Ze Gardening Begins!

The window garden has commenced. This photo is actually from a couple weeks ago, so I'll have an update photo, in all its glory, very soon. We'll be heading into the great outdoors (the back yard) in the next few days!

*I'm really starting to realize the severe limitations of my little camera. The light here was impossible for the little guy.

Great Graph... that is scary

Kevin over at Mother Jones put this graph up today that gives some perspective and instills a bit of fear. As you can see, the stock market (put as much stock--pardon the pun--as you like in it as an economic indicator) has crashed more than at any other time in history with the exception of the Great Depression... and we're not done yet. As far as the stock market is concerned, we are past all other road signs, all that is left on the map is "Great Depression." I do believe we will recover before getting to that point, but it's ugly folks.

NPD 3.31.09

*Obama signed an omnibus lands bill which set aside 2 million additional acres of land for wilderness protection.

*Republicans in Minnesota are now talking about dragging out the Coleman-Franken dispute for "years" by doing multiple appeals. If they are legitimate appeals, and all signs point to them not being such, then fine. But, if they are appealing in what is essentially a delay tactic, then the courts need to put a stop to accepting their petitions.

*Today is special election day in New York's 20th district! Jim Tedisco and Scott Murphy are vying to replace Kirsten Gillibrand, a former congresswoman who was elevated to replace Hilary Clinton as New York's junior senator. There is some talk that if the Republican, Tedisco, loses, that the Republican National Chairman Michael Steele will be ousted from his job (that he started only a couple months ago).

*Democratic Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania is being probed left and right on charges of corruption. He said, "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my district." Whoops.

The Colbert Module

Recently NASA opened an online poll to name a room in the International Space Station. They gave four recommendations and a five option: Other. Stephen Colbert, the now-famous fake news anchor, rallied his troops to vote for a write-in candidate: Colbert. After the polls closed last week, "Colbert" easily won with a quarter million votes. Apparently NASA reserved the right to name the module whatever they wanted, assuming they didn't like the poll's results. Should it be known as "The Colbert Room"?

Fascinating Map

I couldn't insert the map on the blog, but go here to see a map that breaks down the 2008 presidential election color coded by who won each congressional district. Blue=Obama, Red=McCain. As we all know, Barack dominated the contest in total votes, percentage of votes, and electoral votes. However, if the election were based on something completely arbitrary, say the cumulative square miles of congressional districts won, McCain would have taken the 2008 election to the house.

The big takeaway is this: Democrats dominate in small, densely populated areas and Republicans wipe the floor in wide open, rural regions. A question came up in my civics class the other day about why this is the case. I thought I knew the answer, but after putting some thought into it, I'm not sure what the real reasons are for this phenomenon. Thoughts?

NPD 3.21.09

*President Obama sent a message to the Iranian people, welcoming in Nowruz which, to my understanding, is a "Helllllllllo spring!" ceremony.

*Multiple Republican governors are saying they will not accept federal dollars to improve their economies. Add Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons to the list that includes Sarah Palin, Mark Sanford, and Bobby Jindal. What makes Gibbons different is that he is not a 2012 presidential hopeful. Perhaps, then, he's at least not politically motivated like the other three.

*The House of Representatives passed a bill that will tax AIG bonus-getters at 90%. There seem to be lots of holes in the proposal, one of which is that many of the bonuses went to non-Americans. Whoops. The things that gets me about his whole mess is that they were "retention bonuses." Who wants to retain these folks who ran the company into the ground!?

*A longer post about this will come, but how about the White House Garden!?!? Hooray!

In Need of a System

In the past couple days I have had a few great ideas for posts, but before I get to a computer they slip out of my mind. Any ideas for a good system that would allow me to record my thoughts? Of course, there is always the option of carrying a pen and paper everywhere I go, but that's not really feasible. There aren't many other options, though, are there?

NPD 3.19.09

*The Treasury Department is giving $5 billion to auto parts dealers who are struggling due to the problems of the Big Three automakers. This is a piece of the argument in favor of auto bailout coming to fruition.

*This is whacky: A school in Dallas was settling disputes in "the cage" by pitting feuding students against each other in a bare-knuckle fight inside of an equipment cage. As Jon Stewart said, "This can't be right."

*As the dollar weakens the price of oil goes up, today rising 7%. Is this a harbinger of what is to come this summer?

*The NCAA basketball tournament started today and my bracket didn't fare so well. With only one big upset--Western Kentucky over Illinois--those of us that predicted a wild ride were on the outside looking in.

Essays

I read an interesting post over at Mother Jones about essay mills. Apparently many college students are turning to companies that churn out generic essays as a way of making it through school. Professors continue to assign predictable prompts which allows these essay mill companies to thrive.

This is all well and good, but what struck me was the insinuation that students do this all the time. Have you ever used an essay mill to buy a paper? Do you have friends who have done this? Inquiring minds want to know!

March 19th, 2003

Today marks the six year anniversary of our invasion of Iraq.* Five years is a longer commitment than our participation in World War I or II. Thankfully the end, late 2010 to early 2011, is in sight.

