tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34190032024-03-08T00:25:24.156-05:00REGURGA-BLOGTotally devoid of original thought.Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-778361752002-06-17T02:32:00.000-04:002002-06-17T02:32:57.860-04:00<b>I've moved!</b>
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<br />I have a new name, a new look, and a new URL. Go to <A HREF="http://www.horologium.net">http://www.horologium.net</A>, and don't forget to update your bookmarks.Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-778024982002-06-16T03:19:00.000-04:002002-06-16T03:19:52.286-04:00<b>I am infected (infectuous?)</b>
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<br />Check out the <A HREF="http://totl.net/VirusScanner/?">Human Virus Scanner</A>. Here's my result: (some of these are <b>not</b> accurate!)
<br />
<br />
<br />Human Virus Scanner
<br />The virus that have infected you will be show here along with thier cures, if known.
<br />
<br />Viruses you suffer from:
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<br />Junkfood
<br />Eat some real food. Something which you can identify the source of every ingredient, not the point of manufacture.
<br />
<br />
<br />Amiga
<br />Gnome is better than workbench. BEOS is better than Amiga OS. The TV Modulator was a pain in the arse and an EXTERNAL power pack? I ask you. And it didn't have a built in MIDI port like some of its rivals.
<br />
<br />
<br />Religion
<br />Read "God's Debris" by Scott Adams (yes, the Dilbert guy)
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<br />
<br />Windows
<br />Try MacOS X. It's based on UNIX, it has a smoother UI than Windows and it doesn't suck.
<br />As an extra feature the boxes look nice.
<br />
<br />
<br />Politics
<br />Stop caring!
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<br />
<br />Brand Names
<br />Having a well-known name doesn't make it good.
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<br />
<br />Hippyism
<br />Free love is passe and potentially dangerous, and patchouli smells like cat piss.
<br />
<br />
<br />Conspiracy Theory
<br />Face it, the elected government is in control. Actually that's quite scary.
<br />
<br />
<br />Environmentalism
<br />Consume more stuff! It's easier to buy new stuff than to recycle.
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<br />Viruses you might suffer from:
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<br />Linux (80%)
<br />Install the latest version of Microsoft Windows. Learn to love it.
<br />
<br />
<br />USA (80%)
<br />Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves! [repeat]
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<br />
<br />Gaming (70%)
<br />Life is not a game. Roll 3D6. On a 4 or more go out and do something with your life.
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<br />
<br />Sci-fi (80%)
<br />Stop wearing the stick-on ears.
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<br />
<br />Discordia (90%)
<br />Buy a suit. Invest your money. Eat hotdog buns on a friday.
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<br />
<br />Computer Games (90%)
<br />Stop staring at the screen and get some fresh air. You should see a doctor about the RSI in your thumbs.
<br />
<br />
<br />Macintosh (80%)
<br />Use a mouse with more than one button.
<br />
<br />---------------------------------------------------
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<br />Link courtesy of <A HREF="http://www.thealders.net/blogs/">Doug's Dynamic Drivel</A>, by way of <A HREF="http://www.patiopundit.com/">Patio Pundit</A>.
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-777945222002-06-15T22:13:00.000-04:002002-06-15T23:15:57.000-04:00<b>Civil Unions for All</b>
<br />
<br />While doing a little surfing today, <A HREF="http://www.unionleader.com/Articles_show.html?article=5828&archive=1">this</A> article in the <i>Manchester Union-Leader</i> caught my attention. Now, for those of you who are not familiar with this paper, it makes the <i>Washington Times</i> look like the <i>New York Times</i>; they supported Steve Forbes in the 2000 GOP primary, and it wasn't because of his position on the flat tax. I found it absolutely incredible (but gratifying) to see an article supporting gay rights in a publication of their reputation.
