Rock on.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Mint The Coin
I've never seen a any convincing argument that minting the coin was a "bad" idea, at least relative to the alternatives of blowing up the financial markets or perpetually caving into hostage demands, but it certainly was not ridiculous unless you think fiat money is ridiculous. Which it is, really, but...
Resignation Time
Oops.
The former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening, and that he had the evidence to prove it.
Blogs Still Have Magic Powers
Years later, something about the ability for anyone to write for the public and have it maybe be read still drives gatekeepers to the stupid.
Go Away
I actually don't believe in the stupid informal enforced-by-the-media tradition that presidential losers should just "go away." Of course it's only enforced for losers with a -D after their names, but the contrast is jarring. Mondale, Dukakis, and Gore were supposed to just disappear without a trace, while President McCain is on my teevee regularly.
Classy
That the Romneys truly believed they were going to win is reason enough to be glad they didn't.
The Poors And The Blahs
In America, poverty is an urban thing. That isn't true, of course, but that's the narrative and we're sticking to it. Rural/urban America isn't actually a white/black thing. There's black rural poverty, too (and white urban). But in America, the story is urban=black.
Rural poverty is largely invisible from our media, giving the rural poor a bit of reason to maybe feel like they're a ignored. It doesn't matter how much government aid they actually get, their invisibility gives them reason to believe that they're somehow missing out on the secret welfare system that the urban blahs get.
There's some tiny bit of truth in that in many cities there's a bit more of a comprehensive social service system than one finds in rural areas, but it isn't really as if anyone's getting big checks sent to them.
Rural poverty is largely invisible from our media, giving the rural poor a bit of reason to maybe feel like they're a ignored. It doesn't matter how much government aid they actually get, their invisibility gives them reason to believe that they're somehow missing out on the secret welfare system that the urban blahs get.
There's some tiny bit of truth in that in many cities there's a bit more of a comprehensive social service system than one finds in rural areas, but it isn't really as if anyone's getting big checks sent to them.
Are There No Prisons?
I talked with Peter Moskos yesterday, former Baltimore cop, now a professor of criminal justice at John Jay. We talked about drug legalization, mostly. His book, In Defense of Flogging is a pretty powerful indictment of the brutal, failed US prison system.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Not Trade
There's enough economist left in me to not be too negative about trade agreements that are actually trade agreements, as in trade agreements which lower tariffs and that's it. But the problem is that what the Washington Post lovingly calls "free trade agreements" usually don't have all that much to do with "free" or "trade" and if you include any notion of democracy they don't involve "agreement." So, yes, kill the monster.
For some reason including labor standards in such agreements is communist, but including absurd intellectual property protections is Freedom Reagan Squared. Because.
For some reason including labor standards in such agreements is communist, but including absurd intellectual property protections is Freedom Reagan Squared. Because.
If It's Sunday...
It's still white dudes.
They'd probably get half of the way there if every time they thought "hey, how about we invite John McCain on" they would call a woman instead.
They'd probably get half of the way there if every time they thought "hey, how about we invite John McCain on" they would call a woman instead.
ME
I don't think making modest improvements to our 401K system is a bad idea, I just think that the 401K system is a failure which offers some nice tax breaks to relatively wealthy people and hasn't led to sufficient retirement savings for everybody else. Modest improvements will make modest improvements to results, but only, you know, modest ones. We need to focus on increasing Social Security benefits.
Dead Hamster
There seems to be an issue with disqus on blogger sites. I'm sure once the lazy folks on the West Coast wake up they'll put a new hamster in.
Think Of The Children
We do love our children so very much.
But cafeteria workers weren’t able to see which children owed money until they had already received lunches, Olsen explained.
The workers then took those lunches from the students and threw them away, he said, because once food is served to one student it can’t be served to another.
The Right To Not Be Deported Ever
I think that is a tough trade, and I won't in any way claim to speak for the undocumented community. For me the only way it would be possibly "ok" is that if the right to live and work in the United States was absolute, that no one with that status would ever be deported for any reason ever.
It's repugnant, but so is the current system.
It's repugnant, but so is the current system.
It's Kind Of A Weird System
Lots of people like the idea of "affordable housing." That sounds nice! But I admit the common system of essentially bribing developers (either with carrot or by withholding the stick) to set aside housing units for people with certain incomes at below market rates is a bit weird.
Housing is expensive for two reasons. One, demand is high so implicit land prices are high. Two, construction costs are high. The latter is going to be more true if they are building "luxury" units, if they are building only large units, if various amenities like parking are bundled with the units, etc.
Anyway, the point I'm getting at is that one way to force developers to build more affordable housing is to force them to build more "worse" housing. Smaller units, no hot tubs, fewer bundled amenities, etc. Or, in some cases, simply *let* them build worse housing.
Housing is expensive for two reasons. One, demand is high so implicit land prices are high. Two, construction costs are high. The latter is going to be more true if they are building "luxury" units, if they are building only large units, if various amenities like parking are bundled with the units, etc.
Anyway, the point I'm getting at is that one way to force developers to build more affordable housing is to force them to build more "worse" housing. Smaller units, no hot tubs, fewer bundled amenities, etc. Or, in some cases, simply *let* them build worse housing.
Capitalism
The translation hasn't been published yet, but Capitalism in the 21st Century is attracting attention.
From a slideshow summarizing the argument (pdf):
(h/t Digby)
From a slideshow summarizing the argument (pdf):
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
MyRA
I don't think MyRA is bad policy, but it really has nothing to do with retirement. It'll encourage a few people to save a bit more money, and provide a small return on that savings, but it won't improve retirement security in a meaningful way. Might help to ensure that a few more people have a bit of emergency savings, but that's all.
Bi-Level
Double decker trains are a good way to increase capacity, though I'm less than certain that the necessary clearance is actually there (I don't have any idea really, just a bit worrying). The trains are pretty packed both ways, as the "reverse commute" is increasingly common.
The local train map.
The local train map.
Not Covered By The Gas Tax
Chicago budgets $20.3 million for snow removal.
Not saying it's bad expenditures, just saying it's expensive.
Not saying it's bad expenditures, just saying it's expensive.
Rescue Me Big Daddy
"Atlanta mayor blames school systems, commuters for gridlocked roads."
I'm not sure what exactly prompted that CNN chyron, but the mayor's getting completely grilled on how he failed to wave his magic wand and clear the streets. I have no idea if there's anything that could have realistically been done to improve the situation, but it's amusing that when things go wrong suddenly Big Government is supposed to fix everything. Right after they cut your taxes.
I'm not sure what exactly prompted that CNN chyron, but the mayor's getting completely grilled on how he failed to wave his magic wand and clear the streets. I have no idea if there's anything that could have realistically been done to improve the situation, but it's amusing that when things go wrong suddenly Big Government is supposed to fix everything. Right after they cut your taxes.
Think Small
I get that the president doesn't control Congress and I don't believe that he can move mountains with the Bully Pulpit, but there's something worrying about the impression of failing to recognize that we have some serious problems. Job retraining and yet another government retirement savings vehicle aren't going to cut it.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Overnight
RIP
In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?
