More from my earlier post about those who are possible preisdential contenders in 2008.
Also, check out Oval Office 2008, which gives a rundown of the Oval Office seekers. Honestly, there aren't any names mentioned that I have not already listed (which makes me feel pretty good), but there is a ton of information and commentary. OK, the site does mention Sen. Russell Feingold of Wisconsin, a complete and utter longshot, and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the Clinton impeachment managers when he was in the House and who now is looking like a Southern moderate. He's probably a longshot, too, especially with the star power and charisma of some fellow Republican candidates like Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and George Allen (see below).
CNN is reporting that Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas has made a trip to South Carolina as part of the groundwork-laying stage of a presidential campaign. South Carolina is the site of the first Southern presidential primary. It's also where George W. Bush decimated John McCain in 2000 usng despicable push-polling tactics. Brownback came to the U.S. Senate to completethe unexpired term of Bob Dole, who retired to run for president.
Brownback's Senate Web site
Brownback's campaign Web site -- still says U.S. Senate, but I imagine there will be one for president soon enough
Other presidential tidbits:
The Washington Post and columnists have reported that an attractive candidate is Sen. George Allen of Virginia. He is an attractive candidate with football roots, whose conservative catch phrases are well received in the "Live Free or Die" state of New Hampshire. So, Virginia could be a battleground -- a contrast of traditional Southern values with the high-tech and increasingly urban values of suburban Fairfax and Arlington counties.
My money still sits on the spot of Sen. Evan Bayh. Really, he is worth checking out. My goodness, a moderate Democrat from the reddest part of the Midwest who even looks like a presidential candidate with his pretty wife and twin boys (not that it matters). The son of U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, he was Indiana's secretary of state for two years and a two-term governor, elected at age 33.
Bayh's Senate Web site
Bayh's campaign Web site
Americans for Bayh, an unofficial presidential campaign Web site.
Bloggers for Bayh, self-explanatory
The Democrat Leadership Council, which Bayh chaired until recently
I am not a New Democrat -- I am a good ol' liberal Democrat -- but I like Bayh's odds and what he stands for. Honestly, if Bill Richardson gets in, I might have a tough choice.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
The Bushies need to wag the dog
Karl Rove is twisting slowly in the wind -- and I am loving it!
This transcript of the July 11 White House press briefing is dang interesting. It is about time that the White House Press Corps went after this issue. I don't think it will be proven that Karl Rove actually committed a crime because there are some areas of the law that are very specific, and the info that has been reported indicates that he did speak with at least one reporter, but he may not have broken a law. Knowledge of the CIA operative's status is a key element.
No matter what, the White House is caught in a big ol' lie of Clinton proportions, the harsh lights have gone from the reporters not testifying back to the White House staff sputtering inconsistencies and to tepid support for Rove, the president's deputy chief of staff, and there is no other news to fill the cycle. Heck, even Fox News and CNN's Lou Dobbs are on this like stink on poo. It is gonna be a long, hot summer in Washington.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
This transcript of the July 11 White House press briefing is dang interesting. It is about time that the White House Press Corps went after this issue. I don't think it will be proven that Karl Rove actually committed a crime because there are some areas of the law that are very specific, and the info that has been reported indicates that he did speak with at least one reporter, but he may not have broken a law. Knowledge of the CIA operative's status is a key element.
No matter what, the White House is caught in a big ol' lie of Clinton proportions, the harsh lights have gone from the reporters not testifying back to the White House staff sputtering inconsistencies and to tepid support for Rove, the president's deputy chief of staff, and there is no other news to fill the cycle. Heck, even Fox News and CNN's Lou Dobbs are on this like stink on poo. It is gonna be a long, hot summer in Washington.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Stuff I Like: TV Edition
So my television consumption goes up dramatically in the summer for obvious reasons, namelay the fact that I am home to watch. Still, I have not been watching much because of my master's classes. But I have found a few gems recently.
"I Want To Be a Hilton" -- Dude, who doesn't? Kathy Hilton is a bad TV personality, but this show is so campy it is funny. Basically, she takes a bunch of uncouth bumpkins and tries to clean them up and get them ready for high society. Of course the contests have little to do with high society; really only a lifetime of being spoiled can prepare you for that. Things are just heating up, though. My money is on Jaret -- likeable, enthusiastic, starting to get the whole society thing. He is a kindergarten teacher, so you gotta support that. It's Tusdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
NBC also has some interesting series for the fall: Martha Stewart's version of "The Apprentice" and "E-Ring," with Dennis Hopper and Benjamin Bratt as Pentagon experts. ABC has this week's "Brat Camp," which looks interesting, and "Commander in Chief" a show about Geena Davis as the vice president who ascends to the presidency. Donald Sutherland co-stars. I caught one episode of "Empire," and it was all right, too.
The "Ellen" show, even in reruns, is swell. I love Ellen DeGeneres. She makes me laugh, and I like the easy feeling about the show. Plus she is fun. Way better than the super-syrupy Rosie O'Donnell Show, which got old fast.
CNN's "Inside Politics" -- I love a show dedicated to politics. It's better during an election year. It was also better with Judt Woodruff, and I am not sure what has happened to her. I aim to find out. I'll post a comment when I do. It's on at 12: 30 p.m. Pacific time, if you're interested.
Have I also mentioned I love CNN's "NewsNight with Aaron Brown"? I love it. Brown is a great newsman (was a Seattle anchor for a long time), and I like his mix of hard questions, the questions I would ask, and the kind of common sense that an average person brings to an interview. Sometimes, he just looks at a person he is interviewing witha look that says, "Oh, come on." And then he actually says, "Oh, come on." Gotta love the honesty. Stick around for Segment Seven at the end, usually a brite feature and often with Jeannie Moos (hilarious reporter), and for Morning Papers, a roundup of the next day's headlines from newspapers as they are put to bed, which always ends with the Chicago Sun-Times and its pithy description of the days's weather forecast. The show airs at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. out here. Try it.
I also watched a bevy of home improvement shows while I was in Phoenix. My folks love 'em. My dad also made me watch some NASCAR. The race was delayed for like three hours, and it was obvious they were filling time. People actually watch that live -- I don't know why. My dad is a fan, and, shockingly, my stepmom is too. Weird. At least they don't by much memoribilia. Much.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
"I Want To Be a Hilton" -- Dude, who doesn't? Kathy Hilton is a bad TV personality, but this show is so campy it is funny. Basically, she takes a bunch of uncouth bumpkins and tries to clean them up and get them ready for high society. Of course the contests have little to do with high society; really only a lifetime of being spoiled can prepare you for that. Things are just heating up, though. My money is on Jaret -- likeable, enthusiastic, starting to get the whole society thing. He is a kindergarten teacher, so you gotta support that. It's Tusdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
NBC also has some interesting series for the fall: Martha Stewart's version of "The Apprentice" and "E-Ring," with Dennis Hopper and Benjamin Bratt as Pentagon experts. ABC has this week's "Brat Camp," which looks interesting, and "Commander in Chief" a show about Geena Davis as the vice president who ascends to the presidency. Donald Sutherland co-stars. I caught one episode of "Empire," and it was all right, too.
The "Ellen" show, even in reruns, is swell. I love Ellen DeGeneres. She makes me laugh, and I like the easy feeling about the show. Plus she is fun. Way better than the super-syrupy Rosie O'Donnell Show, which got old fast.
CNN's "Inside Politics" -- I love a show dedicated to politics. It's better during an election year. It was also better with Judt Woodruff, and I am not sure what has happened to her. I aim to find out. I'll post a comment when I do. It's on at 12: 30 p.m. Pacific time, if you're interested.
Have I also mentioned I love CNN's "NewsNight with Aaron Brown"? I love it. Brown is a great newsman (was a Seattle anchor for a long time), and I like his mix of hard questions, the questions I would ask, and the kind of common sense that an average person brings to an interview. Sometimes, he just looks at a person he is interviewing witha look that says, "Oh, come on." And then he actually says, "Oh, come on." Gotta love the honesty. Stick around for Segment Seven at the end, usually a brite feature and often with Jeannie Moos (hilarious reporter), and for Morning Papers, a roundup of the next day's headlines from newspapers as they are put to bed, which always ends with the Chicago Sun-Times and its pithy description of the days's weather forecast. The show airs at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. out here. Try it.
I also watched a bevy of home improvement shows while I was in Phoenix. My folks love 'em. My dad also made me watch some NASCAR. The race was delayed for like three hours, and it was obvious they were filling time. People actually watch that live -- I don't know why. My dad is a fan, and, shockingly, my stepmom is too. Weird. At least they don't by much memoribilia. Much.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Oyez, oyez! Commence CJW -- Chief Justice Watch
The Chief Justice of the United States, William Rehnquist, already suffering from thyroid cancer since last fall, has been hospitalized for a fever. He is 80. This has fueled even more speculation that he will announce his retirement from SCOTUS; rumors to that effect have reached, ahem, fever pitch in the last week or so.
So, you can count on me to post any updates on the condition of the CJ. I'll offer my analysis, too.
First up: If Rehnquist does pack it in for any reason, I would bet good money that President Bush would appoint Antonin Scalia as Chief Justice. You can take that to the bank. Scalia is well-regarded and only has the slight blemish of the duck-hunting-with-Dick scandal. He would be confirmed easily, especially since Sen. Harry Reid, the Democrat leader, has said just this byear that he respects Scalia and thinks he is a good associate justice. Sen. Arlen Specter, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, passed on a rumor that Bush might ask Sandra Day O'Connor to stay and elevate her to Chief. That ain't gonna happen. Period. She's done.
Next: That leaves Bush two associates to appoint. I would bet on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and one of the Ediths from the 5th Circuit. Conservatives and moderates each get something, Bush avoids a fight and he has tilted the court just a bit to the right.
But: If Rehnquist stays -- even in poor health, which could cause all sorts of mid-term problems -- Bush probably won't nominate Gonzales. Bush is on record as supporting justices like Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Gonzales is no Scalia or Thomas. Also, Dems should stop acting like Gonzales is the best hope for moderates and liberals. Remember he wrote an opinion as White House Counsel that said torture was OK and thatthe Geneva Conventions can be ignored in this new type of war. With the possibility of Guantanamo cases headed for SCOTUS, do you think he should be on he court? We can do better, so let's stop acting like he is as good as we can get. Thanks, by the way, to Slate for helping me articulate the thoughts I had already been feeling.
Watch this space for your CJW news, updated daily -- more frequently as the news occurs. Do you think Vegas betting parlors have odds on whether Rehnquist will kick off? Tacky, yes, but I bet they do.
UPDATE July 14, 2005, 1 p.m. PDT: I saw a report that Rehnquist was released and went home. No comments were given on his condition.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
So, you can count on me to post any updates on the condition of the CJ. I'll offer my analysis, too.
First up: If Rehnquist does pack it in for any reason, I would bet good money that President Bush would appoint Antonin Scalia as Chief Justice. You can take that to the bank. Scalia is well-regarded and only has the slight blemish of the duck-hunting-with-Dick scandal. He would be confirmed easily, especially since Sen. Harry Reid, the Democrat leader, has said just this byear that he respects Scalia and thinks he is a good associate justice. Sen. Arlen Specter, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, passed on a rumor that Bush might ask Sandra Day O'Connor to stay and elevate her to Chief. That ain't gonna happen. Period. She's done.
Next: That leaves Bush two associates to appoint. I would bet on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and one of the Ediths from the 5th Circuit. Conservatives and moderates each get something, Bush avoids a fight and he has tilted the court just a bit to the right.
But: If Rehnquist stays -- even in poor health, which could cause all sorts of mid-term problems -- Bush probably won't nominate Gonzales. Bush is on record as supporting justices like Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Gonzales is no Scalia or Thomas. Also, Dems should stop acting like Gonzales is the best hope for moderates and liberals. Remember he wrote an opinion as White House Counsel that said torture was OK and thatthe Geneva Conventions can be ignored in this new type of war. With the possibility of Guantanamo cases headed for SCOTUS, do you think he should be on he court? We can do better, so let's stop acting like he is as good as we can get. Thanks, by the way, to Slate for helping me articulate the thoughts I had already been feeling.
Watch this space for your CJW news, updated daily -- more frequently as the news occurs. Do you think Vegas betting parlors have odds on whether Rehnquist will kick off? Tacky, yes, but I bet they do.
UPDATE July 14, 2005, 1 p.m. PDT: I saw a report that Rehnquist was released and went home. No comments were given on his condition.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Road Trip '05: Stage 4
Reno was a big disappointment. Honestly, if I had known just how lame that city is, I would have stayed the night two hours down the road in Winnemucca, where the room would have been cheaper (maybe not as nice -- but I did not really need two queen-size beds) and I would have been closer to getting home the next day. The one nice thing I did in Reno was to see a casino show. It was "Smokey Joe's Cafe," which is a great musical revue, and it was a decent 90-minute show for $30. But my time in town was so windy and the downtown was so filthy that I was completely unimpressed -- especially compared to Las Vegas.
I had made it to Reno in good time. I had a slight delay in Carson City, just about 35 miles south of Reno, when my engine light came on. After all my car troubles, I stopped at a dealership and had it checked. A hose was loose, the worker plugged it back in, and 10 minutes later I was on my way. No problem. Whew!
The rest of my trip back to Wenatchee was mostly uneventful as well. It took me about 13 hours to make the drive from Reno, which included several gas and pit stops and very slow travel through the mountains of southern Oregon with their windy roads and steep climbs. I also hit a bird. It was flying. I looked back to see that it was a bird and kept going. I am sure it was dead. Sorry, bird.
I have spent the four days since returning home trying to dig out of the pile of tasks that had accumulated while I was away. Mainly these included work for the summer journalism workshop for which I am the co-director and registrar, as well as major projects for my online classes. So, despite the fact that I have spent about 30 hours at this computer since returning to Wenatchee, I have not felt motivated to compose any entries. However, as of tonight, I am officially caught up.
