BBQ and Fair

Portfolio

Some of my favorite pictures that I've taken over the years....

Change of Pace

I'm not really blogging anymore in the traditional sense (obviously) but rather I have come to embrace photography. This blog will now serve as a photo blog. A record of things interesting and pretty (at least to me). The occasional written piece may come along, but really I just want to take pictures. Cheers!

Snook Rodeo

Western bw

2010-08-01

Cannon Rogers

http://picasaweb.google.com/katie.a.kelly/CannonRogers

Rachel's Wedding

Team Ropers

Yeah, it's been forever... I'll explain later

Many Thanks to MH...


One sunny day a rabbit came out of his hole in the ground to enjoy the
fine weather. The day was so nice that he became careless and a fox
snuck up behind him and caught him.
"I am going to eat you for lunch," said the fox.
"Wait," replied the rabbit, "You should at least wait a few days."
"Oh yeah? Why should I wait?"
"Well, I am just finishing my thesis on On The Superiority of Rabbits
over Foxes and Wolves."
"Are you crazy? I should eat you right now! Everybody knows that a fox
will always win over a rabbit."
"Not really, not according to my research. If you like, you can come
into my hole and read it for yourself. If you are not convinced, you can
go ahead and have me for lunch."
"You really are crazy!" But since the fox was curious and had nothing
to lose, it went with the rabbit.
The fox never came out.

A few days later the rabbit was again taking a break from writing and
sure enough, a wolf came out of the bushes and was ready to set upon
him.
"Wait!" yelled the rabbit, "You can't eat me right now."
"And why might that be, my furry appetizer?"
"I am almost finished writing my thesis on On The Superiority of
Rabbits over Foxes and Wolves."
The wolf laughed so hard that it almost lost its grip on the rabbit.
"Maybe I shouldn't eat you; you really are sick...in the head. You might
have something contagious."
"Come and read it for yourself; you can eat me afterward if you
disagree with my conclusions."

So the wolf went down into the rabbit's hole...and never came out.

The rabbit finished his thesis and was out celebrating in the local
lettuce patch. Another rabbit came along and asked, "What's up? You seem
very happy."
"Yup, I just finished my thesis."
"Congratulations. What's it about?"
"On The Superiority of Rabbits over Foxes and Wolves."
"Are you sure? That doesn't sound right."
"Oh yes. Come and read it for yourself."

So together they went down into the rabbit's hole. As they entered, the
friend saw the typical graduate abode, albeit a rather messy one after
writing a thesis. The computer with the controversial work was in one
corner. And to the right there was a pile of fox bones, on the left a
pile of wolf bones. And in the middle was a large, well-fed lion.

The moral of the story:
The title of your thesis doesn't matter.
The subject doesn't matter.
The research doesn't matter.

All that matters is who your advisor is.

I'm Confused

So if gas prices aren't the gas companies fault, then how are they making these astronomical profits?!? I'm missing something.

What could be more European than Sitting Down with a Hamburger and a Budweiser... Wait a Minute

Can I just say HA HA to us all. Through American cultural expansion that has been widely criticized for the past 60 years, and our pursuit of the highest bidder, America is no longer the land of hamburgers or Budweiser. HA HA. Yes, we still make hamburgers, and there are MANY people who will never stop drinking their Budweiser, but now neither of these iconic products are solely "American Owned and Operated". The French have reclaimed the hamburger and turned it into fine dining, while Bud sold out to a Belgian brewer (the makers of Stella Artois no less) and all reported in the last week by the New York Times. Please note, this is not a complaint. I'm actually very excited about a potentially better tasting brew. Perhaps in a few years someone might mutter: "What could be more french than a hamburger, Budweiser, and of course french fries?" HA HA

Charlton Heston isn't Rolling Yet...

For those of you who have been following the case, the Supreme Court ruled today to strike down the D.C. Gun Ban on 2nd Amendment grounds. I am waiting on the arguments to come up on Oyez before I make too much of a commentary on the decision... I'm eager to see what their reasoning is. Cheers!

What Goes Around...

It looks like the vast right wing conspiracy is at it again...

The push of the Clinton camp to ignore the opinion of the people and the super delegates for the democratic nomination does nothing but highlight why HRC should stay the hell away from Pennsylvania Ave.

A Long Overdue Post

It's not often that I personally go head to head with what I study, however, a few weeks ago my 97 year old great aunt began dying. I say began dying because death did not come suddenly, or really without warning. Rather, her body just began to break down slowly until death. I was witnessing death with an attempt at dignity. Her dignified death was bittersweet. First, some back story. At 97 she, we'll call her Stephanie, was nearly deaf and blind. Her knees had long since stiffened, and osteroperosis was a daily challenge. With her body falling apart her mind was left crystal clear... a clarity that became a nightmare as it was becoming trapped in a shell with a diminishing ability to communitcate. Stephanie suffered a fall a few months ago that bruised her, but she survived with no breaks. Her body, however, seemed to have had enough. Less than a week later she was back in the hospital. Stephanie was clear with everyone... doctors, family, and nurses... that she was dying and she didn't want the process delayed. When she loss the ability to swallow she quickly and firmly made a command desicion. Stephanie refused a feeding tube. She knew that without a feeding tube she would die, and in her weakened state it could be anywhere from 2-5 days for her to starve to death. As days slowly passed Stephanie spent her time talking and even joking with family or sleeping. She, the oldest of 8 siblings, was the last. Her little brother, the youngest of the 8 (and my grandfather) had passed away a little over a year before. She was tired, lonely, and in a way looking forward to moving on. The family discussed her choice, as well as her courage in facing death. She chose to die, which is a oppurtunity that many people don't get, and she was happy. We couldn't hope for anything more, but that death would be soon and painless. Doctors and nurses did the best they could to keep her comfortable, and Stephanie was adament that she was in little pain. She retained the ability to communicate until the day before she died. One of her last actions was to remove her wedding rings and pass them on after over 60 years of faithfully wearing them. After almost a full week of refusing food Stephanie passed on, quietly in her sleep.

This was not an easy process for our family. The loss of any family member is of course painful, but here we watched daily as a member of our starved herself rather than die a slow and drawn out death with the help of medicine and doctors. This is why I say that her dignified death was bittersweet. She chose to die, and I would argue that action as granting her a dignified passing. However, to starve to death is a laborious and potentially painful death. My blogs have been clear about my feelings toward allowing people to choose death rather than suffer, and to see such a senario played out in my family reaffirmed these opinions, as well as opened my eyes to the pain that such decisions might cause family members of the dying. I was reminded of my need to write this post when I saw this article in the BBC regarding Non-resesitation card and death with dignity. In the end I am thankful to Stephanie for making such a tough decision for our family, and I am furthermore blessed to have such a strong character to fondly remember.

Crazy Old, but Thats What Happens When I Don't Keep Up w/ the Blog

So a while back Obama said that there are "bitter" people who "cling to guns and religion". Hillary jumped at the chance to catch the golden child doing something wrong, and the debate on semantics began. Honestly, most of these people are bitter toward the government... Obama wasn't "wrong"... he just wasn't being Presidential either. I think the operative word in the line is "cling"... not bitter. People are bitter... thats why Obama's campaign of change is doing so well. But there is a part of the populace that is not only bitter, but desperate to find protection and security. If the government doesn't offer it, then they will... through guns, and a moral justification through religion. It might not be the best plan, but they see it as all they have. Admittedly I was a little offended the first time I heard the comment, but I've gotten over it. Do I cling to my guns and/or religion? No... I embrace them, but I don't cling to them. And I definately don't embrace them out of a bitterness. But for those of you who might, here's what CNN had to say on the (rather old) matter.

An interesting argument... What do you think?

I saw this article a while back... its an interesting argument. Does someone have a rebuttal?

http://peternbiddle.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/trust-isnt-transitive-or-someone-fired-a-gun-in-an-airplane-cockpit-and-it-was-probably-the-pilot/

Trust Isn’t Transitive (or, “Someone fired a gun in an airplane cockpit, and it was probably the pilot”)
I’ve been saying that trust isn’t transitive for years, using this example:

We all have a cousin Bubba we trust to change the transmission in our 1970 AMX, but we wouldn’t trust him to babysit the kids for the weekend. Both involve trusting him with our kids lives, but trust isn’t transitive and we know from experience that Bubba is a hard-drinking and hard-living roustabout with greasy fingernails who can certainly keep track of little things like screws, but certainly can’t keep track of little things like children.

