Hi in Middle, and Round at the Ends
or, Keep Your Eye on the Donut and Not on the Hole
With 51.3% of the popular vote to 47.8%, Bush is showing a gain from 2000, but more importantly, the Electoral College vote is running at the moment 254 to 242 in his favor. It all comes down to Ohio, and that appears to be dependent on the provisional and absentee ballots yet to be counted, as many at 600,000 of them. Every vote counts, as John Edwards came out to say to the party faithful, and this time let's be sure every vote is counted. If you've got a couple of bucks to spare, the Kerry campaign legal fund is accepting contributions, and if it helps turn Ohio blue, I can't think of a more worthy cause. Anything to keep the election from going to the House.
02 November 2004
and Finally . . .
I know that John Kerry is flawed. But I also know that George Bush is a disaster. Yes, Kerry will probably pursue a continuation of Bush's present policy in Iraq. He can do little else. He will, however, work to rebuild tattered international relationships that might get us a bigger helping hand than we're going to get under Bush. Kerry's domestic policies are going to cost money, but they're going to cost more to the people who can afford it than Bush would allow, and I'd appreciate a little help propping up the country, and I'm not getting it from Bush and his wealthy cronies. My biggest hope is that when Kerry says he's going to be smarter in combatting terrorism he means it, that he really gets it. Because George doesn't. I know George doesn't understand the post-9/11 world, a charge he levels against his opponent, because instead of using the power of the United States with an eye to the future, he applies it like a hammer. Afghanistan had to happen, but in the end, a lot more could have been accomplished even than has been so far. Iraq, however, didn't. Saddam Hussein was an evil tyrant and needed to be removed, but he was at least contained. No weapons, no hope of getting them, let alone giving them out. So yes, the U.S. military is mighty, but it isn't the only tool in the box. Anything else, for Bush, however, is a waste; it's spending money he'd rather go elsewhere, but not into social programs or even national infrastructure. He'd rather it goes to him and his buddies. And it will if he's re-elected. It would be nice to think Bush would see the division in America over this election as a message instead of a mandate, but if he wins, regardless of the margin, he will take it as the imprimatur of God himself. Christian fundamentalism, as practiced by Bush, among many, many others, is as dangerous to the world as any other. It's a shame that the politics of the nation have degenerated as they have, a shame on both their houses, Kerry and Bush, and a shame on everyone who has participated in the sniping, the misrepresentations, the lying. Too late to ask for a good, clean fight. The outcome will be with us shortly, and in the post-9/11 world, I want a President who will try to advance civilization into the 21st century, one who doesn't pursue a pre-Enlightment agenda of greed and oppression.
I know that John Kerry is flawed. But I also know that George Bush is a disaster. Yes, Kerry will probably pursue a continuation of Bush's present policy in Iraq. He can do little else. He will, however, work to rebuild tattered international relationships that might get us a bigger helping hand than we're going to get under Bush. Kerry's domestic policies are going to cost money, but they're going to cost more to the people who can afford it than Bush would allow, and I'd appreciate a little help propping up the country, and I'm not getting it from Bush and his wealthy cronies. My biggest hope is that when Kerry says he's going to be smarter in combatting terrorism he means it, that he really gets it. Because George doesn't. I know George doesn't understand the post-9/11 world, a charge he levels against his opponent, because instead of using the power of the United States with an eye to the future, he applies it like a hammer. Afghanistan had to happen, but in the end, a lot more could have been accomplished even than has been so far. Iraq, however, didn't. Saddam Hussein was an evil tyrant and needed to be removed, but he was at least contained. No weapons, no hope of getting them, let alone giving them out. So yes, the U.S. military is mighty, but it isn't the only tool in the box. Anything else, for Bush, however, is a waste; it's spending money he'd rather go elsewhere, but not into social programs or even national infrastructure. He'd rather it goes to him and his buddies. And it will if he's re-elected. It would be nice to think Bush would see the division in America over this election as a message instead of a mandate, but if he wins, regardless of the margin, he will take it as the imprimatur of God himself. Christian fundamentalism, as practiced by Bush, among many, many others, is as dangerous to the world as any other. It's a shame that the politics of the nation have degenerated as they have, a shame on both their houses, Kerry and Bush, and a shame on everyone who has participated in the sniping, the misrepresentations, the lying. Too late to ask for a good, clean fight. The outcome will be with us shortly, and in the post-9/11 world, I want a President who will try to advance civilization into the 21st century, one who doesn't pursue a pre-Enlightment agenda of greed and oppression.
