tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20711941433314459302012-02-16T11:47:28.086-08:00Midwestern Roots. West Coast Feel. East Coast Exchange.Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.comBlogger3951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-86455914417658647362010-05-17T20:08:00.001-07:002010-05-17T20:09:18.245-07:00

Yes, it's ridiculous, but it's also hilarious. More please.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-28114656826543006822010-05-02T13:42:00.000-07:002010-05-02T13:50:20.132-07:00

Global warming, air pollution, extraction damage, funding extremist groups... and now this. As if there were not enough reasons to stop using oil, here is yet another example of the devastation wrought by our addiction to liquid gold. In some ways, accidents like this are no worse than the day to day damage caused by humanity's massive use of oil, only this garners media attention and the effects

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-8315313201615659382010-04-25T12:57:00.000-07:002010-04-25T13:03:45.687-07:00

Another interesting perspective Mr. Dimmick highlighted was the United State's unfair insistence that China reduce its CO2 emissions. He showed a fantastic map demonstrating how China's emissions are merely outsourced from America in order to meet our rabidly consumptive habits. In other words, much China's emissions are our emissions. The map does not have a key, but the message is clear.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-4724381937576536592010-04-25T12:38:00.000-07:002010-04-25T12:57:37.317-07:00

Last Thursday, Dennis Dimick, National Geographic's Executive Editor for the environment, delievered a lecture at Oregon State University about the intersection of human energy needs and global climate change. It was the usual, powerful story, but coupled with drawdropping photos from National Geographic it was awesome. That story aside--we're scrwed if we don't stop the growth in CO2 emissions=-

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-61197207589250039212010-04-20T20:46:00.001-07:002010-04-20T20:55:38.083-07:00

I heard an interesting report today on NPR about some of the effects of the volcano that is spewing ash in Iceland. A highly publicized byproduct is that air traffic has dramatically been slowed due to safety concerns. As a result, fresh food isn't making it to Britain and they don't have enough local production to keep up with demand. Add this to the list of "Reasons Why Local Food Production Is

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-12205707154247371832010-04-12T10:26:00.000-07:002010-04-12T10:28:10.254-07:00

One of my favorite 30 second clips that I remember my elementary librarian showing us. It's still stuck in my head 15 years later!Here's another great oldie.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-11315810919385871182010-04-11T14:27:00.000-07:002010-04-11T14:56:36.208-07:00

This kind of thing is fascinating to me: An impending shortage of a material largely-unknown to the general population used for making magnets is causing a stir of research to find a replacement. Magnets, which play an important role in the operation of electronics, are made up a various metal combinations, neodymium being the most efficient known. Currently the United States relies on China for

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-90070786147927147592010-04-06T19:42:00.000-07:002010-04-06T19:45:31.309-07:00

Hat tip to Geezy over at Rock and Bacon. I can't get enough of this rad piece, Excuses, by The Morning Benders. Enjoy:Yours Truly Presents: The Morning Benders "Excuses" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-30445342795741876322010-04-02T22:54:00.002-07:002010-04-02T23:00:17.887-07:00

This probably doesn't come as a surprise, but reading this post was fascinating nonetheless and goes contrary to a common held belief that adding the 25 calorie Hershey Kiss will ultimately lead to tens of extra pounds added to your frame. Well, turns out that's not true. Instead, increasing your caloric intake simply bumps up the weight you stay at fairly naturally. So, instead of adding a

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-3857251499321347142010-04-02T22:54:00.001-07:002010-04-02T22:54:45.195-07:00

That's right Keough, not even one... but I'm excited about it nonetheless!!!! :)

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-18038173354013030572010-03-20T17:26:00.001-07:002010-03-20T17:31:29.161-07:00

It's certainly not the case that everyone who advocates for one political position or another therefore, by default, share views across the social and political spectrum. That said, when your allies are doing this, it's hard not to question your friends.Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) claimed Saturday that healthcare protesters at the Capitol directed racial epithets at him and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-29101997081633096842010-03-14T16:24:00.000-07:002010-03-14T16:25:45.216-07:00

