Thursday, October 27, 2005
So, last week there was this article, predicting that Miers would withdraw to "protect executive privilege" - in fact, the only graceful way out of the mess that was her nomination.
Today, we learn that - surprise! - Miers has withdrawn her name, to protect executive privilege. How sweet of her.
Now, here's my question - and I'd love if everyone would answer it by way of commenting - do you think:
A) Bush was just completely blind to all of the problems in nominating Miers, and really did think she'd get confirmed,
2) The administration was setting us up with an awful nomination, so that whoever he nominates next will seem reasonable by comparison,
iii) The administration was attempting to distract us from Iraq, Katrina, Karl Rove, etc, by nominating someone and creating a little controversy before they withdraw her name,
D) They had an idea she might not get confirmed, but had conservatives protest that "we don't know enough about her" so that the Democrats might think she was actually more moderate than she is and maybe confirm her, OR
5) Other: Please explain. Preferably in 5-paragraph essay format.
Today, we learn that - surprise! - Miers has withdrawn her name, to protect executive privilege. How sweet of her.
Now, here's my question - and I'd love if everyone would answer it by way of commenting - do you think:
A) Bush was just completely blind to all of the problems in nominating Miers, and really did think she'd get confirmed,
2) The administration was setting us up with an awful nomination, so that whoever he nominates next will seem reasonable by comparison,
iii) The administration was attempting to distract us from Iraq, Katrina, Karl Rove, etc, by nominating someone and creating a little controversy before they withdraw her name,
D) They had an idea she might not get confirmed, but had conservatives protest that "we don't know enough about her" so that the Democrats might think she was actually more moderate than she is and maybe confirm her, OR
5) Other: Please explain. Preferably in 5-paragraph essay format.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
For some reason, I have two accounts with Friendster. Oh I know, I forgot the first, made the second, remembered the first, and neglected them both. In any event, I have now made friends with myself (pause) (reflect) (snicker) and decided to get a joint horoscope. This is what it said:
You and Jelani have smooth sailing ahead.
In great orchestras, every musician knows their part and how it contributes to the overall sound. Even if you're not a virtuoso violist and your friend can barely tap out a tune, you'd both do well to take heed of this example right now. The two of you are indispensable players when it comes to something that has important meaning in your lives. The trick is to figure out how exactly you can maximize the beautiful impact you will have without tooting your own horns.
All together now, "HUH?"
You and Jelani have smooth sailing ahead.
In great orchestras, every musician knows their part and how it contributes to the overall sound. Even if you're not a virtuoso violist and your friend can barely tap out a tune, you'd both do well to take heed of this example right now. The two of you are indispensable players when it comes to something that has important meaning in your lives. The trick is to figure out how exactly you can maximize the beautiful impact you will have without tooting your own horns.
All together now, "HUH?"
We definitely won't be doing this at Davis's first birthday party.
Friday, October 21, 2005
If I could change the world...
1. Electoral candidates may no longer say anything about their opponent. Their statements are usually false or exaggerated - and it makes sense - so it's no longer allowed. In fact, no political group can say anything bad about a candidate. They can advance their own candidate, but if there's anything bad to be said about a candidate, the media can do it independently.
2. Everyone must get a license to have children. If you don't get a license and get pregnant or get someone pregnant, you must immediately apply for a license and take the test. If you fail, your child will be removed and placed with competent, licensed parents. The test would include such questions as: Is it ok to leave your child alone in the car? Do children need food? Is it ok to hit your children? Is it ok to make your children sleep in cages? Is it ok to drop your children off a pier? ...and really shouldn't be that difficult.
3. After the age of 70, you must retake the driver's test every other year to keep your license. The whole thing - written, behind-the-wheel, vision, all of it. Look, you're 70, you can find a free day to take the test.
