Bush signs the $286 billion highway bill
Bush signs the $286 billion highway bill:
Because you can never have too much pork:
President Bush signed a $286.5 billion highway bill on Wednesday that he said would create new jobs but which critics contend is stuffed with billions of dollars worth of lawmakers' pet projects.
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And don't get me wrong: if the money appropriated by this bill does some good, that's wonderful. But the special interests involved is just more of what we have come to expect out of Bush-approved legislation.
(Via Daily Kos.)
Sorry guys, but the Republicans learned about pork from you Democrats. The student has now become the master. Plus, you can't even see that the pork and extra programs are wrong whether or not they are useful or do some good. If you have a good idea for a spending program, introduce your own damned bill.
Of course this doesn't even address the fact that the highway bill is immoral anyway. Let's take 286 billion dollars from everyone in the country for something they don't necessarily agree with. If someone wants a highway so badly, let the people who want it pay for it.
In Romance with USA, Americans Play Hard to Get
In Romance with USA, Americans Play Hard to Get:
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In fact, it's difficult to know just what Americans do approve of. Only 39% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, which means that the public disapproves of all three branches of government.
And the media? It turns out that Americans like (and trust) those folks less and less. A Pew Study found that in 1985 84% of Americans could "believe most of what they read in their daily newspaper." By 2004 that figure had fallen to just 54%
And yet, in a bizarre instance of cognitive dissonance, Americans are still some of the most patriotic people on the planet: a recent Roper poll found that 8 in 10 people think patriotism is "in," and consider themselves very patriotic.
Is this evidence that Americans like America, and simply hate everything in it?
(Via Think Progress.)
No, it's evidence that Americans love their country but hate their government. Clinton didn't understand either.
Something creepy from outer space
And if you want to hear something creepy from outer space, c...:
And if you want to hear something creepy from outer space, check out this eerie recording of Saturn's radio emissions. Couldn't be any better if it was in a scene from 2001 or Twilight Zone. (Seriously, click through to listen, I promise it will be worth it
(Via Critical Section.)
Is Saturn really hell, home to damned souls? You be the judge! When I played it, Morgan ran to the back door to see what cool thing was making that noise. When he realized it was coming from my computer, he asked me to play it again.
Piggybank robber
Last week I learned something new about Ash. She's would make a good piggybank robber.
The other day, I saw a commercial from Wells Fargo about a woman to who put IOUs in her daughter's piggy bank. I've seen it before, but this time, I thought of something.
I said "How does she get the money out without smashing the pig?"
Ash immediately replied, "A butter knife stuck down the slot."
No hesitation whatsoever.
Hmmmm.
Moleskine Notebooks
Ash got me a pair of Moleskine notebooks for my birthday. She got them after my birthday, but still they were my present. For those of you who know me well, you will know that I love stationery. I love paper in most of its forms. I collect business and calling cards, for example. I love little notebooks of all types, and I've been searching for the perfect notebook most of my life. I like using computers to write with these days, but there is still something about paper and pen that I keep coming back to. I recently found my favorite pen, so I'm on my way to a Zen state of perfection.
These are pretty nice books with a long history. The Moleskine notebooks are very nice, but they could be about 50% bigger and about 50% cheaper. They are incredibly expensive, but now I know what I'm looking for in a notebook. I like the really small ones for writing notes when I'm listening to podcasts or for recording my thoughts on a blog post (like this one!)
I haven't used the big one yet. I'm saving it for something, but I don't know what, yet.
Things I like:
- Hardbound. Easy to write on.
- Built in ribbon bookmark, like you find in good books.
- Acid free paper, so I can show them to my grandchildren.
- Threadbound binding so they stay flat when you open them.
Things I don't like:
- They are hideously expensive.
It looks like the softcover ones aren't that expensive, but I can find those anywhere. I'm going to look for replacements in local stationery stores or office supply stores. I think I'll have some luck at a good bookstore where they keep the journals, too. Decisions, decisions. Of course, if you buy them in bulk, they are cheaper.
Let me just say that I really really like these notebooks. They are very good, and are probably worth every penny. I just can't justify buying them for myself until I hit the lottery or Ash's web design business takes off and I can start sponging off her.
[composed and posted with ecto]
UPDATE
Hank thoughtfully provided a link to less expensive Moleskine notebooks.
UPDATE
Aunty Spam graciously points out that I forgot to mention the secret pocket in the back of the Moleskine. I can't believe I forgot that!
Who Hates Our Freedom?
Musharraf's Pakistan apparently:
For the vast majority of humans, terror comes in more mundane ways - like the violent hands that woke Dr. Shazia Khalid as she lay sleeping in her bed, and the abuse she's suffered at the hands of Mr. Musharraf's government ever since.
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The cynical Bush claim to be working for "freedom" is an offensive and detestable lie. Pakistan, the "new" Iraq, Uzbekistan. The truth has never mattered to Bush. And neither, apparently, do the rights and well being of women.
(Via Daily Kos.)
HA! Since when have Democrats cared about the rights and well being of women? They would rather see a woman raped and strangled with her own panty-hose than have the right to carry a gun to protect her life.
Does anyone seriously think that any of this wouldn't have happened with a Democrat in charge? Oh wait, it was happening when Democrats were in charge. How many massacres in Africa were ignored by Clinton?
[composed and posted with ecto]