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So, close to home, an initiative in this state to lock the state's budget into what it is this year, making the best we can do is be a recession-starved state, because all the excess would go toward lowering property tax levies. As someone whose existence is based on tax levies, you can tell I'm against this. I don't want my library to languish because it can only collect enough money for half-assed service, instead of enough money to give full and robust service.
Oh, and the other thing - Referendum 71, which puts it to the populace to vote whether or not the extension of domestic partner benefits to make them marriage in all but name should be done. The way things work, though, to keep those benefits, voters will have to vote to approve the measure, or yes, instead of the more traditional no vote against creating discrimination in the state. Could make for some very confused voters. This is where I wonder how well people read their ballots.
And now, the rest of the news.
A reminder to anyone hearing news reports about how Roman Polanski is a victim of a witch-hunt or other such nonsense: He pled guilty to having nonconsensual sex with someone who was underage. In short, he's an admitted and convicted child rapist. Keep that filter on while you read the rest of the news.
Out in the world today, Iraqi journalists warily eye the exit of United States forces from the country, fearing they will be snuffed out or unable to perform independent reporting once the U.S. troops leave. (Well, independent journalists do take risks. One should hope the Iraqi police are up to the task, then.) In the other war zone, The General in charge there feels the bureaucracy is hampering his efforts to get stuff done.
The Samoas are recovering from an earthquake that generated tsunami waves crashing down on the island.
A Marine accused of killing an unarmed detainee received a plea that dropped murder in exchange to guilty for dereliction of duty.
Finally, hear the right-wing engines rev up for another round of "Terrorists in Your Backyard!" as 75 detainees have been cleared for release and transfer from Guantanamo Bay.
Domestically, Mr. Rather's accusation that he was made a scapegoat was rejected by an appeals court. Their ruling indicated he did not provide sufficient support for the claim of loss of business opportunities by not letting him seek employment elsewhere and not giving him enough on-air opportunities after a 2004 flap over the previous administrator's military record. Mr. Rather was removed from being the anchor of the CBS Evening News after the incident.
The group ACORN could more rightly claim to be a scapegoat, even as various bills and amendments to defund them federally stall out because of Constitutional issues, or of being written so broadly as to allow other companies to be affected by them. That would be the group who does good things in registering people, and reported possible bad registrations, for which there has been no proof of which anyone tried to vote with thsoe bad registrations. The group being tarred by the scandal after avtivists went from place to place with a hidden camera, hoping to find a bad apple they could then display as the norm at ACORN. You know, the group that probably understands better than anyone right now what it was like to be an accused communist in the 50s.
On economics, The Federal Reserve warned that interest rates would be climbing back up pretty quickly once the economy got back onto stable ground, so as to avoid inflation problems.
In opinions, The Slacktivist on how the Bible contains unavoidably differing points of view about the nature of G-d being a first-class prick, and how acknowledging such differences can make certain fundamentalists' flip their lids. The comments are a fruitful discussion of why people should follow a deity that, by his own writings, does evil things, even if he does get an apologia in Jonah. It's discussion that more people should engage in with their faiths. (The Slacktivist also offers an addendum to his post, with more explanation.)
On health care, Mr. Moore details problems with the current health care system that the Baucus bill won't fix, which amount to "It stays the same, even with the bill, and private insurers get massive bailouts and subsidies." Dr. Winkenwerder says even health co-ops aren't the way to go, but that more money in the hands of the individual and more real competition between insurers will provide the necessary cost drops.
On the other side, Mr. Howard says malpractice reform is an easy way to save money, but that trial lawyers have Democrats twisted around their pinky, so it'll never happen. Mr. Barnes says Medicare Advantage is the crown jewel of programs, and the Obama administration should be working to expand it, not cut it, but Democrats hate competition, hate good Republican ideas, and hate that it's popular with seniors as opposed to regular Medicare.
Mr. Continetti says that the President should stop trying to be on television all the time, because it's not helping approval ratings that fall because his policies aren't popular or don't work.
Last out, Mr. Domitrovic pooh-poohs the idea of using gross national satisfaction as an index of prosperity and progress, because France, who suggested the idea, has been a laggard on GDP and just wants to move teh goalposts. Could make for an interesting comparison metric, though - comparing happiness and GDP together might finally prove whether or not people really are "poor but happy".
In technology, more exoskeleton stuff, this time to help humans lift and carry heavy stuff, a chip that would need no power source and could provide sight to the blind by directly stimulating the optical nerve with the data from a wireless camera on the head, Sony opens up its e-reader to self-publishing web sites, and more about the sonic cannon used against G-20 protesters, whom I'm sure would love to be compensated for their participation in the experiment.
