I don’t know about all of you, but lately I find little bits of interesting news that don’t warrant a diary, and don’t really fit in as a comment anywhere else. A few weeks back, JanetStrange was saying the same thing, and asking if we could start something like Fran’s European Breakfast over at Eurotrib. You know, a round up of comments with a little snip of news and a link, or whatever.
So, since it’s a lovely wet, windy, 60-degree January day here, I thought I’d give it a try. So post your odd bits of stuff, and don’t forget to take the poll!
When you make a world tolerable for yourself, you make a world tolerable for others.
Anais Nin, US (French-born) author & diarist (1903 – 1977)
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Or something.
PoliticalCortex’ “Nerve Center” is a good place to put the newsbits, as well as here. The “briefs” are sent out daily. Subscriptions are easy, and the price is right. A long way back we talked about adding a tab @ the top for just these sorts of stories. (Sorry, no links).
As someone who is a serial subscriber, I like it when the news comes to me. A good example of “if it ain’t broke”.
Calendarlive.com: Al Gore
Al Gore firing up crowds with his one-man PowerPoint presentation show on arctic melt rates, devastating heat waves and dangerous changes in ocean currents.
I saw Gore give this talk at the University of Tennessee here, and it was amazing how on fire he was. In a diary at the time I commented that it was as if he were channeling the spirit of MLK, he was so on fire.
He mentioned the movie; I’m glad to hear that it’s out. Post-Katrina, folks may be ready to listen, especially once James Lovelock’s commentary that it’s already too late to stop disastrous climate change gets wider media coverage – it’s big news in Britain already (Lovelock is British). Most scientists do not believe it’s too late, but agree that the window of opportunity is closing rapidly, more rapidly than we as a society seem to be getting our act together.
Lovelock is the creator of the “Gaia Hypothesis” that the biosphere acts as if it is a single, giant self-regulating organism. He is a respected environmental scientist, who also invented the device (electron capture detector) used to detect parts-per-million (or lower) levels of chlorinated compounds like solvents or pesticides in environmental samples.
OUr weather here in PA over the last 24 hours totally supports the disastrous climate change theory. Freezing yesterday morning, by 2 AM today, we had 60 degree temps and high winds that put thousands of people out of power and bent traffic light supports. I lost a pane out of an upstairs window, and the wind was so strong, the rain was coming sideways at the house.
Put that together with last year’s hurricane season, and it’s pretty scary.
BBC.com: CNN Ban lifted
Now if only CNN would ban Glenn Beck. Did you send your complaint to them yet?
I wish they’d had these when I took big lecture hall classes…
La Times: The Ipod Took My Seat
Oh well, there’s a low-tech way to get the kids to come to class…
Why bother doing your own homework?
“We’ve got an improving economy. We’ve got needs.”
What struck me in my quick look at the news this morning was the quote above from Pawlenty, our Republican Governor in MN. After wiping out the safety net for the poor in this state in order to not tax his wealthy friends, the Gov now wants to spend money – but on what?! An $800 million bonding bill. Oh, and one of the biggest looming expenses for the state – millions of dollars for building new prisons to lock up those “bad people.”
I say “watch out” to the rest of the country. This guy is really good with the spin and has national ambitions!! I’ll do everything I can to see him defeated when he runs for re-election this year.
The City of St. Paul gets NOTHING in Pawlenty’s bonding bill because we had the balls to oust the DINO Mayor Kelly who endorsed Bush and supported everything Pawlenty did. So damn the people’s needs if they don’t cooperate with the corporate “big boys.”
Each morning, the first website I visit is Astronomy Picture of the Day. Not only are the photos from the Hubble telescope and other observatories breathtakingly beautiful (and the text explanations interesting and informative), but I find that starting the day by looking at a photo of a galaxy of billions of stars, some of which by pure chance have to have planets with beings like us looking back at us and our galaxy, helps to put my problems – and living under the Bush Administration – in proper perspective…
I like how they overlaid all the color images to get that Chandra Galaxy picture. Thanks!