The Fate of the Free World
The nail-biting conclusion is coming up. By this time tomorrow, polls will have already started closing, exit polls will already have been providing CNN, MSNBC, Fox, et al. with enough anecdotal evidence for them to begin calling the election and spoiling the outcome in the further west time zones (as usual; they say they won’t but then they do – they just can’t help themselves). Meanwhile, M. & I, along with the faithful, will be gathering like the Apostles did that fateful Passover Thursday 2,000 years ago, i.e., in an upstairs room, but hoping for a better outcome from all the lead-up.
The nail-biting conclusion is coming up. By this time tomorrow, polls will have already started closing, exit polls will already have been providing CNN, MSNBC, Fox, et al. with enough anecdotal evidence for them to begin calling the election and spoiling the outcome in the further west time zones (as usual; they say they won’t but then they do – they just can’t help themselves). Meanwhile, M. & I, along with the faithful, will be gathering like the Apostles did that fateful Passover Thursday 2,000 years ago, i.e., in an upstairs room, but hoping for a better outcome from all the lead-up.
Industrial News Notes
For all the talk of a reduced bid, instead Oracle has raised its offer on PeopleSoft to US$24/share. With PeopleSoft trading at US$22.89, it may be enough now for the shareholders to push the board overboard.
For all the talk of a reduced bid, instead Oracle has raised its offer on PeopleSoft to US$24/share. With PeopleSoft trading at US$22.89, it may be enough now for the shareholders to push the board overboard.
Results
Turns out I got more than I expected deducted from gun to start, improving my results by nearly 2 minutes, and putting me closer to a net 5KPH than 5.5. Go me. Next year, I expect to be in shape to do the City-to-Surf, which you'll have already heard if you read the comments on the last race post, but is 1 hour & 15 minutes achievable? Or acceptable? It's probably better not to put the cart before the horse, especially as I'll probably need a horse the way things stand now.
Turns out I got more than I expected deducted from gun to start, improving my results by nearly 2 minutes, and putting me closer to a net 5KPH than 5.5. Go me. Next year, I expect to be in shape to do the City-to-Surf, which you'll have already heard if you read the comments on the last race post, but is 1 hour & 15 minutes achievable? Or acceptable? It's probably better not to put the cart before the horse, especially as I'll probably need a horse the way things stand now.
01 November 2004
Years of Protest
After I signed a petition over 5 years ago now, I never expected to hear that NYC would even consider turning the roads in Central Park back to pedestrians, but the city’s now moving in the right direction, if not at the most salubrious hours for park-goers, who have gotten in trouble there no matter how fast they may have been moving in the hours under discussion. Even if we were still living there, I wouldn’t be getting up before 7 a.m. for a run, neither would I go out after 7 p.m. even in summer. Too lazy, I guess. Nevertheless, after last night’s experience in Homebush, with the Nike 10K course full of switchbacks and bottlenecks, knowing that there might be open lanes in Central Park would be tempting. Keep the momentum up, and maybe in 20 years the park will be returned to the people who really use it.
After I signed a petition over 5 years ago now, I never expected to hear that NYC would even consider turning the roads in Central Park back to pedestrians, but the city’s now moving in the right direction, if not at the most salubrious hours for park-goers, who have gotten in trouble there no matter how fast they may have been moving in the hours under discussion. Even if we were still living there, I wouldn’t be getting up before 7 a.m. for a run, neither would I go out after 7 p.m. even in summer. Too lazy, I guess. Nevertheless, after last night’s experience in Homebush, with the Nike 10K course full of switchbacks and bottlenecks, knowing that there might be open lanes in Central Park would be tempting. Keep the momentum up, and maybe in 20 years the park will be returned to the people who really use it.
You're the Run that I Want
Nike's 10K run out at the Olympic Park last night was an enjoyable bit of exercise. I've been doing 8K training runs for the last three weeks, so it was gratifying to complete the race pretty much as expected. No, I won't tell you my time, but you can look it up next week when the results are posted. I'll put up a link then. Meanwhile, I can only hope that the transponder accounts for the difference between when the gun went off and when I actually stepped across the starting line. That might give me an extra thirty seconds, anyway. Meanwhile, from the expression on my face, I should have run harder, but who can help smiling a bit when your own personal official photographer is also your beloved wife?