Long have I been an opponent of the way Big Media reports the news. This brilliant two minute clip is a wonderful parody of the inane way in which the media reports.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-39866708647360427192010-02-25T15:11:00.000-08:002010-02-25T15:18:29.008-08:00

My parents visited this last weekend and I heard my mom say "shit" more times in one minute than in my entire life. She was reading an excerpt from the book Muchacho by Louanne Johnson about one kid's experience with school. He points out something that too often is true: We teach crap to tests rather than real things that actually matter. I liked the excerpt so much and it aligned with my view

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-4661686311305418592010-02-20T12:33:00.000-08:002010-02-20T12:34:39.467-08:00

I love me some winter Olympics. Unfortunately, my televisionless lifestyle is leaving me out in the cold and I can't find a good spot online to watch videos. Any ideas?!?!?

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-35141115855174460002010-02-18T13:50:00.000-08:002010-02-18T14:15:06.944-08:00

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back! Blogging will return to my regular schedule which means reading (yes, I'm talking to you Niki) will (can?) return to your regular schedule. Hooray! So, what has happened since I last wrote that Republicans were being demographically relegated to the second tier? In descending order of importance...1. Michael Jackson died2. Torby died3. Teddy Kennedy died4. *

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-6875569517165402462009-05-19T22:43:00.001-07:002009-05-19T22:46:28.283-07:00

Just one more reason people can't take Republicans seriously:The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10cMoment of Zen - Moo Goo Dog Panthedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesEconomic CrisisPolitical HumorThis guy's supposed to be a Congressman?!?!?The proof is in the party affiliation. With the exception of frequent churchgoers, self-identified conservatives, and voters over the age of 65,

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-17826717272741992072009-05-16T11:27:00.000-07:002009-05-16T11:29:32.272-07:00

Recently, while on a flight, the captain said the following:We have a three hour time change during our flight today, so you might want to turn your locks back about three hours.About!?!?!

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-26814294779356441822009-05-14T22:03:00.001-07:002009-05-14T22:06:00.947-07:00

I read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan about a year ago and loved it. I briefly mentioned it on the blog almost a year ago and it brings back fond memories of gardening. Interestingly he was on The Colbert Report last night promoting his book. It seems a little late after the publish date to be doing this, but it was fun nonetheless. Enjoy the clip!The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-89493661174756266212009-05-12T10:37:00.000-07:002009-05-12T10:37:00.656-07:00

Some ideas for El Presidente (but really for you and me) for greening our homes. Some of these ideas are awesome. I especially like the Jellyfish Wind Appliance (though it may be a nightmare for utility companies, I'd be interested to hear what they think) and the internet electrical usage monitor. On that second idea, I've always thought a simple wall-mounted device that gives real-time

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-63612197754527120942009-05-11T10:17:00.000-07:002009-05-11T10:17:00.923-07:00

Here is a short article about plug-in hybrids. The first paragraph is what caught my eye, mainly the idea that Americans are leery to purchase vehicles that have limited range (i.e. all-electric cars). What I don't understand is why that is the case? Why won't Americans purchase vehicles that fit their needs 90% of the time? Most people use their cars to drive less that 35 miles, round trip. For

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-89866192012862391322009-05-10T10:09:00.000-07:002009-05-10T10:09:01.343-07:00

Want to avoid the terrifying SWINE FLU?!?!?! Try some of these alternative greeting methods.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-45475632927995374452009-05-10T09:08:00.001-07:002009-05-10T09:24:41.292-07:00

The White House Correspondents Dinner is an annual event where Washington, DC reporters come together for a night of fun, joined and spoken to by the President. The event is different because the speeches are fairly humorous and poke fun at politically charged issues. A couple years ago Stephen Colbert brought down the house with a cutting performance that the establishment press disliked for

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-14707983671255798832009-05-09T22:01:00.000-07:002009-05-09T22:03:50.027-07:00

I always knew that cars were recycled, but not at these percentages and with such overall efficiency. It's great news, to be sure, and gives me hope that as our vehicle fleet moves toward improved mileage and alternative propulsion, that the old junkers won't continue to ruin ecosystems, rather, they can play a role in the next generation of vehicles.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-30355359932561202162009-05-08T23:46:00.000-07:002009-05-08T23:47:22.865-07:00

... from college makes funny videos. Enjoy!

