Crap

Heavy rains create more trouble in paradise...

Ocean currents shifted toward Oahu's south shore beaches, carrying millions of gallons of raw sewage that was diverted into a canal from a broken pipe and into the ocean.

"What we feared has happened. The bacteria has kind of spread (emphasis mine) through areas of Waikiki," state Health Department spokesman Kurt Tsue said.

"This is absolutely disgusting that here at the doorstep of our economic engine we have untreated sewage on the beaches. This should have never happened," said Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club, which filed a lawsuit in 2004 alleging deficiencies in the city's wastewater system.

The city was trying to determine how much untreated sewage has been diverted into the canal, which empties into the ocean between two of Hawaii's most famous beach areas -- Waikiki and Ala Moana.

It could exceed 50 million gallons (emphasis mine), considering an average 15 million gallons of wastewater a day flows out of Waikiki.

The city has been using pumps around the clock since the sewer line broke early Friday. Repairs on the 42-inch sewer main were completed Wednesday and the diversion into the canal was finally stopped.

The pipe, installed in 1964, cracked after heavy rain flooded the aging sewer system.

The Ala Moana canal runs between the two biggest tourist areas on Oahu, Ala Moana and Waikiki. If you have been to Honolulu, you have most likely seen the canal. A good number of hotels have views of the canal and are within a few of blocks of it. The smell the last few days must have been terrible for residents and guests.

The great thing about Hawaii is that it has all of the beauty of a remote tropical country without any of the third world drawbacks. Recent events have revealed that some of Hawaii's infrastructure may be on borrowed time. A thorough review of these structures, from pipelines to watersheds to reservoirs will have to be done before the next rainy season. Residents and tourists can expect higher taxes in the very near furture to invest in keeping Hawaii a first rate destiination.

Are Hitler and Stalin Shivering Today?

Did I miss the report of hell freezing over? I agree with Nick Coleman. One of us must not be ourselves today...

These stadium shenanigans are dumb, and getting dumber. (Read on)

Cord Blood Stem Cell Success Story at the U of MN

Here in Minnesota we are blessed with some of the finest medical institutions in the world. A very good friend of mine works at one of those institutions at the cutting edge of medical research and technology, the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic at the University of Minnesota.

She forwarded this success story from the Decatur, IL Herald Review about one of their patients. The patient, 10 year old Chase Davis, is one of the latest beneficiaries of the research being done in cord blood stem cells. These are stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood rather than the more controversial embryonic stem cells. The success the University of Minnesota is having with cord blood is one reason to support funding further research down that avenue rather than embryonic stem cell research which has yet to produce any practical uses.

Chase Davis suffers from adrenoleukodystrophy, which is best know as Lorenzo's Oil disease. Below are a few excerpts, but I suggest you read the whole story...

Who's the bravest kid you know?

For the University of Minnesota physician who asked the question, the answer is Chase Davis, 10-year-old son of Bev and Darrin Davis of Mount Zion.

...

Just weeks later at Barnes Children's Hospital in St. Louis, the diagnosis was confirmed. The Barnes' staff, said Bev Davis, suggested contacting the Fairview hospital as the best choice in the country for treatment.

That's where the Davises met Drs. Lawrence Charnas and Paul Orchard as well as a team that included geneticists, biochemists and psychologists. Charnas is an assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School; and Orchard, an associate professor of pediatrics and the medical director of the Inherited Metabolic and Storage Disease Bone Marrow Transplantation Program.

Adrenoleukodystrophy, explained the physician, describes the organs involved, adrenal glands and the white matter of the brain, and dystrophy means it's inherited and degenerative. The white matter, tubing which protects nerves, was being destroyed.

The Minnesota team offered Davises a chance for Chase to receive a cord blood cell transplant in conjunction with a drug regime untried for adrenoleukodystrophy.

....

So Chase and the Davises were offered a chance - have a cord blood cell transplant and try a regimen of Mucomist.

"Did we know it was going to work?" asked Bev Davis. "No.

"Did we know what was going to happen if we didn't? Yes."

