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Morning, all. The Dead Pool is probably paying big dividends today, as Ed McMahon, sidekick of the Tonight Show, host of Star Search, and spokesperson for Publisher's Clearing House, died at 86.
Libraries near me (compared to those in other states, say) remind us that directives must be complied with, but the manner and method of their compliance may be different. Still, we agree with the ACLU that the North Central Library Region is squashing someone's right to know in requiring staff to review (and a day turnaround) requests by adults to unfilter computers in their libraries. Remember, kids, Filters Don't Work, but the government requires them anyway if we want to be able to get bandwidth and technology at a rate a public, taxpayer-supported institution can afford. The flip side to this protection from pr0n that's imposed on us is that normally, there's a policy in place (an ALA recommendation, if I recall correctly), that adults who can prove they are adults (for whatever definition of adult we choose to use) can request that a library staffer get rid of the filters so they can access things completely. In my library system, when we flip the switch that says you're an adult, you get to choose your own Internet settings (assuming you're not on a kids' computer, which are hardwired to be filtered so we can avoid problems if adults do their thing in the kids area - probably has something to do with responsibilities to not expose minors to adult materials). It's a compromise, but it works out pretty well, and we're receptive to the idea of nixing filters if, for some reason, legitimate research trips the filters. Since libraries are supposed to have given up the idea of total control over what people see and read and are now about providing access so that people can choose what they want to see and read, the decision to not nix filtering doesn't make sense. Maybe if/when filters work perfectly, they can cling to that, but until then, we should be happy to remove barriers.
On the matter of Iran, the Great Gonzo Mehum points out that the journalism we're seeing now, with no home offices or traceable trails, could be a model for news organizations to emulate in areas where being a journalist can get you killed. Recall some tips to stay secure and untraceable, and to be an activist, even in a country that hates them.
While being told by his opposition that he's not doing enough to interfere in Iran's matters, the President today made mention that the unrest in the country might be good for brokering deals about Iran's nuclear program.
Relatives fo victims of the 11 September attacks were disheartened at the White House's unwillingness to support their lawsuit against the government of Saudi Arabia for their alleged role in financing the attacks.
And finally, French president Sarkozy declared that burquas, the full-body garments worn by certain Muslim women, to be unwelcome in his country, considering them a debasement of women.
Domestically, wait, people still listen to Joe the Plumber? Mr. the Plumber was out deriding the nanny state at a base involving booze, smokes, and guns, and making a few missteps about the greatness of the country, but we'll chalk it up to the booze.
A Metro accident in the District of Columbia has killed at least seven lives, with at least secenty more injured. Cause is yet unknown. Horrible, bad, nasty thing.
the nominee to be top federal prosecutor in New Jersey has refused to give many of his clients, citing their privacy as more important than his disclosure. Which is apparently only news in the number of clients he's not telling us about. Of much more immediate interest would be how a house in Ireland owned by Mr. Dodd managed to gain significant value in these recent years despite housing markets, well, falling.
In the opinions, Mr. Du Pont on why cap-and-trade will be useless, a giant government intervention, and expensive to energy consumers. If we really wanted to go with less carbon emissions, nuke power it is, he says, while also saying we need more oil and gas so that we don't get our energy supplies and use cut.
Ms. Whitehead moralizes about the role of fatherhood, using the Founders as an example to the rest of us that we should be tougher with our kids, to talk and moralize and take an interest in their lives so we can teach them good ways of living and the foundations of the country.
The WSJ is rather smug about what it sees as a failure of the left in Europe, believing leftists are responsible for the current climate and collapse in their countries, as opposed to, say, the unraveling of a significant part of the fiancial sector that had ties, tendrils, and tentacles all across the world. the election of right-wing parties is not necessarily a repudiation of leftist policies, but more like a "well, you didn't fix it, let's give someone else a chance" idea, I suspect. Thus, they also complain about an Oregon decision to raise taxes to make up for revenue shortages caused by unemployment and fleeing businesses, which will likely only make the problem worse.
That's not too bad. Mr. Barone's belief that the President is great for long-term strategy but rotten on details is worse, mostly because he has neglected to remember who actually writes the laws in this country, that the mainstream media have also been critical of the President when it suits them to be so, and the role that his opposition, the obstructionist party of NO, has been playing in preventing thigns from getting done, especially when coupled with some serious spinelessness and desire for the bipartisan everything from his own party.
Last out, thinking they have a chink in the famed armor of the President, an eye is definitely being kept on the potential firing scandal of an Inspector General who alleges that he was fired because he filed reports and investigations critical of what some Obama friends were doing with federal cash and program workers. Substance will need to be forthcoming before this gets more or any wider play. If this is wrongdoing, it needs to be investigated. The investigations are happening. Thus, we'll wait for the investigations.
In technology, bird navigation is thought to be the longest example of entanglement currently in existence. And Tesla Motors continues to develop all-electric vehicles for the American populace.