The Unemployed Are Stupid Fucking Losers
"There are millions of jobs that are available and others that are emerging that require skills that people don't have now and if they had them they could fill those jobs." - David Axelrod just now.
"My Fellow Americans, Shit Is Fucked Up And Bullshit"
Now that would be a memorable State of the Union.
Baby Stepping
It isn't enough, but it's something.
WASHINGTON — President Obama plans to sign an executive order requiring that janitors, construction workers and others working for federal contractors be paid at least $10.10 an hour, using his own power to enact a more limited version of a policy that he has yet to push through Congress.
Oh Ricky
Never leave us.
Since he dropped out in 2012, Santorum has been laying the groundwork for another run. His advocacy group provides him a platform to raise money, gather email addresses and promote conservative policy causes. He visits Iowa frequently. The exposure from his last campaign allows Santorum to charge a premium for speeches to organizations that aides say has been lucrative. He temporarily penned a weekly column for the conservative website World Net Daily, which ended when he was brought on to lead a production company called EchoLight Studios in June 2013 that produces family-friendly movies.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Oh Crap I Thought I Was Kidding
Zombie Jack Kemp approves.
I really thought I was just making a joke.
But Mr. Obama’s promise zones, which are part of the larger agenda to fight inequality and poverty that he plans to unveil Tuesday night during his State of the Union speech, are just the latest version of an old idea: the politically popular enterprise zone.
I really thought I was just making a joke.
Go See A Sitcom Taping
I didn't love my brief time in SoCal, but one thing I did which I really enjoyed which you can't do most other places is to go see a sitcom recorded live. I don't know how many are filmed in front of a studio audience these days, but some are. The one I went to see was Just Shoot Me, which wasn't the best show of all times but certainly wasn't the worst either. Can't go all that wrong with George Segal.
Anyway, the point isn't that sitcoms are awesome, the point is that seeing one being filmed live is actually pretty fascinating. It probably takes 3 hours plus to get 22 minutes in the can. The filming session I saw ran too long and they eventually kicked us out. There's an emcee/comedian and a house band to try to keep the audience energy level up. They do want you to laugh. It is a live theater production, but they do multiple takes for various reasons (including casts flubs of course). If a joke falls flat, the writers try to come up with a new one and they see how well that works. Just an interesting process.
Anyway, the point isn't that sitcoms are awesome, the point is that seeing one being filmed live is actually pretty fascinating. It probably takes 3 hours plus to get 22 minutes in the can. The filming session I saw ran too long and they eventually kicked us out. There's an emcee/comedian and a house band to try to keep the audience energy level up. They do want you to laugh. It is a live theater production, but they do multiple takes for various reasons (including casts flubs of course). If a joke falls flat, the writers try to come up with a new one and they see how well that works. Just an interesting process.
Powerless
People can debate the reasons, but there were two things I expected to happen which didn't. One is that I thought that, at least when the Dems controlled Congress, that little "goodies" would be slipped into legislation. Maybe things which weren't all that important - not important enough to cause a right wing freakout - but still good things. The second is that the executive would, you know, use the executive for stuff other than killing people. Maybe it will happen more?
Transfer Fees Are Evil
My local transit authority has them and they're stupid. The fare should let you board anything within the fare area within, say, an hour. Locally it's probably partially a consequences of our antiquated token system, but sadly I don't think our exciting new payment technology system is going to eliminate transfer fees.
The Eternal Suffering Of The Not Quite Rich Enough
If only a few of these people (and the journalists who write about them) would begin to understand that if life is hard on $375K/year, it's fucking hard on 1/7 of that.
Connections
Even cynical me gets surprised by this stuff.
Like Mayor Nutter in his 2007 campaign, Johnson emphasized in an interview that he is a public-school parent. But the school he refers to is the K-8 Penn Alexander School, one of the district's most prestigious schools. It is also supposed to serve only students who live in West Philadelphia's Spruce Hill section.
The pastor lives in Overbrook, about four miles outside Penn Alexander's catchment area.
Stop Shoving Things Down The Throats Of Christians
It'll take another few years, but there will come a time when almost no one will admit to opposing same sex marriage.
Because they oppose it because (?????)
Because they oppose it because (?????)
Think Of The Women And Children
Bomb bomb we're good at, feed feed, not so much.
As I've said several times, never listen to people who only talk about "humanitarian interventions" when those interventions only ever involve blowing people up. Blowing people up is actually quite expensive, and oddly unlikely to to help them all that much. There are lots of "humanitarian interventions" that we could think about which don't involve blowing people up, but we don't often talk about those.
As I've said several times, never listen to people who only talk about "humanitarian interventions" when those interventions only ever involve blowing people up. Blowing people up is actually quite expensive, and oddly unlikely to to help them all that much. There are lots of "humanitarian interventions" that we could think about which don't involve blowing people up, but we don't often talk about those.
CoT: Galactic Ridiculousness
Translation. And exegesis.
Also McJoan and RJ Eskow
From the translation:
Gregory: welcome Mr Chertoff –
how can we get Ed Snowden back to America?
Chertoff: how the hell should I know Fluffy?
Gregory: is it irresponsible to call him a spy?
Chertoff: well now that depends
on if he is a spy
Gregory: hmmm interesting point
Gregory: some people like Snowden
and some don't
Chertoff: I don't like him and I don't like you
Gregory: his lawyers say he's
been punished enough
Chertoff: he's free in Russia and
regaling the world – he's not being punished
Gregory: can he get a fair trial?
Chertoff: of course he can
Gregory: I suppose so
Chertoff: but he would be found guilty
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Please Come Near My Property So I Can Kill You
Gun nut vigilantes aren't different from Dexter or Hannibal. They kill because they want to kill.
(via)
(via)
Other People Have Funny Traditions
In Catalonia they have a tradition of placing figurines of pooping famous people (caganer) in nativity scenes.
What's It All About Then
Reading the 4 millionth Ross Douthat column on why people should behave the way Ross Douthat thinks they should behave I just have to wonder...why does he - and people like him - spend so much time fretting about this stuff? I mean who cares who is married and who is cohabitating and who is having the sexytime etc. I know the short answer is Because Christianity, but without wading into One True Christian territory, all that stuff really isn't exactly the central focus of the New Testament.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Free Slut Pills
It's demeaning to provide appropriate medical coverage for women because it suggests they might want to have the sexytime.
Your Family
How many people would want themselves or their spouses turned into incubators after they've died? Some, perhaps, but I doubt very many people would, even among the supposed "pro-life" crowd.
Friday, January 24, 2014
This Won't End Well
I think the expansion of rental property options is a good thing. But property management of single family home rentals is hard, and I think a healthy rental market requires stronger tenant protections, including soft rent control, than most locations have. I certainly don't trust the Wall Street boys to be anything but "absentee slumlords," taking down communities in the process.
Boondoggle
It isn't the most important thing, but the total surveillance state is a colossal waste of money. Give people cash and a task and they'll keep justifying and expanding their role and supposed importance. Say "boo! National Security" and the money keeps flowing, and mumble something about "technology" and people get hypnotized.