Chase's treatment wasn't quite experimental, explained Charnas, but it wasn't quite standard either.

To prepare for the transplant, Chase underwent 10 days of chemotherapy.

"First the chemotherapy destroyed his bone marrow," said Charnas. "That gets rid of his immune system, the immune system that in Chase's case was attacking the brain. "The transplant puts in another immune system that in theory will not attack the white matter.

....

"The first big boost was the MRI scan at 30 days. There was no change from the last one.
"That was spectacular news," Charnas said. "Then at 92 days, it was also unchanged which was really spectacular. For a child as late in the disease as he was not to worsen was spectacular."

Darrin Davis uses the word "miracle" in describing Chase's recovery.

"This was not a miracle; it's wonderful," Charnas said. "But we went into this with science and years of experience. Chase is the first truly living testament."

I Guess I Picked the Right Profession

Good thing, since I am an analyst by trade and was in finance and accounting prior to that. It also explains why I'm not the best writer.

Your Dominant Intelligence is Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

You are great at finding patterns and relationships between things. Always curious about how things work, you love to set up experiments. You need for the world to make sense - and are good at making sense of it. You have a head for numbers and math ... and you can solve almost any logic puzzle. You would make a great scientist, engineer, computer programmer, researcher, accountant, or mathematician.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

DVD Movie Review - Downfall (der Untergang)

Young Master Nordeaster and I watched "Downfall" last night. Downfall is the story of the last days of The Third Reich as seen through the eyes of Traudl Junge, Hitler's personal secretary for 2 1/2 years. Her book, "Until the Final Hour" along with "Inside Hitler's Bunker" by Joachim Fest were the basis for the movie. The vast majority of the movie takes place inside the infamous bunker, where Adolf Hitler and his Nazi inner circle spent their final days.

The movie is a German film, which adds a layer of realism, but you do have to deal with subtitles, which at times go by a little quickly -- primarily because you get drawn away from them to the expressions of the characters.

Bruno Ganz was amazing as Hitler. Not only does he look remarkably like the Nazi dictator, he was able to take Hitler beyond a one-dimensional monster. He covered the monstorous and maniacal side, but also showed moments of warmth and charm that Hitler must have possessed to initially gain the trust of those around him and of the German people. Ganz and director Olivier Hirschbiegel show us a Hitler that goes from caring for his dog, Blondi to a deluded idealist with dreams of a Berlin filled with culture, thriving business and amazing architechture, to an unstable lunatic moving divisions which no longer exist and calling for the extermination of generals for their failures in an unwillable situation.

Of course we also see the monster who believes he was doing God's work by aiding and advancing Darwin's natural selection process. This comes out in his references to the Jews and even how he feels about his own people. As Berlin is falling to the Russians, several generals raise concern for the citizens. Hitler's view is that if the citizens are not strong enough to hold back the Russians they are two weak to deserve anything other than their fate.

One of the strongest messages of the movie is a reminder from Hitler that he did not take power, but that the German people gave it to him -- and in doing so they are getting what they asked for.

Before the final moments of the film, there are about 10 minutes that are somewhat anti-climatic and drawn out, but other than that, the movie and the strong characters keep your attention throughout. The movie begins and ends with an interview with Frau Junge, the final one with a very moving message. All in all, I give Downfall a strong recommendation.

Spring Break - BPOU Convention and Home Improvement

It's spring break for Young Master Nordeaster, so it was nice to finally have a homework free weekend to spend together. I'm also taking a short spring break from work to spend today and tomorrow with YMN.

This weekend was great. Young Master Nordeaster helped me out with our BPOU convention as chief teller. Attendance was a little lighter than last time, but not bad. The drop off was primarily from U of MN students. The convention went very smoothly and we were able to get through everything in less than 3 hours. As expected, Sandy Burt was unanimously endorsed as our State Senate in SD59 candidate. Everyone is really excited for the possiblility of knocking out Larry Pogemiller. It's a longshot, but this will be the best effort put forth by a Minneapolis candidate in a long time. There's an added level of excitement in all of the 5th CD with the announcement of Sabo's retirement.