I'll spend some time in the next couple days alternating with maintaining the yard, this Weblog and my projects. That is what summer should be like, not cooped up in a small town with nowhere to go or furiously working on a class project for hours at a time. The upside is that I am practically an expert on legal issues regarding students using Web sites to criticize their schools and being punished by the school for it, which was the topic of my 15-page research paper.
I can't wait until next summer when I am done with my master's degree and all the work. Ten months and counting.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
I had made it to Reno in good time. I had a slight delay in Carson City, just about 35 miles south of Reno, when my engine light came on. After all my car troubles, I stopped at a dealership and had it checked. A hose was loose, the worker plugged it back in, and 10 minutes later I was on my way. No problem. Whew!
The rest of my trip back to Wenatchee was mostly uneventful as well. It took me about 13 hours to make the drive from Reno, which included several gas and pit stops and very slow travel through the mountains of southern Oregon with their windy roads and steep climbs. I also hit a bird. It was flying. I looked back to see that it was a bird and kept going. I am sure it was dead. Sorry, bird.
I have spent the four days since returning home trying to dig out of the pile of tasks that had accumulated while I was away. Mainly these included work for the summer journalism workshop for which I am the co-director and registrar, as well as major projects for my online classes. So, despite the fact that I have spent about 30 hours at this computer since returning to Wenatchee, I have not felt motivated to compose any entries. However, as of tonight, I am officially caught up.
I'll spend some time in the next couple days alternating with maintaining the yard, this Weblog and my projects. That is what summer should be like, not cooped up in a small town with nowhere to go or furiously working on a class project for hours at a time. The upside is that I am practically an expert on legal issues regarding students using Web sites to criticize their schools and being punished by the school for it, which was the topic of my 15-page research paper.
I can't wait until next summer when I am done with my master's degree and all the work. Ten months and counting.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Lone Pine Digest
LONE PINE, Calif., July 6 -- Being stuck in a small town motel room with no car and the hot summer sun beating down on the main strip, I have had quite a bit of time on my hands to think and watch cable television. And, since I got a remote control for the TV, things are looking OK.
Judith Miller is a hero: After refusing again to testify in the investigation to who leaked the name of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative, Judith Miller of The New York Times is headed to jail for civil contempt of court. She will stay there until she testifies or until the end of the grand jury four months from now. She has said she will not name the source. Meanwhile, Matthew Cooper, whose notes were turned over by his employer, Time magazine, to the special prosecutor and who spoke to the grand jury after receiving permission from his source, is not headed to jail. Neither he nor Miller actually wrote stories about Plame and the unveiling of her as an operative. However, Bob Novak, who initially disclosed the identity in his column two years ago, has an unknown role in this investigation. It seems to me that the person who actually disclosed the information should pay a higher price than people who just have information yet refuse to testify. Miller is a shining example of honor in the journalism profession.
The case also is an example of why the nation needs a federal shield law to protect journalists when they have sources needing protection. All but one state (Wyoming) have enacted state shield laws, so clearly the citizens value such rights. Congress is considering such legislation, and members should act immediately to enact the law.
Fred Thompson to be a “handler”: The White House announced that it has not yet decided on a nominee for the Supreme Court but that former Sen. Fred Thompson, a Tennessee Republican who has since returned to acting roles in television crime dramas, would shepherd the president’s nominee through the confirmation process. It’s a fairly common practice. Thompson seems a good fir for the job with his experience as a senator as well as counsel to the Watergate committee in the 1970s. He also served as a federal prosecutor and attorney in private practice. Most of all, he is well regarded in the halls of Congress and he is articulate and unflappable in television. Former RNC chair Ed Gillespie was designated to head the nomination process from the White House end.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has announced that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is qualified for SCOTUS but that he would not have an easy time getting through the Senate. Reid also criticized conservative groups for attacking W. on the right while he was abroad. Seems like Reid is trying to make the Dems look good while the conservatives rip each other apart. Gonzales would be acceptable, and it appears he is on the short-short list.
Wild card: Is it too far-fetched to think that the nominee could be Thompson himself? Think about how George W. Bush selected his running mate in 2000.
London 2012: There was jubilation in Trafalgar Square when it was announced that London would host the 2012 Summer Olympics, the Games of the 30th Olympiad. The French, Russians, Spaniards and Americans all go home disappointed. New York City had been doomed since the state refused to pony up funds for a new stadium. Let’s hope that the London Olympics will showcase the best of Great Britain and the world. In just three years, the summer Olympics will take place in Beijing, which will mark China’s entry to the world sporting stage. That experience will also likely bring intense scrutiny to China. Britain should expect less scrutinizing as we already know most of the kingdom’s warts and ugly side.
Adios, Admiral Stockdale: Admiral James Stockdale, who was vice presidential running mate with Ross Perot in 1992, has died. Who will forget the aged man who turned down his hearing aid during the vice presidential debate that year?
“Digital Roam”: I have generally not had a problem with cell phone service when I have traveled. Of course when I need to make a bunch of calls from Lone Pine, Calif., I am in a zone designated as “digital roam.” Who knows how much all these calls are costing me, and I am not too concerned, either. Still, it would be nice to know that in addition to the unanticipated bills for towing, car repair and motel I would not have a huge bill from Sprint. We’ll see in a few weeks.
Premium Chicken: Generally I like to sample local restaurants — or at least different restaurants — when I travel. However, the new premium chicken sandwiches at McDonald’s looked pretty good. I had the club version, and it was good. It starts with a sturdy honey wheat bun. In addition to the crispy breaded chicken breast patty, it comes with thick-cut bacon and a slice of real Swiss cheese, tomato and leaf lettuce. Overall, it’s a good eat.
-- Posted from Reno, July 8
Judith Miller is a hero: After refusing again to testify in the investigation to who leaked the name of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative, Judith Miller of The New York Times is headed to jail for civil contempt of court. She will stay there until she testifies or until the end of the grand jury four months from now. She has said she will not name the source. Meanwhile, Matthew Cooper, whose notes were turned over by his employer, Time magazine, to the special prosecutor and who spoke to the grand jury after receiving permission from his source, is not headed to jail. Neither he nor Miller actually wrote stories about Plame and the unveiling of her as an operative. However, Bob Novak, who initially disclosed the identity in his column two years ago, has an unknown role in this investigation. It seems to me that the person who actually disclosed the information should pay a higher price than people who just have information yet refuse to testify. Miller is a shining example of honor in the journalism profession.
The case also is an example of why the nation needs a federal shield law to protect journalists when they have sources needing protection. All but one state (Wyoming) have enacted state shield laws, so clearly the citizens value such rights. Congress is considering such legislation, and members should act immediately to enact the law.
Fred Thompson to be a “handler”: The White House announced that it has not yet decided on a nominee for the Supreme Court but that former Sen. Fred Thompson, a Tennessee Republican who has since returned to acting roles in television crime dramas, would shepherd the president’s nominee through the confirmation process. It’s a fairly common practice. Thompson seems a good fir for the job with his experience as a senator as well as counsel to the Watergate committee in the 1970s. He also served as a federal prosecutor and attorney in private practice. Most of all, he is well regarded in the halls of Congress and he is articulate and unflappable in television. Former RNC chair Ed Gillespie was designated to head the nomination process from the White House end.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has announced that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is qualified for SCOTUS but that he would not have an easy time getting through the Senate. Reid also criticized conservative groups for attacking W. on the right while he was abroad. Seems like Reid is trying to make the Dems look good while the conservatives rip each other apart. Gonzales would be acceptable, and it appears he is on the short-short list.
Wild card: Is it too far-fetched to think that the nominee could be Thompson himself? Think about how George W. Bush selected his running mate in 2000.
London 2012: There was jubilation in Trafalgar Square when it was announced that London would host the 2012 Summer Olympics, the Games of the 30th Olympiad. The French, Russians, Spaniards and Americans all go home disappointed. New York City had been doomed since the state refused to pony up funds for a new stadium. Let’s hope that the London Olympics will showcase the best of Great Britain and the world. In just three years, the summer Olympics will take place in Beijing, which will mark China’s entry to the world sporting stage. That experience will also likely bring intense scrutiny to China. Britain should expect less scrutinizing as we already know most of the kingdom’s warts and ugly side.
Adios, Admiral Stockdale: Admiral James Stockdale, who was vice presidential running mate with Ross Perot in 1992, has died. Who will forget the aged man who turned down his hearing aid during the vice presidential debate that year?
“Digital Roam”: I have generally not had a problem with cell phone service when I have traveled. Of course when I need to make a bunch of calls from Lone Pine, Calif., I am in a zone designated as “digital roam.” Who knows how much all these calls are costing me, and I am not too concerned, either. Still, it would be nice to know that in addition to the unanticipated bills for towing, car repair and motel I would not have a huge bill from Sprint. We’ll see in a few weeks.
Premium Chicken: Generally I like to sample local restaurants — or at least different restaurants — when I travel. However, the new premium chicken sandwiches at McDonald’s looked pretty good. I had the club version, and it was good. It starts with a sturdy honey wheat bun. In addition to the crispy breaded chicken breast patty, it comes with thick-cut bacon and a slice of real Swiss cheese, tomato and leaf lettuce. Overall, it’s a good eat.
-- Posted from Reno, July 8
Road Trip ’05: Stage 3
LONE PINE, Calif., July 5 — Today started as a great day. It had clear weather, I was up and loaded by 6 a.m. Light traffic headed out of the Valley of the Sun, and good speed. It started as a great day.
I made a small driving error — missed an exit by a quarter-mile — and actually took a 10-minute detour in Redlands, Calif., when it turns out I could have been back on the right road with just about a mile and a half of surface-street travel. I knew my toughest navigation would be around San Bernadino, Calif., and I was right.
Then I had a couple delays. I stopped for lunch and a restroom break near Hesperia, Calif., just as I turned onto U.S. 395. I did not know how far it would be between services available, and I was a bit ahead of schedule, I thought. That did not last long as it took 20 minutes to get in and out of the pit stop. However, I continued excellent travel across the desert, noting that the trip was progressing well and that my car was in good condition.
Then I decided to stop to use a rest area, knowing I could not make it to the next town of size, Bishop, some 90 miles away. Just a few miles down the road, I joined dozens of other cars stopped on the highway. Advancing a few feet every few minutes, I saw that a tractor-trailer truck had overturned and that a SUV or mini-van was crashed along the opposite side of the road. As I say on the highway, I noticed the temperature gauge of my car had moved dangerously close to the “hot zone” and I began to worry. I shut off all accessories and shut off the engine. Big mistake. If the engine was not already cooked when I stopped at the rest area, turning it off when the car was stopped on the hot pavement and not moving to create a breeze probably did the damage. A couple frantic phone calls with my dad did not comfort me.
I approached a California Highway Patrol officer, who was nice to connect me with the tow truck operator who was just about to leave the scene and come back later with different equipment. The operator drove over and hooked up my car and towed me the 22 miles to a nice small town of Lone Pine.
After first declaring that I absolutely would not get any help until tomorrow — all the garage crew was out at the crash to the south — the garage manager started to help me and to identify if the car would need repairs or just some water and coolant. We looked at the car and added some water and coolant. I took it out for a short drive, and returned worried when the temperature gauge did not move at all from the cold position.
So here I am, in the Don Villa motel along U.S. 395, about 261 miles short of Reno. It’s a decent and reasonably priced place with cable TV, air conditioning and a 24-hour pool. Up and down the main street Western-themed restaurants and sporting goods stores declare their wares for sale.
I’ll know by about 10 a.m. the status of my car repairs. At this point, I hope to be able to make it to Reno by late afternoon or evening and then continue home to Wenatchee Thursday.
-- Posted from Reno, July 8
I made a small driving error — missed an exit by a quarter-mile — and actually took a 10-minute detour in Redlands, Calif., when it turns out I could have been back on the right road with just about a mile and a half of surface-street travel. I knew my toughest navigation would be around San Bernadino, Calif., and I was right.
Then I had a couple delays. I stopped for lunch and a restroom break near Hesperia, Calif., just as I turned onto U.S. 395. I did not know how far it would be between services available, and I was a bit ahead of schedule, I thought. That did not last long as it took 20 minutes to get in and out of the pit stop. However, I continued excellent travel across the desert, noting that the trip was progressing well and that my car was in good condition.
Then I decided to stop to use a rest area, knowing I could not make it to the next town of size, Bishop, some 90 miles away. Just a few miles down the road, I joined dozens of other cars stopped on the highway. Advancing a few feet every few minutes, I saw that a tractor-trailer truck had overturned and that a SUV or mini-van was crashed along the opposite side of the road. As I say on the highway, I noticed the temperature gauge of my car had moved dangerously close to the “hot zone” and I began to worry. I shut off all accessories and shut off the engine. Big mistake. If the engine was not already cooked when I stopped at the rest area, turning it off when the car was stopped on the hot pavement and not moving to create a breeze probably did the damage. A couple frantic phone calls with my dad did not comfort me.
I approached a California Highway Patrol officer, who was nice to connect me with the tow truck operator who was just about to leave the scene and come back later with different equipment. The operator drove over and hooked up my car and towed me the 22 miles to a nice small town of Lone Pine.
After first declaring that I absolutely would not get any help until tomorrow — all the garage crew was out at the crash to the south — the garage manager started to help me and to identify if the car would need repairs or just some water and coolant. We looked at the car and added some water and coolant. I took it out for a short drive, and returned worried when the temperature gauge did not move at all from the cold position.
So here I am, in the Don Villa motel along U.S. 395, about 261 miles short of Reno. It’s a decent and reasonably priced place with cable TV, air conditioning and a 24-hour pool. Up and down the main street Western-themed restaurants and sporting goods stores declare their wares for sale.