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-72579845395177593272009-04-30T09:48:00.001-07:002009-04-30T09:52:02.816-07:00

A couple weeks ago we had a discussion in my government class about torture. The majority of the class said they support torture, but only in circumstances where lives will be saved. Okay, I thought, that's justifiable in a certain euphemeral way. However, I am against torture for other reasons; reasons I haven't seen spelled out to my liking... until now. If you're interested in why I, and many

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-7796650785401209112009-04-28T17:04:00.001-07:002009-04-28T17:09:03.147-07:00

The big news around the United States' political circles in the party switching from Republican to Democrat of long-time Senator Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania. Assuming Al Franken eventually gets seated as the 100th senator, that will give Democrats a 60 to 40 majority, making it that much easier to overcome Republican filibusters of everyday legislation.I thought it was interesting that my

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-55826158270534894232009-04-27T19:32:00.001-07:002009-04-27T19:33:23.324-07:00

What better way to get back into the swing of blogging than a great Youtube clip?I've been away from any internet for almost a week, so now that I'm back, blogging should return to its regular schedule. Enjoy.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-44739496537508481472009-04-14T20:01:00.000-07:002009-04-14T20:08:25.244-07:00

*Josh pointed out in yesterday's NPD comments section that Al Franken has won yet another court battle in the ongoing Senate recount in Minnesota. By nearly all accounts, Franken will eventually be the winner of the race, but the Republican Party continues to appeal in order to keep the Democrats at one fewer vote in the Senate. If that's true, it's a class bunch. Next up for the court battle:

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-37324119389033189362009-04-13T19:48:00.000-07:002009-04-13T20:04:23.357-07:00

*Obama is gearing up for a showdown with student loan lenders. He's proposing significant changes that, if done right, would reduce the cost of taking out loans and would expand the Pell Grant program. Of course, there are billions of dollars at stake, so the banks are lining up in opposition. Here's hoping Obama is successful. It's high time for student loan reform.*I've always wanted to travel

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-62227032871915129952009-04-13T19:40:00.001-07:002009-04-13T19:40:49.729-07:00

... for this stuff.Brought tears to my eyes, I'll readily admit.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-7393748137303420422009-04-11T11:50:00.000-07:002009-04-11T11:52:54.059-07:00

Go here to see me on tv. I'm famous at 42 seconds in.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-56300270107282456932009-04-07T07:45:00.000-07:002009-04-07T07:45:00.873-07:00

An ongoing debate between my father and I centers on this question: Who is the most well-known/recognized person in the world? George Bush? David Beckham? Barack Obama? All good bets, but we have come to the conclusion it's probably someone else: Tiger Woods.He has been on the world stage for longer than Bush. Truly dominates a sport unlike Beckham. Also, he has the fascinating racial background

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-65144998322988455802009-04-06T19:53:00.000-07:002009-04-06T20:17:12.093-07:00

*A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Italy in an area east of Rome. As of now there are about 150 documented deaths and, apparently, significant damage to historic sites. I'm sure we'll hear more from the region soon.*Robert Gates, Obama's holdover from the Bush Administration as his Secretary of Defense, made good on his pledge to reform defense and military procurement procedures. He released his

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-89111310406802382522009-04-04T16:27:00.000-07:002009-04-04T16:29:07.094-07:00

Pay a computer to pray for you and the "Oklahoma Ten Commandments." Oh my.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-21881279349208749312009-04-04T16:12:00.000-07:002009-04-06T19:44:42.041-07:00

