Saturday, September 06, 2014
Flying Foxes
A friend who just visited Australia was telling me about "flying foxes" last night. Giant bats! Sounded terribly frightening! What's next, Australia, egg laying mammals with duck bills and a crippling poison? Miniature spiders with deadly venom? Floating sacks of deadly jelly? Poison centipedes of unusual size?
But the "flying foxes" are actually really cute. They're just puppies with wings. They don't have echolocation. They basically have the diet of bees. Well, big bees, anyway (and not the crazy Australian bees).
(ht for general idea to Margafret)
But the "flying foxes" are actually really cute. They're just puppies with wings. They don't have echolocation. They basically have the diet of bees. Well, big bees, anyway (and not the crazy Australian bees).
(ht for general idea to Margafret)
NINETY MINUTES
Well it will all be sorted then.
Recognizing rapidly deteriorating conditions in Atlantic City, which is losing four casinos this year, Gov. Christie last month called for a summit on the city's future.
The closed-door summit, expected to last up to 90 minutes, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at the offices of the Casino Reinvestment Development Corp. in Atlantic City.
Give Jeff Bezos's Money To Me
Truly the best way to support the baby blue blog is to make Jeff Bezos give me money. No I'm not telling you to shop at Amazon. Don't shop there if you wish to shop elsewhere. But if you do shop there, clicking through one of the links on this blog diverts some of Jeff's revenue to me. Commissions vary depending on various things, but they're about 7% generally. Buy a computer, or an expensive camera, and I probably get all of Jeff's profit!
Friday, September 05, 2014
Is It Still The Most Fun Time Of Year?
Local NPR pledge drives always irk me because there's so much smugness. You know, you dear listeners are the bestest and smartest and you prove that by listening to the bestest and smartest station, NPR, and also by giving to our station which pays half a million+ to its chief.
The blog has been good to me financially over the years. A pretty good gig. In the salad days I didn't put out the begging bowl, because advertising did pretty well. It still does ok. And reader generosity has made up the difference. We're in the phase of the internet ad cycle where companies believe the most annoying browser freezing ads are the best way to sell their products. I don't want to run those (yes I know there are occasional autoplay ads which shouldn't happen and which I try to kill any time I see them).
But no smugness. If you've got a bit to spare, and have some fun here, consider a wee donation.
The blog has been good to me financially over the years. A pretty good gig. In the salad days I didn't put out the begging bowl, because advertising did pretty well. It still does ok. And reader generosity has made up the difference. We're in the phase of the internet ad cycle where companies believe the most annoying browser freezing ads are the best way to sell their products. I don't want to run those (yes I know there are occasional autoplay ads which shouldn't happen and which I try to kill any time I see them).
But no smugness. If you've got a bit to spare, and have some fun here, consider a wee donation.
Who, What, And Why
Chuck Toddler
Perhaps you can explain exactly who you're pissed at, what we should be pissed off about, and why?
Something something gridlock Something something partisanship Something something get things done Something something entitlement reform. Probably.
“I’m as pissed off as anybody else is at Washington,” he says.
Perhaps you can explain exactly who you're pissed at, what we should be pissed off about, and why?
Something something gridlock Something something partisanship Something something get things done Something something entitlement reform. Probably.
What A Man What A Man
The weird (and wrong) thing is that it's easier to be brought down by the little things than the big things usually, but I had missed (or more likely forgotten) that McDonnell could have spared his family the tawdry (due to defense strategy) trial and his wife's convictions if only he'd plead guilty to one felony.
Identity
Who cares if there were nice white people in America in the 19th century or if their stories are reflected in a book about slavery? The only way someone would react that way is if they feel some sort of kinship with those white people. And why do people feel that way? While we're all impacted by historical legacy, I actually don't care, aside from mild curiosity, what my actual ancestors were up to in 1850, let alone some group we've shoved into a racial category called "white" from a particular time who I may or may not be descended from. Whether they were good and wonderful really has no bearing on me. I'm not really connected to them.