Bruce Schneier has pointed out many times that he thinks that arming pilots is stupid. I’d say that arming pilots is stupid only insofar as you don’t make sure they are as, or more, experienced with firearms as they are with airplanes.

Experience will make them predictable, and predictability is critical to trust.

This bring us to this: Someone ND’ed in an airplane cockpit. For those of you who aren’t gun-nuts, an ND is a “Negligent Discharge”. It is the better term, far more preferable than “AD – Accidental Discharge”, because modern guns don’t just accidentally go off. Modern guns built by reputable makers – and I guarantee that the gun this pilot had fits that category, much as the plane he had would fit it – are designed to go BANG when you pull the trigger, and to NEVER go bang when you don’t.

Just as modern cars don’t steer themselves into things they aren’t supposed to, guns don’t accidentally discharge. They go BANG when you pull the trigger. That’s it.

So someone was holding the gun, and it went BANG. There are a few ways this could happen. The pilot could have been checking the condition of the weapon. (Is it loaded? Ooops. Yes.) He (yes there are certainly female pilots, and some of them may be armed, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt in this case and say that all armed female pilots are too smart too shoot a gun in their own cockpit) could have been transferring it from a case to a holster. He could have been loading it… He could also have been showing it off to a flight attendant, which happens to be my favorite potential example:

“Do you guys really carry GUNS?”

“Why yes little lady, some of us sure do. I carry a Sig .357, it’s the same gun those air-marshals use!”.

“Ooooh, can I hold it?”

“Of course, but you need to understand that I’m a trained professional, you can’t just ”

“oh shit”

Now, how does this relate to trust not being transitive? Let’s look at this quote from the article in question, attributed to Mike Boyd: “if somebody who has the ability to fly a 747 across the Pacific wants a gun, you give it to them.” This is a horribly flawed assumption, because it assumes that trust is transitive, when clearly it isn’t.

The reason trust isn’t transitive is because trust is most often based on data regarding the past which allows us to make assumptions about specific competence, quality of performance, and behaviors in the future.

We can assume that a trained pilot, when facing piloty thingies, will act like a trained pilot. WE CANNOT ASSUME THAT A TRAINED PILOT WILL ACT LIKE A TRAINED LION-TAMER WHEN FACING A WILD LION.

Skills from one domain cannot simply be moved from that domain to another. Saliently, the pilot in question must have thousands of hours of flight time, has done the pre-flight check hundreds or even thousands of times, has been steeped in pilot-ness and thus pilot-safety, probably since he was a late teen. He’s very likely an extraordinarily safe pilot. We can assume that every experienced 747 pilot has a keen awareness of the potential lethality of full loaded 747. In the past we can assume that they at least had a deep appreciation of the potential for harm to their own passengers, and post 9/11 we can assume that they appreciate the harm their plane can be to thousands of additional people.

But this can’t just be automatically carried to guns – guns aren’t planes anymore than they are motorcycles, and many pilots will tell you that jet pilots are much more like to die on a motorcycle than they are on a plane, because they act stupid on motorcycles.

Good gun-nuts know that you learn specific skills for your weapons and then you do them over and over and over again. In my case, ensuring a gun is unloaded will consist of a series of discrete steps that I’ve repeated at least hundreds of times to ensure that only the things I want to happen will happen.

I always check the condition of a weapon which has been handed to me the exact same way, even if the woman who handed it to me is mrs super gun chick and I watched her remove the magazine, repeatedly work the slide back and forth and then lock it back, stick her finger in the chamber and then visually inspect the chamber and mag-well. Guess what? I’ll do whatever of those things are possible myself, too. And I still won’t paint her or anything I don’t want to destroy.

If you want to trust someone, you need to know about their innate trustworthiness, and you need to know about their experience. Some people are simply more trustworthy than others because, well, they are, and you can trust them more in new situations than other people.

But these people aren’t necessarily the ones well trained in , so you can’t build security systems around them. If you want to build a system that scales across many users, you want a system that mandates everyone be predictable enough for the system to work. Judging the innate trustworthiness of a person is very hard, so while you may do that you also wind up forcing people you must have a high degree of trust in to do things that makes them appear to be more predictable in the ways you need them to be.

In other words, you train the living shit out of pilots before you let them fly a plane. The same should be said for guns, and I can pretty much guarantee that the armed pilots in the sky today have probably more than 100 times more experience in flying planes than in handling guns. So – either stop the armed pilot experiment, OR train the armed pilots well enough so that they are as predictable as you need them to be, so that you can make some assumptions about their trustworthiness.

Will there be ND’s anyway? Of course. But there are also plane crashes, and that has to be okay. What is important is that the system be predictable, and of course that it have a real, tangible and measurable result. Number of plane crashes vs. flight hours is a simple equation. Now that we’ve had an ND in a cockpit, lets’ take a look at number of ND’s vs. gun-handling hours…

I have related thoughts about guns and training that apply to personal gun ownership, but that’s for another post…

I'm Back, and I'm Sorry for the Wait

It's been a crazy couple of months, but that's no excuse for my lack of blogging. I'm sorry.

As a special treat, however, you all will be first up to read an article that I wrote for my hometown newspaper on my recent trip to Russia!

When asked if I’d like to write up an article on my recent trip to Russia I had to jump at the chance. The ten day trek through Moscow and St. Petersburg was such a fascinating experience I was thrilled at the opportunity to share my adventures with everyone. When I first told my family and friends that I was going to Russia they all had the same question: “Why would you want to go there?”. The answer to this question is threefold: 1) As a government major in college, and a doctoral student of political communication Russia is prime study ground. 2) I had a friend from college who had been teaching and living in Moscow for about three years who could translate and guide me. 3) Why not?

Of course, like most Americans traveling to Russia, I had no idea what to expect. Many of us are still recovering from the communist paranoia from the Red Scare of our past, and even today Russians are all too often cast as the villains in our films. The Communist USSR hasn’t even been gone 20 years, and its political footprint is still in America’s history, memory, and imagination. I landed in Moscow the morning of May 1, 2008, and I flew out the 10th; I could not have picked a better time to experience Russian cultural, political, or military pride. May 9th is Victory day in Russia, and the whole time I was there the country was buzzing preparing for the inauguration of a new President, Prime Minister, and for Victory Day. While I was there I got to visit with a close friend; Veronica Armendariz went to Berry College with me, and she has been studying post-Soviet Russian politics in Moscow for the past few years. Considering our mutual interest in Soviet and Russian politics a lot of our trip was organized around the many military demonstrations, political party rallies, and political speeches that were scheduled for the week.

Victory Day is of course the celebration of the victory over the Nazis in WWII. (Think a celebration on the scale of Memorial Day and July 4th combined.) From an American perspective it can be easy to forget just how many Russians died in WWII (most estimates put the casualties at somewhere around 25 million Russians); not to mention the struggles of the Russian citizens on the Eastern Front, such as the siege of Leningrad (for you movie buffs, it’s the inspiration behind Enemy at the Gates, which is based on the book, War of the Rats). On V-Day each city celebrates its WWII veterans, most of which decked out in their old uniforms, and everyone remembers those who died during the war. This Veterans Day was also celebrated with the largest showing of military force since the fall of the Soviet Union. Veronica and I got to watch as tanks, missiles, and troops were paraded through Red Square in Moscow just as they were 20 years ago. We had a particularly surreal moment in St. Petersburg as we watched troops parade on the Winter Palace Square in preparation for the V-Day celebrations. Watching the formations one couldn’t help but parallel them to the old photos and footage of soviet troops from years ago. We were disappointed to hear that the inauguration ceremonies and celebrations were to be closed to the public. We did, however, watch Medvedev’s first speech as President on television. This was a historic moment for Russia, and for her people… it was an honor to get to experience it all in person.

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I definitely remain amazed at the Soviet propaganda that remains throughout the cities, but Moscow in particular. The hammer and sickle, wheat bundles, as well as the red star, are prominent fixtures and themes on buildings, in the metro tunnels, and as decorations on a variety of public monuments, bridges, and artifacts. The years under communism are still a source of pride for many, especially older, Russians. The fall has been particularly hard on the generation that we refer to as the baby boomers here in the US. This older Russian generation grew up in an all inclusive welfare system where the government provided everything. No one had a lot, but everyone had something. After the fall this all inclusive support system dissolved seemingly overnight leaving a ruined economy and a smaller social welfare program than we have here in the States. Incredibly many Russians adjusted well enough to the new system to get by, some well enough to start emerging as a middle class. One point of interest- Capitalism as a economic system is steadily being embraced across the country, however, the political system has, in the past few years, been centralizing political power under Putin which seems to be reflective of late soviet corruption and authoritarianism. Shockingly, however, there does not seem to be a public outcry. Although some criticism can be found in newspapers, and from ever dwindling opposition parties, most of the populace seems indifferent at best. Putin is a very popular political figure among most Russians, and the economic stability and monetary gains, as well as the reemergence of Russia as an international super-power, seem to pacify any unrest from lost political freedoms.