4. New initiative: all homeless people will be picked up and either sent to a treatment facility or taught a skill applicable to building houses: electric work, plumbing, hitting a nail with a hammer, etc. They will then be set to work building houses for homeless people. It all works itself out. This applies even to the tattoo-covered, pierced, able-bodied teenagers standing in the median in front of Wal-Mart.
5. New tax laws: If your household makes under 25k, you pay no taxes. Up to 50k, you pay 5%. Up to 100k, you pay 10%. Up to 150k, you pay 15%. Up to 200k, you pay 20%. Over 200k, you pay 25%. Everyone fills out an EZ. No deductions. No write-offs. No credits. No loopholes. Sorry. Just pay your darn taxes so we can have decent schools, and pay for my homeless initiative.
1. Electoral candidates may no longer say anything about their opponent. Their statements are usually false or exaggerated - and it makes sense - so it's no longer allowed. In fact, no political group can say anything bad about a candidate. They can advance their own candidate, but if there's anything bad to be said about a candidate, the media can do it independently.
2. Everyone must get a license to have children. If you don't get a license and get pregnant or get someone pregnant, you must immediately apply for a license and take the test. If you fail, your child will be removed and placed with competent, licensed parents. The test would include such questions as: Is it ok to leave your child alone in the car? Do children need food? Is it ok to hit your children? Is it ok to make your children sleep in cages? Is it ok to drop your children off a pier? ...and really shouldn't be that difficult.
3. After the age of 70, you must retake the driver's test every other year to keep your license. The whole thing - written, behind-the-wheel, vision, all of it. Look, you're 70, you can find a free day to take the test.
4. New initiative: all homeless people will be picked up and either sent to a treatment facility or taught a skill applicable to building houses: electric work, plumbing, hitting a nail with a hammer, etc. They will then be set to work building houses for homeless people. It all works itself out. This applies even to the tattoo-covered, pierced, able-bodied teenagers standing in the median in front of Wal-Mart.
5. New tax laws: If your household makes under 25k, you pay no taxes. Up to 50k, you pay 5%. Up to 100k, you pay 10%. Up to 150k, you pay 15%. Up to 200k, you pay 20%. Over 200k, you pay 25%. Everyone fills out an EZ. No deductions. No write-offs. No credits. No loopholes. Sorry. Just pay your darn taxes so we can have decent schools, and pay for my homeless initiative.
Ok, aside from politics, aside from everything, I have compared the two candidate's websites. There are a number of important differences, but here's the kicker for me: I would not vote for Kilgore for the following reason:
http://www.jerrykilgore.com/contents/biography/
Read the last paragraph:
Kilgore, 44, is a partner with the Richmond-based law firm of Williams Mullen and is married to a former public school teacher, Marty Kilgore. She served as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Gilmore and as Executive Director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgore's have two young children, Klarke and Kelsey.
...Not only did they misuse an apostrophe, but they named their son KLARKE? Are you kidding me? I wonder if the other kid's name is pronounced "Chelsea."
Idiots.
http://www.jerrykilgore.com/contents/biography/
Read the last paragraph:
Kilgore, 44, is a partner with the Richmond-based law firm of Williams Mullen and is married to a former public school teacher, Marty Kilgore. She served as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Gilmore and as Executive Director of the Tobacco Settlement Foundation. The Kilgore's have two young children, Klarke and Kelsey.
...Not only did they misuse an apostrophe, but they named their son KLARKE? Are you kidding me? I wonder if the other kid's name is pronounced "Chelsea."
Idiots.
Bored? Need something to do? Click here and fill out the form - all you have to provide is your name and email address - and report that you are offended by the VA license plate "BEOTCH" on a red BMW in the Charlottesville area.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
I'm just...so...ARG.
Read this. And this, if you feel like it. She's an idiot. She writes at something resembling a 10th grade level, doesn't answer any of the questions, and leaves a lot of stuff out. For example, in response to:
27. Please describe your experience in the entire judicial selection process, from beginning to end (including circumstances which led to your nomination and the interviews in which you participated). List all interviews or communications you had with anyone in the Executive Office of the President or the Justice Department regarding this nomination, or any other judicial nomination for which you were considered, the dates of such interviews and communications, and all persons present or participating in such interviews or communications.
