proof that we are stuck in someone else's war
Ms. Saadoun was a Sunni Arab living in a Shiite enclave of western Baghdad. A widowed mother of seven, she and her family had been chased out once before. This time, she called American and Kurdish soldiers at a base less than a mile to the east....From NYT
The next morning, Ms. Saadoun was shot dead while walking by a bakery in the local market.
A must read article. What happened to Ms. Saadoun seems to be clear evidence that at least in some parts of the Iraq, our troops are stuck in between sides of a civil war. This is clearly not what their orders were. And this is clearly not a mission they should be charged with.
Greenwald on Brooks
David Brooks' column in The New York Times this morning contains several important observations. It would maximize clarity in our political discussions if journalists could just ingest Brooks' central point: the dominant right-wing political movement in this country that has spawned and driven the Bush presidency has nothing to do with -- it is in fact overtly hostile to -- the ostensible principles of Goldwater/Reagan small-government conservatism. Though today's so-called "conservatives" exploit the the Goldwater/Reagan mythology as a political prop, they don't believe in those principles in any way. That movement is the very antithesis of those principles.From Glenn Greenwald - Salon
Brooks' column is behind the Times Select wall, otherwise I would have posted a link to it. He has been on a roll as of late. If I kept a Colbert-esque on-notice list I would have taken him off that list after his piece on Bill Richards last month, only to put him back on after this. Brooks gets the facts right, sees the major issues. And then goes off the rails. Greenwald does a great job of pointing out what Brooks didn't.
With that said, I talked about this almost a year ago when I noticed the first rumblings that the Conservative wing of the Republican party; which makes up the majority of that party despite not being in the position of setting the agenda; was being dragged off onto tangents by the Neo-Con and Theo-Con wings of the party. What we are seeing now is a growing revolt by the conservatives against an administration that is far removed from their increasingly dissatisfied constituency.
Brits Go Green with Eco-M 100 MPG Sports Car
Eco-M, a bare-bones sporty car with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine. The car will be able to sip fuel and still go fast, capable of far greater than 100 miles per gallon because of its lightweight carbon fiber construction.
I wonder if cars like this will lead to rally-races where the winner is the team that can drive above a certain speed for the most number of laps on a fixed amount of fuel. That would be an amazing engineering challenge with a lot of real world value.
Human Semi-Identical Twins ('Chimera') Discovered for First Time
Researchers have discovered a pair of twins who are identical through their mother's side, but share only half their genes on their father's side.From Human Semi-Identical Twins ('Chimera') Discovered for First Time: BLOG: SciAm Observations
Not sure why this wasn't a bigger human interest story. Possibly because it might be a bit hard for the layman to grasp; therefore hard for the media to report in a way that would appeal broadly enough for the human interest story cycle. I'm pretty amazed that this was even possible.
Ex-Aide Says Gonzales Was Involved in Firings
“I don’t think the attorney general’s statement that he was not involved in any discussions about U.S. attorney removals is accurate,” the former Gonzales aide, D. Kyle Sampson, said under questioning at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.From New York Times
Looks like Sampson wasn't willing to be the next Scooter Libby.
GSA Chief Is Accused of Playing Politics
Witnesses have told congressional investigators that the chief of the General Services Administration and a deputy in Karl Rove's political affairs office at the White House joined in a videoconference earlier this year with top GSA political appointees, who discussed ways to help Republican candidates.From GSA Chief Is Accused of Playing Politics - washingtonpost.com
Wow. Just when you thought there couldn't be anything worse than the US Attorney scandal.
psychic satire?
Before you laugh off this headline in The Onion it might be helpful to be reminded of this past headline by this post on donklephant. The Onion seems to display an odd form of psychic satire.
Lawnhenge
There is clever. There is very clever. And then there is Lawnhenge. I've never seen better use of a teater-totter and buckets for large scale masonry construction.
Abramoff?
People are still getting into trouble over their dealing with Abramoff. Its just not front page news anymore.
Stop the Falsiness
The video, called "Stop the Falsiness," was created by MoveOn and Brave New Films as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on Colbert's portrayal of the right-wing media and parodying MoveOn's own reputation for earnest political activism. The short film, uploaded to YouTube in August 2006, includes clips from "The Colbert Report" as well as humorous original interviews about show host Stephen Colbert. In March of this year, Viacom -- the parent company of Comedy Central -- demanded that YouTube take "Stop the Falsiness" down, claiming the video infringed its copyrights.From EFF: Breaking News
Viacom is upset that there is a parody of their parody? Huh?
