January 4, 2005
The New York Times > Washington > House G.O.P. Voids Rule It Adopted Shielding Leader
While it was a foolish and inappropriate move to change these rules in the first place, at least Delay had the decency to propose their reinstatement.
January 3, 2005
The New York Times > International > International Special > Communications: Myths Run Wild in Blog Tsunami Debate
The flaming blogs have their day everyday. Ignorant
people, thankfully, do not prevail. But here's an example of royal ignorance:
"Odd blog postings are not just for commoners. Norodom Sihanouk, the former king of Cambodia, posted a message in French to his Web site, www.norodomsihanouk.info, saying that an astrologer had warned him that an "ultra-catastrophic cataclysm" would strike the region, but Cambodia would be undamaged if the proper rituals were observed. King Sihanouk said that the thousands of dollars he spent on the ceremonies protected his nation from the disaster, and that he would donate $15,000 to disaster relief."
people, thankfully, do not prevail. But here's an example of royal ignorance:
"Odd blog postings are not just for commoners. Norodom Sihanouk, the former king of Cambodia, posted a message in French to his Web site, www.norodomsihanouk.info, saying that an astrologer had warned him that an "ultra-catastrophic cataclysm" would strike the region, but Cambodia would be undamaged if the proper rituals were observed. King Sihanouk said that the thousands of dollars he spent on the ceremonies protected his nation from the disaster, and that he would donate $15,000 to disaster relief."
PCWorld.com - 2004: Big Year for Blogs
Blogs growing steadily as they become more professional and as MSM takes notice. They'd better take notice because they continue to lose influence as one of the Web's early dreams was everyone can become a publisher. Now, if everyone could become an editor, too!
"Pew began surveying Internet users about blogs in the spring of 2002, and has charted a steady growth in blog readership since 2003, from 11 percent of U.S. Internet users to 27 percent in November 2004.
Most of these readers, 57 percent, are male. Less than half of the surveyed blog readers, 48 percent, are under 30, and a whopping 82 percent are long-time Internet users, with more than six years experience online.
Internet users who were new to the medium, used the Internet less often or had less education were less likely to be bloggers or blog readers, the Pew study finds."
"Pew began surveying Internet users about blogs in the spring of 2002, and has charted a steady growth in blog readership since 2003, from 11 percent of U.S. Internet users to 27 percent in November 2004.
Most of these readers, 57 percent, are male. Less than half of the surveyed blog readers, 48 percent, are under 30, and a whopping 82 percent are long-time Internet users, with more than six years experience online.
Internet users who were new to the medium, used the Internet less often or had less education were less likely to be bloggers or blog readers, the Pew study finds."
The New York Times > Opinion > Editorial: The Social Security Fear Factor
Some strong arguments for the Social Security status quo. However, unless I've missed something, the Bushies SS reform proposal the personal accounts are voluntary. Under criteria yet to be specified, people can choose the present low-return system or opt in to personal accounts for a portion of their FICA tax. What's wrong with that?
The Times is right to spotlight the looming Medicare crisis.
To their credit, the Times will present an alternative to the Bush SS reform plan rather than merely railing against it.
The Times is right to spotlight the looming Medicare crisis.
To their credit, the Times will present an alternative to the Bush SS reform plan rather than merely railing against it.
The New York Times > International > Secret Meeting, Clear Mission: 'Rescue' U.N.
Can the best advice save Kofi? Here, I thing is the key to his longevity:
"The official, a onetime senior government figure in Washington with close ties to the Bush administration, said he concluded that "they were not going to draw the sword against Kofi."
"Everyone I talked to, including the White House, said that if Kofi was going to go, it was going to be by the hand of the Volcker report, not by the hand of the Bush administration," the official said."
Nevertheless, the U.N. does much good work, probably with little fanfare and publicity. Nevertheless, they are less than fully effective and efficient. I've seen little leadership strength from Kofi. Those who oppose his leadership are right to keep up the pressure.
But can he escape the Oil-for-Food corruption? If crimes have been committed, what court will try the perpetrators?
"The official, a onetime senior government figure in Washington with close ties to the Bush administration, said he concluded that "they were not going to draw the sword against Kofi."