As promised, a post about the new White House garden. First, a bit of nitpicking: What are they doing?!?!They are raking the grass. Couldn't the White House come up with a system for removing the grass, you know, like normal gardeners?Now to the meat: Hooray! This is the kind of thing that our country needs. So often people ask, "What can I do?" Bush once said, "Shop." Obama is saying, "Volunteer

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-51341955533037643042009-04-02T20:51:00.000-07:002009-04-02T21:13:44.469-07:00

*The G20 Summit wrapped up today with the crew agreeing to a variety of regulatory changes. All indicators point to Obama being a good ambassador for the United States... a welcome change from the previous administrator in his position.*Blagojevich, or favorite former governor, was indicted on charges of corruption. He's charged, among other things, with having tried to use the power of the

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-62551573631517760092009-04-02T14:10:00.000-07:002009-04-02T14:12:38.490-07:00

I know most of you probably aren't that interested in this tidbit, but I find it to be the embodiment of the ridiculousnous of the modern GOP. They proof-texted (cherry picked) an excerpt out of Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat that seemed to support their position, however, if you read the very next paragraph, it becomes obvious that Friedman supports the opposite position. A classy bunch.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-49825429370659659382009-04-02T08:39:00.000-07:002009-04-02T08:39:00.696-07:00

Glenn Beck of Fox News is a raving lunatic with a fairly small, but rabid base. Thank you Stephen Colbert for exposing him for the fool he is. Enjoy:The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cThe 10/31 Projectcomedycentral.comColbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorNASA Name Contest

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-79988038039643212722009-04-01T20:28:00.000-07:002009-04-01T20:38:47.047-07:00

*Ol' BO is in London for the G20. He's really getting around... a bit slutty perhaps?*The University of California at San Diego sent a "Welcome to UCSD!" email to 29,000 students. Trouble is, those students were on the rejected list. Whoops.*Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens will go free after Attorney General Eric Holder says government prosecutors engaged in misconduct. Most observers seem to

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-25086988535406034692009-04-01T20:27:00.000-07:002009-04-01T20:28:10.400-07:00

Last night my fingers fell off. Just fell the hell off. So, no blogging today....April fools!!!!Hahahahhaha... oh boy.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-56610421734077320582009-04-01T09:07:00.000-07:002009-04-01T09:07:00.723-07:00

A dear friend asked me a couple weeks ago to write about the basic tools for a functional kitchen. He is interested in cooking more of his food and wanted some insight into what is needed for "cheffing". A couple months ago I was faced with the same question in my life, except it was with bike tools rather than kitchen tools. Now, the "Must Haves" list (to which I will probably add):1. Paring

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-53796731284305967512009-03-31T20:48:00.000-07:002009-03-31T20:51:19.403-07:00

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.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-24151540860211391772009-03-31T10:25:00.001-07:002009-03-31T10:32:20.182-07:00

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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-74708130707991653992009-03-31T10:14:00.000-07:002009-03-31T10:23:07.116-07:00

*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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-52195265958894477352009-03-31T10:10:00.000-07:002009-03-31T10:14:37.969-07:00

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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-7243019930386337662009-03-27T08:29:00.000-07:002009-03-27T08:37:53.594-07:00

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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-85194749339241299242009-03-21T15:49:00.000-07:002009-03-21T15:59:12.561-07:00

*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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-63310269760034737442009-03-21T12:27:00.001-07:002009-03-21T12:28:57.589-07:00

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?

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-52332993734913327902009-03-19T20:26:00.000-07:002009-03-19T22:15:34.778-07:00

*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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-89818283941032183342009-03-19T12:26:00.000-07:002009-03-19T12:26:05.758-07:00

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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-63868344127223516472009-03-19T09:44:00.000-07:002009-03-19T22:04:31.022-07:00

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.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-85788484038200504632009-03-18T20:27:00.000-07:002009-03-18T20:41:20.248-07:00

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.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-8862758560908250702009-03-18T09:12:00.000-07:002009-03-18T09:13:08.013-07:00

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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-34307844025085882422009-03-18T09:09:00.000-07:002009-03-18T09:43:55.480-07:00

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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-64393674922957270422009-03-18T09:07:00.000-07:002009-03-18T09:09:08.527-07:00

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!