I encourage you to check out Sandy's website and help out if you can. Sandy's campaign is off to a great start with a breakfast fundraiser with Governor Pawlenty scheduled for Friday, April 28, from 7:30am to 8:30am at Elsie's Restaurant, Bar and Bowling Center 729 Marshall St, Northeast Minneapolis. Come and meet Sandy, talk to with the governor and have a fantastic breakfast. This commitment from Governor Pawlenty demonstrates the confidence the State GOP has in Sandy and their level of commitment to her success.

In addition to endorsing Sandy, the convention also selected delegates to the 5th District and State Convention. I'm pleased to announce that along with myself, Buddha Patriot was selected as a delegate to both the 5th CD and the State Conventions. It will be interesting to get the total MOB representation once the conventions are done. I know AAA will be there.

Besides the political stuff, Young Master Nordeaster and I are having a good time with a couple of home projects. I'm not sure it is more efficient, but it is certainly much more enjoyable doing this stuff with Young Master Nordeaster helping out.

Swamped Again

I've been busy yesterday and today with work, convention prep and a few other things. Instead of the daily blurbs, I'm also working on a couple of longer posts that should be up later in the week. Plus, I'm trying my best to rest my injured wrist. I will be spending the evening hanging with Young Master Nordeaster. No Posts today. Thank you for your patience.

More Technical Problems

Sorry for the lack of posting. I had technical issues all day today. Seems fine now.

Why Take Private Donations When We Still Haven't Taxed Every Last Cent?

Larry "Huge Taxes" Pogemiller and Dean "Tse-Tung" Johnson continue their drive towards a 100% tax rate in Minnesota...

State Senate leaders have introduced a bill that would prohibit the university from using private money for the $248 million stadium if the donors are allowed to determine the stadium's name, a move that could unravel the stadium's financing.

A year ago, university officials announced that they had reached an agreement with TCF that, over 25 years, would bring $35 million from the bank in exchange for naming the facility "TCF Bank Stadium."

But Sen. Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, said that the stadium's fortunes were being hurt because legislators were privately uncomfortable with the TCF agreement and that the stadium ought to be entirely funded with public money. Pogemiller is being joined by Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar.

I think there should be a "town hall" meeting to discuss this. Might I suggest holding it in the 3M conference room (yes there is such a room) in the Carlson (as in Carlson Companies) School of Management, the University of Minnesota.

Even if taking the naming rights funds from TCF makes you somewhat beholden to them, how is that any different than taking money from a private benefactor. Are you not just as beholden to the private benefactor? Does the Carlson family have any less influence from their generous $40+ million donation because it is the Carlson School of Management rather than the Carlson Companies School of Management? I guess I should have asked that of the dean one of the times I saw him over at Carlson Towers.

Although a TCF spokesperson politely stated that there was no indication that this had anything to do with TCF being chaired by former Republican Party state chair, Bill Cooper, I wonder.... Would Pogemiller and Johnson be as opposed if we were talking about Ben & Jerry's Stadium, Progressive Insurance Stadium or Whole Foods Stadium?

I know it's tilting at windmills, but Pogemiller's anti-growth, anti-working family platform is why I'm doing everything I can to support Sandy Burt in her effort to un-seat him. I encourage you to do the same.

Trouble with Blogger

I had my first wrestling match with yesterday afternoon and last night. All appears well again.

Update: I spoke too soon. More difficulties this morning. Thank you for your patience.

Kauai Dam Breech Causes Flooding

I spent nearly 3 years living in Hawaii. The last year and a half plus on the island of Kauai, in the town of Kilauea on the north shore. I worked in Princeville, a short drive up the north shore. If I were still there, I wouldn’t be able to get to work today. The road would be washed out due to severe flash flooding after a dam burst, yesterday. One person was killed in the flood and at least 7 are missing.

Kauai is home to the wettest spot on earth, Mt. Waialeale, which gets about 450 inches of rain per year, and the north shore gets about 70 to 80 inches per year, so the island infrastructure is built to handle heavy rains. However, this latest storm followed on the heels of several days of steady rain from an earlier storm and dumped 5 plus inches on the north shore in a 12 hour period.