While I was there we also got to explore some the more famous and infamous landmarks of the two cities. In Moscow we of course explored the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the buildings that held the KGB, the Church of Christ the Savior, and the All Russia Exhibition Center. The Exhibition Center was an incredible collection of buildings, fountains and monuments celebrating communism and various achievements of the USSR. We witnessed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and I was able to tour a variety of Eastern Orthodox Cathedrals, all of which were breathtakingly beautiful. Moscow was nice, but St. Petersburg was built to be admired and stunning. Founded by Peter the Great, St. Petersburg became the residence of the czars and royalty of Russia. It is home to some of the more recognizable Russian landmarks such as the Winter Palace, now known as the Hermitage Museum, The Church of the Spilt Blood, the Bronze Horseman, The Peter and Paul Fortress, the Kazan Cathedral, the Aurora battleship, the Yusopov Palace (where Rasputin was poisoned, stabbed, shot, and drowned), St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the northernmost Mosque in the world, and it holds the distinction as the home of the Communist Revolution. While we were in St. Petersburg we were able to catch Swan Lake at the Hermitage Theater. To see a Russian ballet in Catherine the Great’s private theater was incredible! St. Petersburg is built on a collection of islands, thus it has canals throughout the city with Palaces built on what seems like every corner. Hundreds of years of royalty, admiralty, and aristocracy built palace after palace. During the revolution most were torched, gutted, and the shells of the grand estates were used to store grain and industrial goods. The Russian government has gone to great lengths in recent years to restore these architectural and historical wonders to their former glory and the effort is certainly not wasted on the millions that flock here during the summer to tour and take pictures.

Overall Veronica and I had an incredible trip, and the people, places, and cities that we discovered while we were there made an impression that will last a lifetime. I left Russia with a new respect for the determination of the Russian people, as well as for the love and pride that they have in their country and its history. As with most travel opportunities it is wonderful to meet the countries and people behind the stereotypes. Just as Georgia is more than peaches and Atlanta, Russia is more than Vodka, communists, and Matryoshka nesting dolls… it’s an impressive, beautiful, and strongly patriotic culture that I look forward to visiting again.

A Shameless Plug:

I am participating in another blog that I will be contributing to occasionally... it is a collection of politically minded folk that will be posting together. It is politicalcottoncandy.com and I encourage you to check it soon. We are currently doing site construction. See you all soon!!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Nothing like bringing Christianity and Pagan Traditions together! Everyone have a great holiday! -kk

P.S.- The blog will be back soon, I promise, it's just been busy around here.

It's the Oldest Profession in the World... Get off their backs (figuratively that is)

So the Governor of New York has been linked to an elite prostitution ring. Honestly, I don't see why we care. He's just stimulating the economy... among other things. I really think that we should just legalize prostitution across the board; the taxes will help pay for the war, drug and STD testing will be monitored, and with the process becoming more transparent we will know which politicians are cheating on their wives before it becomes a scandal. Embrace Capitalism! Embrace the brunette holding the whip on the corner for $500 an hour.

What really makes this whole situation a scandal, however, has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with how they caught him. A Federal WIRETAP caught him arranging to fly the call girl to D.C. and meet him in a hotel. Now, the Patriot Act okay'd wiretapping to fight terrorism. When did having some buxom blond spank you become terroristic?? Use wiretaps to find child porn rings and the 6ft middle eastern man on dialysis in the desert that we still can't find. If you ask me the only reason they were tapping the call girls' phones in the first place was for the free phone sex.

And they call it the "No Child Left With a Behind Act"

So much for me making Honor Roll next quarter...

Hunting in the Education System... There's Hope For Us Yet

YEAH!

Hello Strangers!

Sorry about the break, but life's been pretty crazy considering I'm supposed to be taking a break right now. Today 4 states are conducting their primaries. And two of those states, the lonestar and the buckeye, have been the talk of the nation for almost a month now. I've been pretty open about my frustration with this year's political candidates, and I foresee a time of serious candidate research coming up. McCain is, officially (well as officially as you can be w/o the convention saying so) the Republican candidate. Some thoughts on this:

First, if (that is an IF) I choose not to vote for McCain this does not make me a libral or a democrat. I am beyond frustrated with people confusing a non-republican as a non-conservative. I turn the charge. I say that Republicans are NOT CONSERVATIVES ANYMORE! I AM a Conservative. What are you? You say small gov't and individual autonomy, but the party you serve has decieved and misled you for 8 years. Where is your outrage? Where is the accountability? When did conservative go from Edmund Burke to Bill O'Reilly? It is not hard to see why people call intellectual conservatism an oxymoron... look at the morons who are representing your political ideas. How many Republicans really (really really)idolize Ann Coulter, Nancy Grace, and Bill O'Reilly? There are no sound arguments coming from these "commentators". Just bullying and irrational rage at people who aren't just like them. This is not conservatism... it's not even human decency. Watch whatever news channel you wish, be thankful for the choices in political spin, but don't assume that people are your opposites if they are different. They could just represent a different octave of the same voice. America's polarization was invented to make pretty maps on television. The majority of Americans either don't care, or are so disillusioned they hate all politics. Everyone I've talked to this year is voting for their least hated option. And that my friends, is just tragic.

For the record: I hope Obama pulls out the democratic nomination. This DOES NOT make me an avid fan of Obama, nor does it make me a democrat or libral. It just means that I seriously dislike Hillary and I think that Obama would be the better candidate to run against McCain in Nov.

P.S.- Why David Brooks continues to Rock My Face Off...

One of Our Own...

William F. Buckley Jr. died today. His memorable wit and writings demonstrated that intellectual conservative is not an oxymoron. They say he died at his desk, and I'm not sure that he would have wanted it any other way.

Syphilis is Back!! (Though I didn't know it had gone anywhere...)

The health department where I live is doing a campaign entitled "Syphilis is Back!" Now, the first time I saw this it was on a large billboard and I was on the phone with a friend, at which point I casually threw in that Syphilis, was in fact, back. And she replied "Really? I didn't know it had gone anywhere." For some twisted reason I find this funny, and then, to my further amusement the Economist ran an article on what else, but Syphilis. So, my PSA for the year: "Syphilis is Back!"

Everyone is Seeing Green, and its Not Money or Greed

Ralph Nadar is running for the Presidency under the Green Party... again. Democrats hate him for screwing over Al Gore. Republicans appreciate his splitting of the left, as well as his ability to serve as a party punchline. NYT had an interesting article on Candidate reactions as well as Nadar's announcement. Some interesting tidbits. Nadar got 95,000 votes in 2000. Wow. Yet more proof that one should never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. My reaction? Stephen Colbert should continue his run for President, but as an independent. Colbert '08!!

I Forgot to Rant on the 20th, Sorry About That

So the article from the 19th discussed that genetically modified and/or cloned beef may make Americans uneasy. Here's the thing, we've been eating genetically modified beef, corn, (insert any other agricultural product here] since we domesticated it. When farmers pick the biggest bull to breed with the biggest cows, they are modifying the genetic outcome. Cloning (in the agricultural food producing sense) allows for the mass production of the very best livestock. It's letting us breed the biggest bull to himself, thus giving us him all over. If he's great why risk inferior offspring? Genetic engineering does not effect the "health" of the food. For example, you aren't going to contract some mysterious illness from eating cloned hamburger. You will contract mad cow from eating hamburgers that came from cows that were fed other cows. Genetic engineering does not add preservatives, harmful additives, or radiation to your food. 70% of ALL processed foods on your local grocer's shelf contain genetically modified ingredients.

So, if this is nothing new then why is it a big deal all of a sudden? Americans have just now realized (thanks to a hyper-sensational media) that they are eating food that has been altered. Now how, you may ask, can someone not realize that their food has been tampered with at the genetic level? Many reasons I answer, here are just a few: 1) you can't tell by looking at it, 2) Americans are doing good to know that hamburger comes from cows, much less that the cows have been specially and scietifically bred to ensure lots of lean meat, 3) We are so far removed from the origins of our food we never asked where it came from (see point 2, and read the book Who Moved My Cheese), and 4) No one told us. Now, number 4 is VERY important. Lets imagine why.

