November 2007 archive

Sweet Intentions and a Faustian Bargain: Capitalism 3.0

This is a review of Peter Barnes’ book Capitalism 3.0; Barnes, an eco-entrepreneur from the flowing meadows of northern California (where I got my Master’s degree), still “believes in” capitalism, but offers a number of ideas worthy of consideration to non-capitalists as well, as well as a fairly sketchy version of capitalist history and a theory of the commons that, though sloppy on the details, is worthy of consideration.  Barnes’ book can be regarded as an especially ethical example of a current vogue in thinking: eco-capitalism, and it will here be both praised and critiqued as such.

(Crossposted at Big Orange)

HEY! Clapton/Winwood tix available!

Not really an essay, but…thought yuz guyz should know:

When I scarfed up my Neil Young & Crazy Horse tix on TicketMaster on Thursday ( https://www.docudharma.com/show… ), I also was able to score four tix for the Eric Clapton/Stevie Winwood gig(s) in Feb. at Madison Square Garden. Three MSG gigs: 2/25, 26 & 28.

Linky here:

http://www.livedaily.com/news/…

NOTE:  Amex card-holders have thru tomorrow to get an “exlusive” shot at tix; then whatever tix are left are “open to the public” starting Monday, 11/19.

Good luck!  CAUTION: Looks like they’re going fast, and I assure you that the ones I could find were NOT cheap! (Gotta do what you gotta/can do to keep Bush’s economy alive by goin’ ever deeper in debt.)

Peace.

Satan: Democrats are “unfathomable.”

[originally at DKOS]

Is this site dedicated to electing Democrats, or Democrats in Name Only (DINOs)?  If the latter, congratulations.  Mission accomplished.

Apparently, The Great Satan himself is incredulous at his own handiwork:

If Reid and Pelosi stand firm [insert laughs] they will finally fulfill one of their key 2006 campaign promises, proving they have the courage to stand tough for what they believe, while giving the vast majority of the American people what they want.

   If they yield [more laughter] they will reinforce perceptions of Democratic weakness. Worse, they will be siding with an unpopular president and an unpopular Republican Party over an unpopular war, and their own popularity will suffer as a result.

   The options to those of us outside of the Beltway are so obvious it’s truly unfathomable that we are still left wondering which path the Democrats will take.

Pony Party: Men I would share a sand which with…

Since I am sluggy today and a bit dreamy, I thought I thought I would indulge in a bit of fantasy and share a few men whom I wish were bringing tea and soup. Of course, I have my little “on line crushes” how one can engage in politics without a bit of harmless flirtation is is beyond me.

Although my husband is always number one, he won’t openly admit who secretly thrills him. He isn’t the type to ogle. I suspect he pines a bit for Isabella Rosselini which only confirms that he has good taste, even though I bear absolutely NO resemblance to her.

The Craven: An Ode to Larry Craig

Cross-posted in Orange.

Once inside a bathroom dreary, while I pondered weak and weary

Over many a quilted rolls of tp on the bathroom stall door

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping

Again some one gently tapping, tapping ‘neath my chamber door.

‘Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, ‘tapping ‘neath my chamber door –

Only this, and nothing more.’

Weekend News Digest

Weekend News Digest is an Open Thread

From Yahoo News Top Stories

1 Grim climate change report spurs UN call for ‘breakthrough’

by Marlowe Hood, AFP

2 hours, 31 minutes ago

VALENCIA, Spain (AFP) – The Nobel-winning IPCC group of climate scientists on Saturday issued their starkest warning yet on global warming, prompting a UN demand for politicians to smash the deadlock on tackling the worsening threat.

In a panorama of the evidence, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) declared that the impact of global warming could be “abrupt or irreversible” and no country would be spared.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appealed to political leaders to push for “a real breakthrough” at a key conference running on the Indonesian island of Bali from December 3-14.

On the Measurement of Teachers

There are no numbers here.  There will be no links to research backing up my assertions.  Because this is not about data, it’s about people.  As one teacher out of many I will tell you my opinion.  As someone who teaches purely for altruistic and idealistic purposes and has done so for 31 years, I will tell you what I think.