<br />
<br />Although this article was written in October, I did not see the article before today. Nonetheless, it very closely tracks with one of the very first <A HREF="http://www.regurgablog.blogspot.com/2002_03_24_regurgablog_archive.html#11268887">items</A> I blogged here, after following a debate between <A HREF="http://www.quasipundit.blogspot.com/2002_03_24_quasipundit_archive.html#11244318">Shouting 'cross the Potomac</A>'s Tony Adragna and <A HREF="http://zonitics.blogspot.com/2002_03_24_zonitics_archive.html#11221335">Zonitics</A>'s Edward Boyd. What I wrote was:
<br />
<br /><i>What I propose is a radical redefinition of marriage--only marriages performed by a religious leader shall be defined as a marriage. Any other type of joining, including heterosexual unions performed by a justice of the peace, shall be considered a civil union, with the same legal priveleges. </i>
<br />
<br />What Mr. Swayne wrote:
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<br /><i>Enact a federal civil union law. Change the laws with property, representation and dependent protections from “marriage” to “civil union.” Eliminate penalties that keep blended families and elderly couples from getting hitched. Make civil unions available to gays and straights alike. And give marriage back to houses of worship. You want legal protections? Get a civil union. You want marriage? Go to your faith community.</i>
<br />
<br />While we are arguing from fundamentally different viewpoints, we arrived at the same conclusion.
<br />
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-777597012002-06-14T20:08:00.000-04:002002-06-14T20:08:52.436-04:00<b>Light Posting</b>
<br />
<br />Sorry for the low post count over the past few days, but an attack of Real Life™ intervened. Couple that with some changes for this blog, and you end up with a disincentive to post.
<br />
<br />Posting will be light until Sunday evening, unless the middle east blows up, or the EU dissolves, or somebody says something monumentally stupid (Robert Scheer and Cynthia McKinney are excluded, because they always say monumentally stupid things).Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-777595242002-06-14T20:01:00.000-04:002002-06-15T23:19:03.000-04:00<b>Tapped vs. the Green Party</b>
<br />
<br />Tapped has been on the warpath lately regarding the Green Party (this <A HREF="http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2002/06/tapped-s-06-10.html#200pmconason">post</A> has links to a <i>Salon</i> piece--which requires a subscription-- and an <i>American Prospect</i> article, which does not). Seems they are bent out of shape at the fact that the Green Party is now running candidates against "good" liberals such as Paul Wellstone, and it may be hurting the Democrats in their efforts to retain control of the Senate, and to take control of the House of Representatives. Tapped feels that the Greens should support the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, in order to keep the evil Republicans from running the show, even if the Democratic Party isn't an exact ideological fit with Green Party issues.
<br />
<br />I wonder if they felt that the Reform Party should have supported the reform-minded wing of the GOP in 1992 (when Perot's candidacy doomed Bush's chances for a second term). How about the Libertarians? They scored enough votes in the 2000 election to topple Slade Gorton and make Maria Cantwell the junior senator from Washington. Neither of these groups have views entirely congruent with the GOP, but they could have worked inside the GOP to achieve their goals, but instead ran candidates which sucked away votes from the Republican candidates.
<br />
<br />The Green Party is currently the largest third party in the United States (in terms of votes received in the 2000 election), due for the most part of the self-destruction of the Reform Party. However, like all minor parties, they don't have a snowball's chance in hell of electing a major candidate (Jesse Ventura was a fluke, and Angus King of Maine doesn't belong to any party). The last person initially elected to congress as something other than a Democrat or Republican was Socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermont; there has never been a Libertarian, Green, Reform, or Natural Law candidate elected to a statewide or federal post (except for Ventura, who has left the moribund Reform Party). The only reason the minor parties exist is for the electorate to express their dissatisfaction with the current platforms of the major parties. This is not Europe, where multiparty coalitions form the government; our system is not set up as a parliamentary democracy, which is why third parties are less relevant in the US then they are elsewhere.