Nike's 10K run out at the Olympic Park last night was an enjoyable bit of exercise. I've been doing 8K training runs for the last three weeks, so it was gratifying to complete the race pretty much as expected. No, I won't tell you my time, but you can look it up next week when the results are posted. I'll put up a link then. Meanwhile, I can only hope that the transponder accounts for the difference between when the gun went off and when I actually stepped across the starting line. That might give me an extra thirty seconds, anyway. Meanwhile, from the expression on my face, I should have run harder, but who can help smiling a bit when your own personal official photographer is also your beloved wife?
29 October 2004
Bush, Kerry . . . Odds on
While Peter Hartcher thinks the descendents of Scots-Irish immigrants will keep Bush in Office, over at the Murdoch press, Robert Dallek agrees with the Indian Astrology Study & Research Institute that the White House is in the stars for Kerry, although for more down-to-earth reasons. Still, if you’re looking for a more usually reliable source, the bookies called it for Howard, and they’re calling it for Bush, too, although the odds are shrinking daily. Yesterday they were paying AU$2.40 on Kerry, and today, it’s AU$2.10. I may have to put some money down.
While Peter Hartcher thinks the descendents of Scots-Irish immigrants will keep Bush in Office, over at the Murdoch press, Robert Dallek agrees with the Indian Astrology Study & Research Institute that the White House is in the stars for Kerry, although for more down-to-earth reasons. Still, if you’re looking for a more usually reliable source, the bookies called it for Howard, and they’re calling it for Bush, too, although the odds are shrinking daily. Yesterday they were paying AU$2.40 on Kerry, and today, it’s AU$2.10. I may have to put some money down.
Talk of the Nation
The New Yorker was an indispensable periodical in our household back on the Upper East Side, and for a while after we moved, our subscription was forwarded, leaving us only about a week or two behind. This has since ceased, and we’ve been reluctant to renew, given the exorbitant cost of overseas delivery. It isn’t the same on-line, so I’ve actually avoided it for the most part, along with the Atlantic Monthly, having also allowed that subscription to lapse. Although M&P have been helping out by shipping their old copies of the New Yorker down to us, we’re still only up to the DNC, so thanks to the Barista, who kindly pointed out the worth of the on-line content, I’ve gone ahead of the international post to peruse the latest commentary in that venerable magazine, wherein they offer their sage assessment and advice. Sure, they’re liberals, New York liberals at that, but they’ve never shied away from calling anyone’s bluff or calling them on their errors, irrespective of political party, and this is, after all, the publication that made fact-checking a nearly impossible standard to meet for anyone else. When they say it, it’s worth listening, and they say it all very well, so in an effort towards public service, I provide the link and recommend reading the editors’ opinion, especially if you’re still deluded enough to be thinking of voting Bush back into the Oval Office.
The New Yorker was an indispensable periodical in our household back on the Upper East Side, and for a while after we moved, our subscription was forwarded, leaving us only about a week or two behind. This has since ceased, and we’ve been reluctant to renew, given the exorbitant cost of overseas delivery. It isn’t the same on-line, so I’ve actually avoided it for the most part, along with the Atlantic Monthly, having also allowed that subscription to lapse. Although M&P have been helping out by shipping their old copies of the New Yorker down to us, we’re still only up to the DNC, so thanks to the Barista, who kindly pointed out the worth of the on-line content, I’ve gone ahead of the international post to peruse the latest commentary in that venerable magazine, wherein they offer their sage assessment and advice. Sure, they’re liberals, New York liberals at that, but they’ve never shied away from calling anyone’s bluff or calling them on their errors, irrespective of political party, and this is, after all, the publication that made fact-checking a nearly impossible standard to meet for anyone else. When they say it, it’s worth listening, and they say it all very well, so in an effort towards public service, I provide the link and recommend reading the editors’ opinion, especially if you’re still deluded enough to be thinking of voting Bush back into the Oval Office.
