The Empire State Building goes red tonight

The Empire State Building is a symbol of American’s strength and resolve. Though it was a great depression make-work project, its innovative design and speed to completion were fueled by the basic principle of capitalism—competition.

Described by the official website as “the center of a competition between Walter Chrysler and John Jakob Raskob (GM) to see who could build the tallest building”, the result was a 102 story building, immediately becoming the world’s tallestSource: Political Derby RSS Feed

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling at Harisonburg GOP Headquarters...

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling stopped by the Harrisonburg GOP Headquarters today to speak with volunteers and other supporters coming into the last full month before the election. He was greeted by many volunteers who came early to see the Lt. Governor before they started phone banking and calling area citizens to support the GOP ticket in November... .The Lt. Governor spoke about the positive and productive tact that the GOP team has maintained all through the campaign and how theSource: RightsideVA RSS Feed

What's Wrong With Max Baucus And His Health Care Plan-- In 2 Minutes

Jerry Flanagan from ConsumerWatchdog.org teamed up with Brave New Films and put out a 2 minute video that gets right to the heart of the problems with Baucus' vision-- i.e., the Insurance Industry's vision-- for health care "reform:" give us your money and trust us... and give us your money.
He doesn't mention anywhere in the two minutes slot that Baucus has gobbled up $2,890,631 in thinly disguised bribes from the Medical-Industrial Complex during his disgraceful time in theSource: DownWithTyranny! RSS Feed

Tax commissioner rules in Norfolk business case

Virginia Tax Commissioner Janie Bowen released a ruling last week in the ongoing dispute between Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon McDonald and some local businesses. The issue surrounds implementation of the BPOL tax. BPOL, which stands for Business, Professional and Occupational License, is a tax imposed on businesses for the privilege of doing business in that locality. The dispute between the Commissioner and the businesses has had the direct result of her beingSource: Vivian J. Paige RSS Feed

To Further Delay, GOP Demands That Health Reform Bill Be Put Into Olde English

 

ON THIS THE 23rd DAY OF THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER OF THE YEAR TWO AUGHT AUGHT NINE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THIS COMMITTEE HEREBY APPROVES COOPERATIVES FOR UNIVERSAL BLOODLETTING, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE  POOLS OR EXCHANGES OF LEECHES.

 

 

John Dickerson at Slate with the story on “legislative language.

Source: The Satirical Political Report RSS Feed

West Michigan Woman Threatened With Fines For Watching Neighbors’ Kids

It might take a village to raise kids, but in Michigan this attitude can get you in legal trouble:

A West Michigan woman says the state is threatening her with fines and possibly jail time for babysitting her neighbors’ children.

Lisa Snyder of Middleville says her neighborhood school bus stop is right in front of her home. It arrives after her neighbors need to be at work, so she watches three of their children for 15-40 minutes until the bus comes.

The Department ofSource: Liberal Values RSS Feed

Vibrant and diverse Corona is a dump

From Interactive Journalism:
Hispanic Corona demographics are changing rapidly. Traditionally an Italian, Colombian and Dominican neighborhood, it now hosts large communities of Ecuadoreans, Mexicans, and Guatemalans. “La Chola”, “Antojitos Colombianos Bakery” and other signs in Spanish set the scene. It smells like tacos and rubbish, depending on what street you’re on.
Despite the economic downturn and the lack of jobs, more undocumented immigrants keep on coming toSource: Queens Crap RSS Feed

U.S. dollars and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

American ethnic communities have a tradition of supporting political causes in the old countries. For example, many U.S. dollars from Americans of Irish descent went to help fund the Irish Republican Army over many years. Peace finally arrived in Northern Ireland and a big factor was the eventual Irish self-criticism of the extreme nationalist rhetoric on both sides of the conflict but another major factor was the re-direction of American support from one side of the armed conflict toSource: Sisyphus RSS Feed

Knee Deep in the Big Muddystan

I have to say that I am pleased, at a minimum, that President Obama is taking his time before rubber-stamping the request of his military commanders to significantly escalate American troops levels in Afghanistan. I guess this is why he gets paid the big bucks.

