Integral Entropy

I was having a conversation with a psych friend of my Mother's on the occasion of her 92nd birthday (my Mother's, not the friend's). I was telling her of my current vocation, when I saw the familiar dread overtake her face and I therefore began the hopeless struggle to defend myself and my work-related activities, by explaining that interactive voice response (aka self service) systems could actually decrease the amount of time that you spend accomplishing routine tasks (i.e. balance and payment) by preventing you from having to enter a lengthy queue to wait for the increasingly valuable time of a human to intervene on your behalf. She of course, just wanted to know what she needed to press or say (or not say) to get to that ever more illusive human presence. I tried in vain to inform that the systems are only as good as the developers who implement them, but naturally, no one cared, I might as well have been a bailout recipient at that point.

Fortunately, the conversation evolved into the effect that technology has on communication, and I put forth the premise that faster, more efficient, more direct interaction (whether it's texting, internet/cellular voice, or email) could only have a positive impact on communication, because by definition, it increased the amount of information being successfully exchanged within any sampled time period. This is where the conversation got interesting, as she posited that the speed and increased influx of information and facts decreased creativity of expression because there's no time left to digest and form intellectually meaningful thoughts and ideas that lead to a higher level of expression.

This sounded to me like communication elitism, and I continued with the point that technology has brought communication parity to the masses (well, really those that can afford a device - so the "masses" in this case are delimited on the low end by the lower middle class - whatever that means) but she pressed forth stating the detriment to quality of communication, and the effect on children of "skipping" a previous cultural activity - namely reading and writing, and substituting text messages made up of word fragments, which is an assault on the language(!). Again, I spoke of the the inherent democracy of the internet, and the countless educational opportunities that it provides (given access to access) without regard to economic class...someone interrupted, and the conversation became stale. But the thought carried with me - is technology enhancing creativity, or stifling it? By degree, it could be one or the other, or both in different contexts, of course, and who knows what studies will come to inflate one position over the other. I suppose it's important to know what the effect of the rabbit hole may be as you're falling down it, even if your fall is inevitable.

That's why my interest was piqued when I saw this article in Newsweek posing the question of whether the internet changes the way we think, which is the annual question at The Edge. The last paragraph of the article talks George Dyson's premise that is basically the same as the idea that my Mother's friend was expressing, the idea that technology is altering creativity by "removing or ignoring unnecessary information to reveal the shape of knowledge hidden within" thereby resulting in "Creativity by destruction rather than assembly"...

Brenda Ekwurzel of the Union of Concerned Scientists on Global Warming with Chris Matthews

2009-12-11T16:47:00.001-08:00

Here's a video from today's Hardball show with the articulate and irrefutable Brenda Ekwurzel of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Definitely worth watching.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

How Stuff Works

2009-12-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

Found this site sponsored by Discovery Channel while studying for a certification exam. It...uh...shows you how stuff...works.... Checkitout.

RealClimate Blog - 6 steps to verify CO2 is the problem

2009-12-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

This post from 2007 breaks the science into 6 easy to digest yet comprehensive corollaries that indicate why increasing CO2 is a major problem. From the The RealClimate Blog, a blog about climate science by climate scientists. I found this in an excellent article on Climategate by Sharon Begley in the Dec. 14th issue of Newsweek.

Also, and perhaps even more worth reading is the Power Failure article in the same issue which is an excerpt of the book Storms of my Grandchildren by renowned climate scientist, astronomer, and physicist James Hansen of Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and Columbia University.

Acid Test - NRDC Movie w/ Sigourney Weaver

2009-10-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Watch this movie, it's only 20 minutes long, and is worth watching just to hear Sigourney's dulcet tones, and inimitable style - oh, and there's also some real science in it too, that could mean the difference between life as we know it, and something very different.

National Coalition of Reason (COR)

2009-10-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

The mission of the United Coalition of Reason is to raise the visibility and sense of unity among local groups in the community of reason, to create a national dialogue on the role of nontheists in American society, and to improve the way that nontheists are perceived by average Americans.