Morning
Haven't had time to read the whole thing yet, but Echidne gives us a comprehensive analysis of the Rotherham Report.
This is going to be a two cup morning.
Welcome to Rotherham, England, a manufacturing town near Sheffield. Right now the town is famous for a reason it would not have chosen: The Rotherham Report: In this town of 250,000 inhabitants at least 1400 young girls were sexually groomed, raped, gang-raped and pimped over a period of sixteen years while many of the authorities responsible for protecting the girls did nothing or actively suppressed information about the wide-spread abuse.
This is going to be a two cup morning.
Thursday, September 04, 2014
Not A Drop
When I post about the drought in California, I inevitably get emails/comments from people basically saying whatevs, no biggy. Months ago when I posted a link to an article about the downgrading of the El Nino probability I got a few angry emails about how it was bullshit.
And, you know, I have no idea! But it's September. El Nino is still likely to be a bust. The drought is still severe. I have no idea what will happen. But the responses remind me of how locals explained the movie Magnolia when I lived in SoCal (the frog apocalypse metaphor specifically). Basically, every California resident expects and is in extreme denial of the inevitable arrival of doomsday. They know they're living on fault lines, but no one should ever point it out. Because it's California, baby.
And, you know, I have no idea! But it's September. El Nino is still likely to be a bust. The drought is still severe. I have no idea what will happen. But the responses remind me of how locals explained the movie Magnolia when I lived in SoCal (the frog apocalypse metaphor specifically). Basically, every California resident expects and is in extreme denial of the inevitable arrival of doomsday. They know they're living on fault lines, but no one should ever point it out. Because it's California, baby.
Careers Interrupted
No way to really quantify this, but anecdotally I've noticed that a lot of eveintheliberals and career "objective journalists" have started to be a bit more sympathetic to concerns that maybe the economy - and their retirement accounts - aren't quite what they should be.
Guilty
I never followed the McDonnell stuff too much. The tawdry stuff - the defense strategy - seemed to overwhelm the actual corruption. I admit I find it all to be pretty weird. You get one term as Virginia governor. Cash out later.
Trump'd
They keep falling...
Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal warned in a recent financial filing that it was in danger of running out of money to pay its bills and make debt payments.
Trump Taj Mahal Associates L.L.C., the legal name of the entity that owns the 24-year-old casino, said in the filing August 22 that it needed to borrow more money or restructure the existing $232 million in debt it had on June 30.
How About We Take In Some Refugees?
I know that at this point I am just trying to troll people who don't read this blog and don't care about anything that I have to say, but I would like to get the idea out there that our sainted "humanitarian interventionists," who have never met a problem they wouldn't like to bomb, and who frequently accuse us dirty hippies of just not having as much love to give the world as they do, should every now and then be asked about what non-military humanitarian interventions they might support. Because they just have so much love to give.
Or Maybe You Could Give Free Money To People In Spain?
As has been the case in the US, it's good that the central bank actually recognizes that they have a problem, but it's not clear that the tools that they're willing and able to use will help much.
(Reuters) - The European Central Bank cut interest rates to new record lows on Thursday, unexpectedly lowering borrowing costs to try to lift inflation from rock-bottom levels and support the stagnating euro zone economy.
The Scottish Play
I haven't paid much attention to the independence question, don't have any deep insight into it, and certainly wouldn't consider it my place to say how people should vote on the subject, but I have been quite fascinated with the rhetoric coming from both major UK parties about it. I mean, basically their rhetoric has been the same, with perhaps a bit more leaning on "fear fear fear" from the Tories and "let's all hold hands" from Labour, but overall it's been incredibly condescending, precisely the opposite you'd want. If I were in Scotland, I'd probably vote Yes just to give them the middle finger over it.
Wednesday, September 03, 2014
Happy Hour Thread
I just keep looking at this rendering with horror. These people are so stupid (or perhaps so smart).