I would love to sit here in the comfort of my home and issue an easy recipe for how to go forward --or back-- in what is now the longest all-out war in U.S. history.  But I haven't a clue as to the bestSource: Marc Cooper RSS Feed

LET THEM IN - 20th September Song (poems for hunger)

Let them in. They are knocking. Greet them smiling.
Open the door. Offer them food, shelter, water, truth;
collectors of the ripe morsels, the architects of delusion
and transporters of despair have reaped from your wide eyes
already steeped in filth, flooded your hearts that have ceased to clang.
Obedient tyrants are holding stained flags with equally stained hands,
streaking ugliness across your flooded soil, washing away all proof
that anyone actuallySource: Peace, Social Justice and Truth for RSS Feed

SNCF Submits US High-Speed Proposal

If you have ever been lucky enough to enjoy the opportunity to ride France's SNCF rail system then you will be excited to hear that they are taking high speed rail in the U.S. very seriously.

The SNCF has just submitted a proposal elaborating their interest in participating in high-speed rail in four U.S. corridors. Our midwest is one of them. Here is a good report on their proposal.

Here's a quote:

Potential journey times would connect Chicago and St. Louis in Source: Progressive Illinois RSS Feed

The ‘GI’ helmet that will help British troops kill more ragheads

By Peter Almond

New helmets designed to help British troops to target the enemy are being rushed out to Afghanistan this weekend.

The Ministry of Defence is issuing the lighter headgear following soldiers’ complaints that the current helmet is unsuitable for firefights with the Taliban.

Five thousand Mark 7 helmets, along with new Osprey Assault body armour, are being sent to Afghanistan for the troops of 11 Brigade who are starting a six-monthSource: The Two Malcontents RSS Feed

Sunday Morning Bobblehead Thread

DOWNLOADS: (270)
PLAYS: (837)
(h/t David N.)

On his recent book-signing swing through the Bay Area, I was lucky enough to have David Neiwert and his daughter stay with me and my family. David and I bonded deeply over our common love of all things Python and took the opportunity to introduce my eldest to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a movie I think both David and I can recite verbatim. During this scene, David and I looked at each other and laughed because this is the Source: Crooks and Liars RSS Feed

Nissan “beautiful and futuristic” Noise: Cars To Sound Like Blade Runner Spinners

Electric cars are quiet. That’s a potential problem for pedestrians and cyclists. The LATimes:

Nissan sound engineers have announced that the Leaf electric car set for release next year will emit a “beautiful and futuristic” noise similar to the sound of flying cars — or “spinners” — that buzz around 2019 Los Angeles in Ridley Scott’s dystopian thriller based on a Philip K. Dick science fiction novel.

“We decided that if we’re going to Source: The Moderate Voice RSS Feed

Important Council hearing tomorrow

The hearing by the NYC City Council Committee on Housing and Building regarding the proposed bill, Intro 1015-2009 (in relation to the safety and security of construction sites at which permitted work has been suspended), is scheduled for Mon., Sept. 21, 2009, 10:00 a.m. in the Committee Room, at City Hall. You should consider attending on Sept. 21. Have photo ID, allow a few minutes to get through security, the R subway City Hall stop is outside the gate. Sign speaker's slip if interestedSource: Queens Crap RSS Feed

A Peek Into Fox's Resident Token Lib Alan Colmes' Hate Mail, Both Dumb and Funny

I caught this thing while perusing Fox's video offerings for the day and thought, "Here's something nobody's seen yet" and still probably won't.....lol
It's Gilbert Gottfried (UPDATE 9/17 9:30 pm cst....thought it was until Mr Colmes sent me an email he doesn't want reprinted here indicating it wasn't!! also bitching about an accidental misplaced apostrophe in his name)........ reading Alan Colmes' hate mail from the Fox internet Strategy room........I guess that's where he's now beenSource: Chicagoray RSS Feed

Court: Disloyal Computing Is Not Illegal

A federal appeals court says employees are not liable for damages under anti-hacking laws for accessing their employers’ computers for disloyal purposes.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that workers authorized to access company computers do not lose or exceed that access under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act even if their intent was to acquire data to open a competing business (.pdf).