Ooo, they look like jellyfish.
I’ve had APOD set as my home page on my browser for years. It’s an amazing way to be greeted when opening it for the first time each day – and every day it’s something different!
And I still think it’s awesome that we can see detail down to the size of the earth on the surface of the nearest star using nothing more than $0 worth of broken mirror and some rocks.
Well in the “good news” category, the Maryland Legislature overturned the Governor’s veto of raising the state minimum wage. Washington Post had the story this morning.
The wage increase will take effect in 30 days. Hopefully, this will prompt some employers to also bump some other lower-wage jobs up a bit (as opposed to cutting number of minimum-wage jobs available, as the Republicans swear up and down will be the result). A non-partison analysis done last year (when the bill was originally passed) estimated that over 55,000 people in the state would benefit from this bill.
Average chief xecutive salaries, in the meantime, went up about 12% last year….
I think it’s a great idea!!
I think this concept of a spot to post brief news items is brilliant. I’ve been considering doing a brief daily (or at least a few times a week) diary to post science / environmental / medical headlines of the day that might be of interest to the community, but I wasn’t sure it would be worth a diary, as I wasn’t looking to provide commentary so much as just to alert folks to interesting news items.
If this were to become a regular feature, like the Froggy Bottom Café, I could see myself posting something like the following at least a few times a week, as I review a series of websites to cull science headlines for myself anyway – so I might as well share the wealth.
Do you think this should be a separate diary or part of this?
The headlines:
From the BBC:
A study finds that watching comedy films is good for your heart, as it boosts the flow of blood…
What determines whether species thrive or go extinct…
Another example that the size of over-fished species of fish shrinks in response to the over-fishing…
NASA delays the launch of the mission to Pluto due to high winds…
From New Scientist:
Regular exercise linked to 40% drop in dementia and Alzheimer’s risk…
From Sciencedaily.com:
How plants cry for help and defend themselves elucidated…
Saving energy by pre-cooling buildings…
Federal standards for blood lead levels may not be strict enough…
From The N.Y. Times:
A reports on the revitalization of an old technology to convert natural gas into ultra-clean diesel fuel [This story might be worth a diary]…
A story on automakers plans for more hybrid autos…
From U.P.I.:
The need for new laws regulating nanotechnology discussed [This story also smells like a potential diary entry]…
From the L.A. Times:
Bush’s EPA proposes dropping clean air rules on dust in rural areas [Grrrrr!]
From Reuters:
Caribbean looks at alternatives to oil…
Bird flu update (both China and Turkey)
From The Washington Post:
Oregon Coast coho salmon not to be listed as endangered species by Bush Administration [Grrrrr!]
David Ignatius figures out that the MSM is “ignoring the biggest story in our history” [i.e., climate change: Duh!]
Via Truthout.org:
The Independent (UK):
Coverage of James Lovelock’s statement that global warming has passed the point of no return…
Via Truthout.org:
Sydney Morning Herald:
Australian scientist Tim Flannery disagrees, says we have 10-20 years to avoid irreversible disaster…
From Terradaily.com:
East African drought threatens millions with famine…
Progress on lithium ion batteries for hybrid vehicles (Sandia National Labs)…
Evolution of body size over time…
Pollinator shortage threatens endangered plant species… Related story: French study finds town bees do better than country bees [reminds me of a story I once heard…]
I think that would be a great addition.
I don’t know that I want to post a diary like this every day, but I do love how you can skim through Fran’s stuff over at ET and get a sprinkling of the news that’s out there without spending hours reading.
We probably need to think of a consistent title like we have for the cafe, so that when folks are scanning the list of diaries they’ll know “Oh, there’s another one of those diaries full of short news tidbits and headlines.”
Maybe “News Tidbits and Headlines?”
You sayin’ you don’t like the current title? 🙂
Oh well, you know what an old fart I am. “Current Science Headlines” is my usual level of creativity, and “Jazz Jam” is after I’ve had a beer on Friday night, LOL.