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-38493782942697595112009-03-10T23:20:00.000-07:002009-03-10T23:21:40.344-07:00

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.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-18382596324126243862009-03-05T11:05:00.000-08:002009-03-05T11:07:33.824-08:00

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.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-67332835109103068012009-03-03T21:24:00.000-08:002009-03-03T21:39:50.989-08:00

*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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-11276086174438821002009-03-03T21:09:00.000-08:002009-03-03T21:24:30.649-08:00

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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-66055014675696371902009-03-01T08:26:00.000-08:002009-03-01T08:41:08.341-08:00

*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

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-76233653591572921602009-02-26T16:02:00.001-08:002009-02-26T16:14:48.357-08:00

*Dood saves some lives, risks his own, then gets a ticket. Rough day.*After a long delay, Hilda Solis was sworn in as Secretary of Labor, taking one step further to fill out Obama's cabinet. By all accounts I have read, she will be a strong advocate for labor which is a very good thing.*Speaking of Obama's cabinet, former governor of Washington, Gary Locke, was nominated today to be Obama's

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-34442131257385835812009-02-24T22:51:00.000-08:002009-02-24T23:21:17.684-08:00

*Tonight, President Obama gave a semi-State of the Union address to both houses of Congress. I was on the road for the speech, but read a bit about it and apparently it was came across well... or even better than well. Health care reform and "let's not give up" seemed to be big themes. Here's the text. Those who saw it, thoughts?*Hillary is killin' it around the globe. She's a star. That said,

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-68826398743298468512009-02-24T14:13:00.000-08:002009-02-24T14:46:30.837-08:00

I found this blog post over at Mother Jones fascinating. It discusses legalization of marijuana and some of the nitty gritty details therein. Long story short, it asks the question: Do we want to completely legalize marijuana and have multinational corporations targeting children with advertising campaigns with the sole purpose of getting them to start smoking the ganja? Probably not. One option,

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-26978779769414746542009-02-23T23:37:00.000-08:002009-02-23T23:38:50.294-08:00

Oye, I am le tired, so no NPD today... and you know what that means, right? No NPD means nothing happened in the world.You heard it here first.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-57412718400086195672009-02-23T20:15:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:18:36.894-08:00

Check this out:This guy is a freak of nature. The thing about the shots isn't that he made them, but the ease with which he shoots the ball that far. With little more than a touch of effort he sends the ball flying in a massive arch that lasts a couple seconds. Anyone can make that shot with enough attempts, but to make it look that easy takes freakish strength.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-55786660760415316232009-02-22T18:06:00.000-08:002009-02-22T18:14:52.978-08:00

This blog post about sleep and depression started like this:All of us have things we believe in even though we don't really have any evidence for them.Isn't that the truth? For example, I'm pretty sure large amounts of coffee probably aren't good for us and in fifty years we'll be saying, "Why didn't we see that that wasn't good for us?!?!" though I've never read any scientific study that

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-53053709705480806162009-02-21T08:56:00.000-08:002009-02-21T09:02:39.928-08:00

*The Obama Administration is doing away with "smoke and ladders" techniques that are used to make the budget deficit appear smaller than it really is. That is good news, of course, because we should all know the damage being done to our bank account from all of our overcommitting. There is an upside, of course, for them. If things turn out well, a bigger deficit now will make it easier for them

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-59192031186268973132009-02-20T21:37:00.000-08:002009-02-20T22:02:26.866-08:00

*Ray LaHood, the Secretary of Transportation, floated the idea of taxing miles driven rather than gas. The result is that people drive less, but it does not encourage the use of efficient vehicles. A similar idea was floated in Oregon that received very negative reviews from many, myself included. Today, Obama nipped that idea in the bud. Thank you, sir.*The United States military base in

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-56421706616310856592009-02-19T18:15:00.000-08:002009-02-25T19:33:28.293-08:00

