Thursday, March 29, 2007

Big Rotten Apple

Times reports police officers in New York City were conducting "covert observations of people who planned to protest at the [2004 Republican National] convention."

From these operations, run by the department’s “R.N.C. Intelligence Squad,” the police identified a handful of groups and individuals who expressed interest in creating havoc during the convention, as well as some who used Web sites to urge or predict violence.

But potential troublemakers were hardly the only ones to end up in the files. In hundreds of reports stamped “N.Y.P.D. Secret,” the Intelligence Division chronicled the views and plans of people who had no apparent intention of breaking the law, the records show.

These included members of street theater companies, church groups and antiwar organizations, as well as environmentalists and people opposed to the death penalty, globalization and other government policies. Three New York City elected officials were cited in the reports.

And from Intelligence Daily:

In October 2006, Bush signed into law the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. Quietly slipped into the law at the last minute, at the request of the Bush administration, were sections changing important legal principles, dating back 200 years, which limit the U.S. government's ability to use the military to intervene in domestic affairs. These changes would allow Bush, whenever he thinks it necessary, to institute martial law--under which the military takes direct control over civilian administration.
The lead-in quotation:

"Paradoxically, preserving liberty may require the rule of a single leader--a dictator--willing to use those dreaded 'extraordinary measures,' which few know how, or are willing, to employ." -- Michael Ledeen, White House advisor and fellow of the American Enterprise Institute, "Machiavelli on Modern Leadership: Why Machiavelli's Iron Rules Are As Timely and Important Today As Five Centuries Ago

Looking for an Arizona Millionaire

In 1968, a Lake Havasu man bought the London Bridge for $2.46 million and transported it home to the desert. That's not the kind of Arizona millionaire I'm thinking of. Japanese millionaire Genshiro Kawamoto gave 3 of his Hawaiian mansions to homeless Native Hawaiians. From the Republic:
Kawamoto, one of Japan's richest men, said he plans to open eight of his 22 Kahala homes to needy Hawaiian families. They will be able to stay in the homes for up to 10 years, he said.
I'm waiting for an Arizonan to do the same--unfortunately, I don't think there's millions for me to make as a teacher. I might have an idea for how Jim Pedersen could actually win an election with his money.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Back that Thang Up

Conventional Wisdom: Back up files early and often. Save your work in multiple locations. Why? You know why. And so do the people of Alaska's Department of Revenue. From CNN:

Nine months worth of information concerning the yearly payout from the Alaska Permanent Fund was gone: some 800,000 electronic images that had been painstakingly scanned into the system months earlier, the 2006 paper applications that people had either mailed in or filed over the counter, and supporting documentation such as birth certificates and proof of residence.

And the only backup was the paperwork itself -- stored in more than 300 cardboard boxes.

In Case You Hadn't Heard...



The Grand Canyon Skywalk, the new glass observation deck at the Grand Canyon and centerpiece of the Hualapai tribe's economic future, opened yesterday. Although I, among other VIPs, was invited, I was unable to attend the event. Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, there in my place, had this to say to Arizona Republic reporters:

Aldrin, who was paid a speaker's fee, said the experience was wonderful but no moonwalk. "It really doesn't compare that much to walking in space," he said. "Not exactly like floating on air, but a wonderful vision. A vision of hope for the future."


Come on Buzz. Fine job you've done in my stead. Everybody knows (I invite everyone to comment with their support) that the Grand Canyon is a far better trip than the moon. Just check out the pictures and news report from AZCentral.com (linked on the side of the page, the images at CNet, and the artistic rendition of the Skywalk.

The Liberation of Baghdad


I'm liking the first photo I've seen from a new Sandow Birk collection. It reminds me of Slate's 9/11 cartoons in it's irony.

From LA Weekly, via Boing Boing:

The Liberation of Baghdad, says Birk, is about “what we were told would happen — happy, joyfully liberated Iraqis welcoming American troops as we free them from the shackles of oppression.”

Monday, March 19, 2007

Mind the Gap


A Times article today highlights one severe problem in the teaching of history, both in Britain and at home.