Leave the Dog, Take the Brandy
The St. Bernards of St. Bernard looking for a new home. The monastery has a Golden Retriever now to do the work of sniffing through avalanches, and the search-and-rescue services use German Shepherds and Labs, because they’re easier to fit into the helicopter. The monks, meanwhile, don’t appear terribly fond of having the big slobs around, presumably more because of how much a St. Bernard eats and how much other care is required than because they don’t like dogs per se. No mention of the brandy kegs, but I seem to recall that was apocryphal anyway.
The St. Bernards of St. Bernard looking for a new home. The monastery has a Golden Retriever now to do the work of sniffing through avalanches, and the search-and-rescue services use German Shepherds and Labs, because they’re easier to fit into the helicopter. The monks, meanwhile, don’t appear terribly fond of having the big slobs around, presumably more because of how much a St. Bernard eats and how much other care is required than because they don’t like dogs per se. No mention of the brandy kegs, but I seem to recall that was apocryphal anyway.
EU Oracle Pronouncement
That’s a better headline than the news it’s meant to convey: The EU has given Oracle’s bid to take over PeopleSoft the o.k. to proceed. That was pretty much a foregone conclusion once the U.S. antitrust suit failed, but now in light of the revelations from PeopleSoft on Craig Conway’s remarks to industry analysts, the hostile takeover seems more viable than it did when Larry Ellison first made his bid. Although Oracle has already announced a substantially reduced per share offer, this doesn’t preclude success, particularly if PeopleSoft’s share price is adversely affected by the latest changes in the company’s fortunes, as it surely will be. Meanwhile although SAP denies talks with the 200kg gorilla, there’s plenty more drama possible over the next year or two.
That’s a better headline than the news it’s meant to convey: The EU has given Oracle’s bid to take over PeopleSoft the o.k. to proceed. That was pretty much a foregone conclusion once the U.S. antitrust suit failed, but now in light of the revelations from PeopleSoft on Craig Conway’s remarks to industry analysts, the hostile takeover seems more viable than it did when Larry Ellison first made his bid. Although Oracle has already announced a substantially reduced per share offer, this doesn’t preclude success, particularly if PeopleSoft’s share price is adversely affected by the latest changes in the company’s fortunes, as it surely will be. Meanwhile although SAP denies talks with the 200kg gorilla, there’s plenty more drama possible over the next year or two.
I Feel Safer Every Day
For a year after September 11 I had to listen to Tom Ridge announce the color-coded threat level in response to John Ashcroft’s threat assessments, pretty much a monthly event, if not more frequent. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with the coordination of intelligence-gathering and law enforcement agencies at the federal level, and besides being adepts with crayons, they’re also apparently brilliant at locating terrorist support groups, like toy stores. When Kerry’s President, can we get rid of Ridge?
For a year after September 11 I had to listen to Tom Ridge announce the color-coded threat level in response to John Ashcroft’s threat assessments, pretty much a monthly event, if not more frequent. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with the coordination of intelligence-gathering and law enforcement agencies at the federal level, and besides being adepts with crayons, they’re also apparently brilliant at locating terrorist support groups, like toy stores. When Kerry’s President, can we get rid of Ridge?
28 October 2004
Don't Re-Elect George: 100 Reasons Why
Via the indispensable Memepool, the Nation's top 100 non-arguable facts in the case against the Bush Administration, in a handy .pdf format. Just in case you haven't made up your mind yet.
Via the indispensable Memepool, the Nation's top 100 non-arguable facts in the case against the Bush Administration, in a handy .pdf format. Just in case you haven't made up your mind yet.
Babe Ruth Can Rest at Last
Red Sox, wow. Words fail me. If the Cubs can win next year, I will be convinced of the immanence of the Apocalypse.
Red Sox, wow. Words fail me. If the Cubs can win next year, I will be convinced of the immanence of the Apocalypse.
Who Does Jeb Know in the Post Office?
Or: Out of the warehouse and into the Okefenokee.
5% of Florida's absentee ballots are lost in the mail - 60,000 postal ballots. Either a seriously disgruntled postal worker has got an overstuffed closet at home, or something fishy's happened.
Or: Out of the warehouse and into the Okefenokee.
5% of Florida's absentee ballots are lost in the mail - 60,000 postal ballots. Either a seriously disgruntled postal worker has got an overstuffed closet at home, or something fishy's happened.