<br />
<br />Full Disclosure: I am registered as a Libertarian, although my voting record is mixed. I cannot see registering as a Democat, but as long as the Republican Party retains its current cast on social issues, they will not enjoy my support.Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-777488832002-06-14T14:39:00.000-04:002002-06-14T14:40:13.000-04:00<b>The Enneagram test</b>
<br />
<br />It seems to be taking the blog world by storm. I took it, and this is my result:
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<br />
<br /><a href="http://similarminds.com"> <img src="http://similarminds.com/1.gif" border=0"><br>take free enneagram test</a>
<br />
<br />I'm not sure that that is all that accurate a reflection of myself, since this, totally dissimilar, result was tied with the above:
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<br /><a href="http://similarminds.com"> <img src="http://similarminds.com/2.gif" border=0"><br>take free enneagram test</a>
<br />
<br />I'm not that empathic, but I'm also not overwhelmingly self-critical.
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-776840292002-06-13T00:29:00.000-04:002002-06-13T07:59:21.000-04:00<b>Experts say study definitively shows kids' vaccines are safe</b>
<br />
<br />Not that yet another exhaustively documented, thorough <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/134472696_vaccine12.html">study</A> will have any effect on the anti-vaccination agitators.
<br />
<br />I am a strong proponent of vaccination programs, because they work. Measles outbreaks are very rare in this country, because most kids are vaccinated.
<br />
<br />One of the groups behind the anti-vaccination movement here in the US appears to be chiropractors. While I do not know if they are formally organized, many chiropractors are firmly in the anti-vaccination camp. While I believe that the chiropractic method has its applications (I've had several fix me up when I've been sore), I don't agree with their "all medication is bad" philosophy. For the same reason, I oppose any type of medical practice that eschews proper use of medication, such as holistic medicine or naturopathy.
<br />
<br />I don't think that chiropractic can effectively deal with my condition, which is controlled fairly well by medication. A routine blood test 18 months ago revealed that I had an astronomically high triglyceride level of 977. After three months on Lopid, it had dropped to a high, but much more reasonable 229, where it has remained (with continued use of the drug). Such an abnormally high count cannot be accounted for solely by diet; there are strong indications that genetics are at work here, a view that is strengthened by my parents' medical histories. Consequently, I will most likely be taking this medicine for the rest of my life. Those who would advocate against medication argue that I am poisoning myself, whereas I believe that I am correcting a genetic defect. Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-776429422002-06-12T01:59:00.000-04:002002-06-12T02:00:04.000-04:00<b>Gotta love Ebay</b>
<br />
<br />Where else but Ebay could you find something like <A HREF="http://www.cruel.com/pub/www.ebay.com/viewItem1739836216.html">this</A>?
<br />
<br />(Link courtesy of Radley Balko, at <A HREF="http://www.theagitator.com/2002_06_01_archive.php#85160962">The Agitator</A>.)Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-776389802002-06-11T23:56:00.000-04:002002-06-11T23:56:16.240-04:00<b>Private Data Vs. Public War</b>
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<br />The <i>Christian Science Monitor</i> takes note of Bob Barr's relentless work on protecting privacy issues with <A HREF="http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2002/0612/p08s03-comv.html">this editorial</A>. Barr has proposed a bill that requires a "Privacy Impact Statement" that will assess the impact of any bill. It notes a few new bills currently making their way through congress, and points out how privacy may be trumped by a bureaucracy that wants unrestricted access to information, whether or not it is needed. The problem with centralized databases is that they can be hacked, and such a large target would be irresistable for those who want information for any purpose, nefarious or benign.
<br />
<br />It's a shame that Bob Barr is such a wing-nut. He is the biggest advocate of privacy issues of the 535 senators and congressmen, but his bombastic, overbearing style (and his views on social issues) make him an easy target. He makes Newt Gingrich look like the Tooth Fairy. If he were to dial down the rhetoric just a tad, he'd be a far more effective legislator, but the damage is done, and his image is set in stone. If we're lucky, someone else will take up his drive for privacy, someone who is a little less over-the-top.