Richard Dawkins Website

2009-10-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

All things Dawkins, including his new book "The Greatest Show on Earth - The Evidence for Evolution", and other science-related and atheist-positive material for the thinking human of the modern epoch.

Understanding Evolution - UC Berkeley Website

2009-10-18T14:09:00.001-07:00

"Your one-stop source for information on evolution" - Lesson plans, various topics; history, evidence, how it works, etc.

Evolution on pbs.org

2009-10-18T13:47:00.001-07:00

A collection of videos, tools for teachers and students, and various topics from Darwin to religion; and the complete NOVA documentary "Judgement Day" which is based on the landmark 2004 court case "Kitzmiller v. Dover School District", in which the teaching of Intelligent Design was shot down by a Federal Judge.

The Scripture Project

2009-10-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Scripture Project Mission
Steve Wells, creator of the Skeptics Annotated Bible, Qur’an, and Book of Mormon has generously donated the full contents of his website to the Reason Project. Using this as a foundation, we intend to make the Scripture Project the best source for scriptural criticism on the Internet.

Keith Olberman's Special Comment on Healthcare Reform

2009-10-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

OpenSecrets | Lawmakers Get One-Two Punch of Money From Health Industry Special Interests - Capital Eye

2009-10-05T07:16:00.001-07:00

OpenSecrets |

Lawmakers Get One-Two Punch of Money From Health Industry Special Interests - Capital Eye

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A World Without Nuclear Weapons - globalzero.org

2009-09-23T17:41:00.001-07:00

You'll find Queen Noor, and the rest of the thinking world at http://www.globalzero.org checkitout.

No Country for Sick Men - Article from Newsweek

2009-09-18T13:56:00.001-07:00

Excellent and quick article from the producer of two Frontline pieces on Universal HC in other rich democracies, how we kill 22k people / year by denying them the right to healthcare, and the moral issue that it indeed is; how the rest of the world is baffled by our approach and lack of understanding of the moral issues...just read it already.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/215290

http://www.iparticipate.org/

2009-09-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

Mass of Pacific Plastic Trash Morass More Massive than Ever Expected

2009-08-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Imagine if the fish dumped aerosolized plastic into our oxygen supply...

More Dogma Gone Missing for those Of the Mindful Orientation

2009-08-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

Sam Harris, who was on Bill Maher last week, is the cofounder of this fantastic project and website. I pray that you'll check it out and join the list, volunteer, or just read the stuff.

http://www.reasonproject.org/

We Need More of This and less of that...

2009-08-27T20:44:00.001-07:00

Which came first - the legendary REM song, or the process of awakening that William Lobdell experienced...

http://williamlobdell.com/

Great tool to Fact Check the Healthcare Bullshit at Politifact.com

2009-08-25T18:42:00.000-07:00

TDS - Why do we have to go to TDS to get the facts? Betsy McCaughey gets served by Jon Stewart

2009-08-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Exclusive - Betsy McCaughey Extended Interview Pt. 1

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

Newsweek - The Truth about Obamacare

2009-08-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

Read it.

Neal Gabler - Media not doing their job on healthcare

2009-08-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

Great opinion piece on how the media isn't focusing on truth but instead is focusing on the sensationalism of the shouting-idiots-at-the-town-hall phenomenon which is being stoked by the lies of Insurance Companies, militant right-wingers, and the appropriated republican party, instead of reporting on the factual truths of the matter, meaning the actual text of the bills that are being considered in congress - which Jon Stewart did so well last Thursday night...video to follow...

2009-08-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman		100%
Green Lantern		90%
Spider-Man		70%
Catwoman		70%
Batman		60%
Supergirl		60%
The Flash		60%
Iron Man		60%
Robin		50%
Hulk		45%
Wonder Woman		40%

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Dana Gould on Bill Maher profiling HC Debate

2009-08-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

Dumber than Joe the Plumber? Check out the reality check site on whitehouse.gov

2009-08-10T11:11:00.001-07:00

Brave New Films - FIGHT BACK AGAINST HEALTH INSURANCE LIES

2009-08-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

Robert Greenwald's site

2009-08-04T08:27:00.001-07:00

visited 32 states (64%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or vertaling nederlands duits?