At best it's just a colossal waste of money. At best.
At best it's just a colossal waste of money. At best.
Duh
One of the weird ideas out there is that people who use bikes for transportation are "rich" hipsters (I'm not sure when hipsters became rich in the popular conception either). Most people I see riding bikes are likely immigrants (can't always know of course) who aren't likely to be super rich. More than that, bikes are, you know, a lot cheaper than cars.
Heckuva Job
Probably he did do a good job. Fines are just a cost of doing business, and nobody worries about going to jail.
A year after an embarrassing trading blowup led to millions of dollars being docked from Jamie Dimon’s paycheck, the chairman and chief executive of JPMorgan Chase is getting a raise.
Open Presser
In case you missed it, Snowden did a live Q&A yesterday. I've posted a couple of excerpts.
The "exile" thing doesn't work so well here in the future.
The "exile" thing doesn't work so well here in the future.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Information Is Cheap
I'd run the bus lines every 15 seconds if I ran the place, but the point of real-time travel data apps is that they are a very cheap way to add customary functionality to systems which already have GPS information for their fleets. People hate waiting for buses/trains more than they dislike the time spent riding them, especially if weather is bad, and they hate waiting even more if there's uncertainty. If you're reasonably sure that bus is going to come in 8 minutes, the 8 minute wait isn't so bad. It's more frustrating if you don't know when the bus is coming.
Increasing frequency costs a lot of money, money I would of course spend if I were your benevolent transit overlord. Transit apps are cheap.
Increasing frequency costs a lot of money, money I would of course spend if I were your benevolent transit overlord. Transit apps are cheap.
How To Run The Secret Surveillance State
The people who are running it are pretty incompetent.
But, you know, trust them!
The company that conducted a background investigation on the contractor Edward J. Snowden fraudulently signed off on hundreds of thousands of incomplete security checks in recent years, the Justice Department said Wednesday.
The government said the company, U.S. Investigations Services, defrauded the government of millions of dollars by submitting more than 650,000 investigations that had not been completed. The government uses those reports to help make hiring decisions and decide who gets access to national security secrets.
But, you know, trust them!
Concerns And The Great Moderation
The story the Dem party likes to tell itself is that it went all crazy hippie dippie in the 70s and 80s, elected that communist Jimmy "deregulation" Carter to the presidency, then nominated noted communists Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis who were deservedly destroyed. During this period, a time when half of the party were conservative southern racists, the party didn't do enough for the Real American white working (male) class. Then along came the DLC and the new Democrats and the new new Democrats and the new new new new new new new Democrats and they moderated the party by informing big business that we were their friends too and we'd love their money. Then the party enhanced its appeal by backing off on support for gun control and abortion rights.
By doing all of this the party ushered in the great Glorious Age of Democrats, otherwise known as the election of Bill Clinton, which was followed by a Republican takeover of the House, their frequent control of the Senate, the destruction of the welfare system, the election of George W. Bush, some lovely little wars, and out of control banksters that destroyed the economy and got rich doing it. Yay great moderation.
Obviously that isn't quite the story they like to tell themselves, but hopefully you get the point. Anyway the real point is that while the narrative is always about how the Dems turned their backs on the white working class, during the grand "rescue the party from the hippies" period, it isn't as if they suddenly did a bunch of stuff to help these people. They mostly just tried to convince them that they love guns and war and don't much like those abortion sluts either. Also, too, don't worry white working class, we aren't going to do anything to help you but we aren't going to help the blah people either.
If you want to argue that this was a tremendously successful electoral strategy, the only success you can really point to is President Bill Clinton.
But, yes, the way to win the hearts of voters is to actually do stuff that helps them. Populism is a bad word which suggests that government exists to help people other than the 1%, who have the money spigot aimed right at their gobs constantly, but yay populism.
By doing all of this the party ushered in the great Glorious Age of Democrats, otherwise known as the election of Bill Clinton, which was followed by a Republican takeover of the House, their frequent control of the Senate, the destruction of the welfare system, the election of George W. Bush, some lovely little wars, and out of control banksters that destroyed the economy and got rich doing it. Yay great moderation.
Obviously that isn't quite the story they like to tell themselves, but hopefully you get the point. Anyway the real point is that while the narrative is always about how the Dems turned their backs on the white working class, during the grand "rescue the party from the hippies" period, it isn't as if they suddenly did a bunch of stuff to help these people. They mostly just tried to convince them that they love guns and war and don't much like those abortion sluts either. Also, too, don't worry white working class, we aren't going to do anything to help you but we aren't going to help the blah people either.
If you want to argue that this was a tremendously successful electoral strategy, the only success you can really point to is President Bill Clinton.
But, yes, the way to win the hearts of voters is to actually do stuff that helps them. Populism is a bad word which suggests that government exists to help people other than the 1%, who have the money spigot aimed right at their gobs constantly, but yay populism.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Possible Baby Steps
Whatever one thinks about the importance of Official State Disapproval of the demon weed, it's absurd that it takes up police time and resources and it's absurd that it can be an excuse for police to harass people in a discriminatory fashion. Prosecuting it should be below prosecuting "wearing insufficient onions on belts as the laws of olde require" as a priority. Anything that moves us in that direction is good.
Don't Worry DOT, We'll Still Have Plenty Of Roads To Spend Money On
Obviously I have different personal policy priorities than "build more roads," but fortunately we can still spend lots of money on "fix those bridges" and "replace those 50 year old highways." Incorrect forecasting skews our priorities towards building exciting new roads, instead of fixing the ones we have.
How About 3 Responses?
I love the new tradition of two Republican responses to the State of the Union. Let's see how many networks carry it.
If ever there is a Republican president again, they'll probably carry on that tradition, and leave out the Democratic response entirely.
If ever there is a Republican president again, they'll probably carry on that tradition, and leave out the Democratic response entirely.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Anthropology
I often joke that New Yorkers are the most provincial people on the planet. Obviously New York City is cosmopolitan in the generally understood meaning from that word, but when New Yorkers write about/talk about other places it's as if they're venturing deep into a bizarre landscape on some strange new planet. NYC is the norm, and all deviations are weird and strange. And, of course, the peasants of the lesser provinces aren't very sophisticated.
For any new restaurant in Philly, Kulp says the trick is creating "something that isn't going to intimidate people or make them feel like they're risking their money because it's so out of touch with what they might anticipate."
But he says there's still a bigger mental divide between New York and Philadelphia than there is an actual geographical divide: "People in New York just don't go to Philadelphia," he says. "But if it didn't work out down here, I figure I'd take the hour-and-fifteen-minute train ride. Once I realized how close Philadelphia is, it's not like you can never go back."
Because They Want To
Gun nuts have vigilante fantasies. When the opportunity presents itself, they act on those fantasies. It's that simple.
Grand Old Police Blotter
Oh my.
Former Va. [governor] Bob McDonnell, his wife Maureen, both indicted on federal corruption charges in Richmond.