Fall Fundraising Funstravaganza Day 2
Are we having fun yet? Thanks so much to all who have given. Those who don't are still allowed to be here, because that's the kind of blogger I am.
Maybe The Little Lady Senator Is Lying
I'm not saying she's lying, but she might be lying, because, well, I haven't seen Senator Dudes be big dudeholes to little lady senators, so they probably didn't. Senator dudeholes are all very sweet and this is the greatest deliberative body in the history of the universe, or at least it was until the little lady senators starting telling lies about Senator Dudes.
Hey, Somebody Noticed
With all the press the Divine Revel has received, Christie's name has been strangely absent much of the time...
The man with the reverse Midas touch.
ATLANTIC CITY – Revel Casino Hotel, labeled a “game changer” by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) when it opened in April 2012, closed early Tuesday morning as part of an economic implosion in this historic city’s gambling industry.
...
For Christie, however, Revel’s closure is a particular embarrassment. Two and a half years ago, the governor hailed the newest addition to the boardwalk as a “turning point” for the city. When initial investors bailed, his administration guaranteed $261 million in tax incentives. At its opening, Christie even made a plea for his state’s favorite son, Bruce Springsteen, to play a concert at Revel.
The man with the reverse Midas touch.
Craziness
I just don't know what to say to this one:
Incarcerated For Writing Science Fiction
I mean, this wasn't just one weird parent, or one weird school principal, this was like an avalanche of crazy on a tiny little molehill. That wasn't even a molehill.
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
Everybody Hates Corbett
Like BooMan, I've never quite figured out why Corbett is so unpopular. I get the reason he's unpopular - fracking/education funding are primary issues - just not why he's that unpopular. PA is a bit more blue than most of the states it usually gets lumped in with - it really isn't a swing state in presidential elections - and I get the sense that even self-identified Republicans aren't quite as tribal as they are in some other places - but it's still pretty bizarre.
The flip side is people here love to vote split tickets - makes them independent minded dontcha know - so I doubt it means much for Congressional races either way.
The flip side is people here love to vote split tickets - makes them independent minded dontcha know - so I doubt it means much for Congressional races either way.
Happy Hour Thread
Henceforth it shall be known as George Jefferson Station.
The world weeps for the lack of the Sherman Hemsley/Jon Anderson album we were once promised.
The world weeps for the lack of the Sherman Hemsley/Jon Anderson album we were once promised.
The Most Fun Anyone Could Have
A reminder that it's pledge week here at the baby blue blog. Also, too, open thread.
Bosses
The war on teachers is in part about grifters making money, and in part about pretending the people in charge - administrators, principals, city councils, state legislators, school boards - are utterly powerless over what happens on their watch.
Boss man can do no wrong.
Haven't read, butAlyssa's* Dana's book sounds interesting.
*I swear I fixed that error before I scheduled the post for publish.
Boss man can do no wrong.
Haven't read, but
*I swear I fixed that error before I scheduled the post for publish.
I Suppose Everybody Gets Rich No Matter What
Such a fun game.
And bipartisan enough for Fred Hiatt to (probably) love it!
In a filing submitted Friday and effective that day, former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) and former Senator John Breaux (D-Louisiana) are listed as the main lobbyists under the Gazprombank account for the firm Squire Patton Boggs, lobbying on “banking laws and regulations including applicable sanctions.”
And bipartisan enough for Fred Hiatt to (probably) love it!
So Many Options
Above my pay grade, but I'm reasonably sure we could cripple a Russia behaving badly financially through various means if we really wanted to. But that would mean some people here and in Yurp would make a few less bucks. Probably we should just start bombing, because that way everybody makes money.