The Kaloko Reservoir Dam burst, leaving a 250-foot hole and sending 300 million gallons of water down the hill towards the ocean. The water rushed over Kuhio Highway, swept away at least two homes and devastated nearly everything in its path.

Links to the story, pictures and videos are here, here, here, here and here.

Families in the tiny town of Kilauea are unable to leave their homes. Some have evacuated to shelters.

"Sounded like a 747 jet crashing here in the valley. All the trees popping and snapping and everything, it was just horrendous -- a horrendous sound and it never quit. And roar of the water was just louder than anything. It just roared and roared and roared until you couldn't hear anything," says John Hawthorne, Kilauea resident.

"Slowly we heard all the trees popping and snapping, and it was literally 200 yards right across. It was about 30 feet high, and we live right by the culvert. It was hitting the bank of the culvert and going about 10 feet over Kuhio Highway," says Androclef Handy, Kilauea resident.

Farther north, officials say the Morita Dam overflowed.

And on the south side of Kauai, emergency officials are keeping a close eye on the Waita Reservoir. Heavy rains filled it to near capacity. If it is breeched, residents of Koloa could be threatened by severe flash flooding.

State transportation director Rod Haraga said teams are first working to shore up Morita Reservoir before working on Kuhio Highway.

The Kauai Fire Department called on the U.S. Coast Guard to help with the search for seven people who may have been swept away when water plunged over the dam. Officials dispatched a C-130 search plane and a helicopter to look for the missing people in the Kilauea Stream, which feeds into Kilauea Bay.

The Coast Guard Cutter Washington has left Honolulu to join the efforts.

I hope the other dams hold and there are no further injuries or deaths. I’ll say an extra prayer for my Hawaiian friends and hope you do the same. I'm confident recovery will happen relatively quickly. As so often happens, the spirit of Ohana (family), in this context the greater family of the community will bring the best out of neighbors. I wish I was there to be a part of it.

UPDATE 3/16 (am): A second body was retrieved. The missing count now stands at 6. Worries about other dams remain as the rain continued, yesterday. The road has now been repaired well enough to allow those who were trapped on the north shore to get through. Besides the human life, all of the mud washed into the ocean threatens to choke off large portions of reef. To get an idea of the scope:

The utility boat left Nawiliwili Harbor in Lihu'e to start the search. Even as far as six miles away from Kilauea Bay, the crew came upon massive amounts of debris that forced them to run as far as 3 1/2 miles offshore to avoid collisions.

The crew tried to set up a search pattern around Kilauea Bay but an entire two-mile stretch "was filled as tight as it could be filled with large trees, huge piles of bamboo, grass, drums, buckets, a bed liner to a truck, large pieces of wood and timber that came from houses, parts of vehicles, the undercarriage of a vehicle," Moreland said. "We were taken aback by how much debris we saw. We just went from debris to debris, searching every clump we could see."

I would post more pictures but I think that's caused my blogger issues, yesterday. Check the links above for photos and video.

Irony Can Be a Bear #2

This is just plain sad...

The reigning Miss Deaf Texas died Monday afternoon after being struck by a train, officials said.

Tara Rose McAvoy, 18, was walking near railroad tracks when she was struck by a Union Pacific train, authorities said. A witness told Austin television station KTBC the train sounded its horn right up until the accident occurred.

McAvoy, who had been deaf since birth, won the state title in June and represented the state "with dignity and pride," state pageant director Laura Loeb-Hill said via e-mail Monday night.

McAvoy was to represent Texas at the Miss Deaf America pageant this summer, Loeb-Hill said.

Snow Day

Started off for work this morning, not too bad at first. Then I got onto 35W. I crept along for 20 minutes until the next exit, got off and went back home. It seemed silly to spend 2 or 3 hours on the road today to get in a half day's work. I'm working from home today instead. Time to fire up the snow blower.

When the Hate Crime Is On the Other Foot

This telling commentary about the arrest of Alabama church arson suspects was posted in the online blog for Seattle's alternative weekly paper, "The Stranger" (the Seattle version of the "City Pages")...