<br />
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-776379922002-06-11T23:30:00.000-04:002002-06-11T23:31:17.000-04:00<b>Victims need constitutional rights, too</b>
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<br /><i>The trial of David Westerfield, accused kidnapper and murderer of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, began this week in a San Diego courtroom.
<br />
<br />Two especially interested parties will be excluded from most of the otherwise public proceedings – the dead little girl's parents.</i>
<br />
<br />This is the beginning of an excellent Joseph Perkins <A HREF="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/perkins/20020607-9999_1e7perkins.html">column</A> in the <i>San Diego Union-Tribune</i>, which details how a concern for the civil rights of perpetrators has trumped (or trampled) the civil rights of the victims, the ones who were wronged. Any time the concept of victim's rights is broached, the ACLU reacts, claiming that the laws already on the books adequately protect the interests of victims and their families.
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<br />Someone let the Van Dams know that the laws are looking out for them; they probably think differently right about now.
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<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-775946182002-06-10T23:43:00.000-04:002002-06-10T23:43:58.186-04:00<b>Islam: The next American religion?</b>
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<br /><A HREF="http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=15931">This</A> article, from the Arab Times, is one of the most unintentially amusing articles I have seen in a while. Susanna Cornett of Cut on the Bias <A HREF="http://bias.blogfodder.net/archives/2002_06.html#000603">takes down</A> the writer with a few well-placed comments. You can almost hear her laughing as she kicks the legs of his arguments out from underneath him.
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-775943302002-06-10T23:37:00.000-04:002002-06-10T23:37:04.790-04:00<b>Mob boss John Gotti dead at 61</b>
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<br />God puts a hit on the Teflon Don.
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<br />Read about it in the <i>Seattle Times</i>, <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/134471634_webgotti10.html">here</A>.
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-775941332002-06-10T23:32:00.000-04:002002-06-10T23:32:09.143-04:00<b>Don't Freeze Us Out on Drilling</b>
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<br />is the title of a <A HREF="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-000040744jun10.story?coll=la%2Dnews%2Dcomment%2Dopinions">guest editorial</A> in today's <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. The author is an Alaskan resident who worked for an environmental study group concerned with the impact of constructing 6000 miles of pipeline through Canada to the US. Much of his research was conducted on Alaska's North Slope, where the Bush administration wishes to begin drilling. His views are ones that are seldom considered by the environmental agitators on K Street (the vast majority of whom have never been to Alaska), and are worth reading.Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-775510482002-06-10T00:01:00.000-04:002002-06-10T00:01:03.776-04:00<b>Another blogger takes a flying leap</b>
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<br />...Off of Blogspot. <A HREF="http://www.bias.blogfodder.net">Cut on the Bias</A> has a new home, and a slightly crisper look.Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-775493592002-06-09T23:13:00.000-04:002002-06-10T00:18:31.000-04:00<b>In Israeli Hospital, Bomber Tells of Trying to Kill Israelis</b>
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<br /><A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/08/international/middleeast/08BOMB.html">This</A> is an account of the life of a failed suicide bomber, currently undergoing treatment in an Israeli hospital. You may remember him as the chap who was dragged along the road by the Israeli bomb-squad robot after his explosive charge failed to detonate correctly. It is rather interesting how he works to justify what appears to be a rather nihilistic decision to kill himself, while taking out as many Israelis as possible.
<br />
<br /><i>He said he was "pushed" to make his attack not by Israeli action or a terrorist group, but by "the love of martyrdom." He added: "I didn't want revenge for anything. I just wanted to be a martyr."</i>
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<br />This is the problem the Israelis are facing. How does one deal with people who are so disdainful of human life, including their own?
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<br /><i>"I know Israel," he said, recalling his six years as a peddler here. "I know that the individual Israeli citizen is innocent like us. Unfortunately, we are victims of our leaders, sitting on their chairs."</i>
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<br />No, you're not. Your decision to try and blow yourself up has nothing to do with Israel's leaders, and little to do with the Palestinian Authority.