I’ll know by about 10 a.m. the status of my car repairs. At this point, I hope to be able to make it to Reno by late afternoon or evening and then continue home to Wenatchee Thursday.
-- Posted from Reno, July 8
Monday, July 04, 2005
229 and counting!
July 4, 1776, a bunch of the greatest Americans ever worked on giving King George and the British a big old "Buzz off!" in a genteel and calligraphic way. They even used parchment. The Brits, of course, were peeved and sent some soldiers to put down the colonial uprising. Well, it didn't work, and a few years later, America became the land of the free and the home of the brave. Still later, these same men penned one of the finest pieces of writing and philosophy ever crafted. They were truly the "greatest generation."
Today, some 229 years later, we celebrate the founding of our nation. We celebrate the freedoms and values that unite us as Americans. We honor those who came before us. We display the symbols of our nation. We use fireworks to symbolize the battles that our ancestors fought for independence and also to boldly declare our happiness about freedom and independence. Oh man, do I love fireworks. Someday, I'll be on the Mall in Washington watching A Capitol Fourth or on the Esplanade in Boston listening to the Boston Pops at the bandshell. Even the most partly-cloudy of patriots, the biggest cynics, can't help but to swell with a bit of nationalism at the great music accompanied by our nation's finests symphonies. Gotta love that!
But increasingly, we use this day, July 4, as a reason to take a day off, to have a furniture or half-yearly appparel sale. I've been listening to many commercials, reading many newspaper pages, and I have seen very little that refers to the day by its actual name: Independence Day. I am a quiet and personal patriot, but frankly, it kind of bugs me to hear people say "Happy Fourth of July!" I sing along with the national anthem when the band plays it, my hand covering my heart respectfully. I don't like using the flag on ties or paper napkins. You shouldn't wipe your mouth on the flag. Don't get me wrong -- I'll defend your right to do it, but I don't think it's right.
One e-mail from a distribution I subscribe to asked us to remember the people who serve to preserve our freedoms. Man, how many holidays do we use to honor the servicepeople? Veterans Day, Memorial Day and now also Independence Day? We didn't even have much of a military when we declared independence. Independence Day covers so much more than people in military service.
So forgive me if I ask people to put down that hot dog and Bud. Before you light up that sparkler, remember that this is a day to celebrate independence and freedom; for truth, justice and the American way; of We the People. It's a day when we should pay attention to the words of President Bill Clinton from his first inaugural address: "There is nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what is right with America."
I'll wave the flag to that.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Today, some 229 years later, we celebrate the founding of our nation. We celebrate the freedoms and values that unite us as Americans. We honor those who came before us. We display the symbols of our nation. We use fireworks to symbolize the battles that our ancestors fought for independence and also to boldly declare our happiness about freedom and independence. Oh man, do I love fireworks. Someday, I'll be on the Mall in Washington watching A Capitol Fourth or on the Esplanade in Boston listening to the Boston Pops at the bandshell. Even the most partly-cloudy of patriots, the biggest cynics, can't help but to swell with a bit of nationalism at the great music accompanied by our nation's finests symphonies. Gotta love that!
But increasingly, we use this day, July 4, as a reason to take a day off, to have a furniture or half-yearly appparel sale. I've been listening to many commercials, reading many newspaper pages, and I have seen very little that refers to the day by its actual name: Independence Day. I am a quiet and personal patriot, but frankly, it kind of bugs me to hear people say "Happy Fourth of July!" I sing along with the national anthem when the band plays it, my hand covering my heart respectfully. I don't like using the flag on ties or paper napkins. You shouldn't wipe your mouth on the flag. Don't get me wrong -- I'll defend your right to do it, but I don't think it's right.
One e-mail from a distribution I subscribe to asked us to remember the people who serve to preserve our freedoms. Man, how many holidays do we use to honor the servicepeople? Veterans Day, Memorial Day and now also Independence Day? We didn't even have much of a military when we declared independence. Independence Day covers so much more than people in military service.
So forgive me if I ask people to put down that hot dog and Bud. Before you light up that sparkler, remember that this is a day to celebrate independence and freedom; for truth, justice and the American way; of We the People. It's a day when we should pay attention to the words of President Bill Clinton from his first inaugural address: "There is nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what is right with America."
I'll wave the flag to that.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Buckling to pressure at Time
Welp, my blog pal over at Cyphering has again beat me to the punch (I was out floating in the pool in the hot Arizona sun instead) on the issue of freedom of the press. Read her entry here. She calls for the real culprit in starting all this, columnist Robert Novak, a mean-spirited man who has carried a lot of water for the conservatives.
Basically what has happened is that SCOTUS declined to hear a case on whether reporters had to reveal sources when federal authorities subpoenaed them. Two reporters, Matthew Cooper for Time and Judith Miller for The New York Times, both resisted and were willing to do the federal prison time of about four months. Time, though, this week said it was clear that reporters also have to follow the laws like everyone else and is forcing its reporter to turn over the notes. Meanwhile, Novak gets off scott-free.
Among all the seedy reasons that this is scary, one is that is prime is the idea that a corporate media organization can force its reporters in the field to turn over their notes. That is unprecedented, and it should not be seen as a model.
National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" had good coverage Thursday afternoon. From the Web site, you can also read and listen to an interview with the Editor in Chief of Time.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Basically what has happened is that SCOTUS declined to hear a case on whether reporters had to reveal sources when federal authorities subpoenaed them. Two reporters, Matthew Cooper for Time and Judith Miller for The New York Times, both resisted and were willing to do the federal prison time of about four months. Time, though, this week said it was clear that reporters also have to follow the laws like everyone else and is forcing its reporter to turn over the notes. Meanwhile, Novak gets off scott-free.
Among all the seedy reasons that this is scary, one is that is prime is the idea that a corporate media organization can force its reporters in the field to turn over their notes. That is unprecedented, and it should not be seen as a model.
National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" had good coverage Thursday afternoon. From the Web site, you can also read and listen to an interview with the Editor in Chief of Time.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
SCOTUS Watch '05
Well, we are in for a long, hot summer. Wow! Sandra Day O'Connor set the nation's capital on end when she announced her retirement from the United States Supreme Court, effective when her successor is nominated and confirmed. That could be a while.
President Bush has a chance to do something that has not been done in 11 years and could have an impact well into the 2030s, if the length of service of current Justices is an indicator, which, of course, it is.
There is a whole lot of SCOTUS news that summarizes the situation far better than I could ever hope to do. Try the Blog synthesis at Slate or The Washington Post. Slate also has good stuff on the possible "short list" to replace a retiring Justice. In typical Slate fashion, there is also an edition of The Explainer that, well, explains how this process will work. That is the best feature of Slate, I think.
OK, so some of the hot points on the SCOTUS (I like writing that) appointment:
Bottom line, my prediction: I think President Bush will pick a true conservative, probably not Gonzales (which would also require new hearings for an attorney general). This nominee will be confirmed by the full Senate and there will be wild hearings and a full-court press of a media campaign by all sorts of advocacy groups and quasi-politicians. Also, it is quite likely that Bush will soon also appoint a replacement for 80-year-old Chief Justice William Rehnquist. He won't hang on until the next presidential term in 2009, so it's a Bush appointment. That could prove to be a tough fight, but not as tough as this one since he is a conservative and would be replaced with a conservative. O'Connor's moderation could be replaced by a conservative, effectively tilting the court to the right.
Jeffrey Toobin and Jeff Greenfield quoted on CNN's NewsNight Friday that one person had said this nomination battle is the best thing that could happen to President Bush this week. His approval rating is down, but, they said, he stands up for what he believes and appointing a justice who is a true conservative will energize people and remind them why they voted for Bush. As an example, look at what has happened in the wake of the filibuster "truce": All of the blocked appointees have been confirmed.
In the end, it takes 51 votes, that's all. Sandra Day O'Connor was confirmed 99-0, but that is not about to happen for any Bush appointee. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and the rest of the Senate Republican leadership will ensure that, barring some sort of self-destruction with personal pecadilloes, the initial nominee will be confirmed.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
President Bush has a chance to do something that has not been done in 11 years and could have an impact well into the 2030s, if the length of service of current Justices is an indicator, which, of course, it is.
There is a whole lot of SCOTUS news that summarizes the situation far better than I could ever hope to do. Try the Blog synthesis at Slate or The Washington Post. Slate also has good stuff on the possible "short list" to replace a retiring Justice. In typical Slate fashion, there is also an edition of The Explainer that, well, explains how this process will work. That is the best feature of Slate, I think.
OK, so some of the hot points on the SCOTUS (I like writing that) appointment:
- How conservative will the nominee be? A year ago, everyone thought Bush would appoint Alberto Gonzales if he had a chance. Gonzales was a justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and has been exceptionally loyal to W. But the hard-core righties don't like Gonzales, who is moderate on some social issues, including abortion. If Bush wants a Hispanic, he might have better luck with the base, which expects a payback for granting him a second term, by appointing Emilio Garza, who has served on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals since 1991. Listen for the catchy phrase (also racist) that the neo-cons have been using: "Gonzales is Spanish for Souter". Basically, David Souter, whom President George H. W. Bush appointed to the court in 1990, was a moderate who all the conservatives thought was with them. Really, he has turned out to be on the moderate three and often with the liberals.
- What are the issues? Abortion. Duh. But also, gay rights (marriage, etc.), affirmative action, parental notification for minors to get abortions. If Gonzales is the pick, expect the USA PATRIOT Act and Guantanamo Bay prisoners to be prime attack points for the Democrats. Also, depending on the nominee, any cases he or she decided will be scrutinized for fodder by the minority party.
- When will this happen? Sounds like the president will wait at least a week until he returns from the G8 summit abroad. It has also been reported that Bush will try to put a name out there before Congress adjourns for the summer, which is in just a few weeks. It will be the top item for the Justice Committee after the break in September because the Court begins its term the first Monday in October.
- Who's playing? The pressure will be on Sen. Arlen Specter, the Judiciary Committee chair from Pennsylvania and a moderate, to shepherd the president's nominee through the process with the least amount of bruising. Look to Judiciary vets Pat Leahy of Vermont and John Kerry of Massachusetts for some fireworks. Barbara Boxer of California fired with both barrels at Gonzales during his attorney general hearings, and she will pull no punches, I imagine, on any Bush SCOTUS nominee.
Bottom line, my prediction: I think President Bush will pick a true conservative, probably not Gonzales (which would also require new hearings for an attorney general). This nominee will be confirmed by the full Senate and there will be wild hearings and a full-court press of a media campaign by all sorts of advocacy groups and quasi-politicians. Also, it is quite likely that Bush will soon also appoint a replacement for 80-year-old Chief Justice William Rehnquist. He won't hang on until the next presidential term in 2009, so it's a Bush appointment. That could prove to be a tough fight, but not as tough as this one since he is a conservative and would be replaced with a conservative. O'Connor's moderation could be replaced by a conservative, effectively tilting the court to the right.
Jeffrey Toobin and Jeff Greenfield quoted on CNN's NewsNight Friday that one person had said this nomination battle is the best thing that could happen to President Bush this week. His approval rating is down, but, they said, he stands up for what he believes and appointing a justice who is a true conservative will energize people and remind them why they voted for Bush. As an example, look at what has happened in the wake of the filibuster "truce": All of the blocked appointees have been confirmed.
In the end, it takes 51 votes, that's all. Sandra Day O'Connor was confirmed 99-0, but that is not about to happen for any Bush appointee. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and the rest of the Senate Republican leadership will ensure that, barring some sort of self-destruction with personal pecadilloes, the initial nominee will be confirmed.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
I like type
If you've read me for a while, you know that I like type. I like a good ligature. I swoon over serifs. I'm cukoo for kerning. And you know I hate Hobo and Comic Sans, as we all should.
So, when my blog bud Uniongrrl over at Cyphering sent me a link to TypeCon2005, I almost lost it. In fact, I long to go. Type Week in New York City is coming soon.
From the Media Bistro Web site:
Just one more reason to adore type.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
So, when my blog bud Uniongrrl over at Cyphering sent me a link to TypeCon2005, I almost lost it. In fact, I long to go. Type Week in New York City is coming soon.
From the Media Bistro Web site:
Mayor Bloomberg has declared July 18-24 to be "Type Week" in Manhattan! This is, in our opinion, quite a coup for the design community—we don't recall ever seeing "Grammar & Spelling Week" for copy editors or "Lede & Nut Graf Week" for reporters or "Optimized Workflow Week" for the IT department.
Just one more reason to adore type.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Hastings' hot seat
I received this press release, which came from the Washington State Democrat Party:
Now, it's obvious DeLay is still calling the shots with Hastings, a DeLay loyalist, at Ethics. It is hard to imagine what Hastings will reap as reward for his loyalty -- as ineffective as it has proven to be so far since DeLay has not been immune as planned.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Today, a copy of a letter drafted by Rep. Richard "Doc" Hastings, Chair of the House Ethics Committee, was leaked to the press. In this letter, Hastings retreats from attempts to install his Chief of Staff into the head position of the Tom DeLay investigation. (A copy of this letter can be viewed at rawstory.com here.)Hastings had tried to install his chief of staff of 10 years as the Ethics Committee's chief, a traditionally nonpartisan position. Hastings has been the most loyal of footsoldiers to the "Contract With Americ" coalition since winningelection in 1994. That paid off with a seat on the Rules Committee and Ethics. He is the only Member to serve on both, and that is irregular. Elevated to Ethics chair earlier this year, he is obviously playing the patsy for Speaker Dennis Hastert, himself a puppet for Majority Leader DeLay. I read a Washington Post story a couple years ago that explained that DeLay orchestrated Hastert's selection as Speaker in 1999 when Newt Gingrich resigned and designee Bob Livingston resigned after revelations of sexual improprieties. Hastert was seen as a safe choice and as a person whom DeLay could control. DeLay was Majority Whip at the time, but he was consolidating power for when Leader Dick Armey retired a couple years later.