Please God, Please…
Posted by DAN
SAVAGE at 11:37 AM
...let them be straight

Authorities have arrested three college students in connection with a spate of fires that damaged or destroyed 10 Baptist churches in Alabama, investigators said on Wednesday. Prosecutors identified the suspects as Ben Moseley and Russell Debusk, 19-year-old students at Birmingham-Southern College, and Matthew Lee Cloyd, 20, who transferred last year from Birmingham-Southern to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Not that you could blame gay people for burning down Baptist churches, what with all the gay-bashing that eminates from them. But it would be, er, kind of a bad day for the gay rights movement.

Yeah, that's the important thing, how this might affect the gay rights movement. Not the thousands of terrified parishoners, the costly damage, the fact that someone could have been killed or any of that silly stuff.

"Not that you could blame..." who is it that's intollerant, again?

The handwringing continues in the comments section (a few excerpts)....

"Acquaintances said DeBusk and Moseley were both amateur actors who were known as pranksters and dreamed of becoming stars. They performed in campus plays and appeared in a documentary film."

Well, it could have been worse - they could have been aspiring dancers.
__________

Two of them are theatre majors. Thier Het status is on shaky ground. But they werent dancers so I give em a 50-50 chance.
__________

One of the kids looks like he might be wearing a black turtleneck. I bet they find bottled water in his room.
__________

If the "hate crime" idea has crossed the mind of this group, the MSM has to have considered it as well. Yet, they are predictably silent on the possibility, praying the same little prayer that is the title of Mr. Savage's post.

Yanni Arrested for Domestic Abuse

MANALAPAN, Fla. - The musician Yanni was arrested at his home after an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend, authorities said.

Yanni asked his girlfriend, Silvia Barthes, to leave his beachfront home in Manalapan on Thursday night, the police report said. Barthes, 33, told police she attempted to pack her clothing but the 51-year-old musician threw it on the ground. She told officers he then grabbed her arms and shook her, throwing her on the bed, and jumped on top of her, according to the report.

POLL: Which surpises you most about this story?
A. Yanni had a girlfried.
B. There's a woman out there who couldn't kick Yanni's arse.
C. Someone considered this newsworthy.

Nessy Mystery May Be Solved

The truth is out there, and it may be really boring...

The myth of a massive wild beast living in the Scottish lake was sparked by the first modern "sighting" in 1933. Since then eyewitness accounts and fuzzy photographs of a creature with a long neck and humps have fuelled the debate over the animal's existence.

However, Neil Clark reckons he has finally cracked the mystery - and that it was nothing more than a clever piece of marketing. Dr Clark, curator of palaeontology at Glasgow University's Hunterian Museum, says circus owner Bertram Mills saw an opportunity to generate massive publicity when one of his elephants was swimming in the loch.

He reckons Mr Mills was inspired to invent the myth by the way the creature's back and trunk looked like the hump and neck of a monster when they emerged from the water. Mr Mills offered reward of £20,000 - £1m in today's money - to anyone who could capture the "monster" in 1933.

"It's not surprising Bertram Mills offered a £20,000 reward to anyone who could capture the monster for his circus," Dr Clark told The Times. "He already had the Loch Ness monster in his circus."

I can still hold on to Roswell...

Day of the Shark?

In the 1970's movie "Day of the Dolphin", George C. Scott plays a researcher studying dolphin intellegence, believing that they can be taught to communicate with humans. However, in true Hollywood fashion an evil corporate man has his own plans to use the dolphins in a right-wing plot to blow up the presidential yacht.

Recently the U.S. Navy has used dolphins not in some crazy industrial-military conspiracy, but to save lives by locating mines in Iraqi waters at the early stages of the Iraq war. Now the Navy may have a new tool in the war on terror -- sharks.

Remote-controlled sharks may be used by scientists to patrol the waters off the United States. The "stealth sharks" will be guided by electrodes in the brain, it has been revealed by the Pentagon.

