Bloggers Fighting Government Regulations - Yahoo! News
The AP's story on bloggers and the FEC quotes Kos and Atrios - and ONLY Kos and Atrios, despite the fact that the opposition to FEC regulation of political speech spans both sides of the blogosphere. Sure makes it look like the Big Mean Conservative Government is trying to beat up on "antiestablishment" little guys.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Thursday, June 23, 2005
WHY do you NEED to KNOW?
Intelligent Design the Future - Who Designed the Designer? (A Lengthier Response)
Jay Richards with a well-reasoned dissection of the flaws in the "Who designed the designer?" argument often put forward by opponents of Intelligent Design.
Jay Richards with a well-reasoned dissection of the flaws in the "Who designed the designer?" argument often put forward by opponents of Intelligent Design.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Sweet Irony
Sugar Not So Sweet
A new sugar-derived pesticide (an ester is added to the sucrose molecule) is being used to fight the mites that are killing honeybees.
Hey, Alannis - how about a new verse?
A new sugar-derived pesticide (an ester is added to the sucrose molecule) is being used to fight the mites that are killing honeybees.
Hey, Alannis - how about a new verse?
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Telic Thoughts - Meeting of Minds
Krauze over at Telic Thoughts is hosting another Meeting of Minds blog symposium on Intelligent Design. Need to put on the old thinking cap...
Monday, June 13, 2005
Gulag, schmulag
Lileks' new 'Screedblog' details the injustices and inhumane treatment suffered by a Gitmo detainee.
I'd have traded him for Jr. High Gym class in a heartbeat.
For the record, many years ago I sent money - American Dollars, as my dad would say - to Amnesty International. I did so because they were on The Front Lines, Taking Direct Action, saving lives one at a time. (cue the kid-and-the-starfish story). They very nicely sent me a sticker, and for a couple of decades now it has adorned the case of my primary guitar.
Tonight I peeled it off and tossed it in the trash, where it now belongs. So now I've got a spot about 3" square available for a new sticker. Suggestions, anyone?
I'd have traded him for Jr. High Gym class in a heartbeat.
For the record, many years ago I sent money - American Dollars, as my dad would say - to Amnesty International. I did so because they were on The Front Lines, Taking Direct Action, saving lives one at a time. (cue the kid-and-the-starfish story). They very nicely sent me a sticker, and for a couple of decades now it has adorned the case of my primary guitar.
Tonight I peeled it off and tossed it in the trash, where it now belongs. So now I've got a spot about 3" square available for a new sticker. Suggestions, anyone?
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Seriously misinformed
Safer skies? Not this way - Yahoo! News
Whoever wrote the article, "Safer Skies? Not This Way," seems to be seriously misinformed about general aviation.
Light aircraft and private pilots are simply not a threat to national security. The aircraft that triggered the Washington, D.C. alert recently was a Cessna 152. A fully loaded Cessna 152 weighs less than an empty Cooper Mini- seven hundred pounds less, in fact. A fully-loaded Beech Baron, a six-seat twin-engine aircraft flown by many small business owners, weighs 300 pounds less than a Lincoln Navigator. Small aircraft simply cannot carry enough payload to do significant damage to a building.
The article describes private pilots as "well-connected." While some private pilots are indeed well-connected (John Kerry, John Travolta, and Harrison Ford come to mind), the vast majority of private pilots and aircraft owners are of far more modest means. Many own small businesses and use general aviation to serve their customers more efficiently. A great many are middle-class aviation enthusiasts such as myself who make financial sacrifices in order to afford their increasingly-expensive passion for flight.
Finally, the article makes no mention of the significant contributions to airport safety made by the Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association in coordination with the FAA, Department of Homeland Security, and Transportation Safety Agency. AOPA has been working with these agencies since 9/11 to work out reasonable and effective security measures. For example, the highly-successful "Airport Watch" program was developed in coordination with the FAA, TSA, and DHS, and encourages pilots to report suspicious activity at their home fields.
Whoever wrote the article, "Safer Skies? Not This Way," seems to be seriously misinformed about general aviation.
Light aircraft and private pilots are simply not a threat to national security. The aircraft that triggered the Washington, D.C. alert recently was a Cessna 152. A fully loaded Cessna 152 weighs less than an empty Cooper Mini- seven hundred pounds less, in fact. A fully-loaded Beech Baron, a six-seat twin-engine aircraft flown by many small business owners, weighs 300 pounds less than a Lincoln Navigator. Small aircraft simply cannot carry enough payload to do significant damage to a building.
The article describes private pilots as "well-connected." While some private pilots are indeed well-connected (John Kerry, John Travolta, and Harrison Ford come to mind), the vast majority of private pilots and aircraft owners are of far more modest means. Many own small businesses and use general aviation to serve their customers more efficiently. A great many are middle-class aviation enthusiasts such as myself who make financial sacrifices in order to afford their increasingly-expensive passion for flight.
Finally, the article makes no mention of the significant contributions to airport safety made by the Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association in coordination with the FAA, Department of Homeland Security, and Transportation Safety Agency. AOPA has been working with these agencies since 9/11 to work out reasonable and effective security measures. For example, the highly-successful "Airport Watch" program was developed in coordination with the FAA, TSA, and DHS, and encourages pilots to report suspicious activity at their home fields.
Monday, June 06, 2005
A visit to Iraq's "Devil Worshippers"
Michael Yon : Online Magazine: Lost in Translation
The Yezidi of Kurdish Iraq have a peculiar set of beliefs. While ti incorporates elements of Islam, Hinduism, perhaps Zoroastrianism, and honors Jesus and Mohammed as wise men, their ancient cosmology includes a fallen angel who is the ruler of this world. As noted below, they want to preserve their cultural identity and have the freedom to practice their religion.
Michael Yon's moving account of a visit with a village elder shows that people are people no matter what they believe.
The Yezidi of Kurdish Iraq have a peculiar set of beliefs. While ti incorporates elements of Islam, Hinduism, perhaps Zoroastrianism, and honors Jesus and Mohammed as wise men, their ancient cosmology includes a fallen angel who is the ruler of this world. As noted below, they want to preserve their cultural identity and have the freedom to practice their religion.
Michael Yon's moving account of a visit with a village elder shows that people are people no matter what they believe.
His grandchildren gathered around him, peeking at me from behind his weathered arms. He seemed unaware of the slight smile that eased across his face whenever he looked at the children. They constantly sought his approval for each small gesture of interaction with this stranger in their grandfather's home, which he granted with slight nods.
Although I had only known him for a few short hours, it was clear that Mr. Qatou liked to talk about the future.
"My life is nearly finished," he said, almost wistfully. "But will be good for my children and my children's children." Mr. Qatou smiled and disappeared into his memories briefly, then he spoke: "My life was mostly soldier and prisoner. My children are free."
Friday, June 03, 2005
Michael Yon : Online Magazine
Michael Yon : Online Magazine
Just discovered this freelance jounralist in Iraq. Good stuff!
ht- Blackfive
Thursday, June 02, 2005
A Meeting of the Minds on Intelligent Design
One of my old posts has been accepted as an entry in the blog symposium A Meeting of the Minds, hosted at Telic Thoughts. Thanks, Krause, for the link. To first-time visitors, welcome to this shaggy corner of my mind. And thanks to Joe at EO for posting the note from Krause about the symposium.
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