*Some accounts credit the beginning of the war to the early hours of March 20th.

Choked Up With Anger Here

Barack (first name basis) gave a speech yesterday about the AIG bonuses in the midst of which he coughs and says, "Excuse me, I'm choked up with anger here." I'm pretty sure he's joking, what do you think? Either way, I lolled.



You can skip to 2:40 and still get the effect. The first part is Obama explaining why it's ridiculous that they are receiving bonuses while overseeing a failed company.

AIG

AIG, one of the biggest financial institutions in the world, received $85 billion last fall in order to stave off failure. They are now receiving another $35 billion for the same purpose. At the same time, however, they are paying out $165 million in bonuses. Bonuses! There is general outrage about this not because of the total amount (it's merely pocket change compared to other stimulus and bailout dollars) but because employees who ran a company into the ground are receiving extra financial compensation for failing. If the local bakery employees suck, the bakery folds and they lose their job. If the massive multinational corporation employees suck, they get a bonus!

Non-Paper Daily, 3.18.09

Not much of a daily today, but a few things that have been happening:

*A group of Democratic Senators is forming to "restrain the influence of party liberals in the White House and Capitol Hill." Democrats are notorious for sabotaging their power for the sake of looking good, so looks like here we go. This is ridiculous. For once we have a chance to pass meaningful healthcare, energy, and climate legislation and these idiots want to solidify their power. Anger.

*George W. is keeping any criticism he has of Obama quiet. Good for him. There is a long tradition of former presidents refraining from criticizing their successor and it looks like Bush will honor that. I didn't agree with him often, but on this I do.

*For St. Patrick's Day, Michelle Obama had the White House fountain water dyed green. That sounds fun.

*A space shuttle with teachers on it recently docked at the International Space Station. There is hope for me as a teacher to get into space! They are installing a photovoltaic system and then taking off so that two Russian cosmonauts can move in. The International Space Station is getting pretty big... I wonder when Hal will show up.

*The federal government (this means you!) owns 80% of AIG. That's a lot. This also means you are the primary sponsor of Manchester United, leaders of the English Premier League! There's a silver lining to everything.

Back!

After nearly two weeks of negligence, I'm back to blogging regularly (I think!). Life is busy with a visitor, graduate classes, and ten hours of work each day. That said, I think the rhythm is coming and I'll be back to blogging per usual. Enjoy!

Total Negligence

I will post again, one day, however today is not that day. Busy boy over here.

I wonder what the Magic Man is doing?

Holllller.

Other Blog

For class I have started another blog entitled Teaching the Social Studies. It is about education and my experiences in the classroom. The volume is low, but come check it out if you are interested.

Non-Paper Daily, 3.3.09

*Bill Gates doesn't allow iphones and ipods in his house. Principles baby.

*Today the primary was held in Illinois' 5th Congressional District to determine who will run for Rahm Emmanuel's old position. Now that Rahm is running the show as Obama's Chief of Staff, there is an opening for an up-and-coming Democrat in this highly Democratic district.

*The Obama Administration is doing many things right in the international arena, including their announced withdraw from Iraq to be completed in 18 months. In addition, they are doing away with the Bush Administration policy of refusal to engage with nations with whom our relations have soured. Recently they have begun talks with Iran, Syria, and Russia. Good for them.

*While playing basketball is fun, waking up at 5:30 to do it is rough. Just thought I'd share.

Michael Steele vs Rush Limbaugh

The Republican Party is going through a rough time right now. Democrats have cleaned up in the last two elections, George Bush 'n Company ruined the party by enacting a lot of their economic principles (tax cuts, tax cuts, and more tax cuts in addition to relaxed regulation) and starting two wars, demographic trends all point toward the Democratic Party, and the Republicans are facing a party with a clear, decisive, and influential leader in Barack Obama. In such tough times it's only natural that some intraparty squabbling would occur.

The most recent spat, however, is between two prominent figures. Michael Steele, the recently-elected head of the Republican National Committee, called out Rush Limbaugh as "incendiary," "ugly," an "entertainer" and not the de facto leader of the Republican Party. In the course of 24 hours, he issued an apology after Limbaugh ripped him a new one on his show. It amazes me how high level elected officials in the Republican Party kiss Limbaugh's ass. He's a drug-addicted radio talk show host who lies and distorts facts on a daily basis. That's it! Yet time and time again an Republican elected official criticizes Limbaugh and within hours reverses course and apologizes. Weak tea folks.

Non-Paper Daily, 3.1.09

*It's March already. Wtf.

*Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of Kansas and general rising star in Democratic circles, has been officially tapped to lead Health and Human Services. The main job of that position is moving health care reform through the system, so it's extremely important. Keep an eye out.

*It's looking more and more like Al Franken, the Senator-elect from Minnesota, will be seated in the next couple months. It's one of those situations where the courts are being used to hold up a process that seems to be decided. Of course, maybe there is real evidence supporting Coleman, but if there were, my guess is that it would be out by now.