Wednesday, June 6, 2007
A DEMOCRACY IN PERIL?--
This from an AP story running Tuesday:
______________________________________
Rep. Jefferson Indicted in Bribery Probe
WASHINGTON (AP) - Louisiana congressman William Jefferson received more than $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in nearly a dozen separate schemes to enrich himself by using his office to broker business deals in Africa, according to a federal indictment Monday.
The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer...
______________________________________
The indictment contains 16 counts and could lead to imprisonment for up to 235 years if he is convicted. The $90 thousand in cash mentioned above was from marked bills he allegedly accepted from an FBI informant.
Nevertheless, our system requires he be considered innocent until proven guilty. Yup, I’d consider this bozo innocent—as I slammed his cell door and tossed the key to await the formality of his trial, conviction and sentencing.
Periodically during this investigation the major news angle on the story involved the congress critters wringing their hands and bemoaning the investigation as a breech of congressional privilege. “How dare the FBI raid the offices of a congressman?” they wailed.
Equally as pathetic, this clown was reelected to his seat while this investigation was being actively and publicly pursued.
Which brings up a companion topic; we in the US like to slam-dunk the congress which, is often so richly deserved, but, we absolutely love “our” congressman. After all, he or she is the one who builds us a new post office or brings all manner of pork-barrel goodies back to his home district—the very thing we find so offensive when it happens in someone else’s congressional district.
So, in summary, we have 1) Yet another alleged abuse of political power, 2) A constituency which ignores the allegations and reelects their favorite miscreant, and 3) A congress which routinely feels it is above the very laws they create for the rest of us to obey.
In another story today, a bunch of folks in Vermont, “disillusioned by what they call ‘an empire about to fall’...” has started the process to secede from the Union.
*Gasp* Running a democracy is certainly a challenge.
This from an AP story running Tuesday:
______________________________________
Rep. Jefferson Indicted in Bribery Probe
WASHINGTON (AP) - Louisiana congressman William Jefferson received more than $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in nearly a dozen separate schemes to enrich himself by using his office to broker business deals in Africa, according to a federal indictment Monday.
The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer...
______________________________________
The indictment contains 16 counts and could lead to imprisonment for up to 235 years if he is convicted. The $90 thousand in cash mentioned above was from marked bills he allegedly accepted from an FBI informant.
Nevertheless, our system requires he be considered innocent until proven guilty. Yup, I’d consider this bozo innocent—as I slammed his cell door and tossed the key to await the formality of his trial, conviction and sentencing.
Periodically during this investigation the major news angle on the story involved the congress critters wringing their hands and bemoaning the investigation as a breech of congressional privilege. “How dare the FBI raid the offices of a congressman?” they wailed.
Equally as pathetic, this clown was reelected to his seat while this investigation was being actively and publicly pursued.
Which brings up a companion topic; we in the US like to slam-dunk the congress which, is often so richly deserved, but, we absolutely love “our” congressman. After all, he or she is the one who builds us a new post office or brings all manner of pork-barrel goodies back to his home district—the very thing we find so offensive when it happens in someone else’s congressional district.
So, in summary, we have 1) Yet another alleged abuse of political power, 2) A constituency which ignores the allegations and reelects their favorite miscreant, and 3) A congress which routinely feels it is above the very laws they create for the rest of us to obey.
In another story today, a bunch of folks in Vermont, “disillusioned by what they call ‘an empire about to fall’...” has started the process to secede from the Union.
*Gasp* Running a democracy is certainly a challenge.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
FIX YOUR PIX—
Here is another in my series of tips to improve your photography.
Change your angle of view!
Every amateur photographer, it seems, stands on his hind feet and shoots away with his camera at eye level. Consequently, pictures tend to have a boring sameness about them.
In the top picture I used an angle of view above my fisherman son Craig. That adds interest to the picture
and changes the background to all water. The middle picture was simply taken from a low angle of view and the last picture, also from a very low angle of view was shot directly into the sun.
Three pictures—each with the identical subject, but quite different simply because of a change in the camera angle.