Glad you picked up the ball, CG! I just didn’t get my act together on it, and now I’m buried in beginning-of-semester hassles. I do think we need this.
Especially if you’re willing to post one early each morning. Some people get up and are ready to start chatting and ranting about the state of the world, but there’s not really a good place to put these random thoughts first thing in the morning. (FBC is great, but not really the same as this.)
I’d be willing to take a turn, but I don’t get up that early – and I’m in Central time zone – some early birds may want one earlier.
I’m glad you’re doing this, too. Janet’s right that it’s different from the Cafe.
I’m not sure how to categorize this one without offending anyone.
British police foiled a plot to kidnap Tony Blair’s 5 year old son, Leo, by members of a father’s rights group.
Look fellas, you don’t make much of a case for yourself if your idea of making a point involves kidnapping and traumatizing a five year old child. Seems like maybe your home court showed a great deal of wisdom by awarding custody of your kids to the mother.
Ha. Love your last sentence.
Good grief.
Well put, SN!
wasn’t it? A year or few ago?
The problem is nobody’s come up with a test to distinguish English eccentricity from incredibly clever conspiracy.
The Supreme Court issued a ruling today in Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
Here is a link to the ruling and below is the first story about the ruling, from the AP. LINK
Pertaining to abortion? But body cavity searches are done every place all the time at the drop of a hat, or a nail file?
You’ll find that states have the right to obey God.
They do not have the right to disobey God.
What the Court did today as I understand was punt the issue to Alito.
within the Army and they don’t warrant a diary either but to not say something about it to the taxpayers has proven to be criminal as this administration attempts to use the publics lack of military knowledge against them.
I remember that I used to like the frequent “Open Threads” interspersed between diaries at DKos back in the old days when the size of the site made such things more manageable, and I’ve found myself here ocassionally wishing there were more open threads on the FP to post those short but often time-sensitive bits of news and info.
I do like CabinGirl’s idea though of a news roundup post, (maybe several each day).
We probably want to start with one a day, and if it gets too long a thread then open a second, like we do with the cafe.
Here’s yet another tragic story about how screwed we queer folk are by the fact that we’re not equal under the law. A lot of people seem to think it’s acceptable to elect Democratic politicians who are willing to settle for the status quo level of discrimination — which is bigoted and anti-American — but even that costs us dearly. It can cost us our whole life’s work, like it did for the poor guy in this story.
PS. Great idea for a regular thread, CabinGirl, no matter where it originated. 🙂
Appalling. I’m sure that man wanted everything he owned to be split among his distant cousins instead of his true family. What a shame. These laws have to be changed.
And of course it’s purely motivated by bigotry, hatred and greed. The last bit of the article notes that the distant cousins are suing the surviving partner for back rent. This is who the “Democrats” who support this shit are in bed with.
What indescribable greed. I’m sure those same cousins were coming out of the woodwork offering to take care of the man after his stroke.
That makes me so angry.
We need more politicans like this guy.
Sho ’nuff. And they could take a page from Paul Hackett’s book, too.
Credit where it’s due, I should note that that link was also pilfered from a post by Pam at Pandagon.
This is appalling but it could happen to heterosexual couples who are not married. (I know, they COULD get married; but not everyone wants to get married.) Family doesn’t like your choice in life partner, they make his/her life hell after you die.
That’s why you should pay the MONEY for a good estate planning lawyer who will make sure that your will is airtight. No matter who you are. Being short one witness is ridiculous.
Yes. I used to manage a small law firm where one of the specialties was probate law, so I definitely second the advice to get a good lawyer. I’ve seen what happens when people don’t. (I’ve also lived it but that’s another story for a different day.)
However, the point of this piece is the choice to marry or not under the law, and it is also true that gay couples face more of these sorts of challenges to the paperwork due to the systemic discrimination and the culturally entrenched bigotry.
These really exist? I have seen many friends go through these ugly “family” battles at the death or serious illness of a partner. And they had spent hundreds maybe thousands of dollars with lawyers to avoid just such things. . .to no avail when the time came. The courts apparently have no problem over-riding and throwing out these well planned and thought out estate/wills.