2009-08-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

visited 17 states (7.55%)
Create your own visited map of The World or vertaling nederlands duits?

Scientists study huge plastic patch in Pacific

2009-08-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

A Wizard, A Truly But Not Strictly Bluegrass Star Lineup

2009-07-21T10:36:00.001-07:00

Marianne Faithfull, Amy Mann, The Knitters...for free!
A Wizard, A Truly But Not Strictly Bluegrass Star Lineup

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Teabagging Definitions for the less adventurous...

2009-04-15T16:31:00.001-07:00

This culled from a 10 second search of the term on the internets:

Wikipedia
Urban Dictionary
Rotten.com
Sex Dictionary
Teenwire

To think that no one on the right bothered to vet the term before starting this misguided mayhem...

Keith-O on Teabagging...

2009-04-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Iraqui Monument to Shoe Thrower - Artistic rendering erected in Saddam's home town

2009-01-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

Eat Veggies 1 day/week instead of buying local

2008-12-29T13:27:00.001-08:00

From the Jan/Feb '09 issue of Sierra Magazine:

Recently many concerned eaters, worried about the number of "food miles" their meals have to travel between farm and fork, have sought to eat as locally as possible. While there are many fine reasons for doing so, the transportation of food turns out to account for only 11 percent of its greenhouse-gas emissions. According to Christopher Weber and H. Scott Matthews of Carnegie Mellon University, food production is a much greater factor--especially that of red meat, because of the high energy and fertilizer use required. Switching from beef to veggies one day a week, the researchers figure, would reduce your carbon footprint more than if you bought all of your food locally.

The graph above measures various foods by metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per household annually. Non-CO2 gases include methane, which cows burp, and nitrous oxide, released in the growing of cattle feed. —Paul Rauber

Levi Johnston's Mom busted in drug Alaskan drug sting

2008-12-19T14:00:00.001-08:00

The paternal grandmother-to-be of Sarah Palin's soon-to-be-born grandchild was busted on drug charges - how do you like them family values.

Play Sock and Awe - Pretend you're an Iraqui journalist and test your shoe-heaving skills, to express your membership in a "free society"....

2008-12-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

Daily Show - 12/9/08 Mike Huckabee thinks being gay is a lifestyle choice, not an attribute like race, and therefore not worthy of protection

2008-12-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

As soon as we can ditch the bullshit tact that "it's a lifestyle choice", we win - all other arguments fall by the wayside and it becomes a true civil rights issue.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mike Huckabee Pt. 2

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Sarah Palin Turkey Carnage!

2008-11-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable - Pardon a Turkey, then give an interview while they're being slaughtered and blood-drained right behind you? Sheer genius! (of the idiot-savant category), you're a maverick alright - you refuse to conform to the basic tenets of human intelligence!

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Not Changey Enough For Ya?

2008-11-21T10:34:00.000-08:00

Get a grip! After 8 years of baffling incompetency, ignorance, demagoguery, and constitutional obliteration, all the change that was talked about for so long is now becoming manifest in cabinet and advisor picks that are the best of the best, based on intelligence, competence, and experience. That's the the change we need, and the change we deserve. Obama is selecting the best people for the job, based on his criteria for getting the job done. Whether or not they served in the current, Clinton or Bush-senior administrations is irrelevant - as long as they're smart, qualified, and not ideologues or "graduates" of Bob Jones or Liberty university...we'll be just fine.

California Supreme Court to Hear Arguments Against Prop 8

2008-11-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

San Francisco—The California Supreme Court today denied requests to stay
the enforcement or implementation of Proposition 8, and at the same time
agreed to decide several issues arising out of the passage of Proposition 8.

The court’s order, issued in the first three cases that had been filed directly in
the state’s highest court challenging the validity of Proposition 8, directed the
parties to brief and argue three issues:

Is Proposition 8 invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than
an amendment to, the California Constitution?
Does Proposition 8 violate the separation-of-powers doctrine under
the California Constitution?
If Proposition 8 is not unconstitutional, what is its effect, if any, on
the marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of
Proposition 8?