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<br /><i>Mr. Zaydan, who has been interrogated by the Israelis and is expecting to be prosecuted, said bitterly that he knew he would be jailed for life and remembered only as a terrorist.</i>
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<br />Gee, he's bitter that history will correctly note his role. Reap what you sow, bud.
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<br /><i>"I feel sorry, because it was a mistake," he said. "But as a human being, I should live like others. The way there is an Israeli state, there are people living in this state, enjoying life, having someone protect them. I don't live in this situation. I don't feel I'm secure."</i>
<br />
<br /><heavy sarcasm>
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<br />It was a MISTAKE? You mean, you DIDN'T intend to strap on that bomb and kill Israelis? Oh, our mistake. Sorry about that.
<br />
<br /></heavy sarcasm>
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<br /><i>Soldiers could enter Jenin at any time, he said, and he constantly feared being arrested. "As long as life continues like this," he said, "you will have people who think like me." He insisted that he wanted peace, but said he saw little chance for it. </i>
<br />
<br />You mean, when te suicide bombers finally killed enough Jews for the Israelis to react, they actually ARRESTED people who were involved in terrorist activities? For shame! Perhaps peace would become a reality if poeple like you stopped strapping 30 pounds of fertilizer on, and then finding Israelis amongst which you detonate yourself.
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-775483152002-06-09T22:42:00.000-04:002002-06-09T22:43:03.000-04:00<b>N.Y. Jews to Start Armed Patrols</b>
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<br /><i>Citizens armed with shotguns will patrol the streets of the heavily Jewish Brooklyn neighborhoods because of comments a suspected terrorist made about targeting them, a rabbi said.</i>
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<br />Expect to see the Brady Center and some of the more extreme left gun-grabbers complain that this "sends the wrong message", that "we must stop the cycle of gun violence" and so forth. I don't think it will do much to stop terrorism such as what we witnessed on September 11th, but I am willing to bet that crime will drop even further in neighborhoods with patrols. Just a guess on my part.
<br />
<br />The whole story can be found <A HREF="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=533&e=4&cid=533&u=/ap/20020610/ap_on_re_us/nyc_armed_patrols_1">here</A>.Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-774877142002-06-07T23:49:00.000-04:002002-06-07T23:49:24.783-04:00<b>Ouch.</b>
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<br />Another link to Media Minded, this time to a reply to a bloviating "indy media" type who took offense to MM's first dismantling. This time, MM pulls no punches, and the results are devastating. <A HREF="http://mediaminded.blogspot.com/?>2002_06_02_mediaminded_archive.html#85152197">Check it out.</A>Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-774847892002-06-07T22:07:00.000-04:002002-06-07T22:07:59.160-04:00<b>Global Capitalism foes overwhelmed by counterdemonstrators</b>
<br />
<br />hehehe
<br />
<br />Link is <A HREF="http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPrint.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200205\NAT20020529c.html">here</A>.
<br />
<br />A quote from ExxonMobil's chairman quietly blows away the anti-globos arguments:
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<br /><i>ExxonMobil chairman Lee Raymond told CNSNews.com that he was unfazed by the protesters. "We operate in over 200 countries around the world and for some reason that is bad," Raymond explained. He said ExxonMobil is a good corporate citizen throughout the world, hiring citizens from the countries in which it operates to satisfy 95 percent of its labor needs.
<br />
<br />"If that is what they mean by globalization, then frankly everybody should support it," Raymond said.</i>
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<br />Refute that, anti-globalization fanatics.
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-774842972002-06-07T21:49:00.000-04:002002-06-07T22:00:37.000-04:00<b>Campaign Finance Reform bad for Democracy</b>
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<br />No, I am not quoting Limbaugh or National Review or Mitch McConnell, I am quoting everyone's favorite left-wing blog, Tapped.