*At 7,465, the Dow Jones hit its lowest point in six years today... and, no, that doesn't mean it can only go up from here.*Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas is apparently President Obama's pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Former Senator Tom Daschle, the man tapped for leading health care reform, recently withdrew his nomination after it came to light that he had not paid more

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-28342130613448889462009-02-18T12:10:00.000-08:002009-02-18T12:23:38.163-08:00

Yeeks! Per a comment on the last post asking, er demanding, the return of the Non-Paper Daily, it is back.*The stimulus package is official. At just under $800 billion it's big, but in the view of many economists, not big enough for the desired effect. We should start seeing the money flow relatively soon, in fact, the school where I teach was thinking of closing early due to budget restraints,

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-9510050354418266642009-02-17T09:27:00.000-08:002009-02-17T09:27:01.875-08:00

Sure, our economy is bad right now, but so is everyone else's. Is there something that could really makes things bad? Yes. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the price of US Treasury Bonds has started to fall. What are the implications of this? Currently, United States citizens import about $800 billion worth of goods more than we export. In order to pay for this, countries around the

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-57706147796517491982009-02-16T10:13:00.000-08:002009-02-16T10:13:01.028-08:00

A comment: Kanye's new album is growing on me. Every time I listen to it I enjoy it even more. Just an fyi.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-87743872632549301382009-02-15T11:03:00.001-08:002009-02-15T11:07:27.080-08:00

I think that's how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough, let's go west.'-Richard Jeni

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-20024765214118341522009-02-15T10:08:00.000-08:002009-02-16T09:24:01.035-08:00

I'm enjoying a lazy Sunday morning listening to Oregon Public Broadcasting. I was expecting Cartalk, followed by Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me and What Do You Know? Unfortunately the radio schedule is a bit different this morning, so I am listening to This American Life and Cartalk.On This American Life they are talking about "Is there just one person out there with whom you are supposed spend the

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-89301073555768576272009-02-09T20:37:00.000-08:002009-02-09T20:39:19.295-08:00

Another fundamental difference between the previous and current. Quick summary: everything Bush did in public was scripted and controlled. Obama has open public meetings that include dissent. It feels good.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-73979530943139248442009-02-06T19:14:00.000-08:002009-02-06T19:26:03.562-08:00

Anyone who pays any attention to current events knows that Congress is debating an economic stimulus package in the range of $700-$950 billion. Last week the House passed one version on a party line vote, but it is currently being held up in the Senate by Republicans who are threatening a filibuster. They want more tax cuts to go with the stimulus spending. So that's the background.Now, however,

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-52465226656370317312009-02-05T18:22:00.000-08:002009-02-05T18:31:27.364-08:00

This is hard to imagine. Here's an artist's impression:It says the snake was around 2,500 pounds and over 42 feet. Wow.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-79401036671186197242009-02-04T18:39:00.000-08:002009-02-04T19:29:23.935-08:00

*S-CHIP, a program that bring health care to impoverished kids, passed through Congress and was signed into law by Obama today. As our economic times get worse, this is a great move for helping our most vulnerable children stay afloat.*Obama has outline plans to limit executive pay to $500,000 annually for those leaders of firms who are receiving federal financial assistance. Unfortunately there

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-17325429107727403452009-02-04T09:11:00.001-08:002009-02-04T09:17:58.998-08:00

I intend to put up some photos of my surroundings, but until then you'll have to visualize the amazing vistas. This morning was the first time I road my bike to school. On the horizon is Mt. Bachelor, one of Oregon's premier skiing/snowboarding mountains. I left around 6:30am, so the sun had yet to rise, and I could see the glow of the Cat's lights as the machine worked its way uphill, rumbling

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-63658250345632873302009-02-03T21:42:00.000-08:002009-02-03T21:53:09.158-08:00

*Tom Daschle, President Obama's nomination for the Health and Human Services cabinet position and leader of the "let's fix our health care system" group, withdrew himself from the nomination due to failing to pay taxes on services he had received from a political donor. The thing I don't understand: If you are that far up in the government, you must know that people (media, other political party,

