Wednesday, March 31, 2004something for Canadians
I am an American citizen but I live in Canada. I still love America (and what it's supposed to stand for) but for a variety of reasons (which I will elaborate on in an upcoming article) have decided to stay here for now.
I went to a Council of Canadians seminar last night about the future of Canada/U.S. relations. Here's an excellent document they put together with the basics about where things are headed, which is something all Canadians need to know about:
The Canada We Want
http://www.canadians.org/display_document.htm?COC_token=coc_token&id=885&isdoc=1&catid=245
As Canadians prepare for a likely spring election, we should be concerned about a constellation of forces coming together to challenge Canadian sovereignty and values in an unprecedented way.
Not since 1984, when newly elected Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced to an elite business audience in New York City that Canada was ˆ£open for business,ˆ§ have we seen the groundwork being laid for such major structural changes in Canadaˆ¢s relations with the United States.
posted @ 11:56 AM PDT Tuesday, March 30, 2004poll rider environmentalists
Maybe if enough people say they care about the environment in polls, even the most money-centric politicians will respond. I'm personally opposed to poll-based decision making in general, but it's a start...
GOP Epiphany
http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/10156
Luntz got heaps of publicity last year when the press got ahold of an earlier memo in which he wrote, "The environment is probably the single issue on which Republicans in generalˆ…and President Bush in particular ˆ…are most vulnerable." The memo didn't advise GOP officials to implement new conservation policies or increase spending on the environment; instead, it tutored them on how to talk the talk, advising the use of buzzwords like "fair balance."
That approach didn't win Luntz many admirers in the "green green lima bean" set, as some Republicans like to call the environmental community. But his more recent memo suggests that Luntz may be considering the radical idea that actually addressing environmental challenges is an effective means of solving image problems. Who knows, maybe he's even getting in touch with his inner lima.
posted @ 05:21 PM PDT Monday, March 29, 2004health tips for sedentary workers
Here's an article with health tips for people with jobs that involve sitting in an office all day...
How to Stay Healthy While Working in an Office--Six Important Tips
http://mercola.com/2004/mar/27/healthy_office.htm
Itˆ¢s no secret that Americans are working long hours, many of them spent in offices and in front of computers. While these long hours may pay off in a business sense, you may find that the strain is taking a toll on your health.
You may not be able to avoid spending more than one-third of your day in the office, but you can certainly make an effort to stay healthy while youˆ¢re there. Here are some quick tips that will not only improve your day, but also they will protect your body and mind from long-term damage that can accumulate from those long hours at work.
posted @ 09:44 AM PDT Sunday, March 28, 2004the genius of the "green roof"
Not only does putting plants on the roofs of buildings make a city more beautiful, it saves on energy consumption and reduces pollution. Many cities around the world have green roof buildings including Toronto, Chicago, Tokyo, and London. This is an example of practical environmentalism in action!
A friend of mine wrote this wonderful article on this subject:
Urban Vitality: GREENROOFS
http://www.positivity.ca/report/2002%20Oct/Greenroofs.htm
Simply imagine staring out of one window and gazing over a grey road hugged by grey sidewalks on which are grey concrete buildings topped by flat gravel sprinkled roofs. Now imagine looking out another window and viewing an urban landscape marked by green grasses, vibrant flowers, highlighted trees, swaying plants, flittering birds, along with the heavy electric construct of a prosperous city. Which would you prefer looking out on from your 12th floor apartment? Which would you prefer to see as a patient in a hospital? Which would flare into fancy and fantasy as a child? Which would inspire and enrich?
posted @ 06:35 PM PDT Thursday, March 25, 2004melting of ancient ice
Not everyone agrees about why global warming is happening. Is it a result of humans polluting the atmosphere, or is it just one of Earth's natural cycles?
Either way, it's hard to deny that things have changed with pictures like these...
posted @ 10:20 PM PDT Tuesday, March 23, 2004the bacon diet
Low carb diets are very trendy right now. I will probably get hate mail for not agreeing with their philosophy on eating, but I don't agree with dieting in general. I try to eat food in its natural state and I get a good amount of exercise. I also look a lot younger than I am and don't need to lose weight. Perhaps there's a connection!
While cutting back on sugar is a good idea, cutting out all carbs is crazy. Fruit is not bad for you. I find it interesting that Dr. Atkins himself was obese and had heart disease at the time of his death, though his (rich) widow doesn't want you to know that!
Some people love these diets (they do work for many people in the short term) but I personally prefer not to damage my kidneys or to have chronic halitosis. I also think being healthy is more important than being thin, but I know not everyone agrees with that. To each his own.
