of its scientific integrity policy, which aims to protect science and scientists from political interference. While the policy represents significant progress, it can be further strengthened to ensure that policy decisions are fully informed by the best available scientific information.
File a public comment asking NOAA to strengthen its draft scientific integrity policy.
In the past, NOAA scientists were censored and told to change their research on issues from global warming to endangered species. While the draft policy would address some of these problems, it needs to be further strengthened to better protect those who report the abuse of science, give the public more information about who is meeting with NOAA officials, and allow us to hold agency officials accountable if they transgress.
It is critical that NOAA scientists can continue to provide national weather forecasting, manage coastal and deep ocean resources, and research global climate patterns without interference.
Help NOAA improve its scientific integrity policy by submitting a comment today–the deadline is August 20.
Please make your letter personal by adding in your own thoughts and concerns. Every letter makes a difference, but customized letters have the greatest effect!
You can find the full text of NOAA’s draft policy here and view NOAA’s scientific integrity webpage here. We have outlined some areas for improvement in NOAA’s draft scientific integrity policy that may be helpful to reference when drafting your own comments. Read our draft comments (pdf).
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You can click on this link to go to the participation page.
Thanks to Don Millard (@OTOOLEFAN) for finding this. http://www.tweetdeck.com/twitter/OTOOLEFAN/~hYvxJ
Below is an email from Mark Corcoran of Progress Texas, who created a petition at SignOn.org that is getting a lot of attention and may be of interest to people in your area. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition, click here.
Dear Texas MoveOn member,
The Sons of Confederate Veterans want to display the Confederate flag on Texas license plates. You can do something to stop that right now.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles must decide whether to allow this racist relic to appear on Texas license plates, but the TXDMV board is currently deadlocked with a tie vote of 4 to 4.
Governor Rick Perry must now appoint a ninth member who will be the deciding vote on this controversial issue.
Gov. Perry has a long history of promoting secession and pandering to the tea party. But with all eyes nationwide on Gov. Perry’s political future, our voices can really make a difference. That’s why I created a petition to Gov. Perry on SignOn.org which says:
“The Confederate flag is offensive to millions of Texans. Please appoint a new TXDMV board member who will not support the display of this hurtful and controversial image on our license plates.”
Will you sign the petition? Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=262467&id=29513-3639696-7pz%3DKKx&t=2
Thanks!
–Mark Corcoran
The text above was written by Mark Corcoran from Progress Texas, not by MoveOn staff, and MoveOn is not responsible for the content. This email was sent through MoveOn’s secure system, and your information has been kept private. Progress Texas did not pay for this—we never sell or rent the MoveOn list.
I recently received a typical self-laudatory and self-justifying email from one of my Texas Senators, John Cornyn. (Reproduced at the bottom.) Below is my response, posted to his office via his official web site.
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Dear Senator Cornyn,
We do not need a balanced budget amendment.
We need senators and representatives who can do their jobs. Leaders who know when to raise taxes, and when not to. Leaders who put country ahead of party and politics. Leaders who don’t make defeating their political opposition “the number one priority”, ahead of jobs, the nation’s debt rating, or our country’s future.
I have just one number to say to you: 1937.
You, sir, are among the worst examples of Republican “party first” politics.
You should be ashamed of yourself and your party. Continue reading
Originally published July 25, 2011: http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=ca3bd5d9-0ebe-4ee4-a005-9e59f9bc73d2
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For over three and a half years, Vermonters and people throughout this country have experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Millions of Americans, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs, homes, life savings and ability to send their kids to college. Small businesses have been unable to get the credit they need to expand their businesses, and credit is still extremely tight. Wages as a share of national income are now at the lowest level since the Great Depression with workers who still have jobs working longer hours for lower wages.
Meanwhile, when small business owners and Vermonters were being turned down for loans at private banks, the Federal Reserve provided trillions of dollars in loans at nearly zero interest to the largest financial institutions, major corporations and some of the wealthiest people in the world with virtually no strings attached.
Continue reading
Happy Birthday, Mr. President,
I hope for nothing but success for you in the years to come.
Coming out of the budget negotiations, the debt ceiling debate, and now with the fight for funding the FAA looming, it is time for you to dig your heels in and make a stand, and tell America that it is the Republicans — NOT Congress — that is standing in the way of getting this economy to recover. “Call them out,” as you have said in the past. Get angry, be aggressive and make demands… Maybe as many as 40% of Americans will not vote for you under any circumstances, so where is the risk? Continue reading
Better Move Your Library!
You may have heard, Borders Books is going out of business. If you ‘own’ any eBooks, particularly from Borders, you might be interested in the email I received recently:
Wouldn’t it be nice if this video was a metaphor, and the fly represented the GOP?
You may already have heard that an ESPN movie is in the works, based on “Those Guys Have All the Fun”, a book by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller.
Last night (July 28) on Keith’s new Countdown on CurrentTV, Keith and his old friend and former sidekick Dan Patrick discussed who might play the various persons depicted in the book. It quickly became apparent that there is only one person who can ever be properly cast as Keith Olbermann; particularly a young Keith Olbermann: Ben Affleck.
Click on the picture below to see why. Continue reading
by Michael R. Honig
It’s sometimes interesting what you can learn from old movies. That’s why I enjoy watching them, even when they otherwise have only modest artistic merit.
Such was the case with a film I watched last night (previously recorded by my TiVo on TCM; bless you, TCM, for being the only place to see these old, sometimes-great, but almost-always interesting films!), called The Dark Horse (1932).