<br />
<br />Tapped read a brief Alterman post about campaign finance reform (he doesn't understand the topsy-turvy politics behind it), and pumped out <A HREF="http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2002/06/tapped-s-06-03.html#1255pmalterman">this</A> screed. I, of course, have to add my own comments to their post.
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<br /><i>First of all, it was not "obvious" that the recently passed reform bill was going to benefit Republicans more than Democrats, as Alterman suggests. Or rather, it was obvious but no one wanted to talk about it. Only TAP's campaign finance expert was saying such things publicly (and had been for years). </i>
<br />
<br />Well, that's not the fault of the GOP, as Tapped is alluding.
<br />
<br /><i>But no one else wanted to discuss the obvious political implications of the bill because that might have rocked the boat. The reform groups were so committed to achieving some kind of reform that they didn't want to do anything that might jeopardize its passage. In fact, Common Cause willingly accepted (some have gone as far to say they suggested) the compromise of raising the hard money limits in exchange for a partial ban on soft money. (The ban is "partial" because it only effects national parties -- state parties can continue to raise soft money, as can the myriad of other political committees that will be established just for that purpose.) Meanwhile, the Democrats in the House and Senate lulled themselves into thinking that they could keep pace with the Republicans in raising hard money (in spite evidence to the contrary). And the editorial boards of the Post and the Times stayed above the political fray. Finally, the Republicans in the Senate, House, and White House were hardly going to squeal. </i>
<br />
<br />Again, it was not the job of the GOP to point out that the pet project of so many Democrats (and a few McCain acolytes) was likely to hurt the Democrats more than the Republicans.
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<br /><i>That's an important part of the explanation of the politics behind this reform. But there's more: Congress and the White House, in the wake of Enron, felt something had to be done to free themselves from the taint of special interest money. It became a way to get out from under the political scandal. After all, both parties and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue had been bought off by Enron and Andersen. They figured as long as they could get a bill that didn't disturb the status quo all that much, why not pass it to provide political cover? </i>
<br />
<br />Enron provided the excuse to pass this turkey; it has been kicking around (in a similar form) for quite some time now.
<br />
<br /><i>There's also another political axis on this issue -- incumbents vs. challengers.
<br />
<br />This new reform works well for all incumbents. After all, they are not running against each other, but against challengers who already operate at a disadvantage in the money game. There's no way challengers can keep up with incumbents in raising those $ 2,000 contributions. And the reform is perfect for President Bush (another soon-to-be incumbent lest we forget, and one who broke the bank the last time on money from wealthy individuals). It will make his job of running for president even easier the next time around. He'll once again call himself "a reformer" (stealing that mantle from John McCain). Moreover, Bush knew -- as did every Republican in Congress -- that overall the bill plays to the GOP's fundraising strengths. </i>
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<br />Well, if the Democrats cannot count, then the GOP shouldn't prevent them from running off a cliff. Or perhaps, it was political principles at work here (The GOP had a few too many members who blinked, and therefore prostituted themselves to supporting a law that will likely be found unconstitutional. Bush should be lumped in with that group for signing it. If it were simply a matter of looking at the numbers, why would Mitch McConnell (R-KY) work so tirelessly to defeat a bill that would benefit his party? (Conversely, why would loyal Democrats such as Russ Feingold work to pass a bill that would harm their party? There are principled members of both parties, although Tapped would probably disagree with me on that, or on who in each party qualifies for that label).