2.9 Cheers For Earmarks
Some earmarks are good policy, others are probably no worse than any other shit that's in the budget, and some are pure corruption (as is plenty of non-earmark contracting). But they're a small price to pay for making things happen.
Probation
When I lived in London, I noticed that bus drivers would tend to wave you on board if you looked like someone who could afford the fare but maybe forgot your travel card or similar. If you seemed to be genuinely poor - as in, didn't have the fare because you were broke - they wouldn't.
Our criminal justice system is a bit like that
Our criminal justice system is a bit like that
A former Halliburton manager was sentenced Tuesday to one year of probation for destroying evidence in the aftermath of BP's massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Snow 2
I didn't mean to suggest that 8 inches of snow wasn't a big deal for anyone individually. Some people can't stay off the roads for whatever reason, and dangerous conditions mean accidents will probably happen. Emergency services are affected, and in addition to snow it's going to be really cold soon so potential power outages are an issue. The point is just that 8 inches of snow is a standard weather event that happens regularly and, roughly speaking, the region is equipped to deal with. It isn't an off the charts event.
What Now For Cuomo
This is one of those silly made up right wing nonsense fests, but the question is how Cuomo responds. Will he get on his knees and beg for Sean Hannity's forgiveness?
SNOW
Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but it does seem like slightly less than major snow events get a lot more hyped than they used to. We might get 8 inches here. It matters. People should take safety precautions and stay off the roads. Fine for things to shut down. But it isn't all that big of a deal.
CoT: Targets of Suspicion
Translation. And exegesis.
Also, KagroX and Allison Kilkenny on Moral Mondays and the West Virginia chemical spill.
Also, KagroX and Allison Kilkenny on Moral Mondays and the West Virginia chemical spill.
Monday, January 20, 2014
If You Want To Rent One Half Of Your Side Of The Block It Will Cost You $260 Per Year
A modest move towards sanity in parking pricing, but if your household has 4 cars in an area with residential parking permits, you don't have a parking problem, you are the parking problem.
And Inflation
Mostly this Charles Osgood piece on the minimum wage is unobjectionable, but it ends with "With Washington State topping the list [for state set minimum wages] at $9.32 an hour, that works out to $74.56 pay for an 8 hour shift. Almost 15 times Henry Ford's $5 per day."
I'm sure the typical Eschaton reader can see the problem with this.
(ht. r. porrofatto)
I'm sure the typical Eschaton reader can see the problem with this.
(ht. r. porrofatto)
Your Hatred Of Women And Belief In Their Inferiority Makes You So Very Attractive
While I don't deliberately visit most of the fever swamps of the internets, except the Washington Post editorial page, I do randomly come across the various straight assholes who think that there's something evil and wrong about feminism and that feminists are evil. An obvious point but...uh, you expect to get laid with that attitude?
Sure plenty of dudes who don't regularly express that attitude actually hold it, including some self-described liberal dudes, but most have the sense enough not to broadcast it. I suppose I can appreciate the honesty of the vocal haters, but am still unclear on what they're trying to achieve.
Sure plenty of dudes who don't regularly express that attitude actually hold it, including some self-described liberal dudes, but most have the sense enough not to broadcast it. I suppose I can appreciate the honesty of the vocal haters, but am still unclear on what they're trying to achieve.
Sarah Palin Said Something Stupid On The Internets Again
You can find it yourself if you wish. I'm just reminded of the days when the drudge-politico led news media treated ever internet utterance by her as The Most Important Political News of the hour, day, week, month, whatever. Then there was that weird "maybe we shouldn't be paying so much attention to Palin" semi-mea culpa.
Our Village press, always wrong about everything.
Our Village press, always wrong about everything.
It Has To Have A Bit Of Stupid
My rule about scandals and kerfluffles that obsess the media is that what really gives them staying power is a bit of stupid. As in, "I can't believe we're still talking about this stupid thing but I can't help responding to it because it's so stupid that you won't shut up about it."
Derailed
I don't know anything about that bridge specifically, but the freight rail infrastructure in Philly is known to be shit generally. And a lot of oil travels right through the city and right by the river.
A CSX train carrying crude oil and sand derailed on a bridge over the Schuylkill River in University City overnight.
...
The two-locomotive, 101-freight-car train was traveling from Chicago to Philadelphia, according to CSX. Seven freight cars -- six containing crude oil and one containing sand -- derailed, the company said.
What Would Martin Luther King Have Thought Of Richard Sherman
Seems like a stupid day. Maybe I'll just go back to bed.
Morning Thread
Rachel Maddow has an interesting column up at the Washington Post. She notes the how various stories, from walking the Appalachian Trail to Bridgegate, have unfolded through the tenacious efforts of local reporters and concludes:
Most of the time, national news happens out loud: at news conferences, on the floor of Congress, in splashy indictments or court rulings. But sometimes, the most important news starts somewhere more interesting, and it has to be dug up. Our democracy depends on local journalism, whether it’s a beat reporter slogging through yet another underattended local commission meeting, or a state political reporter with enough of an ear to the ground to know where the governor might be when he isn’t where he says he is, or a traffic columnist who’s nobody’s fool.
It’s annoying to pay for information — I know. But if you don’t subscribe to your local paper or pony up to get behind its online paywall, who’s going to pay reporters to cover the news where you live? A free press isn’t that kind of “free.” An accountable democracy doesn’t work without real information, gathered from the ground up, about people in power, everywhere. Be inspired by the beleaguered but unintimidated reporters of Chris Christie’s New Jersey: Whatever your partisan affiliation, or lack thereof, subscribe to your local paper today. It’s an act of civic virtue.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Affirmative Action For Rich People
That's what unpaid internships are. And, you know, we're not talking about the internship you do on the side for some college credit, or a couple week stint somewhere, things lots of young people can manage to afford. We're talking about the several month life uprooting - but also potentially lifechanging - internships with elite institutions. What young people can afford to move to DC and work full time for free?
Your Buddy In The White House
It's quite possible the "real Mitt" is a much more likeable guy than the cartoon robot oligarch who ran in 2012. It's also somewhat possible if we all had a chance to get to know this "real Mitt" that he would have gotten a few more votes in 2012. I don't think the theater criticism version of political coverage is meaningless. Low information voters - and, really, we're all low information voters - are going to make judgments based on trying to infer what they can about the person behind the curtain. But the idea that the Mittster would have triumphed if we'd all just really gotten to know him is absurd, even if he really is super awesome at heart.
51
Fallows quotes DiFi, expressing a novel concept:
and asks whether any of the opponents have read their sanctions bill.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein: "We cannot let Israel determine when and where the United States goes to war."
and asks whether any of the opponents have read their sanctions bill.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
We Did Offer To Bomb The Shit Out Of Them
All of the people who wanted war because it was necessary to save the poor refugees have been awfully silent lately.
There are people who are genuinely interested in humanitarian intervention, it's just that those interventions involve actually helping people. The others just want to blow people up. Yes it would be immensely complicated and expensive to relocate large numbers of refugees. It would also be immensely complicated and expensive to blow people up in the name of helping them. Also, too, not help them.
