This dude is nerdy and witty. A potent combination. He also resembles the man who rushed me into TKE, Brandon Heller. Brandon built his own Segway, from scratch. Pretty ridiculous. Enjoy:
Saturday, January 31
Thursday, January 29
Tuesday, January 27
Behold! Scarlet Bagel!
Ridiculous high school video project for AP Lit & Comp. A parody of Scarlet Letter. Note the high production value and cohesive script.
If you can't bear to watch the whole video...at least start at minute six with the amazing montage love scene. I cry everytime.
Saturday, January 24
Who Loves Guantanamo?
In an article in Financial Times today, it was reported that: "Republicans yesterday pointed to reports that a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner had become a top al-Qaeda operative in Yemen to cast fresh doubt about President Barack Obama's plan to close the prison."
Even the US penal system, a global laughing stock, releases prisoners when they finish with their sentence. In fact, prisoners are typically released early and placed on parole. The average felon completes only 15% of his or her sentence in prison before being placed on supervised release. High recidivism rates in the US point to the failure of prison as a formative rehabilitative experience. However, don't we still release these prisoners in accordance with their sentences?
Why, then, is concern of recidivism among Guantanamo prisoners a legitimate argument towards keeping the prison open? I use the word recidivism liberally, as many or most of the prisoners are guilty only of arousing suspicion or having too close proximity to foreign terrorist institutions. Most haven't been sentenced, nor have they been given any sort of tribunal or trial to define what it is they actually did, a precursor to culpability even being discussed, let alone systematically determined.
Arguing that Guantanamo remain open for fear of detainees reverting against America (Surprisingly, after being imprisoned indefinitely against their will without access to US due process and without communication with their families for years, many will be taking the Pledge of Allegiance out of their daily routines.) retains traction only because of the politically-charged buzz word, terrorism, and the undue fear it arouses.
These same republicans would never argue that we indefinitely extend, in violation of the US constitution, the prison terms of American prisoners for fear of potential repeat offenses. Their equivalent argument for Guantanamo detainees should be promptly disregarded.
Even the US penal system, a global laughing stock, releases prisoners when they finish with their sentence. In fact, prisoners are typically released early and placed on parole. The average felon completes only 15% of his or her sentence in prison before being placed on supervised release. High recidivism rates in the US point to the failure of prison as a formative rehabilitative experience. However, don't we still release these prisoners in accordance with their sentences?
Why, then, is concern of recidivism among Guantanamo prisoners a legitimate argument towards keeping the prison open? I use the word recidivism liberally, as many or most of the prisoners are guilty only of arousing suspicion or having too close proximity to foreign terrorist institutions. Most haven't been sentenced, nor have they been given any sort of tribunal or trial to define what it is they actually did, a precursor to culpability even being discussed, let alone systematically determined.
Arguing that Guantanamo remain open for fear of detainees reverting against America (Surprisingly, after being imprisoned indefinitely against their will without access to US due process and without communication with their families for years, many will be taking the Pledge of Allegiance out of their daily routines.) retains traction only because of the politically-charged buzz word, terrorism, and the undue fear it arouses.
These same republicans would never argue that we indefinitely extend, in violation of the US constitution, the prison terms of American prisoners for fear of potential repeat offenses. Their equivalent argument for Guantanamo detainees should be promptly disregarded.
Tuesday, January 20
Peace, Bush.
President Bush leaves the White House in a helicopter. Wait, FORMER President Bush leaves the White House in a helicopter. Mmm...former.
But Carlos Slim Helu Loves the New York Times...
Abating, at least temporarily, talk of the New York Times' coming demise, a Mexican telecommunications mogul, the second richest man in the world, loaned the company 250 million dollars.
Monday, January 19
Hating on the New York Times: Part II
I came upon this in a book I'm reading entitled, In The Jaws of the Dragon: America's Fate in the Coming Era of Chinese Hegemony. American journalism takes, in general, a decidedly forgiving pro-China stance in its reporting, such as support of China's bid to join the World Trade Organization, despite the countries' heavily protectionist trade policies.
