Caution: video contains graphic scenes of disfigurement.
Nicholas Kristof's video (click on permalink) chronicle's the ferocious and vicious attacks by Muslim men on Muslim women, often their wives, in Pakistan. A womens rights group has documented thousands of these attacks since 1994.
While not unique to Muslims, this terrible and not infrequent treatment of women is an outgrowth of their interpretation of Islam. Fundamentalist Muslim men hold their women in low esteem and generally treat them as second class citizens.
What a terrible tragedy! Another reason that Radical Islam and the savage terrorism it spawns must be countered at all levels from war to education. The culture spawned by this brand of Islam cannot and should never be condoned.
Hats off to Kristof for bringing it to light.
November 30, 2008
November 28, 2008
Vermont Yankee Reauthorization
The 2008 General Assembly will consume itself with the issues around reauthorizing the license for Vermont Yankee to operate another 20 years beyond 2012. The debate will be contentious, time consuming and emotional. Along with that debate, the GA must also decide how to handle a significant tax revenue shortfall to support an underfunded budget.
Smart legislators will see that both issues are interconnected... a clean reliable energy supply underpins a healthy Vermont economy. Meanwhile, those opposed to Vermont Yankee's continuing operations will use every gimmick they can find to close the plant.
Here are some links to helpful presentations and information that was provided to Vermont Legislators in a briefing on November 19.
Legislative History
Act 189
Nov. 19 JFC Agenda and Useful Links
Smart legislators will see that both issues are interconnected... a clean reliable energy supply underpins a healthy Vermont economy. Meanwhile, those opposed to Vermont Yankee's continuing operations will use every gimmick they can find to close the plant.
Here are some links to helpful presentations and information that was provided to Vermont Legislators in a briefing on November 19.
Legislative History
Act 189
Nov. 19 JFC Agenda and Useful Links
Howard Kurtz - Journalists, Glorying in Obama's Moment
Howard Kurtz - Journalists, Glorying in Obama's Moment
Not only are the journalists and the media glorying in the "Obama Moment," they clearly intend to make money at it, too. The media became enthralled with Obama after ditching Hillary and dumping McCain. I suppose no one is immune to the Messiah complex that has been built up around him.
His honeymoon will soon be over when he assumes the reins of this country. He will have plenty of opportunity to show his stuff....and he's off to a decent start by appointing experienced people to his Cabinet, to counter his woeful lack of experience. We shall see if he can fulfill the massive expectations that the media has helped to create. We'll be praying for him.
"...There is always a level of excitement when a new president is coming to town
-- new aides to profile, new policies to dissect, new family members to follow.
But can anyone imagine this kind of media frenzy if John McCain had managed to win?
Obama's days of walking on water won't last indefinitely. His chroniclers will need a new story line. And sometime after Jan. 20, they will wade back into reality."
Not only are the journalists and the media glorying in the "Obama Moment," they clearly intend to make money at it, too. The media became enthralled with Obama after ditching Hillary and dumping McCain. I suppose no one is immune to the Messiah complex that has been built up around him.
His honeymoon will soon be over when he assumes the reins of this country. He will have plenty of opportunity to show his stuff....and he's off to a decent start by appointing experienced people to his Cabinet, to counter his woeful lack of experience. We shall see if he can fulfill the massive expectations that the media has helped to create. We'll be praying for him.
Wal-Mart worker dies in Black Friday stampede: reports - MarketWatch
Wal-Mart worker dies in Black Friday stampede: reports - MarketWatch
Ahhhh, the joys of the Holiday Season. What a tragic shame!
Ahhhh, the joys of the Holiday Season. What a tragic shame!
November 24, 2008
The Media Equation - Google Seduces With Utility - NYTimes.com
The Media Equation - Google Seduces With Utility - NYTimes.com:
Ever since I switched to Gmail when first released (I was a pioneer subscriber to att.net mail when Tom Evslin was running that piece of the business way back there and to Compuserve Mail long before that.) I've not turned back. At last count I am using 23 Google services, features or applications on a regular basis. They have captured my mind share without a doubt. Nevertheless, I try to keep up with what Microsoft and others are doing, but Google makes it so very easy and useful to stay with them.
Almost everything is free, but I do wish they'd eliminate the storage charges for Picasa Web. It seems unnecessary in light of Google's business model.