Someone walks up to you, hands you a sandwich, and tells you to eat it. You don't know how it was made, what is was made with, or why they are doing this. What is your immediate reaction?

a) Oh boy food!
b) fear
c) blind submission to instruction
d) skeptical questioning

Now to review the possible answers (remember multiple choice has many right answers, but we are looking for the MOST correct response). Only Homer Simpson would pick a, so on to b. (B) is the most correct answer. Your FIRST and IMMEDIATE reaction would be a little freaked out, to paranoidly fearful of both the sandwich and the person who gave it to you. Just for fun, lets talk c and d. For c), well I did see invasion of the body snatchers last week, so its possible, but many of you probably picked D. Congratulations, you are above the average American in your quest for rationality and knowledge to confusing and mysterious situations.

Now lets talk turkey, and hamburger for that matter. Americans, as well as Homer Simpson, have been blindly eating their groceries and fast food without asking questions of origin. Now that it has been proposed that they were infact eating Frakenfoods, and that more genetically modified foods are to come they feel betrayed and fearful of what they are eating. The government allowed research and development on our food and didn't tell us. If the person who made the sandwich had told you why they made it, what was in it, and why its good for you, we all probably would have picked A. But, when there is secrecy involved we become anxious and distrusting. Great Britain has been struggling with a very hostile citizenry over the R&D of genetically modified row crops for years now. They lose millions annually to terrain terrorists who burn R&D crops in protest. What we don't know, we assume will kill us.

The blunt point of all this: The government (and food industry) has kept the populace in the dark about the process of genetic engineering in food and agriculture. This has resulted in the mistrust of these technologies and their products. Now that the populace only knows half of the story (the "you are eating genetically modified steak" part) they don't want anything to do with it. *If* the industry had been more upfront with Americans as to what they were doing, how they were doing it, and the advancements this R&D produced we probably would not be seeing the current backlash movements.

So, that is my rant that prefaces my "I told you so" on the 19th. Bon Apetite!

Maybe the Bear and Bull Market Expressions are Outdated; Maybe We are Going Into the Cub and Calf Markets: Cuter, Softer, and Much Less Intimidating

When did the Economist go soft?

Is this the start of the "new" capitalism that I discussed a couple of weeks ago? Hmmm...

And Now for Something Completely Different...

I told you so. Actually, as I write that I realize that I haven't gone on this rant with you all. So, read the article and I'll rant tomorrow. G'night! (ps: you guys have been really quiet lately, and that is disappointing. Please type something back, even if you don't agree.)

Why I Insist On a Toy Box in My Office, or at least this is NOW the Reason I Keep a Toy Box-

Go Fly a Kite... and throw a frisbee, and play catch, and whatever else will allow you to explore the three dimensional world around you. (I prefer frisbee, darts, and the occasional game of beer pong.*kidding*) Seriously though- lighten up, loosen up, and take a lesson from your nostalgic memories of childhood. Playing with your friends is good for you.

Oh Say Can You See, By the Dawn's Early Light, that America's Future Isn't so Bright??

One article on the hostility that Americans have toward intellectualism,

PLUS

One video demonstrating American priorities,



EQUALS

Beauty Queens are becoming the American Ideal of the Model Citizen (or in some cases "have become"). David Brooks refered to Americans as the Bimbos of the world. (See "On Paradise Drive") Not only do I agree, but I sadly believe that Americans are really starting to internalize that beauty standards have replaced any need for civic knowledge, understanding, and responsibility that demonstrate good citizenship.

Post Number 50... YEAH! (Oh, the celebration of mediocrity-)

Quick Note: Today (if you can't or didn't read the title) is my 50th blog posting. This is exciting for any number of reasons, but mostly because I usually don't keep up with blogs very well (not that you've noticed long gaps without posts or anything...). So, hooray for you, my readers... life has given you the time to come visit with me on occasion and I am thankful for that. HAZAA! (huh-zah)*with enthusiasm*

Longer Note: Hillary Clinton cried again yesterday. It boosted her for New Hampshire primary at the last minute, but now, well now people are starting to wonder if it wasn't a political stunt, and that she might be losing it. Well, losing her composure, we all know that she's losing in delegate counts. I will say this for this year's primary though... the American public is getting a heck of an education on the electoral college, the various primary voting and caucus systems, as well as exactly how little their vote really counts.

Short Note: This is a feedback post... as in... if you read this YOU HAVE to write a comment. Well, you don't *have* to, but it would be most helpful. Political Humor: good, bad, indifferent? Does it have any effect on the public figures or the public that it engages? What say you?

Jon Stewart Toasts Romney's Dropping Out... and Not in the Good Way

This is a pretty harsh farewell, though I can't say that I disagree. Romney's farewell was almost as unimpressive as his campaign.

Why Putin is Evil, part 58

If anyone doubted his nostalgia for the good ol days of the cold war, I dare them to deny it now. Putin once again places himself against the world as he attempts to stare down everyone in an international pissing contest. (On a personal, and barely related, note: I will be traveling to Russia soon to visit a friend. I'm looking forward to getting the Russian view of Putin's politics.)

And then there were two... democrats that is.

Romney is out. And does anyone know why Romney is out? The terrorists will win. At first I thought this was a funny knock calling Clinton and Obama terrorists... but no, he was serious. Its not like any of the candidates are making presidential decisions yet. Dropping out isn't going to get McCain to the Whitehouse quicker. And yet, Romney is gone because he doesn't want the terrorists to win. *sigh* I'll never understand politics.

Welcome back to Political Science Theater 3000… today we continue our commentary on W’s 2008 State of the Union