In its order, the court established an expedited briefing schedule, under
which briefing will be completed in January 2009 and oral argument potentially
could be held as early as March 2009.

Obama on 60 minutes

2008-11-17T17:57:00.000-08:00

Watch CBS Videos Online

No on 8 protest pics from Join the Impact in Monterey 11/15/08

2008-11-17T17:04:00.000-08:00

Courtesy Frizt Leiss' Flickr archive...photos from the Nationwide "Join the Impact" protest from last Saturday (11/15/08)

2008-11-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

Join the impact - Nationwide protest today

2008-11-15T09:11:00.000-08:00

Continuing info on actions taking place against prop 8 at:

http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/

The court battle against prop 8 solidifies

2008-11-11T14:54:00.000-08:00

From the Lambda Legal website:

"The California Constitution makes clear that a major change in the roles played by the different branches of government cannot be made by a simple majority vote through the initiative process, but at the very least must first go through the state legislature. Changes to the underlying principles of the constitution must be approved by two-thirds of both houses of the legislature before going to voters. That didn't happen with Proposition 8, and that's why it's invalid."

Keith Olberman's Special Comment on Gay Marriage and Prop 8

2008-11-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

It's a question of love...Thanks Keith, we love you - you're the hero of the 4th estate.

Map of Prop 8 Results by County

2008-11-07T22:21:00.000-08:00

The coastal counties from Santa Barbara north, with the exception of San Luis Obispo, and Del Norte at the top of the state held the line against discrimination and propagation of hate, along with Mono, and Alpine along the eastern center of the Sierra. While abysmal Tulare county had the most haters with 75.4% voting yes on hate.

Words of wisdom, from a forgotten age...

2008-11-07T22:08:00.001-08:00

In 1948, the California Supreme Court recognized marriage as a fundamental right when it became the first state court in the country to strike down a law prohibiting interracial marriage. The California Supreme Court held that:

Marriage is thus something more than a civil contract subject to regulation by the state; it is a fundamental right of free men. There can be no prohibition of marriage except for an important social objective and by reasonable means. No law within the broad areas of state interest may be unreasonably discriminatory or arbitrary.... The right to marry is as fundamental as the right to send one’s child to a particular school or the right to have offspring. Indeed, “We are dealing here with legislation which involves one of the basic civil rights of man. Marriage and procreation are fundamental to the very existence and survival of the race.” (Skinner v. Oklahoma, supra, at p. 541.) Legislation infringing such rights must be based upon more than prejudice and must be free from oppressive discrimination to comply with the constitutional requirements of due process and equal protection of the laws.

Dissembling Sarah - Fox Noise is Nalin' Palin...

2008-11-06T16:04:00.000-08:00

Latest in Palintology - Africa: Country or Continent?

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Lamda Legal and ACLU file petition against Prop 8

2008-11-05T16:23:00.000-08:00

Lamda Legal and the ACLU have filed a petition in the California Supreme Court on behalf of Equality California and six same-sex couples urging the court to invalidate Prop 8 if it passes.

Prop 8 - Hate won out, but now comes the hard work

2008-11-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

First, it's important to understand what happened: Paul Hogarth has a compelling commentary on the Calitics blog.

Then, we have to look at what happens next:

Jerry Brown said in August that Prop 8 will not be retroactive

The SF City Attorney is filing a lawsuit challenging the validity of the proposition

Gloria Allred is representing the first lesbian couple who got married in LA, and is also filing a lawsuit

There are still 3 - 4 million ballots to be counted according to the official No on 8 Election Statement

At least 47% and possibly up to 70%, of yes on 8 contributions came from the LDS (Mormon) Church, with much of it coming from out of state

Call the Secretary of State voter hotline, or CNN to report voting problems

2008-11-04T11:16:00.001-08:00

Sec'y of state: 800-345-8683
CNN: 877-462-6608 (877-GOCNN-08)

Here's how I'm voting:

OBAMA!!
Sam Farr
Bill Monning
Todd Hornik
Measure Z - YES

Prop1A - YES
Prop 2 - YES
Prop 3 - NO
Prop 4 - NO
Prop 5 - YES
Prop 6 - NO
Prop 7 - NO
Prop 8 - NO!!
Prop 9 - NO
Prop 10 - NO
Prop 11 - NO
Prop 12 - YES

Now go out and Vote!