Democrats Seek Votes for Bill on Iraq
House Democrats were scrambling today to find the 218 votes needed to pass a war spending bill that would set a timetable to bring American troops home from Iraq, as the Bush administration and Congressional Republicans worked aggressively to foil their effort.From Democrats Seek Votes for Bill on Iraq - New York Times
The inability to find the 218 votes is really disappointing. The war is unpopular. The president is unpopular. And Congress is unpopular because it hasn't forced a change in Iraq strategy. The second complaint is over the volume of pork in that bill. Weren't we promised a change in earmarking? What happened to that?
re-framing the US Attorney scandal
In a scripted moment of imperial bravado, President Bush held a press conference yesterday to address the scandal over his Attorney General having lied to Congress. Why this sudden move? In a word: framing.FRAMESHOP by Jeffrey Feldman
An excellent discussion of how this administration is trying to change the way the US Attorney scandal is being discussed in the media.
The successful Iraq
Interestingly, many of the same issues that have dogged the current American campaign in Iraq dogged American efforts in the Philippines. These include the inability to recognize that the war was not over simply because we thought it should be over, the difficulty in adjusting to a new kind of war, the constant interaction of domestic politics and military affairs, and the divided command structure in the Philippines. And yet, the United States in the Philippines won not only the conventional war but the insurgency. Why?From The successful Iraq. - By David Silbey - Slate Magazine
An interesting discussion of the US experience in the Philippines and how it compares to Iraq. In short, Mr. Silbey argues that the Roosevelt administration understood the difference between political and military goals early on; in contrast to the debacle in Iraq.
Senate limits Gonzales' hiring authority
The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to end the Bush administration's ability to unilaterally fill U.S. attorney vacancies as a backlash to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' firing of eight federal prosecutors.And the kicker is:
Former House Republican Leader Tom DeLay had said earlier Tuesday that the scandal "is just a taste of what's going to be like for the next two years."From Senate limits Gonzales' hiring authority - Yahoo! News
As much as I am happy about the bipartisan check of executive powers, as well as the additional buffer to separate law enforcement from political goals; I can't help but giggle about Tom DeLay's comment on the topic. He is right, but not in the way he clearly intends. For at least the next two years, scandals in the executive will not just disappear from the new cycle the next time a celebrity dies or goes into rehab. There might even be consequences. Shocking.
uncivil servants
NYC residents should check out uncivil servants a web site that documents civil servant parking violations.
These Boots Were Made for 22 M.P.H.
But rather than being dismissed as a crackpot invention, his boots — which use tiny pistons — became classified as a Russian military secret until 1994.From NYT
Now, they have been held up as a symbol of both Russia’s deep and rich scientific traditions and the country’s inability to convert that talent into useful — and commercial — merchandise outside of the weapons business.
Interesting article on science in Russia. This should serve as a warning on what happens with politics is wedged between science and industry. This should be a warning for the ethanol industry.
Hagel Holds Off on 2008 Presidential Race
Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, said today that he is not jumping into the 2008 presidential race — for now, at least — so he can concentrate on domestic and global concerns, particularly helping to bring an end to the Iraq war.From New York Times
Senator Hagel should run. Liberals and progressives should be cheering him on to the GOP nomination. Why? He is the GOP anti-war candidate and his nomination will finally end the collection of contradictory canards and talking points that the right has been using as a substitute for an actual foreign policy. Most notably, the GOPer blowhards (on Fox et al) can no longer claim that those that are against the war want the terrorists to win if their own party nominates an anti-war candidate. Or if an anti-war candidate wins 30-40% of the vote. Doubly so when the clearest distinction between Senator Hagel and the rest of the pack is that he is the anti-war candidate.
Until they stop pushing this square-peg talking point into the round hole of reality; the debate on how we can secure a political end to the carnage will be blocked. A early Hagel victory can finally end this rhetorical stalemate.
Americans Overwhelmingly Believe President Bush Should Not Pardon Libby
new CNN poll shows that Americans overwhelmingly believe that President Bush should not pardon Scooter Libby, who was convicted last week on felony charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.From Think Progress
Since when has this administration cared what the majority think? Frankly, I view the inevitable Bush pardon of Libby as if it were Mayor McCheese granting a pardon to The Hamburglar. Both are absurd, cynical mockeries of our justice system.
Libby will be sentenced on June fifth. My guess is that the pardon will be granted on June 1st, the last Friday before sentencing.
