The actions of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford have been weird, but his effort to explain his actions really crosses the line into pathetic territory. When politicians get caught cheating on their wives, we don’t need to hear about how the affair was not about sex but about some kind of deep, non-physical connection, or [...]
Archive for June, 2009
Shut Up, Already!
Posted in Politics, Reflections, tagged Governor Mark Sanford, infidelity, Politics on June 30, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Re-Corking The Iranian Genies
Posted in World, tagged free speech, Iran on June 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
In recent days it appears that the Iranian government is quashing dissent and its current rulers are trying to consolidate their power. However, given Iran’s byzantine governmental structure, with various councils and courts and other entities with various charters and responsibilities, I am not sure that the reality of the situation is clear to anyone. [...]
The Best American Band: Time To Vote!
Posted in America, Music, tagged aerosmith, allman brothers, America, Best American Rock 'N' Roll Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Music, Nirvana, pearl jam, R.E.M., Rage Against The Machine, Steely Dan, the Beach Boys, The Cars, the Doors, The Talking Heads, The Velvet Underground, The White Stripes, Van Halen, ZZ Top on June 29, 2009 | 23 Comments »
We’ve published a number of posts with our thoughts on the Best American Band, and we’ve given everyone time to think about that extraordinarily weighty issue. Now, it’s time for you to vote. We’ll check back in a week and declare a winner. Please, vote for just one of the candidates.
The Blame Game
Posted in Politics, The Economy, tagged economy, Politics, stimulus, Unemployment on June 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
With the economy performing poorly, unemployment up to 9.4 percent, and the federal budget deficit ballooning, look for politicians of both parties to focus on the blame game. This article asks whether it is time to saddle President Obama and the current administration with responsibility for these conditions. I think it is unfair to contend [...]
Air Conditioning
Posted in Politics, Travel, World, tagged air conditioning, America, climate change, Congress, Europe, Quebec, Travel on June 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
According to Wikipedia, the concepts underlying “air conditioning” were known to the ancient Romans, to Chinese dynasties in the centuries before A.D. 1000, and to the medieval Persians and Egyptians. The first modern, electrical air conditioning device was invented in 1902. Air conditioning was common in American hotels and restaurants in the 1960s — I [...]
Massachusetts Medicine
Posted in Politics, tagged Health care, Massachusetts universal heatlh care, Politics on June 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
As Congress debates national health care and health insurance concepts, it seems wise to consider the actual experience of one state that has a universal health care law and mandates that every individual have health insurance. This article discusses the Massachusetts approach and some of the cost and revenue issues it has encountered.
Hail, Ulysses!
Posted in Science, tagged European Space Agency, NASA, Science, Space, Ulysses on June 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
After 17 and a half years — more than three times its original life expectancy — the Ulysses space probe will be shut down. Ulysses, which was a joint effort of NASA and the European Space Agency, has studied the Sun, the solar wind, cosmic rays, sun spots, and other solar activity and has provided [...]
So Shines A Good Deed In a Weary World
Posted in Movies, Reflections, tagged Chicago Classic Coach, Good Deed, graduation, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on June 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The title to this post is a quote from the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. At the end of the film, after all of the other children have been eliminated from the competition by their own appalling character flaws, only Charlie remains — but Willy Wonka refuses to give Charlie the prize [...]
Bills Unread, Duties Undone
Posted in Environment, Politics, The Economy, tagged Congress, global warming, Politics on June 28, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The House has passed a 1200-page “climate bill” focused on development of new forms of energy and reducing “greenhouse gas” emissions. The bill will impose extensive regulations on a broad range of activities and on many different parts of the economy, and could have extraordinary long-term consequences for American society. I admit that I am [...]
Trapped In The Tunnel Of Chiming Weirdness
Posted in Art, Travel, tagged airports, Detroit, Public Art, Travel on June 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
We came home from Quebec through Detroit, which has a fine, modern airport. Unfortunately, it also has one of the banes of the frequent traveler — the under-the-runway concourse connection I call the Tunnel Of Chiming Weirdness. In Detroit, it is the tunnel connecting Concourse A and Concourses B and C. The tunnel has the [...]
Qualite’ en Quebec
Posted in Columbus, Travel, World, tagged Chateau Frontenac, Columbus, Quebec, Travel, World on June 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Chateau Frontenac Kish and I had a wonderful time in Quebec, where we stayed at the memorable Chateau Frontenac. It is a grand old hotel, replete with the kind of detail and polish and wood paneling and flourishes that you would expect in a grand old hotel. (We won’t speak of the air conditioning unit [...]
Who Makes The Choice?
Posted in Politics, tagged Health care on June 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
This article reports on President Obama’s remarks last night about saving health care costs by avoiding expensive treatments of patients who are deemed to be terminally ill or otherwise unlikely to enjoy a long-term benefit from the procedure. The President is right, of course: one sure way to reduce health care costs is to eliminate the kinds [...]
Quebec, A Church, And A Choir
Posted in Travel, World, tagged Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Quebec, Travel, World on June 26, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Kish and I are in Quebec for a conference. It’s a very interesting city, particularly in the old section where we are staying. It is as if a portion of an old and charming European walled city had been lifted out of France or Luxembourg and plopped down in Canada, complete with crooked streets, pastel [...]
More On The Monsoon
Posted in Family, tagged Family, graduation, Northwestern on June 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
For the record, here is The Daily Northwestern‘s take on last weekend’s graduation ceremony.
Jury Scamming
Posted in crime, tagged crime, Jury scam on June 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
One of my lawyer friends over in Dayton reports that the jury service scam has resurfaced. The scam is described by the FBI here. Basically, the victim gets a call from someone who purports to be with the Jury Commissioner’s office. The caller notifies the victim that a warrant has been issued for his or [...]