In the past weeks, we have repeatedly called upon Hastings to stop his inethical behavior. Monday, Hastings‚ constituents picketed his district offices in Tri-Cities and Yakima. Two weeks ago, Washington State Party Chairman Paul Berendt made a tour of south central Washington with press conferences asking Hastings to recuse himself from the DeLay investigation.
Our efforts are making an impact! Now, he is feeling the pressure and has been forced to abandon his partisan tactics, which have brought the committee to a standstill.
However, this is only the first step in enabling the Ethics Committee to do its job. The Ethics Committee will be able to properly investigate the scandals surrounding DeLay only when Hastings recuses himself, as we have demanded.
Now, it's obvious DeLay is still calling the shots with Hastings, a DeLay loyalist, at Ethics. It is hard to imagine what Hastings will reap as reward for his loyalty -- as ineffective as it has proven to be so far since DeLay has not been immune as planned.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Who is today's Shirley Chisolm?
I just finished viewing "Chisolm '72: Unbought and Unbossed." On the first layer, this was particularly interesting to me because I did not know much about Rep. Chisolm other than that she was the first black woman elected to Congress and the first woman to run for president. She died earlier this year. Beyond that, though the parallels between 1972 and 2004 were striking.
The politicking that people, especially within the women's movement, were willing to do in order to win and send President Nixon packing was amazing. At one point, the documentary said that Chisolm was probably ideologically almost identical to Sen. George McGovern, who eventually won the nomination but lost the election in a miserable defeat. Why, then did she run? Her answer would probably be "Why not run?" Clearly there were numerous factors in the 1972 race, some nicely explained in "All the President's Men" and others as specters of 1968, but the Chisolm factor had much to do with McGovern being nominated.
In 2004, I was a strong and early supporter of Howard Dean for president. In fact, I wanted him for vice president with Al Gore in 2000, and I knew Dean was a comer. He started saying the things that get people energized, and he was criticized for being too volatile. At the 2004 Washington caucus, I recall people saying, one after another, that we need a candidate who could win in November. I remember replying that we could show who is electable by actually electing him. Basically, if we know a candidate is right and we agree with him (or less frequently her), why do we avoid supporting him? We cast so much doubt and listen to so much conventional wisdom that we can't see a person who has potential but has not found a foothold.
So I ask: Among today's Democrats, who is today's Shirley Chisholm? Who is that candidate who is running for all that is right with America? Who is the candidate who will energize the electorate and the nonelectorate? Who is the candidate who will make people recall why they are proud to be Americans?
Is that candidate even out there? A combination of Al Sharpton, Dennis Kucinich and Howard Dean would come pretty close. Can that candidate even exist in today's media environment? The 24-hour news cycle, endless shout shows and resourceful bloggers will undoubtedly form the crucible in which any candidate must be tempered.
My pal The CIB hopes it is Sen. Joe Biden, and honestly, he is making a lot of sense as a sane voice on Iraq these days. I know who it isn't, though, and that is John Kerry and John Edwards. Kerry is a candidate we settled for because we thought his medals would beat W.'s flight suit. Edwards is a sap who plays class divisions better than most Republicans because you don't even realize it -- remember "Two Americas"?
Will we ever see someone like Shirley Chisholm again? Honestly, I hope that person is out there today, running for school board, or state legislature -- in fact, I hope there are donzens of 'em. Democracy for America is helping people like these get elected and helping everyday progressives elect them. The group's mid-year report card is impressive and worth checking out. Time to restart the '04 engines. This pit stop has been long enough.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
The politicking that people, especially within the women's movement, were willing to do in order to win and send President Nixon packing was amazing. At one point, the documentary said that Chisolm was probably ideologically almost identical to Sen. George McGovern, who eventually won the nomination but lost the election in a miserable defeat. Why, then did she run? Her answer would probably be "Why not run?" Clearly there were numerous factors in the 1972 race, some nicely explained in "All the President's Men" and others as specters of 1968, but the Chisolm factor had much to do with McGovern being nominated.
In 2004, I was a strong and early supporter of Howard Dean for president. In fact, I wanted him for vice president with Al Gore in 2000, and I knew Dean was a comer. He started saying the things that get people energized, and he was criticized for being too volatile. At the 2004 Washington caucus, I recall people saying, one after another, that we need a candidate who could win in November. I remember replying that we could show who is electable by actually electing him. Basically, if we know a candidate is right and we agree with him (or less frequently her), why do we avoid supporting him? We cast so much doubt and listen to so much conventional wisdom that we can't see a person who has potential but has not found a foothold.
So I ask: Among today's Democrats, who is today's Shirley Chisholm? Who is that candidate who is running for all that is right with America? Who is the candidate who will energize the electorate and the nonelectorate? Who is the candidate who will make people recall why they are proud to be Americans?
Is that candidate even out there? A combination of Al Sharpton, Dennis Kucinich and Howard Dean would come pretty close. Can that candidate even exist in today's media environment? The 24-hour news cycle, endless shout shows and resourceful bloggers will undoubtedly form the crucible in which any candidate must be tempered.
My pal The CIB hopes it is Sen. Joe Biden, and honestly, he is making a lot of sense as a sane voice on Iraq these days. I know who it isn't, though, and that is John Kerry and John Edwards. Kerry is a candidate we settled for because we thought his medals would beat W.'s flight suit. Edwards is a sap who plays class divisions better than most Republicans because you don't even realize it -- remember "Two Americas"?
Will we ever see someone like Shirley Chisholm again? Honestly, I hope that person is out there today, running for school board, or state legislature -- in fact, I hope there are donzens of 'em. Democracy for America is helping people like these get elected and helping everyday progressives elect them. The group's mid-year report card is impressive and worth checking out. Time to restart the '04 engines. This pit stop has been long enough.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Patriomagnetism
Just in time for the 229th birthday of our nation, my blog pal Vestal Vespa has an item about a magnetic poetry kit with an "America" theme. See her comments here.
Vestal Vespa: What do ya know . . .
My take: Who the heck needs some sort of magnetic poetry kit to make patriotic phrases. Didn't Francis Scott Key and John Philip Sousa already do that? How about let;s try reading some real American poetry from Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, even Abraham Lincoln? We Americans did just fine before magnetizing our words of patriotism.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Vestal Vespa: What do ya know . . .
My take: Who the heck needs some sort of magnetic poetry kit to make patriotic phrases. Didn't Francis Scott Key and John Philip Sousa already do that? How about let;s try reading some real American poetry from Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, even Abraham Lincoln? We Americans did just fine before magnetizing our words of patriotism.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
The Pentagon is Big Brother
The New York Times reported the other day that the United States military has been accumulating data on prospective recruits -- data they are allowed to collect under the USA PATRIOT Act -- and compiling it to be available for all sorts of potentially seedy uses. Worse yet, a private company has been contracted to assist in the process, and the Social Security Administration has loosened its regulations to allow the military greater access. The Social Security Number was never intended to be used as a national identification number, yet that is exactly what has occurred.
I am not bothered by the military's recruiting. Of course the military needs to be able to contact the prospective recruits. I am troubled by the increasingly aggressive methids and the idea that the military is compiling data to specially target certain individuals. It was reported that the fields include height, weight, and so on, but I imagine it could also at some point include notes such as family status and income -- information to cull more desperate candidates and identify them for special attention.
The practice has been in place since 2002, officials knew they were in violation of some procedures in May 2004, and have still not rectified the procedures. Families should demand that this type of personal information not be collected on their children all under the guise of increased national security. How far will the government go?
Read the full story.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
I am not bothered by the military's recruiting. Of course the military needs to be able to contact the prospective recruits. I am troubled by the increasingly aggressive methids and the idea that the military is compiling data to specially target certain individuals. It was reported that the fields include height, weight, and so on, but I imagine it could also at some point include notes such as family status and income -- information to cull more desperate candidates and identify them for special attention.
The practice has been in place since 2002, officials knew they were in violation of some procedures in May 2004, and have still not rectified the procedures. Families should demand that this type of personal information not be collected on their children all under the guise of increased national security. How far will the government go?
Read the full story.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Summer Movies Reviewed
In June I have seen three movies. Here is my take:
"Batman Begins" — Homerun! This is a very entertaining film that also stays true to the philosophy and legend of the Dark Knight. I especially liked how the filmmakers stayed away from the corniness that has plagued the Batman transfers to television and film. Even the 1989 film with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson had a wink and nod to the 1960s series. Of course, with the Joker in the story, you're bound to have some hokey humor. Still, it is nice to see the characters treated so well. Admittedly, I skipped the last installment with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris O'Donnell. A new generation of people can be exposed to the beauty of Batman, which is that you don't need special powers, like Superman or even Spider-Man; instead, hard work and a good sense of justice can lead to good. That's what first drew me to read Batman comics, and it's why I so enjoyed this film. Pay full price.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith" — I am not really a fan of the spy thriller. OK, I liked "The Italian Job" and "Enemy of the State" — the kind of films with more suspense and thrill than action and adventure. Still, this movie was entertaining. It was not what I would consider a good film because the plot was trite and predictable. However, it had its endearing moments, and passed the time well. I went to a full-price show with family, but probably not worth more than matinee prices.
"Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" — This was the third installment of the epic series, one that closes the gap and brings the modern installments into alignment with the 1970s and 1980s films, which come later in the plot. I attended a digital projection screening, and I think that affected my enjoyemnt of the film in a positive way. The graphics and effects were tremendous and entertaining. I thought the plot dragged a bit, perhaps because every viewer knows what is coming — the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. It was a bit anti-climactic, to be honest. Overall, a good show, and plenty of CGI eye candy. Pay full price.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
"Batman Begins" — Homerun! This is a very entertaining film that also stays true to the philosophy and legend of the Dark Knight. I especially liked how the filmmakers stayed away from the corniness that has plagued the Batman transfers to television and film. Even the 1989 film with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson had a wink and nod to the 1960s series. Of course, with the Joker in the story, you're bound to have some hokey humor. Still, it is nice to see the characters treated so well. Admittedly, I skipped the last installment with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris O'Donnell. A new generation of people can be exposed to the beauty of Batman, which is that you don't need special powers, like Superman or even Spider-Man; instead, hard work and a good sense of justice can lead to good. That's what first drew me to read Batman comics, and it's why I so enjoyed this film. Pay full price.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith" — I am not really a fan of the spy thriller. OK, I liked "The Italian Job" and "Enemy of the State" — the kind of films with more suspense and thrill than action and adventure. Still, this movie was entertaining. It was not what I would consider a good film because the plot was trite and predictable. However, it had its endearing moments, and passed the time well. I went to a full-price show with family, but probably not worth more than matinee prices.
"Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" — This was the third installment of the epic series, one that closes the gap and brings the modern installments into alignment with the 1970s and 1980s films, which come later in the plot. I attended a digital projection screening, and I think that affected my enjoyemnt of the film in a positive way. The graphics and effects were tremendous and entertaining. I thought the plot dragged a bit, perhaps because every viewer knows what is coming — the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. It was a bit anti-climactic, to be honest. Overall, a good show, and plenty of CGI eye candy. Pay full price.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Summer Vacation? Not so much.
Today's edition of The New York Times has a nice op-ed piece, "Reading, Writing, Retailing," about funding educators and the future of the teaching profession and about how so many teachers must moonlight or work summers to pay the bills. It's by Dave Eggers, the founder of 826 Valencia, a nonprofit group that tutors students, where NÃnive Calegari is on the board. Daniel Moulthrop, a former teacher, is a radio producer for WCPN in Cleveland. They are the authors of "Teachers Have It Easy: The Big Sacrifices and Small Salaries of Our Nation's Teachers."
It is a good read.
Find it here.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
It is a good read.
Find it here.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Hoover Dam and other legacies
My travel through the desert from Las Vegas to Phoenix (about 280 miles) took about five and a half hours to complete. The main congestion was at Hoover Dam, just about 40 minutes from Las Vegas, which dams the Colorado River, and forms a border between Nevada and Arizona. Much of the slow travel can be attributed to the narrow, winding road that cars must travel; the terrain prohibits much else.
The other delays are more artificial. As I drove through the dam zone at about 5 mph, I realized what an example Hoover Dam is for our day. Not only is Hoover Dam a convergence of ideas and good ol' American know-how, it is also a collision of government work, tourism and the war on terror. Each car was funneled through a security corridor, where certain vehicles were directed for inspection. I imagine this is like the "additional screening" at the airport. Trucks, vans, buses and the like were directed to a special line, just as at the border. I imagine this is all to thwart any attempt by terroriets at damaging the mammoth hydroelectric dam, which would cause a massive flood, loss of electricity to huge expanses of the West, and significant loss of life and damage to the environment.
Hoover Dam brings together the federal departments of the Interior and Transportation and, I imagine, Energy and Homeland Security. I did not stop at the gleaming copper visitors' center to find out. Construction also slowed the traffic. This is because a new bypass road is being built, which, I assume will permit traffic to avoid traveling across the top of the dam and, hopefully, reduce risk of damage as well as speed things up a bit.
I observed an irony: The dam is named for an American president whose main legacy is that the Great Depression began during his administration, and his economic policies contributed significantly to that occurence. As a Republican, likely a pro-business fan of small government, his name is carved onto one of the most perpetually massive public works projects ever, still expanding today.
Then, as I looked back toward the dam in my rear mirror, I speculated what major government projects might be named for other presidents. Ronald Reagan has the trade building in Washington -- a huge structure (fans coould say because he was bigger than life, detractors could say because of his huge deficits). Washington National Airport is now Washington Reagan National Airport. Houston's main airport is named after George Bush, as is a stretch of the Interstate Highway surrounding that city and the headquarters of the CIA he once headed. No airports are named for Bill Clinton, but I imagine it is only a matter of time until something suitably ironic pops up.