I predict that in another few years, this diet trend will go the way of grapefruit and cottage cheese...
posted @ 10:19 PM PDT Sunday, March 21, 2004misleading economic indicator
Consumer spending is monitored carefully, and is considered a major indicator of how the economy is doing. However, the statistics don't take into consideration that a large percentage of consumer spending involves buying on credit. We're more in debt than ever before, but we have more stuff!
Is this progress?
posted @ 05:03 PM PDT Saturday, March 20, 2004Chomsky on Iraq
Noam Chomsky is a well-known liberal academic with a huge following. Here's an interesting tidbit from him out of the Guardian series "Voices on Iraq."
Voices on Iraq: Noam Chomsky, MIT professor, writer and activist
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/voices/story/0,12820,1168160,00.html
Not very many people are aware of the fact that the US is planning to construct what will be the world's largest embassy in Iraq, with maybe 3,000 people. The military plans to maintain permanent bases and a substantial US military presence as long as they want it. The facts are reported, but marginally. Most people don't know about it. The orders to open the Iraqi economy up to foreign takeover are again known to people who pay close attention, but not to the general population.
posted @ 04:17 PM PDT Wednesday, March 17, 2004campaign finance
It takes BIG money to run for president today, and both parties are guilty of taking huge donations from special interest groups. Unfortunately, this also means that these groups hold sway over these politicians once they get elected. In my opinion, this is the #1 thing wrong with politics today. I'd like to see a ban on TV advertising and other initiatives that would limit the amount of money wasted on the "democratic" process.
Here are a few sites with more information:
Whitehouseforsale.org
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org
President Bush continues to celebrate the recent passage of Medicare legislation and to advocate for a federal medical malpractice bill that would limit the legal rights of severely injured patients.
Both measures have been vigorously supported by drug manufacturers, insurance companies, HMOs, nursing homes and medical device companies, as well as doctors and lobbyists. And both would deliver paybacks to Bush's elite fundraisers.
Common Cause
http://www.commoncause.org
According to published reports, the charity, Celebrations for Children (CfC), was established as a non-profit 501 (c)3 to benefit disadvantaged children. CfC was reportedly soliciting donations of up to $500,000 and promising contributors access to Rep. DeLay and other lawmakers at the convention in return. By its own admission, the charity will use the funds to pay for a ˆ£luxuryˆ§ suite for big donors to watch the convention proceedings, for a ˆ£yachtˆ§ cruise with Rep. DeLay and other Members and for a lavish ˆ£late nightˆ§ party at the convention.
Opensecrets.org
http://www.opensecrets.org
These profiles can show you who's making the big political contributions in your state, as well as where the money's coming from (by city, by zip code, and graphically with our "money maps"). You'll also find links to a money profile of your Senator and representative, with a detailed look at where their campaign warchest came from.
posted @ 04:30 PM PDT Tuesday, March 16, 2004Martha, Martha, Martha
This article sums up the whole Martha Stewart scandal oh so well...
Small Fry
http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/10093
Now compare Martha's transgressions with the estimated trillions of dollars that unsuspecting investors lost in the wave of corporate scandals, where executives at corporations like Enron, WorldCom, Global Crossing, Qwest and others engaged in massive accounting frauds, pumping up earnings to push the company stock ever higher, then dumping hundreds of millions of dollars worth of company stock on an unsuspecting public and walking away with the proceeds. It's like comparing apples to all the orange groves in Florida.
posted @ 04:01 PM PDT Saturday, March 13, 2004agribiz influence in government
Genetically modified (GM) food news from the UK:
British GM maize plan 'disaster'
http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/news/details?item_id=421695
Cabinet meeting minutes leaked to the BBC suggest the go-ahead for the commercialisation of GM crops is imminent - despite Government claims that a decision is yet to be made.
The minutes rightly predict that there will be opposition the decision, which is contrary to public, scientific and economic opinion.
posted @ 07:36 PM PDT Friday, March 12, 2004go Howard go!
Howard Stern is an interesting character with a long history of being controversial. While I think the segments he does with strippers are boring (while I'm sure it's fun for him, nudity on the radio just doesn't work) I enjoy listening to his news commentary and think he's one of the greatest interviewers out there. I don't listen very often (his show isn't available in my city anymore) but I respect his sharp mind and originality.
Howard has been offending people for years, but it seems that recently he has gone too far by expressing anti-Bush sentiment. Clear Channel Communications (a media mega-conglomerate that owns hundreds of radio stations) has recently decided to remove his show from their markets. The company is very right wing and last year forced its stations to promote pro-war rallies in cities across America...