Trade brings better jobs and better choices and better prices. Yet, for some Americans, trade can mean losing a job. And the federal government has a responsibility to help.
(APPLAUSE)
I ask Congress to reauthorize and reform Trade Adjustment Assistance, so we can help these displaced workers learn new skills and find new jobs.
(APPLAUSE)
To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. Brazil already has the technology and a lot cheaper too. If we can buy our oil, why can’t we buy our alternative fuels at cheaper rates until our technology develops?
(APPLAUSE)
Our security, our prosperity and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil. consumption over the next decade, and you responded. Together, we should take the next steps. Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. Last year this is all he talked about, but I haven’t seen a difference. In fact oil prices are through the roof.
Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions- free nuclear power.
(APPLAUSE)
Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future. I foresee the next big car manufacturer: RC Cars and Trucks… buy a big boy toy and get the little one for the kids free!
(APPLAUSE)
Let us create a new international clean technology fund which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. I believe it was called the Kyoto Treaty… and we didn’t participate. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. Again… does Kyoto ring a bell?
(APPLAUSE)
This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride. Right again, so why didn’t we sign this treaty years ago? The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change, and the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more energy-efficient technology. If we replace a few words here it’s a completely different sentence. I think that Bush’s speech writers give him a mad lib for his state of the union, watch this: “The United States is committed to strengthening our ________ security and confronting ________, and the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of ____________ and more _____________ technology.” <- Freaky huh?
(APPLAUSE)
To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the breakthroughs of tomorrow. As long as it doesn’t tic off the pope, or the evangelicals…
Last year, Congress passed legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge.
So I ask Congress to double federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on earth. Congress tried to increase funding for embryonic stem cell research, and you vetoed it. Jerk.
(APPLAUSE)
On matters of life and science, we must trust in the innovative spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new treatments while respecting moral boundaries. How come moral boundaries become a big deal when they are in a regulated lab, but not when it comes to Presidential decisions? It seems like you are just picking the moral cards that work for you. Oh wait, that is what you are doing.
In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY DID!!! NO WONDER AMERICANS CAN’T PASS SCIENCE! This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life.
(APPLAUSE)
So we're expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And, as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life treated with the dignity it deserves. The Pope says invitro shatters human dignity too… what about that? How are you going to draw this line??
And so I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting or cloning of human life. So much for empowering our clinical scientists….
(APPLAUSE)
On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says. What does it mean when it doesn’t say? Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cells, Gay Marriage, etc… these are not in the Constitution. No founder could have seen these coming. Nostradamus didn’t even see us getting this mixed up. (APPLAUSE)
I've submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel. Many of these nominees are being unfairly delayed. They are worthy of confirmation, and the Senate should give each of them a prompt up-or-down vote.
(APPLAUSE)
In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart of the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in need.
Over the past seven years, more of our fellow citizens have discovered that the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of service. Americans have volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher than ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair with newfound support from the federal government.
And, to help guarantee equal treatment of faith-based organizations when they compete for federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend Charitable Choice. What about “thou shalt not fund religious groups” is difficult to comprehend. You liked the Constitution two paragraphs ago… what happened?
(APPLAUSE)
Tonight, the armies of compassion continue the march to a new day in the Gulf Coast. America honors the strength and resilience of the people of this region. We reaffirm our pledge to help them build stronger and better than before.
And tonight I'm pleased to announce that, in April, we will host this year's North American Summit of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the great city of New Orleans. Nevermind the cheaper hotel rooms and meeting spaces...
(APPLAUSE)
There are two other pressing challenges that I've raised repeatedly before this body, and that this body has failed to address: entitlement spending and immigration.
Every member in this chamber knows that spending on entitlement programs -- like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- is growing faster than we can afford.
We all know the painful choices ahead if American stays on this path: massive tax increases, sudden and drastic cuts in benefits, and crippling deficits. Of course, its entitlement spending that causes all that. Not a 7 Trillion dollar war. And its all Congress’ fault.
I've laid out proposals to reform these programs. Now I ask members of Congress to offer your proposals and come up with a bipartisan solution to save these vital programs for our children and our grandchildren.
(APPLAUSE)
The other pressing challenge is immigration. America needs to secure our borders. And, with your help, my administration is taking steps to do so. We're increasing work site enforcement, deploying fences and advanced technologies to stop illegal crossings.
We've effectively ended the policy of "catch and release" at the border. And by the end of this year, we will have doubled the number of border patrol agents.
Yet we also need to acknowledge that we will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy.
(APPLAUSE)
This will take pressure off the border and allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who mean us harm.
We must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved, and it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals.
(APPLAUSE)
This is the business of our nation here at home. Yet building a prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting enemies abroad and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the world.
Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace. Except Iraqis, we choose for them.
In the last seven years, we have witnessed stirring moments in the history of liberty. We've seen citizens in Georgia and Ukraine stand up for their right to free and fair elections. We've seen people in Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. We've seen Afghans emerge from the tyranny of the Taliban and choose a new president and a new parliament.
We've seen jubilant Iraqis holding up ink-stained fingers and celebrating their freedom. Of course we saw them, we engineered, directed, and cast those performances.
These images of liberty have inspired us.
(APPLAUSE)
In the past seven years, we've also seen the images that have sobered us. We've watched throngs of mourners in Lebanon and Pakistan carrying the caskets of beloved leaders taken by the assassins' hands.
We've seen wedding guests in blood-soaked finery staggering from a hotel in Jordan, Afghans and Iraqis blown up in mosques and markets, and trains in London and Madrid ripped apart by bombs.
On a clear September day, we saw thousands of our fellow citizens taken from us in an instant.
These horrific images serve as a grim reminder. The advance of liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists -- evil men who despise freedom, despise America and aim to subject millions to their violent rule.
Since 9/11, we have taken the fight to these terrorists and extremists. We will stay on the offense. We will keep up the pressure, and we will deliver justice to our enemies.
We are engaged in the defining ideological struggle of the 21st century. The terrorists oppose every principle of humanity and decency that we hold dear.
Yet, in this war on terror, there is one thing we and our enemies agree on. In the long run, men and women who are free to determine their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in tyranny.
And that is why the terrorists are fighting to deny this choice to the people in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories.
And that is why, for the security of America and the peace of the world, we are spreading the hope of freedom.
Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time.
(APPLAUSE)
From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we've made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done.
In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. Didn’t he already use this line? When did we decide that THIS was our great philosophy?
And so, in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions and empower them to improve their lives for their futures.
(APPLAUSE)
In Afghanistan, America, our 25 NATO allies and 15 partner nations are helping the Afghan people defend their freedom and rebuild their country.
Thanks to the courage of these military and civilian personnel, a nation that was once a safe haven for al Qaeda is now a young democracy where boys and girls are going to school. New roads and hospitals are being built. And people are looking to the future with new hope.
These successes must continue. So we're adding 3,200 Marines to our forces in Afghanistan, where they will fight the terrorists and train the Afghan army and police.
Defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda is critical to our security, and I thank the Congress for supporting America's vital mission in Afghanistan.
(APPLAUSE)
In Iraq, the terrorists and extremists are fighting to deny a proud people their liberty and fighting to establish safe havens for attacks across the world.
One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos, so we reviewed our strategy and changed course.
We launched a surge of American forces into Iraq. We gave our troops a new mission: Work with the Iraqi forces to protect the Iraqi people, pursue the enemy in his strongholds, and deny the terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country.
The Iraqi people quickly realized that something dramatic had happened.
Those who had worried that America was preparing to abandon them instead saw tens of thousands of American forces flowing into their country. They saw our forces moving into neighborhoods, clearing out the terrorists and staying behind to ensure the enemy did not return. And they saw our troops, along with provincial reconstruction teams that include Foreign Service officers and other skilled public servants, coming in to ensure that improved security was followed by improvements in daily life.
Our military and civilians in Iraq are performing with courage and distinction, and they have the gratitude of our whole nation. All of that and not one sentence explicitly saying that the surge worked. Hmmm.
(APPLAUSE)
The Iraqis launched a surge of their own.
In the fall of 2006, Sunni tribal leaders grew tired of al Qaeda's brutality and started a popular uprising called the Anbar Awakening. Over the past year, similar movements have spread across the country.
Today, the grassroots surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens who are fighting the terrorists.
The government in Baghdad has stepped forward as well, adding more than 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police during the past year.
While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago.
(APPLAUSE)
When we met last year, many said that containing the violence was impossible. A year later, high-profile terrorist attacks are down; civilian deaths are down; sectarian killings are down.