Scientists want to exploit the natural ability of sharks to glide swiftly and silently through water to track movements by enemy vessels and smugglers. The research builds on developments in brain implant technology which have already seen scientists controlling the movements of fish, rats and monkeys.

Scientists from the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency plan to implant devices into blue sharks and release them into the ocean off the coast of Florida. Sonar beamed from naval acoustic signalling towers would be used to communicate with the sharks.

A limit will be set on each shark's time on the job to protect it from exhaustion, New Scientist magazine reported. "Despite this limitation, though, remote controlled sharks do have advantages that robotic underwater surveillance vehicles just cannot match. They are silent and they power themselves," it said.

The New York Police Department is considering recruiting rats to its disaster response team to look for hidden bombs or people trapped under rubble.

Technology that was once considered state-of-the-art military technology has eventually found its way into video games, personal communication devices and even toys as it becomes common-place. I wonder if in 15 or 20 years my grandchild will have an RC Jaws from Radio Shack on his Christmas list? If they're available, I'm gonna' have to get me one of those.

Caucuses and Other Priorities

It was great seeing all of the caucus recaps throughout the MOB. I'm very pleased that we have a couple of new, very well qualified precinct chairs -- congrats to Doug and pink. The MOB will have representation at several BPOU conventions with delegates (psycmeister, ben, Jeff, King, Kevin-EckerNet), and of course BPOU leaders and officers such as Andy, the gang from SD63 and myself.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a post in Tuesday night or yesterday due to some of my caucus duties. I convened 4 caucuses at one of our locations. My own precinct had a great turnout (14, which was up from last time). Turnouts from others were lighter, but there was a good mix of steady and new highly energized supporters. One participant was 17, elligible to vote in November. It's great to see young people getting involved.

This was my second caucus and my first time convening one. I started a little shaky, but with the help of a couple of veterans, we really got going. Everyone seemed to have a great time. After the caucuses, the various conveners met for a de-brief, so it got to be a late night, which led to a late start on the morning with no time to post.

I probably will not be posting until tomorrow morning as I have to focus on work, time with Young Master Nordeaster and on getting things rolling for the upcoming BPOU convention. Unfortunately, I will not be at Keegan's tonight.

Miss ya' Puck...

There are exceptions, of course, but it seems that the truly great athletes -- the ones that are consistently at the top of the game year after year -- have one trait in common. They never seem to forget that they are still grown men playing a boy's game. Despite the attention, the media hype, the large dollar contracts, they don't stop having fun on the field, and they never lose sight that they do so because they have been given a special gift. Several players come to mind -- Jordan, Mays, Favre, Emmitt.

I can't think of anyone who exuded that sense of joy more than Kirby Puckett. A great swing, sure. Quickness and agility that defied his stocky frame, oh yeah. Remarkable hustle, definitely. Clutch performances, absolutely. But what fans will remember most is that boyish smile...

Caucuses Tonight

Precint caucuses are tonight. Be a part of the process, make your voice heard, etc. Caucuses are a great way to meet neighbors who are of a similar political view and to get involved in making a difference rather than sitting on the sideline. I'm running 4 of them tonight.

To find your caucus location, click here.

If you lean to the left, your caucuses are here. For other parties, you'll have to do a search.

The Ports Deal and Islamophobia

Critics of those who criticize the UAE/Dubai Ports World ports deal claim that it is simply Islamophobia that is driving opposotion. In large part, I agree. Those that oppose the deal cite specific reasons and justifications, but I don't think they are being completely honest if they don't admit a little paranoia or Islamophobia.

However, the issue isn't whether the opposotion is based in Islamophobia or not -- I say it's a given that it is. The real question is this -- is the Islamphobia necessarily unhealthy, unwarranted and unjustified?

As the saying goes...
Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

Crappy Service = Poor Customer Retention

It's a long standing business axiom. Katherine Kersten has an excellent article in today's WSJ Opinion Journal about the flight of black students from Minneapolis schools to charter and suburban schools. It's a great read, please read it all.

MINNEAPOLIS--Something momentous is happening here in the home of prairie populism: black flight. African-American families from the poorest neighborhoods are rapidly abandoning the district public schools, going to charter schools, and taking advantage of open enrollment at suburban public schools. Today, just around half of students who live in the city attend its district public schools.