Last for tonight, some beats and a time-laps of various parts of Shinjuku. Watching the lights come on is really cool. If that's not your thing, try Barbie Foosball.
Libraries near me (compared to those in other states, say) remind us that directives must be complied with, but the manner and method of their compliance may be different. Still, we agree with the ACLU that the North Central Library Region is squashing someone's right to know in requiring staff to review (and a day turnaround) requests by adults to unfilter computers in their libraries. Remember, kids, Filters Don't Work, but the government requires them anyway if we want to be able to get bandwidth and technology at a rate a public, taxpayer-supported institution can afford. The flip side to this protection from pr0n that's imposed on us is that normally, there's a policy in place (an ALA recommendation, if I recall correctly), that adults who can prove they are adults (for whatever definition of adult we choose to use) can request that a library staffer get rid of the filters so they can access things completely. In my library system, when we flip the switch that says you're an adult, you get to choose your own Internet settings (assuming you're not on a kids' computer, which are hardwired to be filtered so we can avoid problems if adults do their thing in the kids area - probably has something to do with responsibilities to not expose minors to adult materials). It's a compromise, but it works out pretty well, and we're receptive to the idea of nixing filters if, for some reason, legitimate research trips the filters. Since libraries are supposed to have given up the idea of total control over what people see and read and are now about providing access so that people can choose what they want to see and read, the decision to not nix filtering doesn't make sense. Maybe if/when filters work perfectly, they can cling to that, but until then, we should be happy to remove barriers.
On the matter of Iran, the Great Gonzo Mehum points out that the journalism we're seeing now, with no home offices or traceable trails, could be a model for news organizations to emulate in areas where being a journalist can get you killed. Recall some tips to stay secure and untraceable, and to be an activist, even in a country that hates them.
While being told by his opposition that he's not doing enough to interfere in Iran's matters, the President today made mention that the unrest in the country might be good for brokering deals about Iran's nuclear program.
Relatives fo victims of the 11 September attacks were disheartened at the White House's unwillingness to support their lawsuit against the government of Saudi Arabia for their alleged role in financing the attacks.
And finally, French president Sarkozy declared that burquas, the full-body garments worn by certain Muslim women, to be unwelcome in his country, considering them a debasement of women.
Domestically, wait, people still listen to Joe the Plumber? Mr. the Plumber was out deriding the nanny state at a base involving booze, smokes, and guns, and making a few missteps about the greatness of the country, but we'll chalk it up to the booze.
A Metro accident in the District of Columbia has killed at least seven lives, with at least secenty more injured. Cause is yet unknown. Horrible, bad, nasty thing.
the nominee to be top federal prosecutor in New Jersey has refused to give many of his clients, citing their privacy as more important than his disclosure. Which is apparently only news in the number of clients he's not telling us about. Of much more immediate interest would be how a house in Ireland owned by Mr. Dodd managed to gain significant value in these recent years despite housing markets, well, falling.
In the opinions, Mr. Du Pont on why cap-and-trade will be useless, a giant government intervention, and expensive to energy consumers. If we really wanted to go with less carbon emissions, nuke power it is, he says, while also saying we need more oil and gas so that we don't get our energy supplies and use cut.
Ms. Whitehead moralizes about the role of fatherhood, using the Founders as an example to the rest of us that we should be tougher with our kids, to talk and moralize and take an interest in their lives so we can teach them good ways of living and the foundations of the country.
The WSJ is rather smug about what it sees as a failure of the left in Europe, believing leftists are responsible for the current climate and collapse in their countries, as opposed to, say, the unraveling of a significant part of the fiancial sector that had ties, tendrils, and tentacles all across the world. the election of right-wing parties is not necessarily a repudiation of leftist policies, but more like a "well, you didn't fix it, let's give someone else a chance" idea, I suspect. Thus, they also complain about an Oregon decision to raise taxes to make up for revenue shortages caused by unemployment and fleeing businesses, which will likely only make the problem worse.
That's not too bad. Mr. Barone's belief that the President is great for long-term strategy but rotten on details is worse, mostly because he has neglected to remember who actually writes the laws in this country, that the mainstream media have also been critical of the President when it suits them to be so, and the role that his opposition, the obstructionist party of NO, has been playing in preventing thigns from getting done, especially when coupled with some serious spinelessness and desire for the bipartisan everything from his own party.
Last out, thinking they have a chink in the famed armor of the President, an eye is definitely being kept on the potential firing scandal of an Inspector General who alleges that he was fired because he filed reports and investigations critical of what some Obama friends were doing with federal cash and program workers. Substance will need to be forthcoming before this gets more or any wider play. If this is wrongdoing, it needs to be investigated. The investigations are happening. Thus, we'll wait for the investigations.
In technology, bird navigation is thought to be the longest example of entanglement currently in existence. And Tesla Motors continues to develop all-electric vehicles for the American populace.
Last for tonight, some beats and a time-laps of various parts of Shinjuku. Watching the lights come on is really cool. If that's not your thing, try Barbie Foosball.