The New York Times, on April 24, 1994, published an article that painted this picture of China's growing freedoms:
The New York Times, though, failed completely in fact-checking the article. Satellite dishes had not been legalized, and are still not legalized. Aside from a few privileged government departments and tourist hotels, use of a satellite dish runs up an astronomical $6000 fine. Astronomical, because this fine is three times the per capita GDP of China in 2006.
They never retracted the story or issued a correction. Further, perhaps because the article is so blatantly propagandistic in retrospect, the article can no longer be found in the newspaper's archives or Lexis Nexis. The author's only means of obtaining the article was a hard-copy of the paper at a library.
The New York Times, on April 24, 1994, published an article that painted this picture of China's growing freedoms:
"At one reception I asked a provincial official how he had become so well informed about what is happening in Europe and the United States. 'I watch CNN, the same as you.' he explained. Some 100 million Chinese, many there say, now have access to TV programs transmitted by satellite. 'Ten years ago,' the official added, 'I could have been arrested for owning a satellite dish.'"
The author noted: "The vast middle class now forming in China almost assures the triumph of democracy and its freedoms....Capitalism is nothing more than democracy of the marketplace - the right of people to make their own decisions about economic matters. Once a free market system is established it is but a short step to political democracy."
The New York Times, though, failed completely in fact-checking the article. Satellite dishes had not been legalized, and are still not legalized. Aside from a few privileged government departments and tourist hotels, use of a satellite dish runs up an astronomical $6000 fine. Astronomical, because this fine is three times the per capita GDP of China in 2006.
They never retracted the story or issued a correction. Further, perhaps because the article is so blatantly propagandistic in retrospect, the article can no longer be found in the newspaper's archives or Lexis Nexis. The author's only means of obtaining the article was a hard-copy of the paper at a library.
Dumb It Down
Many of us are familiar with our television favorites being dumbed down in order to appeal to a wider base of viewers. But, now, the New York Times, too?? The recent spate of NYT television commercials are bearable, but this is much less forgivable.
Banana?
You can bet, as I did, with 1000 to 1 odds, that Obama will utter the word 'banana' or 'Angela Merkel' in his inaugural address tomorrow. If you bet one dollar on each, you could win two thousand dollars if he slips in a phrase like: "I found the banana of Angela Merkel, and returned it to her promptly, which is only the start in a new era of bilateral diplomacy and strengthened American soft power through confidence-building gestures."
Or, "The burgeoning German-American banana trade, facilitated by Chancellor Angela Merkel and the creation of new American trade envoys, signals the beginnings of anti-protectionism in American trade policy, which I advocate in recognition of the integral part unencumbered global market participation plays in today's economy."
Say it, Obama. Say banana. Do it for America.
Tuesday, January 13
Corporate Cycling
Buried amongst provisions to bailout financial institutions, purchase toxic mortgage-backed securities, and commence emergency bridge loans, the $700 billion bailout includes The Bicycle Commuter Act, which gives companies $20 per month per employee that regularly commutes to work via pedal power.
Some potential uses for the money include covered bicycle parking, showers for employees, and reimbursements for helmets and locks.
Monday, January 12
The Final 200
George Bush has less than 200 hours as President of the United States. Finally getting slightly more candid about his legacy, he said the Mission Accomplished banner "sent the wrong message" and that "obviously some of my rhetoric has been a mistake."
In a pleasing admission regarding his fictional case for war, he quipped, “Not having weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment.”
And so was your presidency.
Sunday, January 11
Israeli Deaths
The number of Israeli deaths from Hamas rocket fire from July until the current conflict: precisely one.
The number of Israeli deaths from Israeli friendly fire in the last two weeks: at least four.
The number of Israeli deaths from Israeli friendly fire in the last two weeks: at least four.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