Last for tonight, the app that lets you broadcast yourself from anywhere, using only your mobile phone.
Oh, and the other thing - Referendum 71, which puts it to the populace to vote whether or not the extension of domestic partner benefits to make them marriage in all but name should be done. The way things work, though, to keep those benefits, voters will have to vote to approve the measure, or yes, instead of the more traditional no vote against creating discrimination in the state. Could make for some very confused voters. This is where I wonder how well people read their ballots.
And now, the rest of the news.
A reminder to anyone hearing news reports about how Roman Polanski is a victim of a witch-hunt or other such nonsense: He pled guilty to having nonconsensual sex with someone who was underage. In short, he's an admitted and convicted child rapist. Keep that filter on while you read the rest of the news.
Out in the world today, Iraqi journalists warily eye the exit of United States forces from the country, fearing they will be snuffed out or unable to perform independent reporting once the U.S. troops leave. (Well, independent journalists do take risks. One should hope the Iraqi police are up to the task, then.) In the other war zone, The General in charge there feels the bureaucracy is hampering his efforts to get stuff done.
The Samoas are recovering from an earthquake that generated tsunami waves crashing down on the island.
A Marine accused of killing an unarmed detainee received a plea that dropped murder in exchange to guilty for dereliction of duty.
Finally, hear the right-wing engines rev up for another round of "Terrorists in Your Backyard!" as 75 detainees have been cleared for release and transfer from Guantanamo Bay.
Domestically, Mr. Rather's accusation that he was made a scapegoat was rejected by an appeals court. Their ruling indicated he did not provide sufficient support for the claim of loss of business opportunities by not letting him seek employment elsewhere and not giving him enough on-air opportunities after a 2004 flap over the previous administrator's military record. Mr. Rather was removed from being the anchor of the CBS Evening News after the incident.
The group ACORN could more rightly claim to be a scapegoat, even as various bills and amendments to defund them federally stall out because of Constitutional issues, or of being written so broadly as to allow other companies to be affected by them. That would be the group who does good things in registering people, and reported possible bad registrations, for which there has been no proof of which anyone tried to vote with thsoe bad registrations. The group being tarred by the scandal after avtivists went from place to place with a hidden camera, hoping to find a bad apple they could then display as the norm at ACORN. You know, the group that probably understands better than anyone right now what it was like to be an accused communist in the 50s.
On economics, The Federal Reserve warned that interest rates would be climbing back up pretty quickly once the economy got back onto stable ground, so as to avoid inflation problems.
In opinions, The Slacktivist on how the Bible contains unavoidably differing points of view about the nature of G-d being a first-class prick, and how acknowledging such differences can make certain fundamentalists' flip their lids. The comments are a fruitful discussion of why people should follow a deity that, by his own writings, does evil things, even if he does get an apologia in Jonah. It's discussion that more people should engage in with their faiths. (The Slacktivist also offers an addendum to his post, with more explanation.)
On health care, Mr. Moore details problems with the current health care system that the Baucus bill won't fix, which amount to "It stays the same, even with the bill, and private insurers get massive bailouts and subsidies." Dr. Winkenwerder says even health co-ops aren't the way to go, but that more money in the hands of the individual and more real competition between insurers will provide the necessary cost drops.
On the other side, Mr. Howard says malpractice reform is an easy way to save money, but that trial lawyers have Democrats twisted around their pinky, so it'll never happen. Mr. Barnes says Medicare Advantage is the crown jewel of programs, and the Obama administration should be working to expand it, not cut it, but Democrats hate competition, hate good Republican ideas, and hate that it's popular with seniors as opposed to regular Medicare.
Mr. Continetti says that the President should stop trying to be on television all the time, because it's not helping approval ratings that fall because his policies aren't popular or don't work.
Last out, Mr. Domitrovic pooh-poohs the idea of using gross national satisfaction as an index of prosperity and progress, because France, who suggested the idea, has been a laggard on GDP and just wants to move teh goalposts. Could make for an interesting comparison metric, though - comparing happiness and GDP together might finally prove whether or not people really are "poor but happy".
In technology, more exoskeleton stuff, this time to help humans lift and carry heavy stuff, a chip that would need no power source and could provide sight to the blind by directly stimulating the optical nerve with the data from a wireless camera on the head, Sony opens up its e-reader to self-publishing web sites, and more about the sonic cannon used against G-20 protesters, whom I'm sure would love to be compensated for their participation in the experiment.
Last for tonight, the app that lets you broadcast yourself from anywhere, using only your mobile phone.