When we met last year, militia extremists, some armed and trained by Iran, were wreaking havoc in large areas of Iraq.
(TED KENNEDY SNORES LOUDLY)
When we met last year our troop levels in Iraq were on the rise. Today, because of the progress just described, we are implementing a policy of return on success, and the surge forces we sent to Iraq are beginning to come home.
This progress is a credit to the valor of our troops and the brilliance of their commanders.
This evening, I want to speak directly to our men and women on the front lines, soldiers and sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast you and more.
Our nation is grateful for your courage. We are proud of your accomplishments.
And tonight, in this hallowed chamber with the American people as our witness, we make you a solemn pledge: In the fight ahead, you will have all you need to protect our nation.
(APPLAUSE)
And I ask Congress to meet its responsibilities to these brave men and women by fully funding our troops. This ladies and gentleman is an age old rhetorical trick, implemented, albeit crassly. By addressing the troops, in front of the people and making a promise that is out of his hands, W literally wrote a check that HE doesn’t have access to, and then turns to Congress to pass it. This is why we will never get out of Iraq. If Congress attempts to cut funding to the war then they are cutting funding to the troops, and they are witch-hunted for “not supporting the troops” when in fact it is the war they don’t support. Its impossible for anyone to be “anti-war” without them being called “anti-troop”, when in fact the two are separate issues.
(APPLAUSE)
Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated and we can still expect tough fighting ahead.
Our objective in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are shifting from leading operations to partnering with Iraqi forces and eventually to a protective over-watch mission.
As part of this transition, one Army Brigade Combat team and one Marine Expeditionary Unit have already come home and will not be replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades and two Marine battalions will follow suit.
Taken together, this means more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home.
(APPLAUSE)
Any further drawdown of U.S. troops will be based on conditions in Iraq and the recommendations of our commanders.
General Petraeus has warned that too fast a drawdown could result in, quote, "the disintegration of the Iraqi security forces, al Qaeda- Iraq regaining lost ground, and a marked increase in violence."
Members of Congress, having come so far and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen.
(APPLAUSE)
In the coming year, we will work with Iraqi leaders as they build on the progress they're making toward political reconciliation.
At the local levels, Sunnis, Shiite and Kurds are beginning to come together to reclaim their communities and rebuild their lives. Progress in the provinces must be matched by progress in Baghdad.
(APPLAUSE)
We're seeing some encouraging signs. The national government is sharing oil revenues with the provinces. The parliament recently passed both a pension law and de-Baathification reform. They're now debating a provincial powers law.
The Iraqis still have a distance to travel. But, after decades of dictatorship and the pain of sectarian violence, reconciliation is taking place and the Iraqi people are taking control of their future.
(APPLAUSE)
The mission in Iraq has been difficult and trying for our nation, but it is in the vital interest of the United States that we succeed.
A free Iraq will deny al Qaeda a safe haven. A free Iraq will show millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible. A free Iraq will be a friend of America, a partner in fighting terror and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world.
By contrast, a failed Iraq would embolden the extremists, strengthen Iran and give terrorists a base from which to launch new attacks on our friends, our allies and our homeland.
The enemy has made its intentions clear.
At a time when the momentum seemed to favor them, al Qaeda's top commander in Iraq declared that they will not rest until they have attacked us here in Washington.
My fellow Americans, we will not rest either. We will not rest until this enemy has been defeated.
(APPLAUSE)
We must do the difficult work today so that, years from now, people will look back and say that this generation rose to the moment, prevailed in a tough fight and left behind a more hopeful region and a safer America.
(APPLAUSE)
We're also standing against the forces of extremism in the Holy Land, where we have new cause for hope. Palestinians have elected a president who recognizes that confronting terror is essential to achieving a state where his people can live in dignity and at peace with Israel.
Israelis have leaders who recognize that a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state will be a source of lasting security.
This month in Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from both sides that America will do and I will do everything we can to help them achieve a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian state by the end of this year.
The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine live side by side in peace.
(APPLAUSE)
We're also standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the regime in Tehran.
Iran's rulers oppress a good and talented people. And wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian regime is there to oppose it.
Iran is funding and training militia groups in Iraq, supporting Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, and backing Hamas' efforts to undermine peace in the Holy Land.
Tehran is also developing ballistic missiles of increasing range and continues to develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be used to create a nuclear weapon.
Our message to the people of Iran is clear. We have no quarrel with you. We have respect your traditions and your history. We look forward to the day when you have your freedom. People of Iran, be emboldened that we said the same thing to the people of Iraq, and just look at how well we are doing.
Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear. Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions. Stop your oppression at home. Cease your support for terror abroad.
But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops; we will stand by our allies; and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf.
(APPLAUSE)
On the homefront, we will continue to take every lawful and effective measure to protect our country. This is our most solemn duty.
We are grateful that there has not been another attack on our soil since 9/11. But this is not for the lack of desire or effort on the part of the enemy.
In the past six years, we've stopped numerous attacks, including a plot to fly a plane into the tallest building in Los Angeles, and another to blow up passenger jets bound for America over the Atlantic.
Dedicated men and women in our government toil day and night to stop the terrorists from carrying out their plans. These good citizens are saving American lives, and everyone in this chamber owes them our thanks.
(APPLAUSE)
And we owe them something more. We owe them the tools they need to keep our people safe. And one of the most important tools we can give them is the ability to monitor terrorist communications.
To protect America, we need to know who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying and what they're planning. So now I am admitting to wire-tapping, but we are only monitoring the terrorists, I swear.
Last year, Congress passed legislation to help us do that.
Unfortunately, Congress set the legislation to expire on February 1st. That means, if you don't act by Friday, our ability to track terrorist threats would be weakened and our citizens will be in greater danger.
Congress must ensure the flow of vital intelligence is not disrupted. Congress must pass liability protection for companies believed to have assisted in the efforts to defend America. We've had ample time for debate. The time to act is now.
(APPLAUSE)
Protecting our nation from the dangers of a new century requires more than good intelligence and a strong military. It also requires changing the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to prey on despair. So America is using its influence to build a freer, more hopeful and more compassionate world.
This is a reflection of our national interests. It is the calling of our conscience. America opposes genocide in Sudan.
(APPLAUSE)
We support freedom in countries from Cuba and Zimbabwe to Belarus and Burma. What is up with the random list of 3rd world countries thrown in at the end for good measure?
(APPLAUSE)
America's leading the fight against global poverty with strong education initiatives and humanitarian assistance. We've also changed the way we deliver aid by launching the Millennium Challenge Account.
This program strengthens democracy, transparency and the rule of law in developing nations, and I ask you to fully fund this important initiative.
(APPLAUSE)
America is leading the fight against global hunger. Today, more than half the world's food aid comes from the United States. Today? 20 years ago it was at least half if not more. He can’t take credit for that!
(APPLAUSE)
And tonight, I ask Congress to support an innovative proposal to provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in the developing world, so we can build up local agriculture and help break the cycle of famine. What about America’s farmers? They are dying too!
(APPLAUSE)
America is leading the fight against disease. With your help, we're working to cut, by half, the number of malaria-related deaths in 15 African nations. And our emergency plan for AIDS relief is treating 1.4 million people.
We can bring healing and hope to many more. So I ask you to maintain the principles that have changed behavior and made this program a success. And I call on you to double our initial commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS by approving an additional $30 billion over the next five years.
(APPLAUSE)
America is a force for hope in the world because we are a compassionate people. And some of the most compassionate Americans are those who have stepped forward to protect us. we might live in freedom and peace.
Over the past seven years, we've increased funding for veterans by more than 95 percent. And as we increase funding...
(APPLAUSE)
And as we increase funding, we must also reform our veterans' system to meet the needs of a new war and a new generation.
(APPLAUSE)
I call on Congress to enact the reforms recommended by Senator Bob Dole and Secretary Donna Shalala so we can improve the system of care for our wounded warriors and help them build lives of hope and promise and dignity.
(APPLAUSE)
Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while a loved one is serving far from home.
We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to child care, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the federal government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses or children.
Our military families serve our nation. They inspire our nation, and tonight our nation honors them.
(APPLAUSE)
The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and determination of our people. When the federal convention met in Philadelphia in 1787, our nation was bound by the Articles of Confederation which began with the words, "We the undersigned delegates." Constitution, he offered an important revision, and opened with words that changed the course of our nation and the history of the world: "We the people."
By trusting the people, our founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on earth and a beacon of hope for millions. WHAT??? I didn’t know that W was a revisionist historian! Our founders didn’t trust the people any farther than Washington could spit his false teeth. The Articles of Confederation gave the people and the states too much power. The Constitution was a federalizing document… not a democratic one.
And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure and the state of our union will remain strong.
(APPLAUSE)
So tonight, with confidence in freedom's power and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business. God bless America. And let us celebrate in the fact that I will never have to read another Bush State of the Union again.