MINOX DCC Leica M3
The new digital Classic Camera from MINOX comes in a really stylish format! On the outside it features the miniaturized shell of the legendary Leica M3,
Damn that is cute. Reminds me of that Mini-Roli from a while back.
Rove in action
Tim Griffin, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, admits his appointment in December was political, but maintains he's qualified to hold the post.From kuar NewsRoom via Think Progress
Anyone else think that the placement of a Rove staffer as the US Attorney in Arkansas might have something to do with Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign? Anyone want to start a betting pool on when this staffer will start investigating Clinton's actions at her old law firm?
Yet another GOP gay sex scandel
Several bloggers were posting pictures of me and Coulter together and noting, gleefully, that the guy with his arm around the waist of the woman who called Edwards a faggot had, once upon a time, acted in adult films. Some of the sites were comparing me to Rich Merritt, a Marine Corps captain who appeared in gay films. Others were comparing me to Jeff Gannon and claiming that I too had advertised my services as a male escort. I won't deny it, or that I acted in several adult movies 15 years ago under names like Pierre LaBranche and Rod Majors.From Porn free | Salon.com
Why are the Republican sex scandals, gay sex scandals? I can't think of a single heterosexual sex scandal involving a nationally recognizable republican. Today it dawned on me that the difference between gay and strait Republicans is that the heterosexual Republicans are all married.
Free advice to the GOP: If you let gay people get married with all the benefits of marriage, your sex scandal problems might all go away.
Savage to Media Matters : Stop stalking me!
Mr. Savage,
I recently saw your letter to
Media Matters where you threated them with legal action for posting what you said, over the public airwaves or in publicly accessible forums. I was wondering if you will also ask your mommy to make them stop? Perhaps holding your breath would help. I know it would help those of us that would love it if you would just shut up.
Have a nice day.
I sent that note to his email address. You have to be a special kind of idiot to think that the law protects you form people quoting what you say in public, in context; just because you regret it.
Manon Café in New York
The best part of working downtown is Manon Café. Why I ever put up with the burnt coffee at Starbucks or the sour taste of office coffee is a mystery. Illy coffee is the way to go.
Libby guilty on 4 of 5 counts
Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has been found guilty on four of five counts in his perjury and obstruction of justice trial.Libby guilty on 4 of 5 counts - CNN.com
Time to start the pardon betting pool. My guess is a full pardon on the last Friday before sentencing begins.
The 40-year-old secondary virgin
For the past 40 years, the conservative movement has welcomed only one kind of person: the true believer. Iconoclasm in the pursuit of moderation was no virtue; orthodoxy in the name of conservatism was no vice. But this weekend, Grover Norquist—the leading bouncer at the conservative club—announced a more relaxed entrance policy. In light of the movement's current struggles, the far right will now welcome a second type of conservative: the false believer.From The 40-year-old secondary virgin - By Bruce Reed - Slate Magazine
With the Neocons and Theocons unable to find their man, this just might be the opportunity for the remaining real Republicans to take their party back. Why not draft one of the many actual conservatives that haven't flip-flopped on reality, actually stand for conservatism and heartland values; and has a long distinguished career. I'm going to suggest Jim Leach or Paul Gillmor as moderates and Lindsey Graham and Dick Lugar as more conservative options.
To all those who are mourning the loss of Lincoln Chaffee's seat and John McCain's soul, maybe this is the time to find a GOP member who isn't beholden to the pro-war, anti-science wing of the party. You have nothing to lose but your 30% approval ratings.
log4j macro for eclipse
A lot of the code I am working with is filled with this line.
public static Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(RequestProcessorMgr.class);
The problem is that only one of the classes (RequestProcessorMgr) is actually using the correct class name. The rest are using the wrong class name. This is the problem with cut-copy-paste programming. Just because the code works in one part of the program, doesn't mean it will work anywhere else. Plus, when you copy code; you copy bugs too. This is self plagiary. So if you're going to plagiarize, don't self plagiarize. At least put in the effort to copy from someone smarter than you.
So this is what I did.
- In eclipse. Window->preferences
- In the preferences dialog, pick "java" then "editor" then "templates"
- Click on "new"
- Enter "log4j" for "name"
- Enter "Just say no to incorrect loggers" for "Description"
-
Enter
public static Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(${enclosing_type}.class);as the pattern - The default context should be Java. Change this if it isn't correct
- Click Apply. Save.
Now, when you type log4j and hit ctrl-space you can insert a log4j property that will correctly log messages from your class.
Now back to bug fixing.