Britain must accept its “shared responsibility” for Syria’s refugees and join a UN scheme to welcome those fleeing the conflict, a coalition of 25 aid agencies and charities tells David Cameron.
There are people who are genuinely interested in humanitarian intervention, it's just that those interventions involve actually helping people. The others just want to blow people up. Yes it would be immensely complicated and expensive to relocate large numbers of refugees. It would also be immensely complicated and expensive to blow people up in the name of helping them. Also, too, not help them.
Hook
I'm sure politicians who were under the thumb of the Christie administration didn't feel comfortable making any allegations publicly before there was a hook. After all, with all the press on Christie's tire swing, who would have paid any attention?
Two senior members of Gov. Chris Christie’s administration warned a New Jersey mayor earlier this year that her town would be starved of hurricane relief money unless she approved a lucrative redevelopment plan favored by the governor, according to the mayor and emails and personal notes she shared with msnbc.
The mayor, Dawn Zimmer, hasn’t approved the project, but she did request $127 million in hurricane relief for her city of Hoboken – 80% of which was underwater after Sandy hit in October 2012. What she got was $142,000 to defray the cost of a single back-up generator plus an additional $200,000 in recovery grants.
Representative government
Bruce Schneier:
Today I Briefed Congress on the NSAThis morning I spent an hour in a closed room with six Members of Congress: Rep. Lofgren, Rep. Sensenbrenner, Rep. Scott, Rep. Goodlate, Rep Thompson, and Rep. Amash. No staffers, no public: just them. Lofgren asked me to brief her and a few Representatives on the NSA. She said that the NSA wasn't forthcoming about their activities, and they wanted me -- as someone with access to the Snowden documents -- to explain to them what the NSA was doing. Of course I'm not going to give details on the meeting, except to say that it was candid and interesting. And that it's extremely freaky that Congress has such a difficult time getting information out of the NSA that they have to ask me. I really want oversight to work better in this country.
Trust us
NYT:
“The most interesting part of this speech was not how the president weighed individual privacy against the N.S.A.,” said Fred H. Cate, the director of the Center of Applied Cybersecurity Research at Indiana University, “but that he said little about what to do about the agency’s practice of vacuuming up everything it can get its hands on.”emptywheel:
(O)ur overreach is one thing that is contributing to the weakening of our credibility and therefore our hegemonic position.
It's hard to talk to people who aren't following this.
Friday, January 17, 2014
City Gone Mad
It wasn't all that long ago when New York City was still a place where semi-affordable housing still existed. Sure you had to move to urban hellholes like "Harlem" or "Brooklyn" but if you moved enough subway stops away from the priciest bits you could get a decent enough place in a decent enough neighborhood. I always contrasted that with Southern California, where, due to the lack of center, there wasn't really much of a rent gradient. Sure you could drive until you qualified...eventually, but that meant Riverside. Pretty far.
That's changed.
That's changed.
Stupid Rich Guy Is Really Clueless About Politics
This is pretty funny, but it also illustrates the one thing which might save our republic from the post-Citizens United money spigot: rich people can be pretty damn clueless.
Everybody Thinks They Rule The World
Lots of people in DC and elsewhere seem to think they're really the people who do and should run things. Insidery elite media folks do. People in the Fed and Treasury do. The Pentagon does. Bankster CEOs do. And, of course, there are our massive secret and completely unaccountable surveillance state organizations. There are various degrees of transparency and accountability for these people and organizations. The surveillance state folk get to hide behind the fact that everything is classified and they're saving the country from the Bad People.
Not quite sure who really does run the country, but it probably isn't quite the democracy it's supposed to be.
Not quite sure who really does run the country, but it probably isn't quite the democracy it's supposed to be.
The REAL ISSUE and the REAL SOLUTION
The "serious moderate conservative" strategy forever has been to try to sucker totebagger liberals into believing that the serious moderate conservative will support serious moderate conservative solutions that will address liberal concerns, like the fact that people have no damn jobs and no damn money. The serious moderate conservative solutions don't actually solve any problems and, more than that, the serious moderate conservative won't actually support those solutions when liberals come around to embracing them.
Probably should just cut taxes on rich people and hope for the best.
Probably should just cut taxes on rich people and hope for the best.
Some Good News
The war on blah people voting has a setback.
HARRISBURG, Pa. - January 17, 2014 (WPVI) -- A state judge has struck down the law requiring Pennsylvania's voters to show photo identification at the polls
Thursday, January 16, 2014
The Fine Whine
Will be conservatives and education "reformers" talking about how those nasty teachers are stealing money from the children.
Area People Really Upset About Having To Pay 10 Cents Per Day To Park
Had to visit my local parking authority today, and oh man their obscene annual $35 resident permit fee enrages people.
It's The Onion, But...
Nothing enrages me more than "heartwarming" stories about "communities coming together" to have bake sales and benefit concerts to pay for some poor kid's medical treatment.
In a Gallup poll conducted this month, 72 percent of respondents agreed that even though the health care system had consistently screwed them over in the old days, at least they had known exactly where they stood. In addition, 65 percent said that while the most expensive illnesses were effectively a death sentence back then, there had been a certain peace of mind in knowing that if you ever got that sick, you would soon be gone and not have to worry about the hospital bills.
Furthermore, 89 percent of Americans confirmed they had taken some small solace in the fact that if they needed money for a life-saving operation, they could always tape a photocopied image of themselves to a collection jar, place it in a local supermarket checkout line, and hope for the best.
Nice Work
The story never really gets told because Galtian Overlords, but I'm reasonably sure that extreme executive compensation is what kills many companies.
But It's Fine For Everybody Else
No worries unless you're pregnant. Really. Trust us.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State health officials late Wednesday advised pregnant women who get their water from West Virginia American Water's Charleston-based system to drink only bottled water until levels of the chemical "Crude MCHM" are not detected at any level.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Up
I don't have a problem with big skyscrapers especially in places where there are other big skyscrapers and on top of a main transit connection), but it's basically impossible (zoning won't allow) to build midrise buildings in most of the city. If the very-slow-but-steady improvement in Philadelphia's fortunes continue, there will be some need to allow for some more 6-8 story buildings in some places.
A Company From Philadelphia Can't Possibly Buy A Company From New York
Hope the building doesn't wobble.
Five world-renowned architects competed and Lord Norman Foster, who designed the 1,214-feet long London Millennium Footbridge, prevailed.
Roberts says, the 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use property will aim for LEED Platinum certification - an ambitious undertaking for such a large building.
Stop Killing Pedestrians
I'd say that NYC drivers are on average a lot more aggressive than the ones here in my urban hellhole. At least in residential neighborhoods, drivers tend to respect stop signs and crosswalks. Not always, of course, but on the whole they aren't so bad. I'm always mystified by "aggressive" drivers who gun it then slam on the brakes, knowing full well that there's a stop sign one block away.
Yes, like cyclists, pedestrians sometimes behave badly, but they don't have a ton+ of metal surrounding them. Try not to kill them.