My Belated SOTU Commentary, Complete with Sarcasm: Part 1

For a man with such low approval rating, Bush received at least (not counting the entering, and much louder leaving applauses) 68 rounds of applause. If someone didn't know any better they might think he was popular. Here is the CNN transcript of his speech, with commentary.

Madam Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens:
Seven years have passed since I first stood before you at this rostrum. In that time, our country has been tested in ways none of us could have imagined. We faced hard decisions about peace and war, rising competition in the world economy, and the health and welfare of our citizens.
These issues call for vigorous debate, and I think it's fair to say we've answered the call.
(LAUGHTER)
Yet history will record that amid our differences we acted with purpose, and together we showed the world the power and resilience of American self-government.
All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people's business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It remains our charge to keep.
The actions of the 110th Congress will affect the security and prosperity of our nation long after this session has ended. In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them.
Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time.
(APPLAUSE)
From expanding opportunity to protecting our country, we've made good progress. Yet we have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done.
In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy (Singular) that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. power of individuals + collective wisdom= Swarm Theory makes America Great!
And so, in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free peoples to make wise decisions and empower them to improve their lives for their futures. Except Iraqis, we have to make decisions for them.
To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money and empower them to grow our economy. (again, except Iraqis, we haven’t figured out how to make them work, while getting cheap oil) As we meet tonight, our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. America's added jobs for a record 52 straight months.
But jobs are now growing at a slower pace. Wages are up, but so are prices for food and gas. Exports are rising, but the housing market has declined.
At kitchen tables across our country, there is a concern about our economic future. In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth, but in the short run, we can all see that that growth is slowing.
So, last week, my administration reached agreement with Speaker Pelosi and Republican Leader Boehner on a robust growth package that includes tax relief for individuals and families and incentives for business investment.
The temptation will be to load up the bill. That would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable.
(APPLAUSE)
This is a good agreement that will keep our economy growing and our people working. And this Congress must pass it as soon as possible.
(APPLAUSE)
We have other work to do on taxes. Unless Congress acts, most of the tax relief we've delivered over the past seven years will be taken away.
Some in Washington argue that letting tax relief expire is not a tax increase.
Try explaining that to 116 million American taxpayers who will see their taxes rise by an average of $1,800. Others have said they would personally be happy to pay higher taxes. I welcome their enthusiasm. I am pleased to report that the IRS accepts both checks and money orders.
(LAUGHTER) <- When the President makes a joke I guess you have to laugh... maybe they have those signs like they use on sitcoms...
(APPLAUSE)
Most Americans think their taxes are high enough. With all the other pressures on their finances, American families should not have to worry about the federal government taking a bigger bite out of their paychecks. There is only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: Make the tax relief permanent.
Members of the Congress should know, if any bill -- raises taxes reach -- reaches my desk, I will veto it. We need to give money to the citizens, beef up education, fuel R&D, throw more men and money at Iraq, and all the while spend the exact same budget that has been inadequate for 7 years. Now, I don’t like higher taxes, but it just means that the money is going to come from us somewhere else.
(APPLAUSE)
Just as we trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn their trust by spending their tax dollars wisely.
(TED KENNEDY HOLDS UP A BARACK THE VOTE SIGN)
Next week, I'll send you a budget that terminates or substantially reduces 151 wasteful or bloated programs, totaling more than $18 billion. The budget that I'll submit will keep America on track for a surplus in 2012. That just means that in 8 years we can start to think about reducing the national debt.
American families have to balance their budgets; so should their government.
The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks, special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. committee reports that never even come to a vote. What is the difference between “Congressional Earmarks” and signing statements?
Unfortunately, neither goal was met. Not the first time the administration failed to meet goals *cough-benchmarks*
So, this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I'll send it back to you with my veto. <- wow, Bush is getting a little cocky…. This is his desperate attempt at telling Congress he’s not a lame duck yet. Rather, he’s just lame. (APPLAUSE)
And tomorrow I will issue an executive order that directs federal agencies to ignore any future earmark that is not voted on by Congress.
If these items are truly worth funding, Congress should debate them in the open and hold a public vote. My signing statements on the other hand….
(APPLAUSE)
Our shared responsibilities extend beyond matters of taxes and spending. On housing, we must trust Americans with the responsibility of home ownership and empower them to weather turbulent times in the housing market.
My administration brought together the Hope Now alliance, which is helping many struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.
And Congress can help even more.
Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal Housing Administration, and allow state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages.
(APPLAUSE)
It's been a difficult time for many American families and, by taking these steps, we can help more of them keep their homes.
Mr. President, I would like to offer a Public Speaking Tip: TRANSISTIONS!
To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and doctors to make medical decisions and empower them with better information and better options.
We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans.
(APPLAUSE)
The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control.
(APPLAUSE)
So I propose ending the bias in the tax code against those who do not get their health insurance through their employer. This one reform would put private coverage within reach for millions, and I call on the Congress to pass it this year.
(APPLAUSE)
Congress must also expand health savings accounts, create association health plans for small businesses, promote health information technology and confront the epidemic of junk medical lawsuits. For a call for government to get out of healthcare, there sure is a pretty big “honey do list” for Congress here…
(APPLAUSE)
With all these steps, we will ensure that decisions about your medical care are made in the privacy of your doctor's office, not in the halls of Congress.
(APPLAUSE)
On education, we must trust students to learn, if given the chance (HA HA, that W… he’s such a kidder.), and empower parents to demand results from our schools. The most obvious thing in the past 7 years about Bush’s education policies is that he never had an education.
In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams. And a decent education is their only hope of achieving them.
Six years ago, we came together to pass the No Child Left Behind Act, and today no one can deny its results. You’re right… we can’t… you however, have been in denial since it started crapping up our school systems.
Last year, 4th and 8th graders achieved the highest math scores on record. Reading scores are on the rise. African-American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs. Now we must...
(APPLAUSE)
Now we must work together to increase accountability, add flexibilities for states and districts, reduce the number of high school dropouts, provide extra help for struggling schools.
Members of Congress, the No Child Left Behind Act is a bipartisan achievement. It is succeeding. And we owe it to America's children, their parents and their teachers to strengthen this good law.
(APPLAUSE)
We must also do more to help children when their schools do not measure up. Thanks to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships you approved, more than 2,600 of the poorest children in our nation's capital have found new hope at a faith-based or other nonpublic schools.
Sadly, these schools are disappearing at an alarming rate in many of America's inner cities. So I will convene a White House summit aimed at strengthening these lifelines of learning. Why encourage poorly regulated private school in inner cities? Encourage the growth and development of public schools if the NCLB Act is working so well.
And to open the doors of these schools to more children, I ask you to support a new $300 million program called Pell Grants for Kids. We have seen how Pell Grants help low-income college students realize their full potential.
Together, we've expanded the size and reach of these grants. Now let us apply the same spirit to help liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools.
(APPLAUSE)
On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the world and empower them by opening up new markets overseas.
Today, our economic growth increasingly depends on our ability to sell American goods and crops and services all over the world.
So we're working to break down barriers to trade and investment, wherever we can.
We're working for a successful Doha round of trade talks. And we must complete a good agreement this year.
At the same time, we're pursuing opportunities to open up new markets by passing free trade agreements.
I thank the Congress for approving a good agreement with Peru. And now I ask you to approve agreements with Colombia and Panama and South Korea.
(APPLAUSE)
Many products from these nations now enter America duty-free.
Yet many of our products face steep tariffs in their markets. These agreements will level the playing field. They will give us better access to nearly 100 million customers.
They will support good jobs for the finest workers in the world, those whose products say, "Made in the USA." That’s right, we don’t put lead in our toys or anything.
(APPLAUSE)
These agreements also promote America's strategic interests. The first agreement that will come before you is with Colombia, a friend of America that is confronting violence and terror and fighting drug traffickers. If we fail to pass this agreement, we will embolden the purveyors of false populism in our hemisphere. Chavez, you’re listening right?
So we must come together, pass this agreement, and show our neighbors in the region that democracy leads to a better life. WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!
(APPLAUSE)

Which Will Make Feb 5th 2008 More Memorable? Super Tuesday or Fat Tuesday

Some things to think about:
Obama v. McCain

Poster Children vs Questionable Visionaries

McCain has been vocally sure of his campaign going into Tuesday; most media outlets have started to assume that he will take the Republican nomination. This has caused sensational unrest within the party, with many right wingers "flipping their shit" so to speak. Most notably, Ann Coulter saying that she would vote for Hillary before McCain. This is of course great news, for with such an endorsement from Coulter, Hillary's goose is getting ever closer to the fire. I will profess that I am uncomfortable with McCain as a presidential nominee. His obsession with "winning" the war in Iraq, and spending more money fighting terrorism abroad is unsettling. Not to mention his age, temper, and wavering political stances. His record in Arizona is poor, with many Arizona citizens saying that he didn't accomplish anything. His fear appeals and war rhetoric are just extensions of what we see now from the Bush Admin, and exemplifies what we saw with his pal Guilliani.

The Democratic race is closer, but Obama has been the media darling by a landslide. Bill ended up being an embarrassment yet again for Hillary, the Democratic party, and for American politics as a whole. His hogging of the spotlight, and disparaging remarks about Obama may have pushed Hillary's campaign closer to the edge than anything else. Obama may be running on nothing except "ambiguous change"... but Hillary is running on old-fashioned dirty politics and people actually seem to care. I certainly hope that Obama takes the nomination for a few reasons: 1) He's not Hillary, 2) He's the most bi-partisan, moderate candidate out there, and 3) IF his running mate ends up being who the rumors say it will be, then he will be deftly defeated by the republican candidate in the presidential election.

As a final thought. I really believe that whatever party wins the '08 race will lose in '12. The issues that are of the most concern by the American public cannot be fixed or even substansially lessened in 4 years (Iraq, economy, national debt, gasoline prices, etc). The public, frustrated and angry at the inability of Washington to enact change, will vote in the other party. So to the Republicans out there who demonize Obama: 1) He's NOT HILLARY, 2) We get to take '12 (and be in a better position (both as far as timeline and political leadership goes) to "fix" the current political/economic fiascos that the public is worried about. His entire campaign touts "change" but the wheels of the Constitution and of government are purposefully rusty. No one can produce those levels of "change" in 4 years. Not without starting a war, and he can't afford to repeat the show of the current admin.

Hollywood Continues to Inform Us, While Washington Continues to Entertain Us

I saw this episode a while back and fell in love. It not only mocks the ridiculous nature of primary season, but the ridiculous candidates as well. If only there really were a Ralph to run...