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<br /><i>Reformers should have been fighting -- and should continue their fight -- for reforms that strenthened democracy. Unfortunately, this new law won't improve the sorry state of the "American experiment," which is why Alterman is right: The strum und drang wasn't about principle, it was about posturing. One of the most interesting articles written near the end of the debate came from Fred Barnes in the Wall Street Journal (sorry, no link), a piece debunking Republican fears about the campaign finance bill. Its title? "Armageddon for the GOP? Hardly." </i>
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<br />I <A HREF="http://www.regurgablog.blogspot.com/2002_04_21_regurgablog_archive.html#75669386">posted</A> a suggestion for REAL reform in April, and sent a copy of it to TAPPED earlier this week. They have not responded to it, so it apparently does not strike their fancy, as it would result in a severe clamping down on political posturing. <sarcasm> It's unconstitional, but we're far too interested in progressive feel-good policy to worry about little details like that. </sarcasm>
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<br />I think the line <i>Reformers should have been fighting...for reforms that strenthened democracy</i> would read more accurately if the last two letters were changed from "cy" to "ts", as that is what Tapped is really trying to say.
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-774650592002-06-07T11:38:00.000-04:002002-06-07T11:39:02.000-04:00<b>Today's newsrooms</b>
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<br />Media Minded has a lot to say about today's newsroom culture (and I use the term loosely) after reading a Kathleen Parker column. Go see what he has to say in <A HREF="http://mediaminded.blogspot.com/?>2002_06_02_mediaminded_archive.html#85150934">this</A> entry. His last paragraph is a fairly scathing indictment, and I cannot imagine that his newspaper is vastly different from all of the others.
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<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-774488352002-06-07T00:24:00.000-04:002002-06-07T00:24:58.000-04:00<b>Headline of the day</b>
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<br />Goes to the <i>San Diego Union-Tribune</i> for <A HREF="http://www.union-tribune.com/news/metro/20020606-9999_1m6naked.html">this</A> one:
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<br /><i>Mental review scheduled for naked suspect</i>
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<br />There's so many different lines of attack on this headline...
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<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-774477462002-06-06T23:55:00.000-04:002002-06-06T23:55:16.570-04:00<b>Take a look at what the growth boundary created</b>
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<br />King County, in which the city of Seattle is located, has had a growth boundary in place for about 10 years. Land outside this boundary cannot be subdivided for housing. As the city's population has increased, the amount of land available upon which to build has dwindled, and homes have become very expensive. Bruce Ramsey, editorial columnist for the Seattle Times, discusses this anti-populist populist measure, and its unintended consequences, in <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/134468130_rams05.html">this</A> column. A telling statistic:
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<br /><i>A typical single-family lot — 6,000 square feet, flat, no view — costs $140,000 or $150,000 in King County.</i>
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<br />This is Seattle, mind you, not New York or San Francisco. Eventually, when it becomes impossible for the average worker in Seattle to ever hope of owning a home, perhaps the policy will be rethought. On the other hand, slow-growth ordinances only pass in one-party People's Republics, and I've never heard of one being repealed (if you read this and know of one, please let me know), so it appears that housing will continue going up in neighboring counties, increasing commute times (and incidentally increasing pollution, since the transit systems don't do a lot of linking from county to county, decreasing the attractiveness of mass transit).Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-774468912002-06-06T23:31:00.000-04:002002-06-06T23:31:41.300-04:00<b>United States Recognizes Russia as a Market Economy</b>
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<br />Interesting <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/134469098_webrussia06.html">article</A> in today's <i>Seattle Times</i>. I was surprised to discover that private enterprise accounts for 70% of Russia's economic output. Granted, it's 70% of a much smaller pie, but it's still far higher than I would have guessed, had someone asked me. Although it has caused a few howls from some industries that are not competitive with Russia, it is a good deal for Russia, and for us, I think, because a cementing of economic ties will allow more stable investments in Russia by US companies.
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<br />(This will get rewritten for editorial purposes when the caffeine buzz wears off and I can think clearly.)
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<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-774010422002-06-05T22:23:00.000-04:002002-06-05T22:23:33.186-04:00<b>U.S. Unveils Fingerprint Plan, Angers Arab Groups </b>
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<br /><A HREF="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=2&cid=578&u=/nm/20020605/ts_nm/attack_immigration_dc_5">This</A> is a step in the right direction, but of course, the usual suspects are already lining up against it. "It's profiling!" the scream. Yes, it is. Guess what? <b>All 19 of the perpetrators of the WTC/Pentagon/Attempted White House hijackings were Arab immigrants.</b> That's not profiling, that's not conjecture, that is FACT. Zogby can bitch and whine all he wants, but that does not change the fact that 19 Arab men killed 3000 people, most of them Americans, on American soil.