Voter Irregularity Activist Websites from uncounted the movie website...

2008-11-03T23:13:00.000-08:00

If you haven't watched Uncounted yet, it's time you did. Here are some websites to watch today as the results trickle in - Make sure to watch the exit polling, and if the results get wrapped into the counting and forgotten like they did last time...then you know we're screwed

www.bradblog.com – journalist Brad Friedman
www.VelvetRevolution.us - a network of more than 120 election integrity and other organizations
www.freepress.org – journalists Bob Fitrakis, Steven Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman
www.blackboxvoting.org – election consumer advocate Bev Harris
www.votersunite.org – non-partisan grassroots network for fair and accurate elections
www.electiondefensealliance.org – national election integrity organization
www.commonwonders.com – syndicated columnist, Bob Koehler
www.solarbus.org – packed full of information about election irregularities – 2004-2006

Sarah Palin Punked by Masked Avengers, convince her (with no effort) that she's talking to Sarkozy...

2008-11-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

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Wedding Nots

2008-10-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

With the hate vote polling tightening up on Prop 8, we went and got a marriage license yesterday. I looked up the numerology for the date (don't even know how I got there - I consider myself innumerate), and found out that it was a 6, which is a good number if you're gonna bother. Turns out Halloween is a 6 too, so we're going to get cuffed on Carmel Point before we head down to the H-W party at Nepenthe.

Palin's a corporate raiding commie

2008-10-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

If Obama's a socialist, then Palin's a fascist commie - she stole from the big bad oil companies and "spread that wealth" out to each Alaskan to the tune of $1200. In typical doublespeak playbook stategery you can be assured that anytime they accuse the other side of something, that means they've done the exact same thing in spades.

From TAL: The Giant Pool of Money

2008-10-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Global perspectives on the economelt, episode 355 from May of this year, of This American Life, takes the chaos of the financial morass and rolls it into a consumable and comprehendible story that finally makes a lot of cents...

Colin Powell endorses Obama

2008-10-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

Finally, someone from the right rebukes the inherent racism in the Repub's nonstop attacks of muslimism and the idiocy of the "Ayre's association"

Uncounted - How the 2004 Election Was Stolen, and how the 2008 Election may be too...Now on Starz and You Tube

2008-09-30T11:03:00.001-07:00

This has been out for a while, but it's time to really pay attention - you can view the entire movie on Starz and bits and pieces on youtube. This is the trailer from the movie:

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Why the Failout Bailed...

2008-09-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Concise stories from the Washington Post and the NY Times on why the bailout fill failed.

Recent History - 3 week timeline of the economelt

2008-09-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

Excellent survey of the last 3 weeks from the NY Times. Gives good perspective on what happened when, and how using print stories, video, charts, and porn. Just kidding, there are no charts...

Bailout Fallout - Who voted how - NY Times Map and List

2008-09-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

Roll call of which house members voted yay and nay on HR 3997. By state, party, in list and map format. Very cool, just the kind of thing I was looking for, and whaddayaknow - found.

Fact Checking Debate #1

2008-09-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

From FactCheck.org - McCain needs to check his facts on earmarks, Eisenhower, Kissinger, and a host of other issues discussed during the debates. Obama was off on some percentages and amounts relative to his proposed tax cuts, and the Iraqi surplus. Check out the facts at FactCheck.org.

SNL - Tina Fey Sarah Palin Katie Couric

2008-09-28T23:11:00.001-07:00

So similar to the real interview...it's like art imitating life, but in an alternate evil universe

Daily Show - Thursday, 9/25 - Economic Dive of Death

2008-09-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

Bush 2003 side-by-side with Bush 2008, why is that the DS is the only place where you can get this kind of incisive reporting?

Katie Couric Interview with Sarah Palin, Day 1

2008-09-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

See for yourself just how much air there is up there...