The way history has long been taught here, Britain’s abolition of the slave trade on March 25, 1807, allowed it to claim the moral high ground in the struggle to end slavery in the New World.

But things are looking up.

Rather than dwelling on William Wilberforce, the feisty abolitionist who drove the reform through the British Parliament and is the subject of the film “Amazing Grace,” these shows are highlighting a far uglier back story: Britain’s deep engagement in the slave trade in earlier centuries and the fundamental role this played in forging the nation’s wealth and power.

With the support of the government and a $20 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, national museums and community groups across Britain have begun re-examining what a new exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London calls these “Uncomfortable Truths.”

The mood may be ripe for such a reassessment. After years of waxing nostalgic about its lost empire, Britain is now daring to look more critically at its imperial record. At the same time there is fresh curiosity about the history and culture of the Caribbean, African, Arab and Asian immigrants who are changing the face of Britain.

There is also new transparency. Although Prime Minister Tony Blair fell short of an apology, in November he went further than any previous official by expressing “deep sorrow” for Britain’s role in the slave trade. “It is hard to believe what would now be a crime against humanity was legal at the time,” he noted.


I'm ready to vote for a political leader willing to make public apologies about the U.S.'s past. I'm also ready to find someone to build an International Slavery Museum in the U.S.

Like Whoa

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Caliente (Hot)

Ever walk away from conversations just thinking, "Damn, I look good!" I do. Often. And so did ethereal Michelle Pfeiffer (my favorite Catwoman), recently, after talking to a fan about her cupsize. I'm not big on celebrity gossip, but this is high quality literature that I can relate to. And relating to your reading is one of the most important strategies to becoming a better reader, right kids?

I say she should resurrect her LouAnne Johnson role from Dangerous Minds and start recruiting for Teach For America. Beats Hilary Swank like any lower seed meeting Tucson High in the early rounds of the Big Dance. They're supposed to win (both the Wildcats, and the younger Swank), but they just can't muster the talent to come up with a W. Boo U of A, hooray Michelle Pfeiffer.

A Real Pill

In January, Pfizer Chief Jeff Kindler moved to cut 10,000 jobs. Friday, the AP reported his 36% raise. Sections of Peter Rost's open letter, from Question Authority:

You can't cut back and fire ten thousand hardworking people, and tell them about the new management style you're bringing to the company, and then accept a 36% raise in base pay

If you read what your employees are saying, such as this, you will realize you just lost their respect; they've stopped calling you Kindler and replaced that with Swindler.

You already made $11.4 million in 2006. You can afford to do the right thing.

Ouch

Saturday, March 17, 2007

An Ode to the Bracketmaster

In case you hadn't gotten your fill of the madness, you can learn more about why they call it that, the wisdom of brackets (adapted from a book I've been looking for in Chile since Monday), an entertaining account of one writer's near $10,000-winning experience in ESPN's Tournament Challenge, and even participate in your own Ad Slogan bracket, among other great bracketology articles from Slate.

But the best article is about the death of bracketmasters. Listening to it is even more fun. It is a somewhat sad reality that one of the victims of technology is the bracketmaster of old. But someone's still got to collect and distribute the money, right? A prost: to those that run the office pool, everywhere.

The Ol' College-Try

Although supposedly well-streamed over the web by CBS, watching college basketball games in Chile is virtually impossible. The video is way too choppy, and the only shots you can see well are the commercials (and this ain't the Supabah, if ya know what I mean).

But fret not, good friends, I am well in the mix of the madness. CBS does a great job streaming Westwood One's radio broadcasts, so I take over every computer in sight and listen to all the games at once. It's magical.

And it also leaves my eyes available to read everyone's glogs, reports, and analysis of this year's tournament. And the madness doesn't end there. I've been learning a tad about the history of the Big Dance, as well. Basketball literature is quite inspiring as well:

Basketball Ides of March

The gym lights gleam like a beacon beam
And a million motors hum
In a good will flight on a Friday night;
For basketball beckons, "Come!"
A sharp-shooting mite is king tonight.
The Madness of March is running.
The winged feet fly, the ball sails high
And field goal hunters are gunning.