2014 Fall Fundrasing Fallganza!
Semi-regular plea for reader contribution. This isn't charity (I would tell you if I needed money), this is your NPR money, your magazine subscription money. This is your "wow it's weird people give money to Andrew Sullivan" money. No need to give. I'm not poor, if your circumstances are tight... don't give. But if you have a few extra bucks and enjoy this sucky blog, you can aid my continued efforts to not add stupidly offensive ads.
If Only There Were Shovel Ready Projects
$8 billion is pennies, really, and yet...
Too many people around the world need to be liberated for us to focus on pesky little things like domestic infrastructure.
With each day, it seems, another accident illustrates the cost of deferred maintenance on public works, while offering a frustrating reminder to this cash-strained municipality of the daunting task it faces in dealing with the estimated $8.1 billion it would take to do the necessary repairs. The city’s total annual budget is about $26 billion.
Too many people around the world need to be liberated for us to focus on pesky little things like domestic infrastructure.
Not In My Lifetime
Yes I think getting older has caused me to be more pessimistic about the promise of new technologies, but I really just don't think self-driving car fantasy will come true without a tremendous (and stupid) investment in public infrastructure.
What Could Go Wrong
Everybody loves flying death robots, and our crack intelligence teams certainly always know who the bad guys are.
There's this weird country on the other side of the world that flies killing machines over your city on a regular basis. Does no one consider how one might grow up in that environment?
The Pentagon is preparing to open a drone base in one of the remotest places on Earth: an ancient caravan crossroads in the middle of the Sahara.
After months of negotiations, the government of Niger, a landlocked West African nation, has authorized the U.S. military to fly unarmed drones from the mud-walled desert city of Agadez, according to Nigerien and U.S. officials.
There's this weird country on the other side of the world that flies killing machines over your city on a regular basis. Does no one consider how one might grow up in that environment?
Monday, September 01, 2014
Rescue thread.
Sam Seder has a collection of stirring and inspirational rabble-rousing speeches up for Labor Day.
Maybe They Don't Know What They're Doing
I have no doubt that the 1% are mostly horrible selfish hoarder assholes who act in what they think is their own self-interest, but it is wrong to think that they are supergeniuses who actually have any idea what they're doing. Even if the Mr. Rich Guy who made all the money is super smart, there's no reason to think his heirs are.
Sadly the consequences of their actions might be poverty for all of us and a couple percentage points reduction in rates of return for them. Ultimately our poverty might be more entertaining for them than their slight reduction in wealth growth. Still.
Sadly the consequences of their actions might be poverty for all of us and a couple percentage points reduction in rates of return for them. Ultimately our poverty might be more entertaining for them than their slight reduction in wealth growth. Still.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Sunday Night
Really not the best date/time of night for your newly sentient door locking mechanism to decide that your key is not sufficient for gaining entry to your house. Also, too, 5 minutes after your phone battery died.
History
Labor Day
In 1882, Matthew Maguire, a machinist, first proposed the holiday while serving as secretary of the CLU (Central Labor Union) of New York.[2] Others argue that it was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882,[3] after witnessing the annual labour festival held in Toronto, Canada.[4] Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday on February 21, 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day.[3]
Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, the United States Congress unanimously voted to approve rush legislation that made Labor Day a national holiday; President Grover Cleveland signed it into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[5] The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would be associated with the nascent Communist, Syndicalist and Anarchist movements that, though distinct from one another, had rallied to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in International Workers' Day.[6] All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday.
Forever Bombs
It's way above my pay grade to know if any particular episode of bombing the hell out of people manages to achieve some good, but I do know that every episode of bombing the hell out of people ensures that our primary reaction to basically anything "bad" in the world is bombing the hell out of people.
A few hundred million dollars could build a lot of toilets and proper septic systems.
A few hundred million dollars could build a lot of toilets and proper septic systems.
House Of The Week
Don't know, but probably not too hard to guess how these McLean residents earned their money.
Morning Thread
Digby's Hullabaloo gives us a list of ten movies suitable for Labor Day Weekend. My fave remains On The Waterfront.
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