What, then, will be the constructed legacy of George W. Bush? A massive Homeland Security building? Maybe, like the term "Hooverville" for the snatytowns that arose for the destitute, security barricades might be called "Bushicades." Maybe it will have to do with the deficit or dwindling natural resources or eroded civil liberties. Maybe future tax cuts will be called "Bush Cuts." Who knows? I am sure it will be filled with irony, though.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
The other delays are more artificial. As I drove through the dam zone at about 5 mph, I realized what an example Hoover Dam is for our day. Not only is Hoover Dam a convergence of ideas and good ol' American know-how, it is also a collision of government work, tourism and the war on terror. Each car was funneled through a security corridor, where certain vehicles were directed for inspection. I imagine this is like the "additional screening" at the airport. Trucks, vans, buses and the like were directed to a special line, just as at the border. I imagine this is all to thwart any attempt by terroriets at damaging the mammoth hydroelectric dam, which would cause a massive flood, loss of electricity to huge expanses of the West, and significant loss of life and damage to the environment.
Hoover Dam brings together the federal departments of the Interior and Transportation and, I imagine, Energy and Homeland Security. I did not stop at the gleaming copper visitors' center to find out. Construction also slowed the traffic. This is because a new bypass road is being built, which, I assume will permit traffic to avoid traveling across the top of the dam and, hopefully, reduce risk of damage as well as speed things up a bit.
I observed an irony: The dam is named for an American president whose main legacy is that the Great Depression began during his administration, and his economic policies contributed significantly to that occurence. As a Republican, likely a pro-business fan of small government, his name is carved onto one of the most perpetually massive public works projects ever, still expanding today.
Then, as I looked back toward the dam in my rear mirror, I speculated what major government projects might be named for other presidents. Ronald Reagan has the trade building in Washington -- a huge structure (fans coould say because he was bigger than life, detractors could say because of his huge deficits). Washington National Airport is now Washington Reagan National Airport. Houston's main airport is named after George Bush, as is a stretch of the Interstate Highway surrounding that city and the headquarters of the CIA he once headed. No airports are named for Bill Clinton, but I imagine it is only a matter of time until something suitably ironic pops up.
What, then, will be the constructed legacy of George W. Bush? A massive Homeland Security building? Maybe, like the term "Hooverville" for the snatytowns that arose for the destitute, security barricades might be called "Bushicades." Maybe it will have to do with the deficit or dwindling natural resources or eroded civil liberties. Maybe future tax cuts will be called "Bush Cuts." Who knows? I am sure it will be filled with irony, though.
-- Peoria, Ariz.
Road Trip '05: Stage 3
Las Vegas was a pleasant experience. Basically my time there included being lazy by the pool, sweating in my car, and seeing some great entertainment.
I was an ultimate geek by attending The Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. This place is a restaurant themed like the futire in Star Trek. All the menu items are based on the characters and lore of Star Trek. I had a toasted hero that was called a Photo Torpedo, which had me worried about its bowel effects, let me tell you. I can't recall all of the lame puns, but the version of a Long Island Ice Tea was called the James Tea Kirk. Ha ha.
I wandered around and looked at the various displays for a bit after I downed my torpedo. I considered attending one of the movie rides, but it was $38 for an 18-minute ride, and I thought that was not worth it.
The Las Vegas Hilton is also home to "Music and Passion," Barry Manilow's show. I was bummed to have been in town when he was not because that would have been worth seeing. I did stop by the Barry Manilow gift shop, and I thought that the Barry bobblehead was a trip. One would have been funny, but two? Probably appeals to the fanatics, not the casual fans like me.
I saw a classic Vegas variety show called Splash. It has been around for 20 years, but the reviews say it stays fresh through constant reinvention. Apparently, it also introduced America to the hip hop street dancing that is now pervasive on MTV. It did have everything a person could ask for in a variety show: lots of singing, lots of dancing, a few topless showgirls, comic drummers (the Gouchos), juggling Mexican brothers, ice skating couple, ice skating woman with hula hoops (one on fire!), a circus guy (named Vitaly, of course) who uses a long banner of fabric to fly through the air, and four motorcycles inside a metal globe. Wow! My only complaint was that the audience was kind of tepid. I think some of the Japanese tourists did not get some of the jokes. All in all, Viva Las Vegas!
I left Las Vegas and made it to my folks' home in the Phoenix area in reasonable time. I have already been in the pool, and I am enjoying the time away. My folks are out of town until Sunday, so I have it all to myself. My stepmom was nice enough to leave a leftover pork chop in the refrigerator for me.
The West is a big place, for sure. And there are portions that are attractive and some that are downright desolate. With all the congestion in some parts of the country, I am surprised someone has not made a plan to use the land better.
-- Peroria, Ariz.
I was an ultimate geek by attending The Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. This place is a restaurant themed like the futire in Star Trek. All the menu items are based on the characters and lore of Star Trek. I had a toasted hero that was called a Photo Torpedo, which had me worried about its bowel effects, let me tell you. I can't recall all of the lame puns, but the version of a Long Island Ice Tea was called the James Tea Kirk. Ha ha.
I wandered around and looked at the various displays for a bit after I downed my torpedo. I considered attending one of the movie rides, but it was $38 for an 18-minute ride, and I thought that was not worth it.
The Las Vegas Hilton is also home to "Music and Passion," Barry Manilow's show. I was bummed to have been in town when he was not because that would have been worth seeing. I did stop by the Barry Manilow gift shop, and I thought that the Barry bobblehead was a trip. One would have been funny, but two? Probably appeals to the fanatics, not the casual fans like me.
I saw a classic Vegas variety show called Splash. It has been around for 20 years, but the reviews say it stays fresh through constant reinvention. Apparently, it also introduced America to the hip hop street dancing that is now pervasive on MTV. It did have everything a person could ask for in a variety show: lots of singing, lots of dancing, a few topless showgirls, comic drummers (the Gouchos), juggling Mexican brothers, ice skating couple, ice skating woman with hula hoops (one on fire!), a circus guy (named Vitaly, of course) who uses a long banner of fabric to fly through the air, and four motorcycles inside a metal globe. Wow! My only complaint was that the audience was kind of tepid. I think some of the Japanese tourists did not get some of the jokes. All in all, Viva Las Vegas!
I left Las Vegas and made it to my folks' home in the Phoenix area in reasonable time. I have already been in the pool, and I am enjoying the time away. My folks are out of town until Sunday, so I have it all to myself. My stepmom was nice enough to leave a leftover pork chop in the refrigerator for me.
The West is a big place, for sure. And there are portions that are attractive and some that are downright desolate. With all the congestion in some parts of the country, I am surprised someone has not made a plan to use the land better.
-- Peroria, Ariz.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Road Trip ’05: Stage 2
Let's just say that my night staying at the Motel 6 was not the best motel experience ever. I was tired at about 10 p.m., so I went to bed. It was hot because of the broken air conditioning, so I slept atop the covers. I awoke several times during the night with various noises outside the room, in the parking lot and, at about 5 a.m., the construction quarry nearby. I decided to sleep until about 8 instead of the 6 a.m. time I planned to get up. About 6, the room started heating up because the sun came over the hills. It had cooled quite a bit overnight.
So, around 7:30, I got up, showered and dressed and left for Las Vegas. No travel problems to report, and it was smooth sailing to Vegas. Nevada really is much more eye-pleasing than I thought. Also, the thunderstorms and lightning sparked a few fires, which made for interesting viewing about 45-60 minutes north of Las Vegas.
I am getting settled here and have Internet access, so I can do my online class work and such. Can't believe that I am in my hotel room blogging in Vegas. When I head to the strip later, that should give some good fodder for entries!
-- Las Vegas, Nev.
So, around 7:30, I got up, showered and dressed and left for Las Vegas. No travel problems to report, and it was smooth sailing to Vegas. Nevada really is much more eye-pleasing than I thought. Also, the thunderstorms and lightning sparked a few fires, which made for interesting viewing about 45-60 minutes north of Las Vegas.
I am getting settled here and have Internet access, so I can do my online class work and such. Can't believe that I am in my hotel room blogging in Vegas. When I head to the strip later, that should give some good fodder for entries!
-- Las Vegas, Nev.
Road Trip ’05: Stage 1
I left Wenatchee on schedule this morning, just after 6 a.m. Pacific Time. The only glitch in travel was in the Tri-Cities, where I think I have gotten lost every time I have traveled there. In my own defense, I did take all the correct turns and exits. However, I did not realize that the highway turned into a main street through Kennewick, and I turned back and asked for directions at a mini-mart.
Travel continued well, and I had no problems through Oregon and was at the Idaho state line at about 1:30 Mountain Time (just 6 1/2 hours after I left). As I drove those first few miles in the Gem State, I noticed that the highway medians and shoulders had a lot of weeds and just looked unsightly. Things improved around Boise. I continued to make excellent time through Idaho and stopped for a break in Twin Falls at 4:30 Mountain Time.
Nevada, I realized, actually has some nice scenery. The drawback is that it just keeps going and going and going. Just when I thought I was making some progress, I realized there were still miles to go. With the speed limit at 70 mph and mostly straight and flat terrain, I did make it to Ely (EE-lie), Nev., by about 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The hour I lost in Idaho’s time zone was regained in Nevada. I thought it would be no problem to find a motel, hopefully with Internet access. The first couple motels were booked. The Longhorn, a former Holiday Inn, had one room in nonsmoking, and it had Internet – for just $95. I passed, settling instead for the Motel 6 at just $39.95. No Internet. Also, the air conditioning was broken, but it actually was not too bad since I opened a window and a light breeze kicked up. The other guests seem to be nightowls, and the many motorcycles have been rumbling around the parking lot. The view of the full moon from the room was striking.
I was so pleased with the performance of my car, which traveled 800 miles. The engine temperature stayed within the normal range, and I had to turn off the air conditioning for a while to ensure that. Still, it was a tough accomplishment considering the elevation rise and the temperatures over 100 degrees.
Las Vegas is just a four-hour drive or so (275 miles), and I should be settled there by early afternoon. I composed this in Ely, Nev., but I posted it from Las Vegas.
-- Las Vegas, Nev.
Travel continued well, and I had no problems through Oregon and was at the Idaho state line at about 1:30 Mountain Time (just 6 1/2 hours after I left). As I drove those first few miles in the Gem State, I noticed that the highway medians and shoulders had a lot of weeds and just looked unsightly. Things improved around Boise. I continued to make excellent time through Idaho and stopped for a break in Twin Falls at 4:30 Mountain Time.
Nevada, I realized, actually has some nice scenery. The drawback is that it just keeps going and going and going. Just when I thought I was making some progress, I realized there were still miles to go. With the speed limit at 70 mph and mostly straight and flat terrain, I did make it to Ely (EE-lie), Nev., by about 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The hour I lost in Idaho’s time zone was regained in Nevada. I thought it would be no problem to find a motel, hopefully with Internet access. The first couple motels were booked. The Longhorn, a former Holiday Inn, had one room in nonsmoking, and it had Internet – for just $95. I passed, settling instead for the Motel 6 at just $39.95. No Internet. Also, the air conditioning was broken, but it actually was not too bad since I opened a window and a light breeze kicked up. The other guests seem to be nightowls, and the many motorcycles have been rumbling around the parking lot. The view of the full moon from the room was striking.
I was so pleased with the performance of my car, which traveled 800 miles. The engine temperature stayed within the normal range, and I had to turn off the air conditioning for a while to ensure that. Still, it was a tough accomplishment considering the elevation rise and the temperatures over 100 degrees.
Las Vegas is just a four-hour drive or so (275 miles), and I should be settled there by early afternoon. I composed this in Ely, Nev., but I posted it from Las Vegas.
-- Las Vegas, Nev.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Election '08 -- Stage 1
Well, others have beat me to the punch. People are lining up candidates for the 2008 presidential election, just three years away. My friend the CIB has already thrown her support to U.S. Senator Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for president in 1988. But so did all the other Democrats that year (Michael Dukakis and my hubris-filled tragic hero Gary Hart).
Someone with GOP tendencies also thought it would be cute to write "Jeb Bush in 2008" on my doormat and newspaper, still on the porch because I was out of town. I have my suspicions because I don't know many people foolish enough to scrawl such a slogan.
Throw all the support you want at Joe Biden but he ain't gonna make it. I'll bet the CIB a cocktail of her choosing. Ditto for Jeb, the Bush everyone thought would inherit the legacy of Prescott and Poppy. Alas, no. Jeb has several albatrosses around his neck: Schiavo, Elian, hurricanes, a crappy and unpopular education reform package, and of course the 2000 presidential fiat.
I don't know who will win the nominations for either major party, but I know it won't be Biden or Bush. Biden is running for Secretary of State and I doubt the people would elect a third Bush in 20 years. Jeb would be smart to sit this one out to avoid looking like a patsy for his brother. But you never know what could happen.
Here are my contenders:
For the Democrats, in order of likelihood to be nominated:
For the Republicans, in order of likelihood to be nominated:
Someone with GOP tendencies also thought it would be cute to write "Jeb Bush in 2008" on my doormat and newspaper, still on the porch because I was out of town. I have my suspicions because I don't know many people foolish enough to scrawl such a slogan.
Throw all the support you want at Joe Biden but he ain't gonna make it. I'll bet the CIB a cocktail of her choosing. Ditto for Jeb, the Bush everyone thought would inherit the legacy of Prescott and Poppy. Alas, no. Jeb has several albatrosses around his neck: Schiavo, Elian, hurricanes, a crappy and unpopular education reform package, and of course the 2000 presidential fiat.