Ever since I switched to Gmail when first released (I was a pioneer subscriber to att.net mail when Tom Evslin was running that piece of the business way back there and to Compuserve Mail long before that.) I've not turned back. At last count I am using 23 Google services, features or applications on a regular basis. They have captured my mind share without a doubt. Nevertheless, I try to keep up with what Microsoft and others are doing, but Google makes it so very easy and useful to stay with them.
Almost everything is free, but I do wish they'd eliminate the storage charges for Picasa Web. It seems unnecessary in light of Google's business model.
"“The nice thing is that we don’t force you to use only our stuff,” he said. “It is not tied tightly together, and the content is all easily exportable. If you feel like we are letting you down, or you don’t like our products or we are failing to innovate, you can pick up and go where you want.”
But with video chat now enabled in my Gmail, how likely am I to click away? Some people worry that Google will take over the world. Through the sins of competence and innovation, the company has quietly and efficiently surrounded me.
“That’s our business model,” Mr. Schmidt [Google's CEO] said."
November 23, 2008
Twenty Reasons Why We're Not Consuming - Forbes.com
Twenty Reasons Why We're Not Consuming - Forbes.com:
This piece by Nouriel Roubini, a professor at the Stern Business School at NYU, lists 20 points of concern about the consumer economy and the present recession. This is the last point:
This piece by Nouriel Roubini, a professor at the Stern Business School at NYU, lists 20 points of concern about the consumer economy and the present recession. This is the last point:
"To bring back the household savings rate to the level of a decade ago (about 6% of GDP) consumption will have to fall--relative to current GDP levels--by almost a trillion dollars. If all of this adjustment were to occur in 12 months, GDP would contract directly by 7% and indirectly (including the further collapse of residential and corporate capital expenditure in a severe recession) by 10%, an exemplification of the Keynesian 'paradox of thrift.' If such an adjustment were to occur over 24 months rather than 12 months, you would still have negative GDP growth of 5% for two years in a row with a cumulative fall in GDP from its peak of 10%. (Note that in the worst U.S. recession since WWII, such cumulative fall in GDP was only 3.7% in 1957-58). One can only hope that this adjustment of consumption and savings rates occurs slowly over time--four years, say, rather than two.
Even in that scenario the cumulative fall of GDP could be of the order of 4% to 5%, i.e., the worst U.S. recession since World War II. Note that the cumulative fall in GDP in the 2001 recession was only 0.4%--and in the 1990-91 recession only 1.3%. So, the current recession may end up being three times as long and at least three times as deep (in terms of output contraction) than the last two."
Op-Ed Columnist - We Found the W.M.D. - NYTimes.com
Op-Ed Columnist - We Found the W.M.D. - NYTimes.com:
Mr. Friedman is quite uptight because he sees less than enough leadership action by those in a position to do something about the financial crisis. Perhaps he thinks politicians are some special breed of leaders twisting and turning for the common good. First and foremost, most politicians act in their own self interest, then, secondarily, in our interest...maybe. True leaders are rare. Sorting between them is never easy.
Mr. Friedman is quite uptight because he sees less than enough leadership action by those in a position to do something about the financial crisis. Perhaps he thinks politicians are some special breed of leaders twisting and turning for the common good. First and foremost, most politicians act in their own self interest, then, secondarily, in our interest...maybe. True leaders are rare. Sorting between them is never easy.
"Right now there is something deeply dysfunctional, bordering on scandalously irresponsible, in the fractious way our political elite are behaving — with business as usual in the most unusual economic moment of our lifetimes. They don’t seem to understand: Our financial system is imperiled."
November 20, 2008
Vermont Tiger: Emerson Lynn On Politics
Vermont Tiger: Emerson Lynn On Politics
The solid arguments made by Emerson Lynn for relicensing Vermont Yankee will escape many in the General Assembly who vote with their feelings rather than with their heads.
The solid arguments made by Emerson Lynn for relicensing Vermont Yankee will escape many in the General Assembly who vote with their feelings rather than with their heads.
November 18, 2008
Photos From 50th High School Class Reunion
The Reunion September 27, 2008
The Reunion brunch September 28, 2008
The Reunion brunch September 28, 2008
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