Yes, like cyclists, pedestrians sometimes behave badly, but they don't have a ton+ of metal surrounding them. Try not to kill them.
If Only There Were Some Shovel Ready Projects
We just can't find them.
The water main broke near Fifth Avenue and 13th Street around 12:15 a.m., the city said. It took hours to shut off the right pipes, find the pipe that had burst and bring the flooding under control.
The source of the problem was a section of 36-inch cast iron pipe dating back to 1877, said a spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Protection.
The Most Hilarious Sentence Ever Written
"The Argentines were very worried that Kissinger would lecture to them on human rights."
Henry is one of the wisest old men of Washington, a Villager in good standing.
Henry is one of the wisest old men of Washington, a Villager in good standing.
Cajole
I think the unemployment benefits issue highlights a bit of strategery problem for Democrats. They prefer to actually try to get legislation passed through playing nice and dealmaking, by buying Boehner an extra glass of merlot and giving a festive turtleneck to McConnell. It's an issue they should go nuclear on. It might not work, but at least they'll win the politics.
GMO
Comments and the twitter yesterday demand clarification.
First off there's nothing inherently dangerous or unnatural about genetic modification. Several people pointed out, correctly, that it's just a faster way to practice husbandry than traditional methods. There's nothing more unnatural than a seedless orange or a turkey that is too fat to fuck. But it's also reasonable for people to be concerned that this sort of rapid change might have unforeseen health consequences. Gimlet and ql noted dairy farmers use of bovine hormones, which studies indicate may have unexpected health effects.
Second, there's confusion over labeling and FDA regulation. The current (thanks, O!) FDA position is that it is generally misleading to label a product GMO-free, and that ignorant consumers are easily confused:
My (parenthetical) point yesterday was that many people prefer to avoid GMO products even if they do not have safety concerns, and these people would like to know what they're buying. GMO labeling is not solely about safety. And, in any case, you'd expect free market advocates to oppose this kind of restrictive policy (as several people remarked).
But I'm still irked that I've never seem a headline regarding climate. "A Global Race Against Time Threatened By Ignorance." "Echoing the Tobacco Wars, Energy Industry Impedes Climate Progress." Those you don't see.
First off there's nothing inherently dangerous or unnatural about genetic modification. Several people pointed out, correctly, that it's just a faster way to practice husbandry than traditional methods. There's nothing more unnatural than a seedless orange or a turkey that is too fat to fuck. But it's also reasonable for people to be concerned that this sort of rapid change might have unforeseen health consequences. Gimlet and ql noted dairy farmers use of bovine hormones, which studies indicate may have unexpected health effects.
Second, there's confusion over labeling and FDA regulation. The current (thanks, O!) FDA position is that it is generally misleading to label a product GMO-free, and that ignorant consumers are easily confused:
The FDA doesn't generally permit GMO labeling. Most people unhappy about the absence of labels want producers to be allowed to label, not be required to do so. ql referred to a similar battle fought in New York over bovine hormone labeling. Same argument--stupid consumers need to be protected from themselves, so must be left uninformed.
Most, if not all, cultivated food crops have been genetically modified. Data indicate that consumers do not have a good understanding that essentially all food crops have been genetically modified and that bioengineering technology is only one of a number of technologies used to genetically modify crops. Thus, while it is accurate to say that a bioengineered food was "genetically modified," it likely would be inaccurate to state that a food that had not been produced using biotechnology was "not genetically modified" without clearly providing a context so that the consumer can understand that the statement applies to bioengineering.
My (parenthetical) point yesterday was that many people prefer to avoid GMO products even if they do not have safety concerns, and these people would like to know what they're buying. GMO labeling is not solely about safety. And, in any case, you'd expect free market advocates to oppose this kind of restrictive policy (as several people remarked).
But I'm still irked that I've never seem a headline regarding climate. "A Global Race Against Time Threatened By Ignorance." "Echoing the Tobacco Wars, Energy Industry Impedes Climate Progress." Those you don't see.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
How Do These Things Happen
The cutting off of unemployment benefits pretty much ensures that the lucky duckies who actually have some money in their retirement accounts are going to be pulling it out (and paying taxes and penalties) as their last desperate move to stay afloat.
And then we'll wonder why all these people didn't take "personal responsibility" and save for their retirement.
And then we'll wonder why all these people didn't take "personal responsibility" and save for their retirement.
And Oklahoma
Stayed for appeal, but same sex marriage ban is declared to be unconstitutional.
I sort of get anti-choice people. Not that I agree with them, and I think movement anti-choice leaders aren't just anti-choice but anti-women and anti-contraception and generally anti-unapproved fucking by women, but I get that people can be against abortion. But the anti-same sex marriage thing...just give it up already. Why are people fighting it? It's just so weird.
I sort of get anti-choice people. Not that I agree with them, and I think movement anti-choice leaders aren't just anti-choice but anti-women and anti-contraception and generally anti-unapproved fucking by women, but I get that people can be against abortion. But the anti-same sex marriage thing...just give it up already. Why are people fighting it? It's just so weird.
You'll Be Sure To Get a Job When You're Homeless And Starving
Republicans kill unemployment benefit extension in the Senate. I never had any sense of whether getting something through the House was possible, but...
Boondoggle
The best thing you can say about the absurd surveillance state is that it's a colossal fucking waste of money.
That isn't the only issue, of course, but it serves to highlight that we're lighting a bunch of money on fire to spy on ourselves for no good reason. There are, probably, some bad reasons.
That isn't the only issue, of course, but it serves to highlight that we're lighting a bunch of money on fire to spy on ourselves for no good reason. There are, probably, some bad reasons.
Na Ga Ha Pen
But these Mag Lev people are quality grifters, good at getting PR and probably eventually public money for vaporware.
Paranoia
I'm still irked by a pair of stories headlined in the NYT and BezoPo.
NYT: A Lonely Quest for Facts on Genetically Modified Crops
BezoPo: General Mills bows to consumer paranoia, makes GMO-free Cheerios
I've never seen an equivalent climate change headline, or, FTM, story.
(Leaving aside all the reasons other than demonstrable danger to your health for not wanting to buy GMO products. Also leaving aside that people who don't want to buy GMOs are asking for bans because they've been unable to get fucking labels.)
NYT: A Lonely Quest for Facts on Genetically Modified Crops
BezoPo: General Mills bows to consumer paranoia, makes GMO-free Cheerios
I've never seen an equivalent climate change headline, or, FTM, story.
(Leaving aside all the reasons other than demonstrable danger to your health for not wanting to buy GMO products. Also leaving aside that people who don't want to buy GMOs are asking for bans because they've been unable to get fucking labels.)
Monday, January 13, 2014
Spanglish
Mrs. A is a native Spanish speaker, so I'm occasionally alerted to bad translations in various documents. The US doesn't actually have a shortage of native speakers, so this really shouldn't happen.