What I do know is that drawing any connection between the performance of students on a high stakes test and the quality of the teacher is tenuous at best.  Some might say non-existent.  Even if there does exist such a connection, assumptions about what such a connection means really ought to be examined.

How does one tell the difference between a good teacher and a bad teacher?  I hate that phrasing.  Bad Teacher?   Really?  People are dedicating their lives to doing public service, teaching our young people…and increasingly our older people as well…and other people think they have the right, even the duty, to call some of us Bad Teachers  Let’s get out the scarlet letters.  Lets burn them at the stake.  Bad Teacher?  

Should Edwards and Obama Be In Prison?

In the ending minutes of the Democratic Presidential Debate on MSNBC two weeks ago, Tim Russert asked the candidates if any of them disagreed with Sen. Chris Dodd’s recent statement that he supports the decriminalization of marijuana.  Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards both raised their hands.  Edwards gave his reasons for his opposition:

“I think it sends the wrong signal to young people. And I think the president of the United States has a responsibility to ensure that we’re sending the right signals to young people.”

This is a very interesting statement on the part of John Edwards, and on the part of Barack Obama.  Because John Edwards admitted to having used marijuana during the 2003 Democratic Presidential debate sponsored by “Rock the Vote”.  Obama has gone even further; in his book “Dreams From My Father”, Obama wrote:

“I blew a few smoke rings, remembering those years.  Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it.  Not smack, though.”

What is particularly fascinating about these statements by these candidates for the Presidency is that they are supporting criminal penalties which they themselves admit having avoided, which in many cases would not only prevent them from being viable candidates for their current and previous elected offices, but would prevent them from even having the opportunity to vote for themselves.  Nationwide, an estimated 5.3 million Americans are denied the right to vote for current or former felony convictions.  Over two million of those Americans are denied the right to vote after having completed their sentence and parole or probation, for the rest of their lives.  

Battle Of The Forms

A provision of the UCC, as a point of illustration, not necessarily an expression of the governing law in this case (this is not a contract for goods):

Unless otherwise unambiguously indicated by the language of the offer or the circumstances:

An offer to make a contract invites acceptance in any manner and by any medium reasonable under the circumstances. . . .  a definite and seasonable expression of acceptance may . . . create a binding obligation . . .

It has been reported that T. Boone Pickens made this offer:

Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens' offer of $1 million to anyone who can disprove even a single charge of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

Presuming Pickens did make such an offer to “anyone,” his response to John Kerry's acceptance of Pickens' offer seems at material variance to Pickens' original offer. You see, Pickens now is demanding:

Pickens wrote Friday in a letter faxed to Kerry, “I am certainly open to your challenge,” but he said he would not pay Kerry unless the senator first provided him with copies of his wartime journals, as well as movies he shot while on patrol and his complete military records for 1971 to 1978.

Obviously only John Kerry could provide such documents. But Pickens' offer was to “anyone.” I believe that Pickens has now made John Kerry a second offer for $1 million.

It would be interesting if Kerry also accepted Pickens' second offer. One would expect that Pickens will welch on that one too of course. But it would be fun to watch him squirm.

The TaleMaster 6 …Black to Gold

This little tale started itself about a dozen years ago. It was originally a couple of pages, a  background for a D&D character. Then came a dream or three which added so much more. Life & Death interfered for many years. I’ve begun dreaming of this tale again, recently. This will eventually be a book, I hope.

So please, go get yourself a tall cold beverage, adjust your reading glasses and settle into your comfy chair and join me in the City of Colours…

If you’re just joining the story, here’s the Link to previous parts  

Pony Party : Whine Part II

My brain is a bit fuzzy. I know from past experience OTC cold medicines don’t work. Is it too early in the day for a “hot toddy”?

I am feeling all retro today so I am going to cheer myself up with oldies but goodies.

The Real Problem Is….

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Is that life sucks. It sucks because it is not what we want it to be. It is not what we want it to be because we have very little control over it. We have very little control over it because there are 7 billion other people who also want life to be what they want it to be.

Not to mention stuff like earthquakes and hurricanes and disease….and just stupid random chance.

The real problem is that we have no idea what we are doing. Not only do we have no idea what we are doing….but every time we get close to figuring out what we are doing, everything changes and we have to start over again.

Load more