It has seemed the law and the legal documents be damned, blood is thicker than ink, and even the most remote relative willing to contest most often wins.
So I have no confidence in all the legal planning and maneuvering essential to long term partners. . .I have seen it fall flat on its face over and over again.
I, being totally without the sanity that courts and relatives recognize, am setting my things up by giving everything away now. I have trusted friends who will take care of it all. Even though I do not have a “partner” or “spouse” I do have a few nieces and nephews who have taken no interest in me while I am alive, and one brother who can’t find the time to inquire of me or respond to my inquiries of him. No bad blood there, just apparently no interest on his part. I’m okay with that. Anyway, I have extended family that I am very close to and I am giving everything I have to them. Most trusted is on my bank account and knows what to do when the time comes.
Being of sound mind (Heh!) I am planning on spending every dime I have before I leave here. Nothing of value will be left to fight over.
And yes! we need these laws changed!!
Exactly right Shirl, as per usual. And with the help of “Democrats” new laws are being proposed and passed to invalidate the contracts we make with each other. Assholes.
I agree in general with what you are saying — but a will shouldn’t fail because the person doing it doesn’t know to make sure there are enough witnesses. Or whatever that particular state requires. If the state requires that all wills be signed in pink ink — it may be stupid, but its something that’s easy to find out and to do. Let them try to overturn it on much harder grounds than something simple like just following the formalities.
Trust me, I understand that anybody with a few extra bucks can file a lawsuit and make your life hell. And I understand that some people are more likely to be the victim of these types of lawsuits than others. But let’s not make it easy for the jerks.
I’m not sure what I said that makes you think I don’t also advocate your position about that.
But to reiterate my primary points, gay people are simply more vulnerable to the whole problem than straight people, and there are currently movements in several states to outlaw even the perfectly technically legal contracts that gay people make with each other. My point in bringing this up is to talk about the effects of the bigotry in the law, which disparately affects gay people, not the technicalities of witness signatures or whatever.
oops — I think I meant to respond to shirls on that one. sorry!
My own personal opinion is that states should get out of the marriage business altogether and just have civil contracts for everybody who wants to partner for purposes of property rights and power of attorney rights. If people want to get married they can go to church and get married, but it has nothing to do with legal rights.
oops — I think I meant to respond to shirls on that one. sorry!
Cool.
I don’t understand that thing about “getting out of the marriage business”, though. It’s silly. Marriage is a civil contract as it is. Just because religions also marry people isn’t relevant in any way to the legal contract. But I certainly agree that it should be easier for people who don’t wish to marry to arrange their property & POA affairs, etc.
I don’t see any reason why the states need to call what they do “marriage”. It is the word “marriage” that makes people emotional — because marriage IS emotional. To me the whole concept of marriage is sacramental, not civil. The state has little legal interest (I would actually say “no legal interest” but some would disagree .. )in helping its citizens participate in a sacrament — which is at its lowest denominator emotional and at its highest denominator spiritual, but never tangible.
But the state does have an interest in helping its citizens protect tangibles, like property. It also has an interest in helping its citizens provide for the wellbeing of their children so that the state doesn’t have to do it and in having a trusted person make health care decisions for them so that the state doesn’t have to do it.
These are interests that people have whether or not they are “married”. Why should only people who are “married” have these intersts protected, or get the benefit of laws that make it easier to have these interests protected.
It shouldn’t matter who the two people are — you should be able to appoint someone as your civil partner. If I, as a single person, wanted to appoint my sister as my civil partner, I should be able to. If you and I wanted to be civil partners — we should be able to. If I got married to a guy and wanted to make him my civil partner, ok. It shouldn’t be tied to whether you are going to have sex with the person, whether you are going to live under the same roof with the person, whether you even love that person. It just shouldn’t be tied to the concept of “marriage” — not for anybody.
