Oil Profits

I see how higher oil prices mean higher gas prices, but I still don't understand why higher oil prices mean higher and higher profits for the oil refining companies like Chevron and Exxon. If someone had a lemonade stand, and all of a sudden the price of lemons went through the roof, wouldn't you figure that their margin would go down? Usually raw materials being expensive is a bad thing, right? Someone will have to explain this to me.

While you're at it, explain to me why these same oil companies enjoying record profits need multi-billion dollar government subsidies to go look for oil. I wouldn't want to see any special tax on ultra-high profits (as if profits can get too high), but I can see no good reason at all why Joe Sixpack working 10 hours a day should be forced to make donations to the most profitable industry on earth.

If R & D is too expensive, well golly gee maybe we should give that ol' capitalism thing a try and see what alternatives emerge. Maybe use some of those billions to build some subways in some of our major cities. You know, get people out of their cars, reducing demand for gas, and (presto!!!) lowering the price of oil.

Round 2

Much has been made of the latest Sy Hersh piece warning of imminent war in Iran. Scary stuff. But it's all President this, White House official that, Pentagon this, military planners that. But going to war with Iran is not a choice that the President has the authority to make. We don't have to sit here wondering whether or not the President will do this or that. Congress still has to approve that sort of thing, right? We haven't completely discarded our constitution have we? Or will we soon be hearing that the War on Terror allows the president to direct our military as he sees fit?

Google Love

I am slowly edging up the list. The current Google search of Dodecahedron has me in seventh place. My great blogging goal is to come in first one glorious day.

Memory Bowl

I'm sure the pro-"thriving criminal underworld" fanatics will slip this news into their collect back pockets as yet more evidence that "drugs are bad."

In a study of long-term and shorter-term marijuana users, researchers in Greece found that both groups performed more poorly on tests of memory, attention and other cognitive abilities than a comparison group who'd only occasionally used the drug.

Long-term users—who'd smoked four or more joints per week for at least 10 years—showed the greatest deficits.

In other news, people who ate fast food every day for 10 years are grossly obese, people who drink too much have liver problems, and too much sugar can cause adult-onset diabetes in children.

Go Birds!

Birds and frogs triumph over sprawl.

Give money to conservation groups. Sometimes they win.

No Thanks

ESPN.com has a poll question up that nearly made my head explode. In the end, I couldn't even choose. Every time the mouse cursor hovered too near to either option, the dry heaving became too much for me. The question was this: If given a choice (and ironically enough, you are), which player would you cheer for - Barry Bonds or Terrell Owens. Yuk!

Healthy Hillary

As I often do, I was perusing the blog of the award-winning goddess, Her Slitheressness, and read a predictably excellent post about the last couple first ladies. Within the post were a few quotes where the various speakers dared to dig up the incredibly sexist and insulting memes "Hillary playing assistant president" and "who is Hillary to foist healthcare policy on us, 'cause the little (first) lady wasn't elected to anything."

The question that comes immediately to mind, of course, when confronted with such idiocy is "Who the heck elected Karl Rove to anything, and exactly what is he playing at?" Something tells me this is a query the Joe Scarboroughs of the world (who says things which are alternately encouraging and infuriating) would not know how to answer.

Yeah...No...

I have noticed a new phrase that is slowly seeping into our language. That phrase is as follows: Yeah..no...blah blah blah. Think I'm crazy? Listen for it, and you'll be amazed at a) how often you hear it and b) how often you find the words "yeah...no..." coming out of your very own mouth. I'm no Samuel Johnson, but the lexicographer in me approximates the meaning of "yeah...no..." as "I'm not sure if you understood me, so let me reiterate my point." I find that one says this curious (and inherently contradictory) phrase most often when confronted with an imperfect (so one thinks) response to/summarization of an idea that one has expostulated. While you may be bored to weeping by conjectures on spontaneous language formation, I find it fascinating. And it's my blog, so there.

"So you like language?"

"Yeah, no, I just like how little phrases just sprout from the ether. I don't think anyone sat down and decided that they were going to say 'yeah...no...,' it just happened. I say it myself sometimes; I certainly didn't ever plan on it."

We Are The Media

This started as a comment on a post at Suburban Guerrilla, but ended up as here on SOTU as a full-fledged blog post. Aren't you lucky.

Below is a quote from said post at SG.

This is one of the things that infuriates me about the media and, like Duncan, I just don’t get it. Clearly, there’s something about the emphasis on credentialism that’s attracting journalists who are constitutionally incapable of questioning the status quo.
...

But of course, media ownership is concentrated in a handful of corporate interests who are more interested in making money than they are in saving democracy.

While I agree that the media is composed primarily of snivelling sycophants, yearning for the opportunity to place their lips firmly on the ass of power, I think it is largely a waste of time to wonder why they don't cover the important issues of the day. The answer is quite simple, and one which Susie hit on herself in her post: money.