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-73054700669561862052009-02-03T09:29:00.000-08:002009-02-03T09:29:00.617-08:00

I finished "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" a few days ago and was sad to see it go. The book opened my eyes to a variety of things that will change my life, which is an exciting prospect.One last thought from the book that I found interesting and wanted to pass along was about lactose intolerance. Random, right? Here's the main point: Humans are supposed to be lactose intolerant. For thousands of

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-72584672511655779162009-02-02T21:12:00.000-08:002009-02-02T21:19:23.869-08:00

*Eric Holder was confirmed as the next Attorney General. There were a lot of messes left by the Bush Administration, but certainly one of the messiest--think dog poop on the shoe then walking around the house before realizing it--is the Justice Department. Hopefully he will be able to quickly reinstate the office's independence, improve morale, and put an end to ideology-based hiring. It's a

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-58102497504787373242009-02-02T09:12:00.000-08:002009-02-02T09:12:02.888-08:00

According to this blog post there is a drug that was recently approved for trials that spurs the production of melatonin. In other words, it gives you a tan without exposure to the sun (the natural way to produce melatonin). Melatonin is a product of our bodies that protects our skin from the sun's rays. The producers say this drug will be used on people whose bodies produce so little melatonin

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-41981669484248365212009-02-01T09:09:00.000-08:002009-02-01T19:47:00.524-08:00

I'm not sure if I have ever cared less about the outcome of a Superbowl. That said, let's hope for an entertaining game and some funny commercials. And, for good measure:Arizona 27, Pittsburgh 24UPDATE: Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23. I nearly called the score, but switched... sooooo, it doesn't mean anything.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-56778663965526346602009-02-01T09:00:00.001-08:002009-02-01T09:09:39.578-08:00

Nearly everyone with any outdoorsman in their blood seems to crave a trip to New Zealand. Making the mix even sweeter, The Lord of the Rings makes New Zealand look like heaven, it's a big lure to my fishness (wow). An older friend of mine is currently traveling down there with his family and he described New Zealand like this:For those of you in the US who yearn for a life style that has vanished

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-84496555170215126472009-02-01T08:55:00.000-08:002009-02-01T09:00:17.593-08:00

I have arrived! It was a looooong drive from La Grande to Bend where I consumed a lot of sunflower seeds and even a bit of coffee (not really coffee, it was more chocolate, vanilla, milk, and sugar plus a little coffee on the side). Yesterday, my first full day, was fantastic. I met my cooperating teacher and we get along very well, then moved most of my stuff in, went on a bike ride (first in

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-7375034919536254062009-01-30T16:24:00.000-08:002009-01-30T16:26:30.544-08:00

Since my trip home from the Inauguration I've been here, there, and everywhere in between, hence the inconsistent blogging. Now I'm packing up in order to hit the road for Bend, Oregon, my new home of five months. No time to blog now, just yet another plea to stick with me until my life settles into a new rhythm.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-34786417452740224452009-01-30T16:21:00.001-08:002009-01-30T16:24:35.448-08:00

I just installed 2GB of RAM into my computer all by myself. It took a lot of time and some trial and error, but now I feel uber techy.Furthering that techy feel was my interaction and editing of HTML during my last post. I needed to shrink the map of the United States, but rather than delete it and upload it again with a smaller size, I simply went into the HTML and made the alteration. Two years

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-87862718050510731632009-01-29T20:23:00.001-08:002009-01-29T20:29:11.668-08:00

As far as these things go, you can probably just add this to the list of trendy polls. I'm sure there are millions of people out there ready to switch back to Republicanism as soon as the bad taste from W gets washed from their mouths and the honeymoon with Obama wears off, but Gallup just released a poll that says only five states have Republican majorities: Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, and

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-81760442055602581802009-01-28T22:56:00.000-08:002009-01-28T23:01:59.746-08:00

*The American Society of Civil Engineers reported: "More than a quarter of the nation's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Leaky pipes lose an estimated seven billion gallons of clean drinking water every day. And aging sewage systems send billions of gallons of untreated wastewater cascading into the nation's waterways each year."Hat tip to Steve at Washington Monthly.*