Frankly, I don’t see any reason why the state oughtn’t use the word “marriage”. Religions don’t own the word and nobody was bitching about it until we gays wanted in.
I strongly disagree that it’s just the word “marriage” that gets people all riled up. From decades of personal experience, I’m hyper-aware that mostly, it is bigotry against gays that makes people melt down. Although it sure does seem that a small group of people are indeed irrationally obsessed with the linguistics of it, yes. Funny how these same people don’t insist that the law make up new words for the concept of legal murder and whatnot. Nope, they primarily get irritated when the subject matter is us queers.
I appreciate that your perception of marriage is sacramental but the fact is that you don’t get to make the decision about what marriage is for the rest of us. It’s well-established as a civil contract in this country — people of any religion or no religion can marry. Which makes it definitively not sacramental under the law. Taking the state out of marriage altogether is a far more radical change to the law than simply allowing gay people equal access to this well-established civil contract, and I think you’d need a far more compelling argument than that some folks think it’s their special religious club that not all people are good enough to be a part of.
But like I already said earlier, I have no issue with the law making it easier for folks like you and your sister or whomever else to arrange your property rights any way you want to.
I think you misunderstand me. I’m not against gay marriage. I’m against marriage as a legal state. I’m in favor of civil contracts. But if the state is going to have a civil contract that they choose to call “marriage”, then by all means it should be open to everyone.
To me, a real marriage does not depend on the blessing of the state (or the blessing of a minister for that matter). But without the blessing of the state it sure is hard for two people who want to share their lives to have legal rights vis-a-vis each other. No matter what their sexual persuasion.
I don’t think you and I are that much apart.
But if the state is going to have a civil contract that they choose to call “marriage”, then by all means it should be open to everyone.
On this, we agree. But the whole “removing marriage from the law” thing is something we see vastly differently, although the differences may be more strategic than anything else. I think the law and religion are too intertwined already and need to become far less so (on this, we may also agree) but I definitely don’t think the way to do this is to cede semantic territory to religions. Especially when such issues arise only in response to calls for gay equality.
FYI, your argument is nearly identical to the one used by socially conservative libertarian types who are unapologetically anti-gay, so it might be useful to clarify your non-bigoted position up front in future conversations of this nature. And I’m sorry if I came off overly bitchy in response to your argument; I’ve a bit of a hair trigger about both homophobia as well as abject apathy to gay equality in the liberal community lately because no one seems to give much of a shit about my rights. It seems all too easy for people who call themselves liberals or progressives to shrug and dismiss it, or not even bother to keep tabs on how bad it is getting for gay people in places like Ohio and Virginia, let alone how bad it’s always been in places like Alabama.
I understand. It’s easy to forget that people don’t always know where other people are coming from. I’m NOT a fundamentalist religious type. I hope I’m not a bigot. I do, however, have a libertarian streak 🙂
Come over to the cafe — I’m buying. After putting you through this discussion, its the least I can do!
I’m sympathetic to libertarian views, actually. I was raised on Heinlein. But the older I get and the more I dance with institutionalized bigotry, the more I realize that libertarianism does not offer any solutions to the radical power disparities that exist in a society where minorities are othered, demonized, and then forced to live with fewer resources and blocked access to a level playing field.
And now, for the drinking. 🙂
This is a great idea CabinGirl. I’d like it better if it could be automated and people didn’t need to take days to be in charge like in the cafe.
One of the biggest benefits of blogs like this is the ability to pick up news from a variety of traditional media locations throughout the country and from other sites — but I wouldn’t want the site to become like Kos where there is a separate diary for each piece of information and you simply can’t keep up with it.
This solves the problem!
Freedom Now:
A Conversation with Father Jean-Juste: MLK Day in a Haitian Prison, By Bill Quigley:
Boycott Israel?
An econmic boycott & divestiture campaign against South Africa was a burning issue on campus when I was in school. Nelson Mandela & the INC were regularly demonized in the media. Norman Finkelstein writes today Why an Economic Boycott of Israel is Justified:
And Now For Something Completely Different.