I don't know who will win the nominations for either major party, but I know it won't be Biden or Bush. Biden is running for Secretary of State and I doubt the people would elect a third Bush in 20 years. Jeb would be smart to sit this one out to avoid looking like a patsy for his brother. But you never know what could happen.
Here are my contenders:
For the Democrats, in order of likelihood to be nominated:
- U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, also a former governor
- Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, also a former Congressman and ambassafor to the United Nations.
- Gov. Mark Warner of Virgina, a statewide Democrat from Virginia has to make anyone's list
- U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, the former president's wife
- Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, now working with a foundation to reduce poverty
- U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware -- I guess if a governor of Arkansas can do it, so can a Senator from tiny Delaware, the credit capital of America
- U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts -- but is he used goods?
- The other 41 Democrat U.S. Senators, all of whom have entertained presidential ambitions -- they're Senators after all
- Wild Cards: Former Sen. Bob Kerrey, president of the New School in New York but recently a 9/11 Commissioner; Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, a former DNC chair; U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, but probably just for vice president if at all.
For the Republicans, in order of likelihood to be nominated:
- U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who ran unsuccessfully in 2000 and has been paying his dues ever since
- Former U.S. House Speaker New Gingrich of Georgia, who has a book out and is making plenty of networking connections on the book tour
- Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the Mormon son of a political dynasty who needs a legislative win or the voters to overturn same-sex marriage in his superliberal state
- U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania -- dude, he is so on the ticket because of his super-Christian beliefs that rally the Religious Right
- U.S. Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, the Majority Leader -- not likely to win because of legislative baggage
- Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who has stealthily climbed her way to the top by being loyal and having Teflon coating
- Wild Cards: Vice President Dick Cheney, bad ticker or not, the conservatives adore him; U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a maverick who makes a lot of sense; U.S. Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio, also a former governor whose credentials can't be tarnished by a break with the Bushies; Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, only if the Consitution gets changed.
Birthday ups and downs
Friday June 17 was, in fact, my 31st birthday, and it was a doozy. I left for Seattle with no agenda other than to have some fun and relax after a long school year. Thank goodness I have friends like Superfrankenstein and the CIB, because they made my birthday memorable and fun.
Let's just say there was plenty of spiritous libations and good eats. I found a quarter on the bus. We had good conversation -- and plenty of spiritous libations.
That was the nice part of my birthday. The earlier part was not so fun.
It all started because I just had to watch a few more minutes of the Today show. I needed to get in the shower, but there I was, enthralled by the fashion segment on the "Boho" style -- the return of Bohemian style of dress. I don't know why I thought it was interesting, but it was. Then I was late. After filling up with gas, I was on the road with just one hour to get to Ellensburg. Should have been fine, and I might have been just a couple minutes late for my 11 a.m. haircut at The Clipper (just $10 and so good).
Then, I knew I was doomed. I always say that Highway 97 over Blewett Pass is not a painful drive unless you get stuck behind a boat, camper or tractor-trailer. As I was cruising along on a glorious Friday during summer vacation that was also my birthday, I had to decelerate rapidly approaching a tractor-trailer full of bins of apples or pears. It was going no more than 40 mph. I was screwed. The passing lane was still a few miles away, and I was traveling at a painfully slow speed given my need to get to Ellensburg. Here is where I should have just used my cell phone to call the barber to reschedule and to call my friend with whom I had lunch plans to move it later.
But no. I decided I would pass the truck and then try to make up some time. Big mistake. Going up a hill, everyone has to press the accelerator a bit to get the car moving up the hill. That's what I did, and I was all alone. I honestly did not realize that as the hill flattened, I was up to 75 mph. The posted limit is 60. I only realized this when from around a bend came a state patrol trooper who literally flipped a U-turn and flashed those lights.
Officer 626 was very polite and nice about the whole situation -- as nice as I can handle when I am receiving a euphemistically titled "notice of infraction" for $153. Thank goodness this was also in Chelan County still as I plan to explain the circumstances in court as is my right.
Officer 626 also asked me if I knew my license expired. Oh yeah, I thought, today is my birthday and it expires today. Honestly, who looks at their license for the expiration date? I asked if the Department of Licensing should have sent me a reminder, and he explained that perhaps if I had sent in a change of address within 10 days of moving, as I should have, then I would have received the notice. Embarrassment.
After 10 humiliating minutes at a slow vehicle turnout, I made my way to Ellensburg. Changed the haircut appointment. Finished lunch. Went to the Department of Licensing in Ellensburg to get a new license, which, thankfully, took just about four minutes start to finish. I have a laser printout as a temporary and then the new card will come from Olympia in about two weeks. My old one was seven years old because I had the original four years plus a three-year extension sticker (part of the reason I forgot it expired this year), and I really liked that picture. It's amazing how much I have changed. Smaller glasses, bigger forehead and chins. Oh well.
All in all a birthday to remember. And I will keep remembering it every time I pay what I am sure will be an increased insurance premium.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Let's just say there was plenty of spiritous libations and good eats. I found a quarter on the bus. We had good conversation -- and plenty of spiritous libations.
That was the nice part of my birthday. The earlier part was not so fun.
It all started because I just had to watch a few more minutes of the Today show. I needed to get in the shower, but there I was, enthralled by the fashion segment on the "Boho" style -- the return of Bohemian style of dress. I don't know why I thought it was interesting, but it was. Then I was late. After filling up with gas, I was on the road with just one hour to get to Ellensburg. Should have been fine, and I might have been just a couple minutes late for my 11 a.m. haircut at The Clipper (just $10 and so good).
Then, I knew I was doomed. I always say that Highway 97 over Blewett Pass is not a painful drive unless you get stuck behind a boat, camper or tractor-trailer. As I was cruising along on a glorious Friday during summer vacation that was also my birthday, I had to decelerate rapidly approaching a tractor-trailer full of bins of apples or pears. It was going no more than 40 mph. I was screwed. The passing lane was still a few miles away, and I was traveling at a painfully slow speed given my need to get to Ellensburg. Here is where I should have just used my cell phone to call the barber to reschedule and to call my friend with whom I had lunch plans to move it later.
But no. I decided I would pass the truck and then try to make up some time. Big mistake. Going up a hill, everyone has to press the accelerator a bit to get the car moving up the hill. That's what I did, and I was all alone. I honestly did not realize that as the hill flattened, I was up to 75 mph. The posted limit is 60. I only realized this when from around a bend came a state patrol trooper who literally flipped a U-turn and flashed those lights.
Officer 626 was very polite and nice about the whole situation -- as nice as I can handle when I am receiving a euphemistically titled "notice of infraction" for $153. Thank goodness this was also in Chelan County still as I plan to explain the circumstances in court as is my right.
Officer 626 also asked me if I knew my license expired. Oh yeah, I thought, today is my birthday and it expires today. Honestly, who looks at their license for the expiration date? I asked if the Department of Licensing should have sent me a reminder, and he explained that perhaps if I had sent in a change of address within 10 days of moving, as I should have, then I would have received the notice. Embarrassment.
After 10 humiliating minutes at a slow vehicle turnout, I made my way to Ellensburg. Changed the haircut appointment. Finished lunch. Went to the Department of Licensing in Ellensburg to get a new license, which, thankfully, took just about four minutes start to finish. I have a laser printout as a temporary and then the new card will come from Olympia in about two weeks. My old one was seven years old because I had the original four years plus a three-year extension sticker (part of the reason I forgot it expired this year), and I really liked that picture. It's amazing how much I have changed. Smaller glasses, bigger forehead and chins. Oh well.
All in all a birthday to remember. And I will keep remembering it every time I pay what I am sure will be an increased insurance premium.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Coverage in the high school newspaper
If you are just tuning in, there is a steady back-and-forth debate between to loyal Loganite readers, DrPezz and MrPibb, who are conflicted about the coverage deserved by and given to various sports and activities at our high school. Normally, I don't defend coverage decisions because the complainants usually don't want an explanation, they want something changed. Then, amid the barbs this week came this Anonymous post:
The student staff has committed each year to cover every sport and every squad at a minimum level. That means reporting every score plus a highlight and quote for the three-week interval between issues. This past year, the sports editor also chose to have a narrative story on each varsity sport at some point during the season, which could go further in-depth than just the scores and highlights, even if the team was losing. Heck, if we only covered the wins, there would not be much in some issues. The sports editor also developed a banner with mugs of notable varsity performances with quotes and a series of notable facts. This, with at least one action photo each issue, which we also try to balance among verious teams during the season, comprises two pages.
The timeliness of each edition -- every three weeks -- makes game summaries worthless. People already know the results from another source or it has been so long that they don't care. So, the students determined they would simply document the scores and highlights as listed above. They also committed a full page each issue for a profile of a player or coach. They try to balance this around the various sports, buut there are more sports than there are issues of the newspaper in a year, so some of the smaller sports get skipped in a year. Sometimes these are profiles of the all-star standouts, other times they highlight a player who has come back from injury or who sits on the bench but has great team spirit and so on.
When the decision was made in 2001 to switch to this format, student editors knew that it would mean that coverage of a state championship or other truly exceptional performance would most likely not receive the coverage it had received earlier. The tradeoff was better coverage during the season, knowing that the number of exeptional performances would be few.
Coverage decisions -- in sports or any other section -- are always based on a few factors:
Is it timely? This means how much time has elapsed since the event occurred. Priority is given to stories that are more "fresh." It's called a newspaper, not an oldspaper, after all. We want recent events, and preference is always given to stories that we can break.
Is it noteworthy? Is this exceptional or routine? The more exceptional the event, the more likely it will receive larger coverage. Another related factor is the likelihood that readers will have already learned the news from another source.
Is it significant? It might be exceptional or unusual and recent but that doesn't mean anyone cares. Reader interest also plays a factor. We also rely on participants to act as filters to help us understand when something is a big deal.
Are we able to cover this? Often there are limitations to coverage, including closeness to deadline, availability of a reporter, proximity to our town. This is a significant reason that post-season sports get little coverage -- they take place a long way from home, and we don't have resources to send a reporter or photographer. Sometimes sources also complicate coverage by being unavailable or unwilling to talk to a reporter.
Is there space? The number of pages is based on a budget and certain requirements of the printing press. That budget is determined by the amount of advertising sold. We have often cut smaller stories or trimmed larger ones because there simply was not space available.
All in all, it's not a perfect science. As for the coverage of smaller sports, I will say that the students try to be fair, and I hold them to account for doing so. Admittedly, girls swimming deserved far more coverage, and the boys team could have had some more, too. The boys team received a full-page profile of one of its players this year.
As for the polls, those were not done as frequently this year, or at least with the structure they have had in years past. If only 50 students were polled, then 1,900 weren't, so you were among a pretty large group that also was not asked a question. We did add a poll feature to the Web site this spring, though.
Finally, I feel I have to explain a bit about cheerleading and its coverage. In addition to all the factors listed above, there were some special circumstances for cheerleading stories. The student editors had planned a story about the team's plans to host and compete in a competition. It was a first. Close to the event, it became known that the local team would not compete because some members would not be available. That pretty much killed the story. Probably there should have been a follow-up, even an advance story about preparations for the state competition. There was a brief about the second-place finish. Again, it would have been helpful to know that even though there were just six teams, that placing second was an accomplishment.
I would also point out that a brief is all that was printed by the newspaper staff about themselves when the newspaper was just one of 23 papers to win a very prestigious national award for the first time ever. Or when it was one of just 26 papers to win another very prestigious national award. Or when, in 2001, when it was the sole winner in a national contest. Or when its adviser was named adviser of the year in April (that received one sentence, by the way). Same for the nationally recognized yearbook. That's because the general readership doesn't care how many awards you win. They just want a good newspaper or yearbook. Document and announce, of course, but don't toot your own horn too much. But that rule should not apply to every activity -- you could imagine how ridiculous it would be if the cheerleaders made a self-promoting cheer and chanted it at each halftime -- and the newspaper should try to reflect the importance of student accomplishments and place them in context.
There was a story in May about the allegations of inappropriate cheerleader initiation activities. Yes, it was more than a brief. It was newsworthy. That there had been only small stories about cheer earlier is, frankly, irrelevant. Would those who criticized this story be much less critical if there had been a huge flattering story earlier about the hardworking and dedicated cheerleaders? I highly doubt it. It would have been that same size if it had been any team in the same circumstances, too.
Whew! I guess I have had a lot to say about this topic. I will tell you one thing: I am pitching a story for the Sept. 21, 2005, edition of the newspaper that shows the cheerleaders behind the scenes and helps readers understand the amount of work they do. No guarantees, of course, but it's a story that probably needs to be written (again, by the way -- did one in 1998).
Comments welcomed as always. But I didn't need to tell anyone that.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
I noticed a lot of coverage on teams that were losing... didn't see too much of the boys swim team having an undefeated season and first at districts/anything else too interesting even though the paper wasn't readily available to me. I, however when I was at the highschool more often, did not recall EVER getting to vote on anything that dealth with issues in the paper (like polls). It would have been cooler if we had more people vote than just like 50 that are in your class or whatever you guys do.With the above comment and the cheer-coverage strand, let me explain a bit of background regarding the decisionmaking about sports coverage and activities at school.
The student staff has committed each year to cover every sport and every squad at a minimum level. That means reporting every score plus a highlight and quote for the three-week interval between issues. This past year, the sports editor also chose to have a narrative story on each varsity sport at some point during the season, which could go further in-depth than just the scores and highlights, even if the team was losing. Heck, if we only covered the wins, there would not be much in some issues. The sports editor also developed a banner with mugs of notable varsity performances with quotes and a series of notable facts. This, with at least one action photo each issue, which we also try to balance among verious teams during the season, comprises two pages.