Corporate media has one job. Reporting the news? Try again. Uncovering the truth? You've got to be kidding me. The one task that corporate media is interested in achieving is turning a profit. Period. There's no either/or here. No publisher sits in his office weighing whether she wants to a) save democracy and in the process disappoint stockholders because everyone flipped over to FOX or b) say to hell with the country let's run another story where we can show topless, fuzzed-out ladies getting mammograms. Whatever stories get the high ratings are the stories they go with. If a detailed report about the dangers of the unitary executive will cause people to flip the channel, it ain't gettin run. If a week-long series on Natalee Holloway makes the papers fly off the shelves, look for part 2 next quarter.

I feel the only things that we can do are a) try to put them out of business by not watching/reading/listening etc. and b) reporting the truth ourselves. The press is whoever has a press. In the Internet age, we all have a press. We are the media. We should not expect anything from The Media, we should expect things from ourselves. The Media, in terms of something that exists outside the sphere of influence of the common citizen, is dying. We are returning to the age of the pamphleteer, when passionate individuals like Thomas Paine invigorated a nation. We should realize the tremendous, increasing power we have to influence what topics are discussed.

"The Media" (if that label even means anything these days) will NEVER be a public service. The company balance sheet will inform them what "their job" is, not national interest. Let's not waste our valuable energy wondering why our favorite newspapers don't print stories about things that matter or why the same familiar reporters keep asking the same softball questions. Just like we don't waste our time wondering why Exxon funds anti-global-warming research. Just like we don't waste our time wondering why insurance companies lobby against national healthcare.

The press is not something that is out there, but something that is "in here" **pounds chest**. Expecting/hoping/becoming infuriated that the certain outlets that we deem "the press" or "the media" or whatever don't take the health of our nation seriously enough only serves to empower those outlets and enfeeble our own efforts. If a question needs asking, we need to be the ones to ask it. We need to get our own reporters in that press room. We need to work to erase the "unserious" stigma that unfairly plagues bloggers. The more we infiltrate the press conferences, the more the truth will be out. This can be done and it must be done. But it must be done BY US. Wishing that someone else would do it for us is as good as giving up.

Ben the Pen

I love how right-wing cheerleaders keep referring to Ben Domenech's blatant and repeated plagiarism as a "mistake." Even more, how his "owning up" to these "mistakes" may just vault him up to the moral high ground.

Here's the news, chumps: habitual plagiarism is not a "mistake," but a symptom of a fundamental and more or less permanent flaw in one's character. Ben is a liar and a thief. Period.

Fur

I'm not going to judge anyone else for wearing fur, but after seeing this graphic video, I cannot in good conscience wear it myself. Not that I ever have worn fur, so this isn't exactly a huge sacrifice, but it is a little sad knowing that I will never be Mr. Male Fur Coat Wearer.

I caution you on the graphic video. It's pretty disturbing. How so? The animals are skinned alive. Repeat. SKINNED ALIVE.



12 sided salute to the incredible juggernaut, Hedonistica.

Duke Puke

I have three words to say now that Duke has been unceremoniously bounced from the NCAA tournament:

Ha. Ha. Ha.


Oh yeah, I have three words for J.J., too:

C. B. A.

Tired

I’m tired. So tired. Last Tuesday I was in Philadelphia. I stood where brave and treasonous patriots drafted the Declaration of Independence. I stood in the room where these same men debated the Constitution. When I got home to Chicago, I joked with friends that now that I’ve been to the Philly, where they created our sacred documents, I should make sure to plan a trip to Washington, D.C., where our leaders are currently destroying them. Bookends of a sort, eh? But kidding aside, as our volunteer tour guide spoke about the replica furniture, I thought to myself that such discussion of how to govern a nation, the fierce counterpoint that forged our nation’s structure and ideals, is now extinct. Maybe we will drag it up from the deep one day, like a coelacanth hooked on an unsuspecting line, but I begin to despair. The Republican position on nearly every issue takes but one consideration into account: how will this make us and our big contributers richer. The health of the nation is of absolutely no concern to them. The sole measure of control that they seek to achieve is the destination of the vast sums of money that they alone have the power to route. What use would such people have for the conversations that shaped the USA into the greatest, most powerful nation in the world? Of what interest is the breathtaking potential of its people and its resources? It simply doesn’t matter. And so many people, so many, just don’t care. They just don’t. And I’m tired of hearing them. I am tired of talking to them. Tired of giving them examples. Tired of asking them to consider this or this or this or this. Tired of talking about the fundamental disconnect between trying to fight terror and prop up the US oil industry at the exact same time. Tired of pointing out that being against the war in Iraq doesn’t make you a terror sympathizer, that it doesn’t even mean you’re not a hawk! I’m tired of being asked to, metaphorically speaking, “prove gravity.” I don’t mean to say that the liberal position and, by extension, liberals are always, or even often, right, correct, moral, etc. But just that we have one side arguing for the liberal position and the other side arguing…what? They argue nothing. Just nothing. Savvy taxpayers are encouraged to purchase gas guzzling SUVs. Wiretaps now are authorized without judicial oversight. Medicare is so expensive not because of any incredible drug benefit to seniors, but the jaw-dropping giveaways to pharmaceutical companies. And why? Thinking in terms of nation building, that is, building OUR NATION, the terms within which the architects of our nation considered the effect of each proposal, thinking in those terms, what actual positive effect could these policies have? The care that went into the intricate system of checks and balances, the framers no doubt waking in the middle of the night having thought of yet another contingency to plan for, another roadblock to throw across the path to corruption, where is this care in the modern Republican party? What gets them up in the dead of night? A foolproof way to funnel war profits to campaign contributors? Another ploy to solidify the pulling of the R lever into an article of faith for millions of ignorant and deluded fundamentalists? Or maybe it’s just me losing sleep. Sometimes I just can't force myself to see the gusts for the typhoon. Why point out the odd whipping palm and uprooted street sign when you’re STANDING IN THE MIDST OF A HURRICANE? Can’t you see it? Can’t you see it? It wasn’t always like this. It’s doesn’t have to be this way. It could be so much better. But I get so tired of saying it. Tired of trying to scream my voice above the driving wind and rain. So tired.