27 October 2004
Fun with Politics
Last night's gathering at Bar Broadway for the Campaign 2004 Rally was a great success. Democrats Abroad Australia raised a few thousand dollars towards the last week's campaigning, and no wonder, with over 100 people in attendance, including some Australian guests. The rally included video clips from the Democratic convention in Boston, the Daily Show, Eminem's latest, and an address from Federal MP Tanya Plibersek. A terrific evening, wonderfully organized by the leadership of the group.
And while we've been doing everything we can to get out the vote, Jeb's been doing everything he can to get the voters out and keep Florida red. It's George's own banana republic down there.
(Update: probably I should have put up these photos before, but better late than never. None of me, thank God.)
Too dark and too far for my little HP camera.
Top-flight and new member of the shadow cabinet, Tanya Plibersek addresses Democrats Abroad-Australia.
Last night's gathering at Bar Broadway for the Campaign 2004 Rally was a great success. Democrats Abroad Australia raised a few thousand dollars towards the last week's campaigning, and no wonder, with over 100 people in attendance, including some Australian guests. The rally included video clips from the Democratic convention in Boston, the Daily Show, Eminem's latest, and an address from Federal MP Tanya Plibersek. A terrific evening, wonderfully organized by the leadership of the group.
And while we've been doing everything we can to get out the vote, Jeb's been doing everything he can to get the voters out and keep Florida red. It's George's own banana republic down there.
(Update: probably I should have put up these photos before, but better late than never. None of me, thank God.)
Too dark and too far for my little HP camera.
Top-flight and new member of the shadow cabinet, Tanya Plibersek addresses Democrats Abroad-Australia.
26 October 2004
In Harm's Way
American casualties are high, although not necessarily in a per capita accounting of troops on the ground vs. deaths. And so far, deaths among non-American coalition forces have been limited, which shouldn't in any way be taken to disparage their contribution to Bush's undertaking in Iraq. But 400 tons of ordinance in the hands of insurgents puts everyone at greater risk than can be legitimately accounted for, and if the stuff hasn't been in play before, it surely is now. Add in wounded, another 8000+, and the figures become more dismaying. The conduct of the war has been abyssmal. Too much focus on non-existent weapons and not enough on the stuff that was there. Bush and Rumsfeld don't deserve their jobs.
American casualties are high, although not necessarily in a per capita accounting of troops on the ground vs. deaths. And so far, deaths among non-American coalition forces have been limited, which shouldn't in any way be taken to disparage their contribution to Bush's undertaking in Iraq. But 400 tons of ordinance in the hands of insurgents puts everyone at greater risk than can be legitimately accounted for, and if the stuff hasn't been in play before, it surely is now. Add in wounded, another 8000+, and the figures become more dismaying. The conduct of the war has been abyssmal. Too much focus on non-existent weapons and not enough on the stuff that was there. Bush and Rumsfeld don't deserve their jobs.
My Dinner with Webloggers
I think I’ll skip any ’blogger meet-ups for the next week. There are too many who fit David Brook’s pundit profile.
I think I’ll skip any ’blogger meet-ups for the next week. There are too many who fit David Brook’s pundit profile.
October Surprise?
Chief Justice William Rehnquist is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, and at 80 his tenure is perhaps equally as tenuous from this as it would be from other health issues, let alone from just wanting to hang up those snazzy robes at last, leading to the inevitable conclusion: whoever gets the White House will now definitely have at least one Supreme Court vacancy to appoint to, and the Chief Justice at that (although the President can elevate a sitting Justice). Kerry and Bush have already indicated their differences prospectively over this issue, but will they make more of a point of it in the remaining days of the campaign with the release of this bit of news? After Rehnquist, whither the Court?
Chief Justice William Rehnquist is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, and at 80 his tenure is perhaps equally as tenuous from this as it would be from other health issues, let alone from just wanting to hang up those snazzy robes at last, leading to the inevitable conclusion: whoever gets the White House will now definitely have at least one Supreme Court vacancy to appoint to, and the Chief Justice at that (although the President can elevate a sitting Justice). Kerry and Bush have already indicated their differences prospectively over this issue, but will they make more of a point of it in the remaining days of the campaign with the release of this bit of news? After Rehnquist, whither the Court?
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