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<br />I <i>really</i> hope that some of the EUnuchs criticize this move, because it will be a chance to shove facts into their sanctimonious faces. France, for example, requires long-term visitors to register within seven days of their arrival, every 12 months after that, and whenever they move. Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419003.post-773613172002-06-05T00:24:00.000-04:002002-06-05T00:25:59.000-04:00<b>Tapped's brains in a lockbox?</b>
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<br />Yesterday, Tapped had <A HREF="http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2002/06/tapped-s-06-03.html#1045amscare">this</A> to say about Social Security:
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<br /><i>THE "SCARE CAMPAIGN" IS WORKING. Against the Republicans, that is, who are apparently pretty worried about Democrat attacks on their Social Security and prescription drug plans this summer. Tapped has always found this particular complaint -- Oooh! The Democrats are scaring old people about their Social Security payments -- rather funny. It not only infantilizes senior citizens. It assumes that something besides common sense and a cursory attention to fact is required to know that the Republican privatization plans will force either tax hikes or benefit reductions (thanks to Bush's tax cut). As The Prospect's Nicholas Confessore reported recently, Social Security and prescription drugs look to be pivotal in November. And the House Republicans are just on the wrong side of these issues.</i>
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<br />Well, sometimes the truth hurts. The Democrats have been very successful in portraying Social Security reform as sure death for all the old people out there, and many of them have bought into it. But what caught my eye is the line about privatization. Bush's tax cut has nothing to do with privatization, and unless you start prattling about the non-existent "lockbox", there is no connection. Tax hikes or benefit reductions are two possible choices, but Tapped overlooks the obvious <b>spending cuts</b> that could be made.
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<br />Even more deceptive is the link that Tapped provides, to the "Campaign for America's Future". CAF is , according to their website:
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<br />Over 100 Prominent Americans - citizen activists and policy experts concerned about our country and our planet - have joined together to launch and build the Campaign for America's Future. We are challenging the big money corporate agenda by encouraging Americans to speak up - to discuss and debate a new vision of an economy and a future that works for all of us.
<br />"America's Future will insist that the question of falling wages and rising insecurity be placed at the center of our national debate. We will challenge those who suggest that nothing can be done and expose the conservative agenda that has made things worse. America's Future will work to revitalize a progressive agenda, and fight to make this economy work for working people once again. We will engage citizens, activists and political leaders in a renewed debate about the kind of country - and the kind of world - we want to build for the generations yet to come."
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<br />Which should make it clear where their priorities lie.In any case, they discuss benefits in 2032, 2058, and 2075, failing to note that the Social Security Administration is projected to become insolvent in 2032, unless steps are taken to repair it, steps such as Bush's privatization plan. As it stands right now, I won't be drawing any benefits from Social Security, even though I have already paid into it for the past 18 years or so.
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<br />The Democratic Party's deceitfulness is demonstrated by their warnings to America's seniors, who will <b>never see the effects of privatization</b>. Bush's plan does not address current receipients, nor does it address those who will begin receiving benefits within a few years. This obvious fact doesn't stop Serpenthead Carville or his elected lackeys from demogoging the issue.
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<br />As to the snivel about prescription drugs, see my <A HREF="http://www.regurgablog.blogspot.com/2002_05_26_regurgablog_archive.html#77206843">post</A> from Friday which addresses the issue. Better yet, read the <A HREF="http://reason.com/0104/fe.rb.goddamn.shtml">article</A> in <i>Reason</i> from which most of the rebuttal is derived.
<br />Timekeeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17885623334233740888noreply@blogger.com0