Unfortunately for Clear Channel, this political censorship is increasing support for Howard and making his views heard more widely. Oops!
Culture War May Find WMD
http://www.alternet.org/members/story.html?StoryID=18090
Since his ouster, Howard Stern has been on the attack, taking no prisoners, and connecting the dots between the Bush administration's far-right social agenda, the religious right, the Patriot Act, media consolidation, campaign finance, cronyism, and freedom of speech. Stern has been making a powerful case that the mainstream media is missing the big picture, that Clear Channel cut him loose not because of vulgarity, but because of a shift in his political views. Far more than a question about decency standards, Stern argues, this is a question about the censorship of political speech. And if Stern is right, then nothing short of the First Amendment is at stake, and arguments about the dangers of media consolidation are no longer hypothetical.
Love Howard Stern or hate him, the show that supposedly caused Clear Channel to pull the plug was no more outrageous nor more offensive than any other Stern show, and no different from the Howard Stern show that Clear Channel had aired for years. Further, if the issue was truly one of decency, then why would Clear Channel have recently signed a contract with Michael Savage, who MSNBC fired for calling a viewer a "sodomite" and telling him to "get AIDS and die?"
posted @ 11:02 AM PDT Thursday, March 11, 2004fun with the plagues
Ok, maybe someone can use the comments field to explain this weirdness to me....
10 Plagues Adventure
http://biblicalholidays.com/Passover/10_plagues_actvity.htm
A fun activity to represent the ten plagues can be reenacted. Ten days before Passover begins, do something in your home to represent each one of the ten plagues. Here are a few examples. Be creative and make up your own symbols.
1. Nile waters turning to blood --put red food coloring in the water glasses at the dinner table, in the bathroom sinks, in the dog's water bowl, and anywhere else you can think of.
Bag of plagues (includes photo)
http://www.jcolstore.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?CMD=DETAIL&LOC=172014&IDX=0&PROD=5935
A fun and educational way to involve children in the Passover experience. Symbols for each of the 10 plagues are included.
posted @ 10:40 AM PDT
>Monday, March 8, 2004why be normal?
Two words that don't necessarily mean the same thing...
norˆ°mal
1 : PERPENDICULAR; especially : perpendicular to a tangent at a point of tangency
2 a : according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, or principle b : conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern
sane
1 : proceeding from a sound mind : RATIONAL
2 : mentally sound; especially : able to anticipate and appraise the effect of one's actions
3 : healthy in body
posted @ 04:45 PM PDT Friday, March 5, 2004nuclear ghost town
When the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl happened in 1986, people living nearby were exposed to high levels of toxic radiation and made to evacuate their homes. They weren't allowed to bring anything with them and the town is still deserted today.
On this site, a Russian woman talks about riding her motorcycle through the "dead zone" today. Some of the photos are amazing.
posted @ 10:59 AM PDT Wednesday, March 3, 2004a bit of film history
Here's an interesting article about movie censorship in the 1930s, including reviews of some of the more compelling films of the era.
Frank Capra: Public Enemy No. 1
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17911
In short, just about every seminal film of the early thirties found itself on the wrong end of the censor's stamp.
What were their sins? They contained gangsters, machine guns, premarital sex, drunkenness, foul language, drugs, prostitution, lust, infidelity, and the absence of moral consequences (read: death or ostracism) for much of the above. They would not be seen again, intact, for another twenty-odd years, and the Production Code's final death rattle would not be fully felt until the late '60s, with the advent of the '70s cinema revolution.
For those of us used to the ridiculously sanitized morality of Hollywood's "Golden Age," pre-Code films are a charming surprise. They're gritty, raw, profane and wised-up. Female sexuality is unfettered, urban violence springs from the harsh economy that bred it, and the morality of the day is far more elastic and forgiving than post-Code films would lead one to believe.
posted @ 04:47 PM PDT Monday, March 1, 2004dinosaur bones found in Antarctica
Interesting science news from one of the World's last frontiers...
Paleontologists Unearth Dinosaur Remains in Antarctica
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=7ACFF4A3-3C16-411D-B546771060DE3E3F
Two groups of paleontologists working thousands of kilometers apart in Antarctica have unearthed the fossilized remains of previously unknown species' of dinosaur.
Both groups of dinosaur hunters working simultaneously on the frozen continent, made their discoveries last December, within a week of each other. They announced their findings in Washington on Thursday.
posted @ 09:53 AM PDT
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