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Katie Couric Interview with Sarah Palin, Day 2

2008-09-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the blatant display of a definitive lack of anything that qualifies her to hold any office beyond her original stint on the PTA...Encyclopedic representation of the Peter Principle in action

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Huckabee thinks that McCain's narcissism is a "huge mistake"

2008-09-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

John McCain's confusion over priorities and apparent inability to multitask is making even fellow GOP supporters think that he's making a "huge mistake" by even considering not attending the debates tonight. Not only did Mike Huckabee say that McCain was making a "huge mistake", but he also said that a president must be prepared to “deal with the unexpected." McCain seems more intent on manifesting the unexpected, in true temperamental style, than dealing with anything expected or otherwise.

McCain's blustery attempts to shift the conversation through political theatrics is falling short of fooling the nation. News just came through that, surprise, surprise, McCain will be attending he debate. What a freakin waist of time, and what a joke of a stunt. McCain ends up looking scattered, unprepared to deal with the duties that are required of the President, and just plain incompetent and immature - which is saying a lot, given his advanced experience age-wise in the world.

McCain must have finally figured out for himself what Huckabee stated last night: “You can’t just say, ‘World stop for a moment. I’m going to cancel everything,”...

McSame Wants Some Quality Time with his Blanky, According to Boxer

2008-09-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Palin's Witch-hunting Pastor Anoints her with Anti-witch Prayer

2008-09-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

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Cambell Brown on McCain's Chauvinism and Sexism toward Sarah Palin

2008-09-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

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George Will on John McCain's "dismaying temperament"...

2008-09-23T22:49:00.000-07:00

Delightfully written op-ed piece that blasts John McSame's "boiling moralism" and exposition of his "inner queen of hearts", that questions directly McBush's "suitability" for the presidency. With links to the 9/19 WSJ article decrying McIdiot's scapegoating of Christoper Cox, chairman of the SEC, as well as links to stories in the Washington Post, and the NY Times, revealing McPalin's blatant attempts to circumvent his own crowning legislative achievement of McCain-Feingold campaign restrictions.

McCain has more cars than houses...

2008-09-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

How many cars does it take to win the Presidency? If America is paying attention, just one. McBush hit it out of the parking lot according to Newsweek, scoring 13 gas-guzzlers of various nationalities to Obama's 1; his Gas -Saving, American-Made, Ford Escape Hybrid. That's right, McPalin has 13 cars, and Obama has 1.

Carmel's Local Heroine, Tracy Hydorn

2008-09-17T18:28:00.001-07:00

Local maverick, and Carmel High School skateboarding legend,Tracy Hydorn, became an in impromptu sidewalk activist last week when she was accosted by a group of imported extremist homophobics masquerading as Narnia-nerds, in the center of Carmel. As a result of this profane protest, CS Lewis turned over twice in his tomb. Surely, his faith was not the same as that malignant affliction that these cape-clad ogres and apostles of hate suffer from.

I was likewise accosted two days later, by a couple of haters-in-making, at my front door, after rousing me from a snippet of ever-more-valuable, and ever-more-rare, satisfying slumber. These neophytes were younger than my car, and had a prop-baby in tow, telling me how marriage to my RDP would require that their "son" be taught in school that Gay Marriage is "OK". What a shitty way to start the day. I tried to engage them in a reasoned discussion of the facts, but they would have neither, and stormed off with sickeningly saccharine smiles of false con-damnation on their faces.

Imagine using kids as props to deny people their civil rights - I'd use them to deny those that voted for Bush twice, the right to vote in this year's general.

I guess this means I have to now forgive Tracy for standing me up for the Prom in 1976...nah, maybe next time, I like holding a grudge.

http://www.noonprop8.com

Senator Hagel Expresses Doubts about Palin's "Readiness"

2008-09-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

From today's edition of the Omaha World Herald:

"She doesn't have any foreign policy credentials," Hagel said in an interview. "You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don't know what you can say. You can't say anything."

"I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, 'I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia,'" he said. "That kind of thing is insulting to the American people."

Senator Hagel is a Republican senator from Nebraska.