Moderates
I don't claim to know anything about Syria, but I do find it hilarious that abroad, as at home, we fetishize the "moderates" because they're so, you know, moderate. Just read through and drink every time you read the word. Then have a nap.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Just What Will The Consequences Be
For taking out the water system for 300,000 people for 4 days and counting.
I know I've already asked this today, but it's going to scary fun to find out!
I know I've already asked this today, but it's going to scary fun to find out!
Feminized
Everything I needed to know about masculinity I learned from Alexander Britton "Brit" Hume.
And The Man Wrote The Book On It!
The "funny" thing about Robert Barro is that once upon a time he wrote a book about non-"regular economics." Was popular for awhile.
Promise Not To Be A HOOOOAAAAARRR
They'd never ask a man to sign such a thing.
Gwendolyn Boyd, the new president of Alabama State University, signed a contract with the school’s trustees that forbids her from allowing a lover to “cohabitate” with her in the presidential home being provided to her by the historically black university in Montgomery.
Consequences
Does anyone think there will be any consequences for Freedom Industries?
Can't mess with their Freedom after all.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Frustration is mounting for many of the 300,000 West Virginia residents who've gone three days without clean tap water.
Can't mess with their Freedom after all.
Too Many Gun Nuts
As I often say, every gun nut I've ever known has had a vigilante fantasy about killing a blah person. I don't mean all gun owners, I mean gun nuts. But basically anyone who carries a gun on them regularly is a gun nut. And there are a lot of them.
Gun Nut Logic
I could read these two paragraphs over and over for all eternity and still not understand.
WICHITA, Kan. — Reasoning that more guns mean greater safety, Kansas lawmakers voted last year to require cities and counties to make public buildings accessible to people legally carrying concealed weapons.
But for communities that remained wary of such open access to city halls, libraries, museums and courthouses, the Legislature provided an exemption: Guns can be banned as long as local governments pay for protections like metal detectors and security guards, ensuring the safety of those they have disarmed.
TPP
The biggest news of the week wasn't the discovery that Christie has a staff populated by vindictive bullies. It was the introduction of fast track for the TransPacific Partnership agreement. It's not clear whether Congress or their staffs will be allowed to read the agreement (no reason to; they can't amend it under the legislation.), but they are nonetheless expected to vote for it.
The bi-partisan consensus among the citizenry should be pretty strong opposition, from what's leaked out of the classified negotiations. Tea partyists should object to turning domestic policy over to unelected foreign officials. The Democratic wing should object to the internationalization of US intellectual property law, as well as losing control of energy and environmental regulation.
(video via Gaius Publius)
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Overdue thread
And, just in case anyone wants to school their reps, have some more reasons to see Max Baucus as part of the Vast "Centrist" Conspiracy to brutally attack the United States. On the bright side, a lot of people don't seem to want to vote for Fast Track.
3 Billion Here...
Whether or not the Big Dig was mismanaged (yes) cost too much (yes) and not exactly perfectly designed (yes), it still was clearly an improvement for Boston. I'll let the Seattle locals judge this one, but...
Saturday Crass Commercialism
Not having a car means that I don't do the regular Costco trips like Real Americans. Don't really feel the need to load up on lots of staples, but I do tend to order in cans of tomatoes, because they're used fairly regularly and they're heavy to carry.
And Hopefully Spend An Eternity In Hell
Not really sure there's a big enough punishment for this guy.
Years after he took money to send them to privately run juvenile detention centers, a former Luzerne County Court judge must now pay former detainees back for violating their civil rights, a federal judge in Wilkes-Barre has ruled.
In an opinion released Thursday, U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo cleared the way for about 2,500 plaintiffs to collect damages from Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., one of two former judges convicted in the "kids for cash" corruption scandal.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Everybody Knows
It isn't a big secret that even in America, guvmint health care is cheaper than the alternatives. It needs to be said more often by People Serious Enough To Be Listened To.
And In More Important News
We still haven't had a real jobs recovery, and the unemployment checks are stopping.
Fee Fees
Aside from the fact that self-awareness is obviously not strong in this one, why are all the macho men such delicate flowers?
Governor Shouts At Teachers
Just what does make our political press fall in love with people who are quite obviously the worst people in politics? Joe Lieberman, McCain, Lindsey Graham, Chris Christie. It isn't that they're horrible people because I disagree with their politics, it's that they're people who are seemingly horrible in every way except in their ability to get the press to suck up to them.
Inc.
Not a highly original point, but we really are in a world where acts that if done by individuals would be criminal (even terrorism!) are magically not criminal if done by corporations, even though corporations are made of people.
Do Not Wash Clothes
I'm guessing the freedom consequences in freedomland for Freedom Industries for destroying a water system will be zero.
Morning Thread
It would be nice if some in the media would mention that Christie has a long history of abusing his official office for political gain and/or retaliation. For instance.
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Thursday Evening
Jobs report tomorrow.
Prediction: decent, but not nearly good enough. And on and on.
Prediction: decent, but not nearly good enough. And on and on.
Sweet Land Of Liberty
It really is just stunning.
Or, maybe, just let some people go.
Brown also proposed spending $500 million to build more prisons and local jails, and said he’d ask a panel of federal judges to grant a two-year extension to their deadline for California to reduce its inmate overcrowding.
Or, maybe, just let some people go.
Um, Good?
To the extent that butter is being substituted for the poisonous "healthy alternative" margarine we should cheer.
What Else Did They Do
US Attorney is opening investigation of the Christie administration lane closures.
What struck me about the emails was the obvious culture of retribution. It was just understood what had to be done.
What struck me about the emails was the obvious culture of retribution. It was just understood what had to be done.
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
New York Laughs At Your Puny Transit System
I certainly applaud (my preferences, maybe not yours!) cities around the country that are expanding their mass transit systems. But, frankly, most of them are...really really puny. You might think you have a lovely transit system and your transit system might be awesome relative to most US cities, but probably your transit system sucks.
Unless I missed it no one came through with my request yesterday (I tried to find it myself and failed, I wouldn't have asked otherwise).
So, in pieces...we have... the LIRR.
The Metro North.
The mostly New York serving NJT:
The PATH trains:
And, of course, the subway system itself.
That doesn't include the regional amtrak stations or the Staten Island railway.
Unless I missed it no one came through with my request yesterday (I tried to find it myself and failed, I wouldn't have asked otherwise).
So, in pieces...we have... the LIRR.
The Metro North.
The mostly New York serving NJT:
The PATH trains:
And, of course, the subway system itself.
That doesn't include the regional amtrak stations or the Staten Island railway.
Overground
Incorporation of more and more of the local rail lines into the Transport for London is definitely a good thing.
Petty Vindictive People
Given what Christie's people were willing to do because a Democratic mayor was not willing to endorse a Republican for governor, one can only imagine what they spend their time doing every day. Punishment must be their job #1.
Would it be irresponsible to speculate? It would be irresponsible not to.
Would it be irresponsible to speculate? It would be irresponsible not to.
Ergo Was He Ere He Saw Argo
I'm sure my 8-year-old readership can spot the logical flaw in the reasoning of Dylan "not even the stupidest person at Politico" Byers.