"Everyone I talked to, including the White House, said that if Kofi was going to go, it was going to be by the hand of the Volcker report, not by the hand of the Bush administration," the official said."
Nevertheless, the U.N. does much good work, probably with little fanfare and publicity. Nevertheless, they are less than fully effective and efficient. I've seen little leadership strength from Kofi. Those who oppose his leadership are right to keep up the pressure.
But can he escape the Oil-for-Food corruption? If crimes have been committed, what court will try the perpetrators?
January 2, 2005
The Claremont Institute: Better Unsafe Than (Occasionally) Sorry?
Seems these guys at the American Enterprise Institute are taking Professor Harris to the woodshed because of his unsubstantiated attack on law enforcement's 'racial profiling.' This analysis cuts his legs out form under him.
Profiling, whether racial, ethnic, gender, religious or any other type, intelligently and fairly applied, must be a tool in law enforcement's kit. Abuse of profiling is the bugaboo, not profiling itself.
Profiling, whether racial, ethnic, gender, religious or any other type, intelligently and fairly applied, must be a tool in law enforcement's kit. Abuse of profiling is the bugaboo, not profiling itself.
The New York Times > Opinion > Editorial: The Army We Need
The Times may be correct here, but chooses not to get into the reasons for this stress on the ground forces. I think the Pentagon is revamping the military as quickly as they can. But let's remember that when the Cold War ended, the politicians, particularly Democrats during the Clinton years, wanted an immediate 'peace dividend' thus the decision to reduce the number of people in uniform during the '90s.
Fortunately, we continued to invest in developing leading edge technology and should continue it to give our men and women the tools and edge they need for any mission.
The Times assumes we should be the policemen for the world. Do Americans agree with that, I wonder? I say let the EU share a larger role in this burden, but our dilemma is whether to broadly share our technology. I think the EU would do well to shoulder its military responsibility.
Fortunately, we continued to invest in developing leading edge technology and should continue it to give our men and women the tools and edge they need for any mission.
The Times assumes we should be the policemen for the world. Do Americans agree with that, I wonder? I say let the EU share a larger role in this burden, but our dilemma is whether to broadly share our technology. I think the EU would do well to shoulder its military responsibility.
The New York Times > International > International Special > The Relief: From Heart of Indonesia's Disaster, a Cry for Help
A description of the disaster and the pain of the people, but laced with the author's reference to the the assertion that Americans didn't do enough quickly. I reject that assertion when the Indonesian government has no clue how to cope with the disaster. Should America pre-empt the Indonesian government's role here? We certainly have the capacity to more than the Indonesian government, but whatever we do should be in cooperation with them.
Next, we'll read that because Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, America purposely dragged its feet in the relief effort. When that inevitably happens, pay close attention to the source and the reporting and we'll know who we cannot trust.
Next, we'll read that because Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, America purposely dragged its feet in the relief effort. When that inevitably happens, pay close attention to the source and the reporting and we'll know who we cannot trust.
January 1, 2005
The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: A Time to Mourn
Well said, David. Some will argue that you are gloomy and morose, but when +/- 150,000 people are dead through forces of the planet, not of man, one must recognize that reality. Those that politicize such a catastrophe are voices to be shunned. They have no value and demonstrate man's lowest nature. It is a time to mourn.
"The world's generosity has indeed been amazing, but sometimes we use our compassion as a self-enveloping fog to obscure our view of the abyss. Somehow it's wrong to turn this event into a good-news story so we can all feel warm this holiday season. It's wrong to turn it into a story about us, who gave, rather than about them, whose lives were ruined. It's certainly wrong to turn this into yet another petty political spat, as many tried, disgustingly, to do.
This is a moment to feel deeply bad, for the dead and for those of us who have no explanation. "
"The world's generosity has indeed been amazing, but sometimes we use our compassion as a self-enveloping fog to obscure our view of the abyss. Somehow it's wrong to turn this event into a good-news story so we can all feel warm this holiday season. It's wrong to turn it into a story about us, who gave, rather than about them, whose lives were ruined. It's certainly wrong to turn this into yet another petty political spat, as many tried, disgustingly, to do.
This is a moment to feel deeply bad, for the dead and for those of us who have no explanation. "
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