Daily Show - Sept 5th complete episode; way worth watching

2008-09-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

This is the special episode from Friday, 9/5/08, after the RNC. Watch the whole damn thing, you won't regret it, and you'll be better informed than 98% of the rest of the nation.

Alaska Women Reject Palin Rally 9/13/08

2008-09-16T23:09:00.000-07:00

SNL - Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

2008-09-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

Daily Show - RNC coverage highlights

2008-09-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Compare Obama and McCain Tax Plans

2008-09-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

If you make over $250,000 you're in trouble if Obama gets elected.

McBush is a switch hitter

2008-07-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

John McCain switched teams while campaigning in Pittsburgh on July 9th, 2008. In his book, "Faith of my Fathers", and everywhere you search on the internet for stories about his time as a POW, he states that when asked for the names of his squadron, he gave the names of Green Bay Packers defensive linemen. However, when campaigning in PA, he ridiculously geographically realigned his story to say that he recited the names of the Steelers. Either he's strategically challenged for changing such a widely documented story and hoping no one would notice, or worse, his recollection of his personally documented story is fading. We should know by now that a blatant disregard for the truth and/or senility makes any candidate unfit for office.

MCW - What really went down on Apple Pie

2008-07-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Comprehensive report on the Curtis' successful attempt to save their home and the statutes that potentially will back them up when they have their day in court. Great example of independent journalism in action, you won't see this level of detail in the Herald.

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Wednesday, 7-9-08

2008-07-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

There will be no meeting on Thursday night, as things are winding down on the Western fire front and the focus is shifting to re-entry and re-building in the Big Sur area. Therefore, this will most likely be the last video that I post up here. There is a meeting planned for Friday night in Big Sur, but I do not intend to tape it.

I hope that these video updates have been useful to those that were unable to attend the meetings in person. It's been an interesting experience to have found myself fall into the position of playing "capture and release" in the cataloging and dispersal of these meeting videos, and I've enjoyed the opportunity to use current technology to provide access to important information for those that might need it most.

Best Wishes, and Best of Luck to All

=James=

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Tuesday, 7-8-08

2008-07-09T04:22:00.001-07:00

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Monday, 7-7-08

2008-07-08T02:15:00.000-07:00

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Sunday, 7-6-08

2008-07-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Saturday, 7-5-08

2008-07-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

I've been videotaping the Big Sur Fire meetings and uploading them to Google Video for the ridgetop vigilantes who are living in a state of regional house arrest, exiled to the hillsides and forbidden to set foot on Hwy 1; and also for the rest of the world to view too.

I need someone with a DV Camera who can back me up in case I can't make one of the meetings going forward, so if anyone out there would like to work cooperatively on ensuring that the meetings continue to be available on the web, let me know.

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Friday, Part 3, 7-4-08

2008-07-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Courtesy Al Hudock

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Friday, Part 2, 7-4-08

2008-07-07T12:55:00.001-07:00

Courtesy of Al Hudock

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Friday, Part 1, 7-4-08

2008-07-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Al Hudock

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Thursday, 7-3-08

2008-07-07T12:53:00.002-07:00

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Wednesday, Part 2, 7-2-08

2008-07-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Big Sur Fire Meeting Video - Wednesday, Part 1, 7-2-08

2008-07-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

Melaki Timetable

2008-07-07T12:50:00.002-07:00

The tables continue to turn in a timely fashion on McBush, more than a year after the Iraqi Parliament passed a proclamation pushing for US Troop withdrawal, with Melaki now pressuring the US to agree to a timetable for US troop withradrawal. It wasn't that long ago that "timetable" was almost as dirty a word as "liberal". Oh, the stupid wasteful raging idiotic irony of it all.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, where the real enemy continues to grow in strength, the battle is all but lost.

Red Cross Benefit

2008-07-07T12:50:00.001-07:00

Is this an example of irony, or could it have been portrayed a little differently? I guess they could at least tie it into the fire, then it would be clever instead of just awkward. Either way, they're doing a hell of a job from everything I can see, and I don't mean to cast aspersions...but....oh well. If anyone has any info on anyone organizing a benefit for the Big Sur Fire victims and community, please let me know.