Continue reading
Does the Universe suck, or does it blow? That could be an existential question.
I am neither a scientist nor a mathematician, not a cosmologist nor a quantum physicist. I simply know enough about a lot to be dangerous. Please as you read the following, understand that it reflects some thoughts I had and that I present as sheer speculation. A mind game akin to contemplating the sound of one hand clapping.
To the extent that it may provoke any actual scientifically-grounded thought, that would be exciting.
Mike
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What if we’re all really “matter chauvinists”? It wouldn’t be unreasonable. As thinking, reasoning matter, we’re kind of at the top of the “existence chain”, and that could make us a bit cocky.
But the problem with matter is gravity, and the problem with gravity is entropy.
Maybe nature does not abhor a vacuum. Or maybe nature is actually a vacuum chauvinist, and we just can’t ‘see’ it. (As the saying goes, if Nature abhors a vacuum, why is there so much of it?)
Continue reading
I received this announcement in my email today. This should be of interest to anyone who believes in the principle and importance of separation of Church and State; a line of separation which Texas Governor Rick Perry and other Republicans are trying, with increasing stridency and boldness, to blur.
Mike
PS: [7/20/2011, 6:53PM] Just minutes ago, I received a robocall from Rick Perry inviting me (an unwelcome Jew, I might add) to this event. Absolutely, this is a United States Governor advocating and presiding over a religious event under color of his authority as an elected official sworn to uphold the Constitutions of both the United States of America and the State of Texas.
My question: Has this now reached the level of an impeachable offense?
UPDATE (10:22PM, 7/20/2011): The robocall came from a phone number in Tupelo, MS. My CID stamps it by “Unknown Caller” at 6:43PM (7-20-2011) from 662-821-2011. As of this writing, you can call that number to hear the message.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 20, 2011
CONTACT: Kirsten Bokenkamp, (832) 691-7013 or kbokenkamp@aclutx.org
Perry’s “The Response” Blurs The Lines Between Separation Of Church And State
HOUSTON — The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas today requested that Gov. Rick Perry and other officials disclose the amount of tax-payer dollars and other state or local government resources used to promote the prayer event, The Response: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis, set for Aug. 6 at Reliant Stadium.
“We are concerned that Gov. Perry is using public office to endorse a sectarian religious event and to advance specific Christian beliefs,” said Lisa Graybill, Legal Director of the ACLU of Texas. “We are seeking information on the degree to which state resources have been or will be used for the planning and promotion of this event and for state officials’ participation in it.”
The ACLU of Texas filed open records requests with the governor’s office as well as the Harris County sheriff’s, auditor’s and fire marshal’s offices and the City of Houston.
“The ACLU of Texas values the diversity of belief systems in public life, and each of our beliefs calls us to address problems in different ways. But none of us, especially an elected official, is in the position to say whether believers or non-believers should lead the way in solving our common problems,” said Terri Burke, Executive Director of the ACLU of Texas. “We believe that diversity is protected, society is best served, and the U.S. Constitution is respected when government actions remain separate from religious action, when religion is neither forced upon us, nor prohibited, by government. The Response certainly does not seem to follow that principle.”
One of the cornerstones of the ACLU’s work is to ensure that the First Amendment is upheld and to safeguard against government promotion of, or interference with, religious practice.
Under the state’s open records law, government officials have 10 business days to respond to open records requests. The ACLU of Texas expects a response on or before August 3.
For a copy of the documents filed with state and local government offices, please go to our website.
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We always think of John F. Kennedy as young, because he never lived long enough to grow old. It’s amazing today to think that, of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and John F. Kennedy, Kennedy was the oldest of the three.
Below is a speech he gave when accepting the Democratic Party nomination for the presidency, where he talks about what being a Liberal means to him.
Contemporary Democrats should take note.
Mike
Andy Pope’s “Pattern Fills”, which has some different functionality from Eric Patterson’s add-in.
I admit that when I first went to Office 2007, I personally found “The Ribbon” quite daunting, but I ultimately found Microsoft’s logic – that there are features in Office that you wouldn’t even know you had with the old menu system, which are easily discovered with “The Ribbon” – to be true.
Even having arrived at the conclusion fairly quickly, it took a lot of ‘accustomization’ and tweaking of the Quick Access Toolbar to make Office 2007 or 2010 easy enough for the real advantages to become appreciable.
I made a fairly quick jump to Office 2010 because Office 2007 lacks some key advantages of 2010; particularly “Track Change” in Excel and PowerPoint.
Apparently, Microsoft Excel 2007 also lacks a key feature from Excel 2003: Pattern Fill for charts and graphs. This is a big deal if you print your charts or graphs in black and white, instead of color. 
Continue reading
This post was originally written by Cenk Uygur in 2005 for his blog. Rachel Maddow discussed it with Cenk one night on her show, and he read parts of it on the air.
I thought it insightful enough that I searched it out and have posted it here.
Enjoy.
Mike Honig Continue reading
On June 30, Keith Olbermann had NY Senator Charles Schumer on Current TV’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann to talk about the debt ceiling debate, and the Congressional and — specifically — the Republican politics surrounding it. During that interview, Schumer made an unusually blunt and explosive charge: That Republicans are deliberately trying to ‘tank’ the economy for their own political advantage.
To home-based, Monday morning political quarterbackers like me, that is not a surprising statement. It’s one that many political commentators and bloggers have been making for some time.
It’s explosive because it comes from a sitting senator, Continue reading