The timeliness of each edition -- every three weeks -- makes game summaries worthless. People already know the results from another source or it has been so long that they don't care. So, the students determined they would simply document the scores and highlights as listed above. They also committed a full page each issue for a profile of a player or coach. They try to balance this around the various sports, buut there are more sports than there are issues of the newspaper in a year, so some of the smaller sports get skipped in a year. Sometimes these are profiles of the all-star standouts, other times they highlight a player who has come back from injury or who sits on the bench but has great team spirit and so on.
When the decision was made in 2001 to switch to this format, student editors knew that it would mean that coverage of a state championship or other truly exceptional performance would most likely not receive the coverage it had received earlier. The tradeoff was better coverage during the season, knowing that the number of exeptional performances would be few.
Coverage decisions -- in sports or any other section -- are always based on a few factors:
Is it timely? This means how much time has elapsed since the event occurred. Priority is given to stories that are more "fresh." It's called a newspaper, not an oldspaper, after all. We want recent events, and preference is always given to stories that we can break.
Is it noteworthy? Is this exceptional or routine? The more exceptional the event, the more likely it will receive larger coverage. Another related factor is the likelihood that readers will have already learned the news from another source.
Is it significant? It might be exceptional or unusual and recent but that doesn't mean anyone cares. Reader interest also plays a factor. We also rely on participants to act as filters to help us understand when something is a big deal.
Are we able to cover this? Often there are limitations to coverage, including closeness to deadline, availability of a reporter, proximity to our town. This is a significant reason that post-season sports get little coverage -- they take place a long way from home, and we don't have resources to send a reporter or photographer. Sometimes sources also complicate coverage by being unavailable or unwilling to talk to a reporter.
Is there space? The number of pages is based on a budget and certain requirements of the printing press. That budget is determined by the amount of advertising sold. We have often cut smaller stories or trimmed larger ones because there simply was not space available.
All in all, it's not a perfect science. As for the coverage of smaller sports, I will say that the students try to be fair, and I hold them to account for doing so. Admittedly, girls swimming deserved far more coverage, and the boys team could have had some more, too. The boys team received a full-page profile of one of its players this year.
As for the polls, those were not done as frequently this year, or at least with the structure they have had in years past. If only 50 students were polled, then 1,900 weren't, so you were among a pretty large group that also was not asked a question. We did add a poll feature to the Web site this spring, though.
Finally, I feel I have to explain a bit about cheerleading and its coverage. In addition to all the factors listed above, there were some special circumstances for cheerleading stories. The student editors had planned a story about the team's plans to host and compete in a competition. It was a first. Close to the event, it became known that the local team would not compete because some members would not be available. That pretty much killed the story. Probably there should have been a follow-up, even an advance story about preparations for the state competition. There was a brief about the second-place finish. Again, it would have been helpful to know that even though there were just six teams, that placing second was an accomplishment.
I would also point out that a brief is all that was printed by the newspaper staff about themselves when the newspaper was just one of 23 papers to win a very prestigious national award for the first time ever. Or when it was one of just 26 papers to win another very prestigious national award. Or when, in 2001, when it was the sole winner in a national contest. Or when its adviser was named adviser of the year in April (that received one sentence, by the way). Same for the nationally recognized yearbook. That's because the general readership doesn't care how many awards you win. They just want a good newspaper or yearbook. Document and announce, of course, but don't toot your own horn too much. But that rule should not apply to every activity -- you could imagine how ridiculous it would be if the cheerleaders made a self-promoting cheer and chanted it at each halftime -- and the newspaper should try to reflect the importance of student accomplishments and place them in context.
There was a story in May about the allegations of inappropriate cheerleader initiation activities. Yes, it was more than a brief. It was newsworthy. That there had been only small stories about cheer earlier is, frankly, irrelevant. Would those who criticized this story be much less critical if there had been a huge flattering story earlier about the hardworking and dedicated cheerleaders? I highly doubt it. It would have been that same size if it had been any team in the same circumstances, too.
Whew! I guess I have had a lot to say about this topic. I will tell you one thing: I am pitching a story for the Sept. 21, 2005, edition of the newspaper that shows the cheerleaders behind the scenes and helps readers understand the amount of work they do. No guarantees, of course, but it's a story that probably needs to be written (again, by the way -- did one in 1998).
Comments welcomed as always. But I didn't need to tell anyone that.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Get your summer on
It's official: We're in summer break. I don't have much else to say other than WOO-HOO! It really is nice to have less on my plate. I have just a couple days to tie up some loose ends at school and then focus diligently on my summer projects of online classes and directing the journalism workshop.
I also have some travel planned, and I will try to post from various exotic locales from Wenatchee to Phoenix. Another week and I will have completed a half year of blogging. Pretty good if I do say so myself. Maybe I will host an online party. Or a clip show.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
I also have some travel planned, and I will try to post from various exotic locales from Wenatchee to Phoenix. Another week and I will have completed a half year of blogging. Pretty good if I do say so myself. Maybe I will host an online party. Or a clip show.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Post your comments about cheerleading and sports here
OK. Clearly, I should have moved the comments about cheerleading being a sport to a separate forum sooner, as the back-and-forth has continued for a few days and multiple posts. So here you go.
And my take is below:
1. DrPezz is entitled to his opinion. I think he knows I don't agree with some of his assertions and criticism from his original letter in the school newspaper, and I stand by the work of my students.
2. The spark for this line of commentary, now known as mrpibb, has a point, too. Mainly, he is saying that you can't really compare the accomplishments of a sports team's championship or state finish to that of the cheerleaders' state finish. While the second-place finish of the cheerleaders is admirable, it is not achieved through the same series of qualifyting competitions as a sports team. The award is legitimate, it's just different from sports. And that's really all mrpibb is saying, I think. That and other athletes are dedicated, too.
3. I am loath to guide any expression here, being I am a purist toward the First Amendment, but please refrain from raising the volume too much. Let's debate not attack. Not everyone will have a user name, and it is not required to post. In the case of these posts, I don't think it's a big deal, however, I always appreciate people being named, which helps distinguish the various posts -- all from "Anonymous."
So as of now, please post your comments here. Hope I have not effectively squelched the discussion, because I do read each post with interest. Glad to be able to provide your forum.
-- L.
And my take is below:
1. DrPezz is entitled to his opinion. I think he knows I don't agree with some of his assertions and criticism from his original letter in the school newspaper, and I stand by the work of my students.
2. The spark for this line of commentary, now known as mrpibb, has a point, too. Mainly, he is saying that you can't really compare the accomplishments of a sports team's championship or state finish to that of the cheerleaders' state finish. While the second-place finish of the cheerleaders is admirable, it is not achieved through the same series of qualifyting competitions as a sports team. The award is legitimate, it's just different from sports. And that's really all mrpibb is saying, I think. That and other athletes are dedicated, too.
3. I am loath to guide any expression here, being I am a purist toward the First Amendment, but please refrain from raising the volume too much. Let's debate not attack. Not everyone will have a user name, and it is not required to post. In the case of these posts, I don't think it's a big deal, however, I always appreciate people being named, which helps distinguish the various posts -- all from "Anonymous."
So as of now, please post your comments here. Hope I have not effectively squelched the discussion, because I do read each post with interest. Glad to be able to provide your forum.
-- L.
Payback is sweet
In April, during Spring Break, I was startled at 1 a.m. when my doorbell rang. I had been reading in bed, and so I got dressed to see what was up. I went outside to discover toilet paper carefully strung throughout my front yard -- in the trees, along the low wire fence, in the bushes -- four rolls in all.
With a sigh, I went ouitside and started pulling it down. It was not even that funny, honestly. It is just annoying. Plus, I knew who it was.
So I acted surprised at school the next week, launched an investigation, and rooted out the five culprits. I had a plan for payback. And I waited.
Graduation day, the seniors met in the auditorium for final details. As we finished, I had the principal call the five students down to talk with a police officer who is assigned to our campus. I had arranged this in advance, but the kids knew nothing. The entire class erupted in the "Oooh" that usually accompanies the public shame of teens.
As the rest of us went outside to prepare for a class picture, these five students received a stern lecture about trespassing and the ramifications of pranks now that they were adults. The irony was that the same core group had also TP'd the principal's house just the night before! When they came out for the picture, they knew I had set them up. Gotcha!
Lesson: Stay the hell out of my yard. Next time the police will be for real.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
With a sigh, I went ouitside and started pulling it down. It was not even that funny, honestly. It is just annoying. Plus, I knew who it was.
So I acted surprised at school the next week, launched an investigation, and rooted out the five culprits. I had a plan for payback. And I waited.
Graduation day, the seniors met in the auditorium for final details. As we finished, I had the principal call the five students down to talk with a police officer who is assigned to our campus. I had arranged this in advance, but the kids knew nothing. The entire class erupted in the "Oooh" that usually accompanies the public shame of teens.
As the rest of us went outside to prepare for a class picture, these five students received a stern lecture about trespassing and the ramifications of pranks now that they were adults. The irony was that the same core group had also TP'd the principal's house just the night before! When they came out for the picture, they knew I had set them up. Gotcha!
Lesson: Stay the hell out of my yard. Next time the police will be for real.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
They got me good
Some readers who know me well know that I can tolerate a lot. I think this is because of my six-month sentence at the Hampshire Country School in Rindge, New Hampshire. One of my colleagues, the social studies department, said that Rindge was not the end of the world but that you could see it from there. Anyway, the students and general situation frustrated and challenged me daily, and I now I can handle a lot of things as a result.
However, there are a few things in this world that I loathe. Can't stand 'em. Bigots. Liars. Whiners. People who act dumber than they are.
I also loathe some things: Lying. NASCAR. Stout beer.
But I absolutely loathe the font Comic Sans. Though it may be disguised as another name on your particular computer, it lurks there, tempting all sorts of people into using it. With its casual lines, nondescript appeal, it seems so cute, so innocent. The fact is, it's u-g-l-y. And I have banned it from all publishing with which I am associated. I even stopped reading memos from the school office formatted in Comic Sans. And all my students know better than to try to submit work in this damned font. The newspaper kids and I have even talked about the use of the font in the paper, and I always won the battles.
And I'm not the only one who hates it, either. Read this fantastic essay that captures why many of the enlightened ones simply detest this typeface. Take a look at the Ban Comic Sans Web site.
So, having laid the foundation for my loathing, the newspaper editor slipped one past me. He switched the font for the folio of one page of the final issue last week from a beautiful Officina Serif Bold to the loathsome Comic Sans. I proofed that page at least twice, on screen and on paper. The last proofing, I had no idea something was up even though every editor had gathered around my desk, watching and laughing. I honestly thought the kids were just feeling the bonding of the moment.
So when the paper was published June 8, the editor says to me simply: "I won." My eyes widened, and I knew instantly what he meant. I searched the pages, and I found it. There, screaming at me, taunting me, was the word "FEATURES" in a portly, limp font. I crumpled to the floor and everyone around erupted in laughter. I conceded that the editor had, indeed, pulled one on me, and an innocent good one at that. I later asked how many students in the class knew about this prior to it being printed and nearly all the 22 hands went up. It was a conspiracy.
Yes, they got me. I'll get them back when I delete the font from the computers over the summer. Heh heh heh.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
However, there are a few things in this world that I loathe. Can't stand 'em. Bigots. Liars. Whiners. People who act dumber than they are.
I also loathe some things: Lying. NASCAR. Stout beer.
But I absolutely loathe the font Comic Sans. Though it may be disguised as another name on your particular computer, it lurks there, tempting all sorts of people into using it. With its casual lines, nondescript appeal, it seems so cute, so innocent. The fact is, it's u-g-l-y. And I have banned it from all publishing with which I am associated. I even stopped reading memos from the school office formatted in Comic Sans. And all my students know better than to try to submit work in this damned font. The newspaper kids and I have even talked about the use of the font in the paper, and I always won the battles.
And I'm not the only one who hates it, either. Read this fantastic essay that captures why many of the enlightened ones simply detest this typeface. Take a look at the Ban Comic Sans Web site.
So, having laid the foundation for my loathing, the newspaper editor slipped one past me. He switched the font for the folio of one page of the final issue last week from a beautiful Officina Serif Bold to the loathsome Comic Sans. I proofed that page at least twice, on screen and on paper. The last proofing, I had no idea something was up even though every editor had gathered around my desk, watching and laughing. I honestly thought the kids were just feeling the bonding of the moment.
So when the paper was published June 8, the editor says to me simply: "I won." My eyes widened, and I knew instantly what he meant. I searched the pages, and I found it. There, screaming at me, taunting me, was the word "FEATURES" in a portly, limp font. I crumpled to the floor and everyone around erupted in laughter. I conceded that the editor had, indeed, pulled one on me, and an innocent good one at that. I later asked how many students in the class knew about this prior to it being printed and nearly all the 22 hands went up. It was a conspiracy.
Yes, they got me. I'll get them back when I delete the font from the computers over the summer. Heh heh heh.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Graduation rocked!
As senior class adviser, one of my responsibilities is to coordinate the graduation ceremony with school officials and the students. Basically I am responsible for the program and planning.
Practice went off without a hitch. Those kids were so good at lining up, as well as at sitting and standing as a row. Nice work to add a classy detailed touch. Not so hot on singing the alma mater, but oh well.
There were a few sound problems at the ceremony, but it's not like you can fix those during the show, so just accept and move on. At least the speakers worked during one of the most important pieces.
The Distinguished Alumnus this year was Karl Horst, Class of 1973, who is a brigadier general in charge of U.S. Army operations in Baghdad, Iraq. His pal from high school, now a local insurance agent, spoke for him, and arranged for Gen. Horst to speak live via cell phone from Baghdad. We kept it almost a secret, so if it didn't work no one would know. It worked. Oh yeah, it worked well. The crowd was enthralled, riveted to the words spoken by this articulate and inspirational general who graduated 32 years ago. Simply put, it was awesome.
The evening ended with the usual fireworks, always a treat.