She responds with two shorts paragraphs that list two people she talked two, and four dates. She actually avoids names ("I was asked about..." and "individuals") and what she (ever so briefly) describes can't POSSIBLY be her "experience in the entire judicial selection process." No wonder the senators - even the Republicans - aren't quite satisfied with her answers.
Read this. And this, if you feel like it. She's an idiot. She writes at something resembling a 10th grade level, doesn't answer any of the questions, and leaves a lot of stuff out. For example, in response to:
27. Please describe your experience in the entire judicial selection process, from beginning to end (including circumstances which led to your nomination and the interviews in which you participated). List all interviews or communications you had with anyone in the Executive Office of the President or the Justice Department regarding this nomination, or any other judicial nomination for which you were considered, the dates of such interviews and communications, and all persons present or participating in such interviews or communications.
She responds with two shorts paragraphs that list two people she talked two, and four dates. She actually avoids names ("I was asked about..." and "individuals") and what she (ever so briefly) describes can't POSSIBLY be her "experience in the entire judicial selection process." No wonder the senators - even the Republicans - aren't quite satisfied with her answers.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
The primary problem with the theory of evolution is that it cannot adequately explain 100% of current scientific observations. The primary problem facing intelligent design is that it cannot rightly be called a scientific theory. The central tenet of the ID argument is that the universe is the way that it appears to us because some entity, possessed of a measure of intelligence and incredible power, caused it to be that way on purpose. This argument cannot be called a theory because it makes no testable predictions. Even if it were proven to be true (which isn't possible, since proof implies a testable proposition), what good would that do? We'd still have to turn to the scientific method to discern the fundamental laws behind what we observe to be true. In other words, even if God created the universe, gravity still exists. If God created gravity, he must have created it with certain aspects which could only have been determined through scientific approaches.
Incidentally, it is on this same basis that many scientists dismiss string theory.
Incidentally, it is on this same basis that many scientists dismiss string theory.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Are you kidding me?
Read these. Particularly, read the one on page 2 from Bush (if you can - he has awful handwriting). Read the P.S. If you don't know the word, go look it up. And say it with me: "Huh?"
Read these. Particularly, read the one on page 2 from Bush (if you can - he has awful handwriting). Read the P.S. If you don't know the word, go look it up. And say it with me: "Huh?"
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
How To Add 10-15 Seconds To Your Trivia Time:
Get questions like this:
My first is in fish but not in snail. My second is in rabbit but not in tail. My third is in up but not in down. My fourth is in tiara but not in crown. My fifth is in tree you plainly see. My whole a food for you and me. What Am I?
Oh, and have internet problems, so that when you click submit the first time, you get this:
Bad Request
Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.
Stupid server.
Get questions like this:
My first is in fish but not in snail. My second is in rabbit but not in tail. My third is in up but not in down. My fourth is in tiara but not in crown. My fifth is in tree you plainly see. My whole a food for you and me. What Am I?
Oh, and have internet problems, so that when you click submit the first time, you get this:
Bad Request
Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.
Stupid server.
I'm a cynic. Read this article. I don't believe a word of it.
How convenient that just as most Americans are starting to think we should pull out of Iraq, a letter from the al-Qaeda #2 guy (haven't we killed him like 4 times?) surfaces saying that that's exactly what they want us to do, and they hope we do it soon.
I'm also starting to think that the conservatives are pulling a Brer Rabbit on us with the whole Harriet Miers thing.
How convenient that just as most Americans are starting to think we should pull out of Iraq, a letter from the al-Qaeda #2 guy (haven't we killed him like 4 times?) surfaces saying that that's exactly what they want us to do, and they hope we do it soon.
I'm also starting to think that the conservatives are pulling a Brer Rabbit on us with the whole Harriet Miers thing.
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