Open Thread

Slowish news day...oh yeah, besides the fact that Iraq is a complete quagmire. Read the rest of this post...

Chicago Trib: US violating laws that requires us to ensure our training of Iraq's cops isn't leading to torture

So now George Bush is violating US law as it pertains to financing foreign security services that commit torture. That's like a two-fer or a three-fer in terms of how many different ways this is wrong.

Bush has truly made us no better than some two-bit dictatorship in the eyes of the world. All in the name of democracy we break the law, commit torture, and now are considering nuke a country to stop the proliferation of nukes.

Tell me again how any of this has anything to do with the principles that our country supposedly stands for? Tell me again how Bush is acting any more moral or lawful than the very people we at war with? Read the rest of this post...

You science folks out there, is this a "real" publication?

In other words, I know this publication exists, but is it some two-bit, not-very-respected publication where not-very-respected scientists publish their material, or is it a very accepted, respected publication in its area of science?

Journal of Biosocial Science
Published by Cambridge University Press Read the rest of this post...

The right wing theocrats are running the GOP

The theocrats are still setting the GOP agenda -- in case you had any doubt:

Protection of marriage amendment? Check. Anti-flag burning legislation? Check. New abortion limits? Check.

Between now and the November elections, Republicans are penciling in plans to take action on social issues important to religious conservatives, the foundation of the GOP base, as they defend their congressional majority.

If they want to make their Terri Schiavo intrusive agenda the election issue, let's have at it. Read the rest of this post...

Wash. Post looks at Scalia's erratic behavior

Scalia's increasingly bizarre behavior is capturing the attention of the media. He's redefining judicial temperament:

To some, Scalia's conduct shows a lack of judicial temperament -- and hurts the court. "It's sad as much as anything else," said Dennis J. Hutchinson, a former law clerk to two justices who teaches Supreme Court history at the University of Chicago. "It suggests to me a frustration with his colleagues and the left-wing kulturkampf in the academy, and it just does not add to the dignity of the office."

Maybe Scalia just has no dignity. Or maybe there's something else going on. Either way, he's just acting weird.

UPDATE: John and I were just talking about Scalia's recent behavior. It strikes me as intemperate and erratic, like something's off. John thinks Scalia may just be giving up now that he's knows he won't be Chief Justice. John wonders if he'll even stay on the Court. Poor Nino, it must be tough to know he's never going to be the Chief. But Scalia's pal Bush, who he helped make President, gave that job to a much younger conservative. Again, either way, he's acting weird for a Supreme Court Justice. Read the rest of this post...

Should you encrypt your emails, and if so, how?

I asked this question a few months ago, and got a mixture of answers. In view of all we now know about the Bush administration spying on the Internet, phone calls, and more, I thought I'd ask again.

1. Is it wise to encrypt your email?

Keep in mind, I'm talking about keeping out the government, not just random kids playing games. But also, is it just wise for everyone, even if you're not worried about the government?

2. Will encrypting your email make things worse?

In other words, now your email will look suspicious and will get the attention of the bad guys in the Bush administration? Then again, if they have to unencrypt every single email I send, I imagine that would be a pain - or no? Once they unencrypt one, have they figured out the key to all of them?

3. What is the best email encryption software out there? I hear it's PGP, but then I hear lots of folks complaining about PGP, especially the price, which seems pretty absurdly steep. I can't believe there's nothing open source out there that works well?

4. Does it matter if you're on a Mac or PC, in terms of which sofware you'd want?

Are there any other questions I'm missing here?

I just think that in today's day and age, we need to be careful. Richard Nixon spied on his political enemies. Why should we believe George Bush to be any different? Read the rest of this post...

While Ireland, Italy, Spain and soon UK go smoke-free...

France shelves a plan that has strong public support and would save the lives of thousands.

The current government is so weak that it has pulled back on its anti-smoking legislation, fearful of more protests if not its own shadow. I specifically avoid certain cafes and restaurants because I am disgusted by the stench of smoke. Tourists, who generate millions and are critical to the economy, can choose to visit neighboring countries without being suffocated while enjoying a vacation. France is beautiful but so is Spain and Italy and it's less expensive there as well. Locals who support the ban can just choose to stay at home if they want fresh air.

Call me crazy but I would rather enjoy my food at a restaurant as opposed to breathing in someone else's smoke. People can smoke all they want but I'm not interested in breathing it in my airspace. I can't believe that we still have to wait another year before this lame duck government changes.

NOTE FROM JOHN: Chris is right. Next to Buenos Aires, Paris the most smoke-filled city I've ever been to. It's disgusting. Imagine sitting in a restaurant smaller than your living room, and half the patrons are smoking. So now the French students can be jobless and smoking - good for them. Read the rest of this post...

My Pet Duck

From an email I just got.