There is no language in the 1984 anti-hacking statute, the SanSource: Threat Level RSS Feed

Spano, Astorino square off

Affordable housing, taxes and the high cost of doing business in Westchester County dominated a debate this morning between the candidates for county executive.

In what was their first live debate, Republican Rob Astorino and Democrat Andrew Spano challenged each other’s positions and records for more than an hour.
Astorino ripped Spano’s tenure repeatedly and pledged to reduce the cost of county government.

“Do you really think in yearsSource: Politics on the Hudson RSS Feed

ThinkFast: September 18, 2009

A new study released by researchers at Harvard Medical School has calculated that 45,000 Americans a year die because they lack health insurance — nearly one every twelve minutes. “We’re losing more Americans every day because of inaction…drunk driving and homicide combined,” said Dr. David Himmelstein, a co-author of the study.

A new report by the National Snow and Ice Data Center finds that the Arctic ice pack has melted to its third-smallest size everSource: Think Progress RSS Feed

Slideshow: What to Expect at the U.N.

The U.N. General Assembly opens today for its 64th session--and it looks like it will be more exciting than most. Obama is planning theatrics to advance his ambitious international agenda, while everyone from Muammar Qaddafi to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be maneuvering for maximum effect. Click through this slideshowfor a look at some of this session's must-see events.

Source: The Plank RSS Feed

House Votes to Reprimand Joe Wilson

Okay, it's time to turn on the donation taps:Bitterly divided along party lines, the House formally rebuked Republican Rep. Joe Wilson Tuesday for shouting "You lie" at President Barack Obama during last week's nationally televised speech to Congress.
The rare resolution of disapproval was pushed through by Democrats insisting that Wilson, a South Carolina lawmaker, had violated basic rules of decorum and civility in his outburst. Republicans dismissed the vote as a political "witchSource: HolyCoast.com RSS Feed

Crowley making calls for Doorman

From the Daily Politics:
A Queens-dwelling reader called the other night to say he had just returned home to find a message from Rep. Joe Crowley asking him to vote for Councilman Eric Gioia for public advocate next Tuesday.
In the call, which the Gioia campaign provided, Crowley touts the councilman as someone who is "independent" and "gets results."
The reader mused that perhaps the chairman of the Queens Democratic Party, which is known for its discipline when it comes toSource: Queens Crap RSS Feed

Early Education: Lots of Noise, Little to Hear

This weekend, the Detroit News ran a letter to the editor taking issue with a piece I wrote about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsbility Act (SAFRA). Strangley, though the main part of SAFRA deals with higher education loans; the bill contains new spending all over the education map; and I made no specific mention of early-childhood education in my piece (though there is an early-ed component in the bill); the letter is all about pre-K education.

That theSource: Cato-at-liberty RSS Feed

Michigan shooting suspect cuts arm while in jail...Boo Freakin Hoo!

Howz about they just throw a handgun in his cell with one bullet and let the coward finish the job the right way, so we don't have to take care of him for who knows how long at a cost of about 50 g's a year not to mention all the free legal help this murderer will get along the way..
Has no problem killing others apparently but cries for help once locked in a cage...flippin' coward..
WTF You Smilin' About Big Boy?
It'll be the Electric chair for you once PROVEN guilty...
Source: Chicagoray RSS Feed

Neglected Clean Water Laws = Higher Human Suffering

Just back from kayaking on the Oconee River, sitting on the launch-ramp waiting for my ride, I perused the NYTimes on my iphone. I found this:

Almost four decades ago, Congress passed the Clean Water Act to force polluters to disclose the toxins they dump into waterways and to give regulators the power to fine or jail offenders. States have passed pollution statutes of their own. But in recent years, violations of the Clean Water Act have risen steadily across the nation, anSource: The Moderate Voice RSS Feed

Ground Broken for New $3.4 Billion Homeland Security Campus

Ezra Pound at St. Elizabeth’s

Politicians gloated as ground was broken and a great river of federal dollars began flowing for the construction of the home of yet another massive federal bureaucracy on the 176 acre hilltop site of what used to be Washington, D.C.’s insane asylum.