It was my pleasure to also make the rounds Saturday and Sunday to seven graduation parties. I love being invited, eating cake as much as possible. Talk centered on the success of the ceremony (and that phone call) and the senior party where a number of students left a lasting impression with their antics while hypnotized. Graduation weekend is such a reaffirmation for me. It almost erases all the rougher spots during the school days, and it shows that kids do grow up and become adults ready to take on the world. Sometimes I am still a bit apprehensive, but usually I am impressed. I am already planning for 2006.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Practice went off without a hitch. Those kids were so good at lining up, as well as at sitting and standing as a row. Nice work to add a classy detailed touch. Not so hot on singing the alma mater, but oh well.
There were a few sound problems at the ceremony, but it's not like you can fix those during the show, so just accept and move on. At least the speakers worked during one of the most important pieces.
The Distinguished Alumnus this year was Karl Horst, Class of 1973, who is a brigadier general in charge of U.S. Army operations in Baghdad, Iraq. His pal from high school, now a local insurance agent, spoke for him, and arranged for Gen. Horst to speak live via cell phone from Baghdad. We kept it almost a secret, so if it didn't work no one would know. It worked. Oh yeah, it worked well. The crowd was enthralled, riveted to the words spoken by this articulate and inspirational general who graduated 32 years ago. Simply put, it was awesome.
The evening ended with the usual fireworks, always a treat.
It was my pleasure to also make the rounds Saturday and Sunday to seven graduation parties. I love being invited, eating cake as much as possible. Talk centered on the success of the ceremony (and that phone call) and the senior party where a number of students left a lasting impression with their antics while hypnotized. Graduation weekend is such a reaffirmation for me. It almost erases all the rougher spots during the school days, and it shows that kids do grow up and become adults ready to take on the world. Sometimes I am still a bit apprehensive, but usually I am impressed. I am already planning for 2006.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Dino Rossi, exit stage right
I have thoroughly enjoyed my week of being free of Dino Rossi and his crankiness and untruths. We're rid of him, for a time at least.
On June 6, Judge John Bridges basically threw out all the Republican claims of fraud and misdeeds during the November election where Christine Gregoire was elected governor. He also threw out the ridiculous proportional analysis, by which the so-called illegal votes would be deducted based on how the precint overall voted. He said you actually needed to have a vote match a voter. Best part was when Bridges deducted four votes from Rossi's total because the only felon voters to actually be matched with their votes voted for Rossi. So, now Gregoire won by 133 votes, still enough to keep this the closest governor's race in history.
The judge said to use this proportional analysis would force him to become an "activist" judge of the type so loathed today. Take that, dastardly Republicans!
So Rossi steps aside, no appeal necessary. He slams the electoral system and judicial system. He looks like a sore loser, honestly. If he had been a loyal Loganite reader, he would have seen my advice way back in January to get off the stage, save his political capital for two years and plan a run for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Maria Cantwell. Now, look what's happening. He is doing just that. I think he stands a good chance as Cantwell is not especially strong. However, if she can play her anti-Enron cards up in Snohomish County (which she had better do) and make energy her issue, I think she can win enough techie suburbanites to get re-elected. After that, she'd be there to stay. Keep in mind, Sen. Patty Murray was widely discounted for her second term as well. We'll see.
Republicans, meantime, say that Rossi is their best chance at winning. Sad. They have got to have a deeper bench. Rossi is an electable candidate, for sure, though I find him unpalatable, but the R's need to be cultivating some reasonable candidates for statewide office. They have that is Secretary of State Sam Reed, but they scolded him publicly and badly for actually following the law after the November election, and now I think it would be hard to rally around him. Attorney General Rob McKenna? Maybe, but give him a few years to make a name.
At least we have a Rossi-free summer. Viva Gov. Gregoire!
--Wenatchee, Wash.
On June 6, Judge John Bridges basically threw out all the Republican claims of fraud and misdeeds during the November election where Christine Gregoire was elected governor. He also threw out the ridiculous proportional analysis, by which the so-called illegal votes would be deducted based on how the precint overall voted. He said you actually needed to have a vote match a voter. Best part was when Bridges deducted four votes from Rossi's total because the only felon voters to actually be matched with their votes voted for Rossi. So, now Gregoire won by 133 votes, still enough to keep this the closest governor's race in history.
The judge said to use this proportional analysis would force him to become an "activist" judge of the type so loathed today. Take that, dastardly Republicans!
So Rossi steps aside, no appeal necessary. He slams the electoral system and judicial system. He looks like a sore loser, honestly. If he had been a loyal Loganite reader, he would have seen my advice way back in January to get off the stage, save his political capital for two years and plan a run for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Maria Cantwell. Now, look what's happening. He is doing just that. I think he stands a good chance as Cantwell is not especially strong. However, if she can play her anti-Enron cards up in Snohomish County (which she had better do) and make energy her issue, I think she can win enough techie suburbanites to get re-elected. After that, she'd be there to stay. Keep in mind, Sen. Patty Murray was widely discounted for her second term as well. We'll see.
Republicans, meantime, say that Rossi is their best chance at winning. Sad. They have got to have a deeper bench. Rossi is an electable candidate, for sure, though I find him unpalatable, but the R's need to be cultivating some reasonable candidates for statewide office. They have that is Secretary of State Sam Reed, but they scolded him publicly and badly for actually following the law after the November election, and now I think it would be hard to rally around him. Attorney General Rob McKenna? Maybe, but give him a few years to make a name.
At least we have a Rossi-free summer. Viva Gov. Gregoire!
--Wenatchee, Wash.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Deep Throat discussed
The Washington Post may have been scooped on the revelation of one of its most important sources ever, but the Post still can own the Deep Throat story that has dominated journalism circles for a few days. (Aside: This story is getting a bit overplayed mainly, I think, because the journalists making decisions think this is a bigger story than it really is, especially to the younger folks.)
The Post has a fantastic writer in Hank Stuever, whose pieces in the Style section often have me rolling. Stuever wrote a piece about the unmasking of Deep Throat, and it's worth a look. If you read the blog of one of my good pals, Uniongrrl's Cyphering, and her recent post about Deep Throat and his mystique and allure, you'll like the Stuever piece.
The Poynter Institute's Chip Scanlan, for his regular column, wrote about Stuever's DT piece and interviewed Stuever.
By the way, check out a bit more from Stuever, in his collected work, "Off Ramp: Adventures of Heartache in the American Elsewhere," which is available in paperback from Picador this summer.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
The Post has a fantastic writer in Hank Stuever, whose pieces in the Style section often have me rolling. Stuever wrote a piece about the unmasking of Deep Throat, and it's worth a look. If you read the blog of one of my good pals, Uniongrrl's Cyphering, and her recent post about Deep Throat and his mystique and allure, you'll like the Stuever piece.
The Poynter Institute's Chip Scanlan, for his regular column, wrote about Stuever's DT piece and interviewed Stuever.
By the way, check out a bit more from Stuever, in his collected work, "Off Ramp: Adventures of Heartache in the American Elsewhere," which is available in paperback from Picador this summer.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Good horoscope
I am not much of a believer in astrology. My horoscope for June 2, according to that distributed by Tribune Media Services, is a "10" and reads:
I may not be much of a believer, but that is two days in a row of "10" on the horoscope. And even without much faith in the stars, it's enough to make a guy feel good.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
"You're popular because you're cute, but do your friends respect your intellect? Of course they do! Without you, they'd be clueless."
I may not be much of a believer, but that is two days in a row of "10" on the horoscope. And even without much faith in the stars, it's enough to make a guy feel good.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
A 33-year mystery solved
We all knew this day would come. Some 33 years ago, men broke into the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex, triggering a massive coverup orchestrated by the top officials in President Nixon's administration and even approved by the president himself.
We learned about much of this through Watergate reports of The Washington Post and two intrepid reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. They used a highly placed government source to confirm and guide their investigation. The source earned the nickname Deep Throat, which combined the term for such a source, deep background, with a notorious adult film of the day. Woodward and Bernstein promised not to reveal the source until he or she had died.
But today, the family of the source revealed that the man who had been Deep Throat is ailing and had let slip to family members that he was, despite decades of denial, the man behind the story. Turns out that the source had been W. Mark Felt, former deputy associate director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The revelation is part of an upcoming story in Vanity Fair magazine. Download a PDF of the story.
Slate magazine's Timothy Noah has a great piece on this whole saga, including pointing out that he had fingered Felt in 1999. Be sure to read the 1999 piece where he lays out the case for Felt as Deep Throat.
Although Woodward and Bernstein initially adhered to their strict no comment about the identity of Deep Throat, the pair announced late Tuesday that Felt was their source. The Washington Post put a four-page story up on its Web site and announced that a major package was in the works for Thursday's edition.
So rest easy all of you who though that Deep Throat was Al Haig, Fred Fielding, John Dean, Pat Buchanan, David Gergen, even Diane Sawyer. You were all wrong. And now we know.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
We learned about much of this through Watergate reports of The Washington Post and two intrepid reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. They used a highly placed government source to confirm and guide their investigation. The source earned the nickname Deep Throat, which combined the term for such a source, deep background, with a notorious adult film of the day. Woodward and Bernstein promised not to reveal the source until he or she had died.
But today, the family of the source revealed that the man who had been Deep Throat is ailing and had let slip to family members that he was, despite decades of denial, the man behind the story. Turns out that the source had been W. Mark Felt, former deputy associate director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The revelation is part of an upcoming story in Vanity Fair magazine. Download a PDF of the story.
Slate magazine's Timothy Noah has a great piece on this whole saga, including pointing out that he had fingered Felt in 1999. Be sure to read the 1999 piece where he lays out the case for Felt as Deep Throat.
Although Woodward and Bernstein initially adhered to their strict no comment about the identity of Deep Throat, the pair announced late Tuesday that Felt was their source. The Washington Post put a four-page story up on its Web site and announced that a major package was in the works for Thursday's edition.
So rest easy all of you who though that Deep Throat was Al Haig, Fred Fielding, John Dean, Pat Buchanan, David Gergen, even Diane Sawyer. You were all wrong. And now we know.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Crazy weather
I've been in some crazy weather before. I survived an ice storm in 1996. My car, when I lost control and slammed into a pickup truck in Idaho, did not. On several visits to Indiana, I have been in thunderstorms that dropped a few inches of rain in a few minutes and where lightning lit the sky like July. Also in Indiana, I've seen the sky turn that weird green color that signals a tornado.
But yesterday evening, on Highway 97 outside Ellensburg, I experienced some crazy weather. I heard the weather report that said the heat possibly would be interrupted by a thunderstorm. It's common enough in summer to have some thunder, lightning and a good amount of rain after a heat spell. So when the drops started falling, I did not think it would be a big deal. Then the drops were bigger -- I could see them from the front of the car before they hit the windshield and made a splat the size of a half dollar. I flipped the wipers to maximum and kept driving, slowing just a bit as I drove up a hill and behind a motorcycle whose future I thought was iffy at best. The visibility was about 20 feet between the splashing and my window steaming up.
Then the hail joined the the fray. Hail is pretty rare in Eastern Washington, and I have not been in many hailstorms. The stones started small, maybe the size of rock salt. Then the increased in size, and I finally pulled over for a couple minutes. The hail was the size of gravel -- maybe a lemon drop candy. And the stones pelted my windshield and car, and it was a bit thrilling.
I continued my driving as the rain continued, and eventually passed. But that was some crazy weather.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
But yesterday evening, on Highway 97 outside Ellensburg, I experienced some crazy weather. I heard the weather report that said the heat possibly would be interrupted by a thunderstorm. It's common enough in summer to have some thunder, lightning and a good amount of rain after a heat spell. So when the drops started falling, I did not think it would be a big deal. Then the drops were bigger -- I could see them from the front of the car before they hit the windshield and made a splat the size of a half dollar. I flipped the wipers to maximum and kept driving, slowing just a bit as I drove up a hill and behind a motorcycle whose future I thought was iffy at best. The visibility was about 20 feet between the splashing and my window steaming up.
Then the hail joined the the fray. Hail is pretty rare in Eastern Washington, and I have not been in many hailstorms. The stones started small, maybe the size of rock salt. Then the increased in size, and I finally pulled over for a couple minutes. The hail was the size of gravel -- maybe a lemon drop candy. And the stones pelted my windshield and car, and it was a bit thrilling.
I continued my driving as the rain continued, and eventually passed. But that was some crazy weather.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Construction woes
The home behind me and one house west burned last October. It was apparently a historic home that had been moved to this site from a previous location in town. When most people hear the term "historic home" they think of a Victorian house with lots of gingerbread decorating the eaves and a big porch and stuff like that. This house was just old. And it burned -- partially. So for the last few months, there has been slow progress to remove the burned portions and replace them, even addinga second floor. I think it is the family doing the reconstruction, so the pace is slower.
In the last few weeks, work has increased significantly. This weekend, the walls went up, as did the MDF board to make the walls. I drove by the front yesterday just to see how it was coming, and roof trusses had been installed. Should not be long before the roof is on and interior work commences.
But the banging is driving me nuts. I am not sure which is worse, the annoying German shepard that lived behind me for two years and barked loudly and incessantly or the banging and thumping of the compressor that is loud when I am relaxing in the back yard. At least I can settle for the knowledge that it should be over soon, and I can have peace in my backyard again.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
In the last few weeks, work has increased significantly. This weekend, the walls went up, as did the MDF board to make the walls. I drove by the front yesterday just to see how it was coming, and roof trusses had been installed. Should not be long before the roof is on and interior work commences.
But the banging is driving me nuts. I am not sure which is worse, the annoying German shepard that lived behind me for two years and barked loudly and incessantly or the banging and thumping of the compressor that is loud when I am relaxing in the back yard. At least I can settle for the knowledge that it should be over soon, and I can have peace in my backyard again.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