Vindictive
Reminder that:
- There was no doubt Christie would win this race.
- This was revenge against the mayor of Fort Lee for failing to endorse Christie.
- The mayor of Fort Lee is a Democrat.
- Christie won a majority of votes in Fort Lee.
- Traffic jams impact first responders
Monsters
Who thinks like this.
In one exchange of text messages on the second day of the lane closures, Wildstein alludes to messages the Fort Lee mayor had left complaining that school buses were having trouble getting through the traffic.
“Is it wrong that I’m smiling,” the recipient of the text message responded to Wildstein. The person’s identity is not clear because the documents are partially redacted for unknown reasons.
“No,” Wildstein wrote in response.
“I feel badly about the kids,” the person replied to Wildstein. “I guess.”
“They are the children of Buono voters,” Wildstein wrote, making a reference to Barbara Buono, the Democratic candidate for governor, who lost to Christie in a landslide in November.
Governor Fucks With People's Lives For Petty Political Revenge
Yes this is someone who should be running the country.
“Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” Bridget Anne Kelly, one of three deputies on Christie’s senior staff, wrote to David Wildstein, a top Christie executive at the Port Authority, on Aug. 13, about three weeks before the closures. Wildstein, the official who ordered the closures and who resigned last month amid the escalating scandal, wrote back: “Got it.”
Cats is Weird
My current cats probably see me as their giant cat roommate, but I've had other ones that probably perceived me in more 'other' terms.
Morning Thread
Some things are just plain mean.
In an interview published by The Daily Camera on Monday, Roni revealed for the first time that her disagreement with the school was over a practice of stamping children’s hands if they did not have enough money in their account to pay for lunch or even if they were eligible for free lunches.
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Bleg
Anyone aware of a really awesome consolidated New York City area rail map? Zoomable, clickable, with the subway, LIRR, NJT, PATH, regional Amtrak trains, etc...?
If Only We'd Had Infinite Money, Lives, And Time
Obama's mistake wasn't losing faith in the Afghanistan strategy, it was having any faith in it to begin with.
When Urban Hellholes Are No longer Hellholes
How will they have dog whistle discussions of "urban crime?"
Governor Yells At People
I've been trying to imagine how our mainstream press, who has a giant mancrush on the New Jersey Governor, would deal with his liberal mirror image. Imagine a liberal governor with the temerity to yell at voters!
Politico Stupid Person Spouts Offensive Gibberish
So the suggestion that she's America's foremost public intellectual is so ridiculous that it undermines the intellectual credibility of the person suggesting it. In fact, she is the America's foremost public intellectual which proves we live in Idiocracy. But, also, too, she's a great scholar and great host.
I actually have no real opinions about Melissa Harris-Perry. My cable news diet has been severely reduced, I have no knowledge of or opinion about her scholarship, and only have a vague idea what her CV is. But she's a Princeton professor with a cable news hosting job, which probably covers both "intellectual" and "public" pretty damn well. I tend to put some emphasis on the public part of public intellectual, as there are lots of smartypants professor types out there, but just not many who manage to create a public platform for themselves so that they can actually reach the public.
Obviously it's a prize no one can really one as there's no set criteria, but it certainly isn't a ridiculous suggestion.
Still Too Many, But...
Making progress.
PHILADELPHIA With Philadelphia on a pace to record a modern low for homicides in 2013, city officials pleaded with New Year's revelers to ring in 2014 without the celebratory gunfire that has marred previous holidays and changed lives.
With the countdown to the new year in its final hours, the homicide total was 246, lower than any annual total since 1967.
Vendor
At least jobs are being created.
MIAMI — Three months after the disastrous rollout of a new $63 million website for unemployment claims, Florida is hiring hundreds of employees to deal with technical problems that left tens of thousands of people without their checks while penalties mount against the vendor who set up the site.
Monday, January 06, 2014
Job Bank
This Rolling Stone piece suggests policies that aren't particularly new. The idea of taxing land values at confiscatory rates comes from Henry George, for instance.
A public sector job program should be the least controversial; there is always something productive that can be done, from replacing water mains to refitting high school science labs. Or, my favorite, pulling optical fiber into post offices. Right now, such a program would (still) be a no brainer--converting cheap money into useful physical social capital while putting people and idle private capital to work can only move the economy to a higher long run growth path.
Which we all agree is a good thing, right?
A public sector job program should be the least controversial; there is always something productive that can be done, from replacing water mains to refitting high school science labs. Or, my favorite, pulling optical fiber into post offices. Right now, such a program would (still) be a no brainer--converting cheap money into useful physical social capital while putting people and idle private capital to work can only move the economy to a higher long run growth path.
Which we all agree is a good thing, right?
Makers And Takers
They aren't who we're led to believe they are.
The nearly bankrupt Yankee Stadium garage company could receive new taxpayer subsidies of more than $200 million if a financial bailout plan approved last month by the Bloomberg administration goes through, the Daily News has learned.
Pedestrian Crush
That it's somewhat controversial even in New York to make tiny changes making a small number of streets more pedestrian friendly (generally without really having a significant negative impact on driving or parking) is quite amazing. I was in NYC over the holidays and the number of pedestrians is staggering. As in, there isn't enough room for them. I'm not for banning all of the cars, but anyone with eyes can see that people walk too, also, and that if your goal is moving humans as opposed to moving machines, they deserve a bit of consideration.
Anecdotes
The real problem is that our medical system is fucked up and bullshit and will remain so, no matter what improvements Obamacare changes provide. The good news is that the press will probably actually discover that our system is fucked up and bullshit, the bad news is that they'll hang it all on "Obamacare" which won't usually be to blame.
Criminal Justice Thread
One of my comedy heroes died last week. Here is John Fortune playing George Parr, a Home Office minister, being interviewed by John Bird.
And since I've been having an Everly Brothers festival in my room, here's one for Phil.
Water
It seems like every few years we creep up to the very edge of a catastrophic regional water emergency, only to see the danger recede again. I don't actually have any concept of what happens when the water for a major metropolitan area is suddenly gone.
Really Don't Get It
Lots of rich people in New York really really really hate the bikeshare system, finding it to be an aesthetic horror. I've seen them. Relative to many other typical urban aesthetic horrors they're pretty mild. I'm guessing it's more just "getoffmylawnism" about the kids today and their ipods and their bikeshare and their hippity hop.
Do The Wrong Thing
I highly doubt there will actually be any extension of unemployment benefits. I guess we can go back to fretting about the deficit. That's always popular.
Sunday, January 05, 2014
Sunday, Sunday
The somewhat extended - given that they fell on Wednesdays - holiday season ends. Back to the coal mine tomorrow.
Who Paid The Piper
I'm always amazed by how fucking stupid we are. I doubt these people can tie their own shoes.
In 2013, the State Department, which has more than 400,000 likes and was recently most popular in Cairo, said it would stop buying Facebook fans after its inspector general criticized the agency for spending $630,000 to boost the numbers.
In one case, its fan tally rose from about 10,000 to more than 2.5 million.