What could be more appropriate? The next directive requiring the confiscation of pocket combs and cavity searches of blue-haired grannies can be written in the same

White House: 1 Million Substandard Jobs Saved Or Created!

Updated Below

The blatant arrogance of a young and inexperienced President trying to spin his failures is always something to behold. It usually is a combination of denial and panic, leading to completely obvious flights of fantasy. This White House has taken this denial to an all new level.

In the case of the now failed liberal ’stimulus’ bill passed by Obama and the liberal Congress, which has done nothing to create careers, team Obama is out trying to sell

September 11th Remembered

Since I'm running some additional remembrances of that day on the site today, I'm going to rerun a piece I did on September 11th, 2005, recounting my own experience. For other stories, click on the 9/11 label below.
September 11, 2005It's been four years, and these are images which we don't see much anymore:




Here's the timeline of events from that day (from September 11 News.com):
7:58 a.m. - United Airlines Flight 175 departs Boston for LosSource: HolyCoast.com RSS Feed

CNN: ACORN ‘Allegedly’ Advised Pimp

From an outraged (at the “ruse”) CNN:

[CNN caption:] The footage, which appears to have been edited in places, was recorded and posted online Thursday. ACORN workers caught on tape allegedly advising on prostitution

(CNN) — Two employees at the Baltimore, Maryland, branch of the liberal community organizing group ACORN were caught on tape allegedly offering advice to a pair posing as a pimp and prostitute on setting up a prostitution ring and evading the Source: Sweetness Light RSS Feed

Brighton takes a stand against big government

Holy Smokes. I didn't expect this big of a crowd.

It's the joker.
The Three Stooges, Larry, Moe and Curly, and the crowd.

I debated whether to go to the tea party or not, but decided to do so. With the punk and Joker Mr. Obama's latest proposal, it was the last straw. He now wants to fine individuals $3800 for forgoing health insurance.Source: Republican Michigander RSS Feed

The Life Aquatic

I'm watching Whale Wars season 2 episode 1 and wishing I could type fast enough to live-blog it. For those of you like me who don't live by the dial, it's a show about the greenies from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Just now we had try-outs for chemical bag throwing to find three crew members most likely to hit the deck of a whaler at about 100-plus feet with a compound that makes people puke uncontrollably, then the bad weather set in and the puking began (not the chemicalSource: Badger Blog Alliance RSS Feed

How Good Are Texans At Getting God To Intercede On Their Behalf?

We have sleazy corporate shills who probably belong in prison for taking bribes like Lamar Alexander-- who's into Insurance Industry pockets to the tune of $501,650 and in hock to the Medical-Industrial Complex for another $2,070,958-- warning about a minor revolution and the end of the Democratic Party (an idea he has in common with one of the more corrupt of the Blue Dogs, Minnesota crook Colin Peterson) if health care reform is passed. Imagine that! Republicans and their frontSource: DownWithTyranny! RSS Feed

Sony new product launches at IFA

Berlin played host last week to the IFA show. IFA is the “other” big event on the Consumer Entertainment calendar after CES and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to launch products to a European audience. Sony were amongst the first companies to announce a raft of new products and here are the highlights: W5810 and Z5800 Freesat TV’s (pictured). Both these sets offer 1920080 HD screens and built in Freesat tuners. You also get the latest version of the BRAVIA processing engine Source: British Blogs RSS Feed

The Old Quarter To Be Toured By Tramcar

A tramcar for tourists in the Hue royal citadel.
Now, I got to tell you being that I have traveled to Hanoi several times. The Hanoi's Old Quarter is slowly diminishing. As developers pore in from Australia, Japan and Korea these companies are in line for special permits to build on the Old Quarter.
The Old Quarter takes you back in time. It gives you some sense of how things used to be when things where simple and relaxed. Their are some people there that has been there forSource: Chao-Vietnam RSS Feed

Greeting the Dawn

I looked out my upstairs deck this morning and took this shot of the early morning sky:
But what's that black speck? A zoom in reveals my pest control worker preparing to start his or her day.
The web runs clear across the back part of my deck and is a popular spot for very large spiders (this one's probably 2 inches across). Needless to say, I'm not gonna mess with it.

Source: HolyCoast.com RSS Feed