The colors clash as silk suits flash
And race on a shimmering floor.
Repressions die, and partisans vie
In a goal acclaiming roar.
On a Championship Trail toward a holy grail,
All fans are birds of a feather.
It's fiesta night and cares lie light
When the air is full of leather.

Since time began, the instincts of man
Prove cave and current men kin.
On tournament night the sage and the wight
Are relatives under the skin.
It's festival time, sans reason or rhyme
But with nation-wide appeal.
In a cyclone of hate, our ship of state
Rides high on an even keel.

With war nerves tense, the final defense
Is the courage, strength and will
In a million lives where freedom thrives
And liberty lingers still.
Now eagles fly and heroes die
Beneath some foreign arch
Let their sons tread where hate is dead
In a happy Madness of March.

-Henry V. Porter in March 1942 Illinois Interscholastic

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Top O' the Morning

Celebrate St. Patty's Day the way the Irish would want you to. Ditch the green beer, and drink some Guinness Stout (stout is the National Drink of Ireland). Or, if alcohol isn't your style, try some Guinness Gelato at a new Scottsdale spot. Let me know how it is.

And I've got a special one for you! After this St. Patty's Day celebrate w/ The Vegan Spread for your morning hangover toast. Best part: now you can get it to fit with your drinking style from the night before. Guinness Marmite.

If you're really Irish, then take off that silly green "Kiss me" shirt, and buy a little dirt from the Mother Country, like the rest of your brethren. Here's the Ebay link.

Energy Spending Time (EST)

Golden Bear (Berkeley) researchers are telling us that Daylight Savings Time, the Congressionally mandated "energy saving" measure, is likely not saving much energy. I'm no Cal fan, but their research, as explained by an ABC News article, "raises concern that the U.S. is unlikely to see the anticipated energy conservation benefits from extending DST." Krishna Dagli of Hemos, via Slashdot, adds, "We are already spending money for software upgrades in the name of saving energy and after reading following article I wonder has congress really studied the impact of DST shift?"

You'll recall that the Great State of Arizona does not participate in the biannual time adjustment, a.k.a. Policy of Anti-Arizonan Agression (NAMBLA). Kudos Grand Canyonites.

The Madness Begins...




A moment of silence please...

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Big Comedy


There's nothing funny about cemetaries, but my trip to Allende's tomb was somewhat comedic. It's an interesting coincidence that Allende's mausoleum resembled two towers and that the Chilean coup (and his death) occured on September 11, 1973. Also, that from the right angle, between the two towers, you can see a crucifixion scene--despite being in the secular cementary and Allende's atheism. Still, many tombs had crosses, and some were likely Catholics who could not afford the Catholic cemetary across the street. But the part that I remember most is this urinal at the place directly between the two cemetaries where we had lunch. There you could ensure that you'd leave dry in the "junk region."

Messy Hair



Probably the highlight of my week and a half stay in Santiago was La Chascona, a Neruda (beloved Nobel prize-winning Chilean poet) house named after his third wife's messy hair. Delightfully, set in the bohemian Bella Vista neighborhood and surrounded by murals and a the feel of an old part of town. The boat motif is fun, and his relationship with so many other famously creative people (that's Whitman I'm looking at) makes the visit particularly interesting, but the best part for me was that I took the tour in Spanish. And I understood! I've posted a number of pictures.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Hot Digs


I get to Santiago, and a cab driver who has my generous host's key picks me up with a sign that says "ALESHAI." At first, I'm thinking "alicia?" He must have been disappointed, because a manly-looking guy like myself is no Alicia. But in retrospect, I think he was thinking "ALE-Shai." And I can't agree more! Beer me.

And beer me, they have. Chileans drink. A lot. With every meal it seems. As an appetizer prior to lunch (and I mean prior, no food until you down that pisco sour), with a meal, and after a meal. Start it off early and keep it going until late.

But I couldn't have been better welcomed than by the amazing place my host resides in. My living space for the last week has been quite nice. This is just one picture. Here's a link to more, complete with some great views of the city's financial district, mountains and sunsets.