Not likely you would see this film, but my foster sons dragged me along tonight. At one point, when Earth is under attack, there is a scene where Leslie Nielson is the president sitting in a classroom listening to "My Pet Duck". His chief of staff comes in and tells him the world is under attack, but he wants to wait and find out what happens to the duck. I was in a theater full of jr. High schoolers, and none of them caught it- but I thought it was telling when the president is mocked so openly on the level of Michael Jackson in a teen movie (it is a recurring joke that he is worried about the duck). It was also funny in that the joke was that the president would sit and listen to the story after being told we were under attack- the scene did not go out of its way to look ridiculous, and it was easily recognized.

Something has changed. You can tell there's been a quantum shift in the culture when people are finally comfortable knocking Bush, but especially knocking him for his screw ups on September 11. Read the rest of this post...

Open thread

Joe doesn't think I'm awake, but I am... Read the rest of this post...

Saturday Morning Open Thread

Beautiful day in DC....super high pollen count.

What's the latest? Read the rest of this post...

58% of Americans think tax system is unfair

After GOP rule for so long, people still think that the system is unfair. Hmmm. Why would people even think that the top earners and Big Business are not paying enough? Well, at least the average American can enjoy their lucrative retirement plans that are just as good as those at the top.

People think the middle class, the self-employed and small businesses pay too much in taxes, the poll found. And they think those with high incomes and big businesses don't pay enough.

Read the rest of this post...

Retired Exxon Mobil CEO cashes in

Wow! The details are now coming out about Lee R. Raymond's compensation and retirement and let's just say, it's good to be a CEO in Big Oil. I have no problem with people making money and believe that is what helps make the system move but how much is enough and what is fair? Whether we are talking about professional athletes complaining that they need an extra $X million or CEOs who bathe themselves in riches while hacking at employee head counts and benefits, I just can't stomach it.

In the case of Raymond, he oversaw the Exxon purchase of Mobil which resulted in thousands of lost jobs and great economy of scale which big business always claims will help the consumer...so who out there has felt the benefit of that merger? Yes, those Exxon prices at the pump are so much cheaper than the rest. How did that merger in any way help consumers or employees? With a rising market for oil prices, how could anyone not delivery massive profits? A half-trained monkey could deliver billions in this market.

To lay blame exclusively on Raymond though is not fair because if someone is offering and that is what they can negotiate, why not? The problem is the continuing idolization by the media of these so-called business leaders and the boards who continue to shovel over millions and exacerbating the feeding frenzy. The SEC may force companies to become more transparent with compensation packages and that may have an impact, but until people become noticeably angry, I suspect the trend will continue. Read the rest of this post...

"The e-mails demonstrate that Mr. Safavian's relationship with Mr. Abramoff was highly inappropriate"

Oh dear...the bad news just keeps coming for the GOP and their struggle with ethics.

A batch of 278 e-mails between lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a Bush administration official show a highly inappropriate relationship where gifts and business interests mixed freely and frequently, federal prosecutors said Friday.

The e-mails show that Abramoff and Safavian, then chief of staff at the General Services Administration, were in frequent contact, played golf often and traded workplace gossip. Abramoff showered Safavian with offers of meals, invitations to parties as well as the trip to the fabled St. Andrew's golf course in Scotland.

Read the rest of this post...

Open thread

Buenas noches Read the rest of this post...

Canadians of Italian descent got Prodi elected in Italy - if you're of Italian descent, you can vote in Italy!

Oh this is funny. And if by chance the government falls, we simply must keep George Bush's buddy Berlusconi out of office. You guys can vote, how funny is that! You better register.

Oh yeah, and it's Berlusconi's fault that the Canadians had the right to vote!

The votes of 40,000 Canadian citizens who qualify as "Italians abroad," some of whom have never set foot in Italy and many of whom don't speak Italian, played a pivotal role in the defeat of billionaire Silvio Berlusconi in Italy's election yesterday, according to poll results released late last night.

For the first time in history, a country's political fate appears to have been determined by citizens of other countries, after Mr. Berlusconi introduced a scheme in 2002 that defines eligible Italian voters by blood lines rather than residency.

Read the rest of this post...

59% of fish in Bay are over EPA mercury levels

The recent reports on the Chesapeake Bay have not been very encouraging at all. Pollution levels are still very high, fish with various diseases, above average rates of esophagus cancer in the region and now this. Already people were cautious about eating the local fish because of a skin disorder that could be transmitted to humans but with the mercury levels well above the EPA guidelines, people need to be even more cautious.

Naturally the energy industry is giving reasons why the new laws against coal burning are not possible for other areas, they somehow forget the big picture problem of health costs as well as lost revenue and tax income from fishing if people are not eating the local product. The Bay is heavily impacted by neighboring states that have poor environmental laws and with a disinterested EPA in Washington, it is left up to the states to put together a plan that helps the region in the long run. I wish I could be more optimistic about fixing the problems but I do not see those neighbors taking any action in the near term. Read the rest of this post...