As a result, Minneapolis schools are losing both raw numbers of students and "market share." In 1999-2000, district enrollment was about 48,000; this year, it's about 38,600. Enrollment projections predict only 33,400 in 2008....

I'm sure I will be seeing a corresponding drop in my Minneapolis property taxes as well....

UAE or UN?

I've been silent on the whole port thing because there's so much out there already. However, as the arguments have evolved, the issue has become muddied. Beyond the security issues, I've seen or heard several other justifications for not allowing Dubai Ports World to manage some ports on US soil or to do business with the UAE. Among them:

They have condemmed the publishing of the "Mohammed Cartoons".
They recognize Hammas as legitimate leadership in Palestine.
They have given support to terrorists.
They have facilitated financing to terrorists.
They don't support free speech and condone banning of some types of speech.
They don't recognize the state of Israel.

I'm confused, are we talking about the UAE or the United Nations?

If it's the former, I think I'm against supporting the deal. If it's the latter, I know I am.

Reality Check #2

Most of us in the M.O.B. (Minnesota Organization of Blogs) enjoy politics or are at least politically aware. Many of us read political blogs dealing with local, national and international issues on a daily basis. The blogs delve into debates and present editorial opinion on a variety of complex issues. Pundits on TV, in the editorial pages, and in the blogosphere break down the game film of political speechs and calculate how this statement or that vote will impact public perception.

But really, to whom are the wonks speaking? Whether the discussion occurs in the MSM, the blogosphere or both, it is largely a discussion of politicos, by politicos, for politicos. Whatever the medium, it becomes an echo chamber where sound rattles around, bounces back and forth and every so often might leak out enough to register in the conciousness of what is largely a politically tone deaf public, usually only after significant distortion.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing that the fault lies with the messanger or even the message, but with the intendee, or more acurately the way our culture conditions the intendee. However, I do believe that the punditry, in general, over-estimates its own relevance and their own ability to influence the general public. Every so often one of these studies are published supporting that premise in a very humbling and frightening fashion...

Americans apparently know more about "The Simpsons" than they do about the First Amendment. Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey.

The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms.

The survey found more people could name the three "American Idol" judges than identify three First Amendment rights. They were also more likely to remember popular advertising slogans.

It also showed that people misidentified First Amendment rights. About one in five people thought the right to own a pet was protected, and 38 percent said they believed the right against self-incrimination contained in the Fifth Amendment was a First Amendment right, the survey found.

I am reminded of a discussion I had recently where the person I was debating, a psychology student, insisted that the right to birth control was constitutuionally guaranteed.

There would be huge benefits to civics becoming a high school requirement, and I mean basic civics, not social / political activism.

I expect to be writing much more on this topic in the near future.

Animal Lovers Ruining Environment in Missouri

Save the environment, kill a pet (or at least clean up after them)...

Yard by yard, say officials, pet owners should pick up the pace of picking up after their pets.

Water quality experts say waste from pets and domesticated animals may be partly to blame for bacteria levels in the Little Sac River that are sometimes too high for activities such as swimming and wading.

Although the Sylvesters clean up after their dogs, there's suspicion people who don't may be contributing to high bacteria levels in the river.

Levels are so high that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has formed a plan to make the river cleaner.

City and state employees say there are no plans to force people to clean up after their dogs, but they hope that encouraging people to do so could keep the river cleaner.

The study also shows that horses and wild geese are major contributors to the bacterial pollution. Where are the protestors? Where's the outrage? Where's Greenpeace? The Clean Water Action Committee? I guarantee if it were a business polluting the environment they would be pushing for an all out ban of the practice. Where are the shouts to eliminate the goose, ban the horse and lock up the shitzu? Hypocrisy again from the environmental fundamentalists.

By the Way, I'm Back

Last week concluded with a tough work load and this week started with an out-of-town business trip...I should have let readers know ahead of time, but things got away from me a bit. Anyway, I'm back and should be posting semi-regularly for the forseable future.