Also when I was in Philly, I stopped by the local chapter of Drinking Liberally (a vibrant group of dedicated individuals) and got to meet Upyernoz, a tremendous blogger, and my first and best “blog-friend.” We had a great time talking about blogging, politics and life with the rest of the gang. Everyone made me feel very welcome. A fantastic time.

Ski Jumping

I don't understand why ski jumping has judges. Who cares how pretty they look when they land? Isn't it enough that one dude goes farther than another dude? What the heck? The idea that the guy with the "perfect telemark landing" wins, while the other guy, who goes balls to the wall and ekes out a few more feet while swinging his arms or whatever, has to settle for silver, is beyond the paltry scope of my comprehension.

Woulda Shoulda

See, when a country blatantly does have/will have nukes, e.g. Iran, France is not afraid to say so. Contrast that with what they said about a country, say, Iraq, that inspectors were more or less on their way to declaring completely free of nukes, or the capability to create them, when we hurriedly invaded the place. Why are we supposed to hate France again?

I, for one, would have liked our armed forces to be free to muster all the strength they had these last four years to present a viable threat to a international pariah like Iran. Instead, we've pissed ourselves dry in Iraq. Seems that the net result of our actions in Iraq have simply been to embolden Iran. Seems to me we should have been spending this time doing exactly the opposite. Pity.

Anti-Fundamentalists?

A bunch of churches in Alabama have been burned in apparent arson recently. When I read the headline, I immediately thought that it was racially motivated violence, but seems that mostly White churches have been burned right along with mostly Black churches. Being that these churches were the homes of Baptist congregations in rural Alabama, let's go out on a limb here and assume these parishioners take the Bible pretty literally. Perhaps what was under attack here wasn't a particular ethnic community, but the ideology itself. Could these burnings be the work of anti-fundamentalist extremists?

"Defeat fundamentalism at all costs! We believe nothing we read!"

Cockroach Zombies

Here is a must read post about a wasp called Ampulex compressa. It could be the coolest insect of all time. It has evoled a mechanism by which it controls the mind of a cockroach to such a degree that it does not bother the cockroach in the slightest bit to be slowly devoured from the inside by the wasp larvae. Hell yeah!!!

And then there's the sting. Ampulex does not want to kill cockroaches. It doesn't even want to paralyze them the way spiders and snakes do, since it is too small to drag a big paralyzed roach into its burrow. So instead it just delicately retools the roach's neural network to take away its motivation. Its venom does more than make roaches zombies. It also alters their metabolism, so that their intake of oxygen drops by a third. The Israeli researchers found that they could also drop oxygen consumption in cockroaches by injecting paralyzing drugs or by removing the neurons that the wasps disable with their sting. But they can manage only a crude imitation; the manipulated cockroaches quickly dehydrated and were dead within six days. The wasp venom somehow puts the roaches into suspended animation while keeping them in good health, even as a wasp larva is devouring it from the inside.

The only other organism that could hope to achieve this level of mind control is Chuck Norris.

12 sided salute to Hedonistica for the fantastic link.

Tim Johnson

I'm really disappointed in Tim Johnson. He's not even up for re-election until 2009. Does he really think a vote against Alito will damage him so much that he will be denied a chance to practice "running scared" politics for another term? Does he really think that the people of South Dakota will even remember this?

Manufacturing Runs

Another good move by Reid to stagger the announcements from the Dem Senators regarding their no votes on Alito. It creates sort of a faux momentum of opposition to the nomination. For the record, I would oppose Alito because he doesn't seem to understand that the president has no power to draft or interpret laws. That said, there wasn't much of an opposition buzz, so again, kudos to Reid for trying to create one. Sort of the political equivalent, if it works, of the "Rickey Run" in basball.

Right Click

I am staunchly pro-Mac, but I think it's time that they entered the world of the "right click." It's just too well established to be ignored by anybody. My prediction: if Mac adopts the "right click," their market share would go up 10 points in the first year. Seriously, if they didn't mind letting Intel chips power their computers, you'd think they could see to having the two button mouse that everyone on the computing earth is used to by now.