Wealth of Nations: Reconsidered

This week has been particularly economically focused for everyone. Today, things started coming together in a way that made me question coincidence vs. a strong indication that I should look into something further. I went with the second option. First, I was told this week that Wednesday marked the end of Capitalism. Of course we all know that the world and U.S. economies are perilously balanced at the top of a very precipitous economic volcano right now, today I saw this article on Bill Gates sudden turn toward helping the economic crisis through not being a jerk, and I started reading Confessions of an Economic Hitman. So, in light of all this I decided to devote tonight to processing what I'm learning.

First, neo-liberalism and Capitalism have been losing momentum as political and economic solutions for sometime.

So maybe Reagan and Thatcher weren't right... building up debt to support producers while screwing the working class consumer might not create ideal long-term economic stability. Allowing large coporations into third world countries does not raise the common person's standard of living, rather it raises the top 2% high enough to bring the total average up. Adam Smith can still be right... governmental deregulation of economics isn't bad. But the government's regulatory tendencies should not be replaced by multi-national corporations and banks. That defeats the purpose of deregulation in the first place.

Secondly, we are going into an economic recession and that might be a good thing socially.

Corporations, such as Dell and Microsoft, will turn to developing resources (both environmental and human capital). The real motives I don't know... consumer creation and cheap new resources are at the top of my skeptical list. The PR motives are to solve hunger and poverty world-wide. Whatever their reasons their "creative Capitalism" may focus on the benefits that Capitalism has been claiming since the 1700s, a rise in welfare and salary for everyone. (My arguments are NOT to be confused with socialism or communism... I'm not looking for equality... just oppurtunity. Go see MET's blog for socialism.)

Thirdly, (this is where everyone is going to disagree with me, and I'm putting my cards on the table, probably when I shouldn't) I think that the U.S. is going to fall as the world hegemonic powerhouse within the next 10-20 years.

We are in debt, and I don't just mean the 9 Trillion or so dollars that the treasury keeps up with, I'm talking about the billions of dollars in government stocks and bonds that China, Russia, and other countries hold. Our country is built on economics, and our economics are not built within our borders. That is a problem. Our socio-political stability relies on exports from other nations (and not just oil). We also continue to repeat mistakes in the Middle East. Did anyone catch the list of weapons we just sold to Saudi Arabia? It wasn't that long ago when we gave loans and sold military equipment to Iraq and Saddam. Surely this time, though, it won't bite us in the ass. We became a world power during one of the strongest isolationist periods in US history that ended when we were drug (kicking and screaming) into WWII. Since then as we have spread ourselves around the globe we risk becoming an empire similar to the one we overthrew starting in 1776. The Age of Empire has returned, and like all of those before it the fall from grace is not going to be pretty.

And for your enjoyment a link to the "debt clock" which calculates the U.S. National Debt total, not to be confused with the Death Clock which counts down to December 21, 2012 when the world is supposed to end (according to the Mayans anyway).

Visit the U.S. National Debt Clock

And finally, what might the government's solution be? Checks. Checks that they aren't sure they can cash. Brilliant.

My conclusion? I don't have one yet. I'm waiting for a good debate from some of you economists out there. I need contrary arguments and evidence to restore by belief in neo-liberal Capitalism. I keep telling myself that this is an ideal economic system when it isn't corrupted by human ambition, but hell that's what they said about Communism too.

My Book Review

This is a preview of my first academic publication, a book review in an upcoming Rhetoric and Public Affairs Journal:

Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens
Whole. By Benjamin R. Barber. New York: W.W. Norton, 2007; pp 416. $26.95.

Since Francis Fukuyama touted the “End of History” in 1989, scholars have debated the durability and isomorphous nature of democratic governments, their citizenry, and their culture. Western neo-liberal democracies, and the capitalistic economies that they share, have come under attack for their failure to remain politically active domestically and culturally distinct internationally. America, in particular, stands as the shallow, materialistic, politically ignorant poster child for the horrors of capitalism and Western Democracy. Alexis de Tocqueville observed in Democracy in America, that democratic citizenry are prone to self-indulgence, alienated from their communities, families, and political systems. They exist as individuals with civil rights and freedoms, but no social or cultural obligations to tie them to others. A plethora of literature has erupted critiquing the dangers that laissez-faire liberalism and invasive marketing have both on democracies and their citizens.

Benjamin Barber joins this array of literature with his recent book Consumed. Barber’s assertion that consumer culture has weakened the American citizenry is an astute one. He contends that the market’s constant creation of supposed “needs” for consumers to demand has created an “infantilist ethos” that is corrupting the public’s ability to be good citizens. When instead of a society, or political public, we identify ourselves as a consumer or individual we forget to think in the best interest of the group rather than ourselves. Barber describes this ethos by social and cultural observations of American life. For example, children today are expected to “mature” to be rampant consumers at increasingly early ages. Conversely, marketing departments are struggling to keep adults in a persistent state of adolescence in order for the fad spending of youth to continue for decades to come. Americans, and implicitly for Barber, other neo-liberal democracies, want products, but they do not need them; they want them easier, rather than harder; simple, rather than complex; and faster, rather than slower. In essence we become infants in our self-absorbed, reflexive demand for what we want.

Barber blames this infantilist ethos on the market’s evolution from a needs based capitalism to a wants based system. For Barber, the first few decades of capitalism were “purer” and more supportive of the Protestant ethos that melded with capitalism so well. Later, however, only the work habits of the Protestant ethos survived and the “ethical heart” of capitalism was removed for robber barons to make more money quicker. Once the “every man for himself” mentality became entwined with American culture, then people began breaking down their social and cultural ties in an attempt to get ahead and please themselves. Thus Barber’s infantilist ethos was born. The market’s insatiable need for more consumers and higher demand led to the “creation” of demands for a surplus of useless, luxury products. By forcing the markets to cater to imaginary demands the whole economic system has become inflated to almost unimaginable heights, which Barber claims are dangerously unsteady both economically and politically.

In the end, Barber calls for a “transformation of capitalism back into a needs-satisfying economic machine, and a transformation of democracy back into the sovereign guarantor of all domains private, the market domain included.” (290) Barber is painfully silent on how this regression of 100 years of socio-economic evolution is to take place except to say that it will have to come from industries themselves. Readers are left with a chicken and egg scenario that Barber never clears up. Barber sees corporate responsibility stemming from civic consumerism, but he does not say how consumers are to break the marketing spells that he claims earlier in the book cripple them as wise consumers and as citizens. Thus, which will come first, the spontaneous civic consumerism, or corporate responsibility?

Although Barber’s premises are obvious, and his observations are undeniable, his conclusions and solutions are idealistic, at best. Some of Barber’s examples are weak, and the conclusions that are drawn from them are even worse. His chapter describing the “Infantilizing Consumers: The Coming of Kidults” uses phenomenal observations from which to draw dubious conclusions. For example, Barber berates the “infantile” sports industry: “Basketball in its new simplified, high-speed, offense-minded form is only the most popular and perhaps global of the many sports that in their commercial incarnation today both benefit from and reinforce the infantilizing inclinations of the current corporate ethos.” (93) Athletics, and the adoration of athletes, is not new to democracies or capitalistic motive and opportunity. Barber acts as a cultural “purest” who is threatened by any change or advancement in classical capitalism or “culture” although he offers no working definition of either “pure capitalism” or American “culture” that is not consumerist. There is no distinction between enjoying hard earned money through fun and vacations, and the infantile ethos that Barber claims is the downfall of contemporary democratic politics.

His distinct categorization of people, political structures, and cultures leave no room for compromise or blending. For example, Barber does not recognize that people can be self-disciplinary and hardworking as well as fun, and adventurous. Barber even tries to claim that Americans prefer the bland and simple diets that fast food chains offer to slow home cooked meals based upon their simplicity and speed, rather than their convenience and cost. He forces exceptions and phenomenal circumstances to hold as the norm for his conclusions about American consumer culture, and the infantilist ethos that he observes to be so rampant.

Consumerism alone cannot be powerful enough to demolish Western democracies; it can, however, be a symptom of a larger problem that is rampant in both democracies and capitalism, and that is the social trend toward individualism rather than community focused thought. Consumed is useful for research on the opinions, trends, and effects of neo-liberal capitalism on democratic citizenry world-wide. It could, however, do with some reanalysis of its empirical evidence, as well as the conclusions drawn from it.