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-74504467576117021792009-01-27T17:50:00.001-08:002009-01-27T17:55:55.656-08:00

Here's an interesting blog post about Wikipedia and information on the web. Basically the study says that Google searches for fairly pedestrian topics (i.e. giraffes, Ford, Brad Pitt, etc) often perch the Wikipedia entry on the topic as the top match and always include Wikipedia in the top ten. The author continues by observing that for a medium such as the internet that values heterogeneity and

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-32191605392693242412009-01-27T17:49:00.001-08:002009-01-27T17:50:26.113-08:00

I've returned from the voyage, but am not sure how much blogging will ensue. Masters classes begin tomorrow and my move to Bend is this Friday. I'll do my best to get these fingers crackin'. Enjoy!

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-10951102743687681612009-01-22T12:11:00.000-08:002009-01-22T12:20:11.589-08:00

It's been a whirlwind few days. After taking the red eye to Washington, DC I spent a day wandering the town then a night at the bar and jumping into bushes (a favorite DC past time). Tuesday started at 5:15am, contained lots of emotions and tons of expended energy trying to stay warm, and ended with another night at the bar (unfortunately no bushes this time). Wednesday started early, included a

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-49582065175956214812009-01-18T13:41:00.000-08:002009-01-18T13:43:39.265-08:00

I'm currently in Portland preparing for a flight to Washington, DC to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama. This kid is excited.A warning: Blogging may be sporadic at best... however, perhaps lots of cool stuff will be happening and my fingers will be flying. Vamos a ver.January 20th will mark the best birthday present I have ever received. After eight years it's finally over.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-75420109881263514122009-01-16T17:05:00.000-08:002009-01-16T17:15:45.585-08:00

*There is one important piece of news today: I finished my first student teaching placement. Half way to my masters and certification. Hollller.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-6509156131493193742009-01-15T23:41:00.000-08:002009-01-15T23:58:01.768-08:00

*After hitting a flock of birds shortly after takeoff today, a plane crashed in the Hudson River. All passengers and crew made it off safely, in a true testament to training, preparation... and the value of those plastic instructions in the seatback pocket.*Roland Burris, err The Magic Man, was officially sworn in today as the junior senator from Illinois.*Hearings on Capitol Hill in regard to

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-34490551584430640882009-01-14T12:54:00.000-08:002009-01-14T13:29:03.179-08:00

*W, at 34%, is leaving the presidency with the second lowest job approval rating of all time... ahead of Nixon... who resigned because he was going to be impeached. It's hard to even include Nixon due to that major caveat, but even if you do, second from the bottom of the barrel isn't so hot. Interestingly, since the election, Bush's approval rating has climbed 9%. My guess is that people feel

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-66486186494363835592009-01-14T12:40:00.001-08:002009-01-14T12:49:07.864-08:00

Not sure if you all knew this, but I usually add comments in reaction to your comments, so if you didn't know, now you know, so go check out your old/my new comments.That was a terrible sentence.I'm ashamed.Back to blogging.

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-41069896537213061472009-01-14T10:05:00.000-08:002009-01-14T10:05:00.530-08:00

"Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" (yes, I know Mrs. House (5th grade teacher), books are underlined, but I don't know how to do that on here) by Barbara Kingsolver is my current read. The penny version: A family tries to live solely on local food for one year and along the way they write about our current corporate food system, it's costs and benefits, and how/why local food is the preferable

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2071194143331445930.post-7409722582060348752009-01-13T09:59:00.000-08:002009-01-13T09:59:01.083-08:00

Yesterday, George W(!)Bush held his final press conference. Hallelujah! I didn't watch the tape, but apparently he appeared to show some understanding as to the extent he fucked up. No, really, he fucked up. It's easy for people's anger to subside once someone is gone, but it's been a long time (and perhaps unprecedented to this extent) since a president has taken the United States this far

Oregoncornhuskernoreply@blogger.com4