Stay tuned for the next installment of Fix Your Pix.
Here is another in my series of tips to improve your photography.
Change your angle of view!
Every amateur photographer, it seems, stands on his hind feet and shoots away with his camera at eye level. Consequently, pictures tend to have a boring sameness about them.
In the top picture I used an angle of view above my fisherman son Craig. That adds interest to the picture
and changes the background to all water. The middle picture was simply taken from a low angle of view and the last picture, also from a very low angle of view was shot directly into the sun.Three pictures—each with the identical subject, but quite different simply because of a change in the camera angle.
Stay tuned for the next installment of Fix Your Pix.
Monday, June 4, 2007
MY HYPOTHESIS--
Today’s standard of excellence is mediocrity.
(Note: In recent years I have observed a decline in the quality of many products, services, and performance in general. Postings under this title from time to time will explore this hypothesis.)
Recently I was opening a new half-gallon jug of milk. Under the plastic cap was one of those additional seals to keep scofflaws from tampering with the contents.
It had a little tab the consumer simply had to pull to remove the barrier. Yeah, right! I couldn’t budge it.
No biggie, I have a pair of kitchen pliers for such events. I grabbed the little tab and gave a tug.
Yup, the tab came off--leaving the barrier firmly intact; an experience that was not the first for this product.
Finally, surgery with a sharp knife removed the obstinate barricade.
Putting this kind of thing on the market doesn’t even rise to the level of mediocrity.
Today’s standard of excellence is mediocrity.
(Note: In recent years I have observed a decline in the quality of many products, services, and performance in general. Postings under this title from time to time will explore this hypothesis.)
Recently I was opening a new half-gallon jug of milk. Under the plastic cap was one of those additional seals to keep scofflaws from tampering with the contents.
It had a little tab the consumer simply had to pull to remove the barrier. Yeah, right! I couldn’t budge it.
No biggie, I have a pair of kitchen pliers for such events. I grabbed the little tab and gave a tug.
Yup, the tab came off--leaving the barrier firmly intact; an experience that was not the first for this product.
Finally, surgery with a sharp knife removed the obstinate barricade.
Putting this kind of thing on the market doesn’t even rise to the level of mediocrity.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
A SNAPPY VISITOR—
Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle)
This assertive, recent visitor was just cresting the brow of the dam and headed toward its sanctuary of the pond’s open water. Snappers are noted for their pugnacious dispositions. They have powerful, beak-like jaws and a highly mobile head and neck—hence the name “serpentina” meaning “snake-like”.
They can reach 1/2 to 2/3 of the length of their shells, making handling dangerous. Their snapping jaws and sharp claws are capable of inflicting serious injury up to and including amputation of digits.
While we did not measure this turtle, I estimate its carapace to be 14” long. They will commonly weight from 10 to 35 pounds.
They spend most of their time beneath the surface of any body of water. They often hide in the mud of the shallows with only their head exposed, stretching their long necks to the surface for an occasional breath. They are omnivores; eating both plants and animal matter.
Prime egg laying season is June and July and the female will travel considerable distance to find sandy soil for laying her eggs which can number from 25 to 80. Incubation is by the warm sand and can take from to 9 to 18 weeks depending on the soil temperature.
A common misconception is they can be safely handled by picking them up by the tail. This can damage the animal’s tail and vertebral column, and, they can damage the handler with the amazing speed and power of their jaws.
Curious? More information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapping_Turtle
Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle)
This assertive, recent visitor was just cresting the brow of the dam and headed toward its sanctuary of the pond’s open water. Snappers are noted for their pugnacious dispositions. They have powerful, beak-like jaws and a highly mobile head and neck—hence the name “serpentina” meaning “snake-like”.
They can reach 1/2 to 2/3 of the length of their shells, making handling dangerous. Their snapping jaws and sharp claws are capable of inflicting serious injury up to and including amputation of digits.
While we did not measure this turtle, I estimate its carapace to be 14” long. They will commonly weight from 10 to 35 pounds.
They spend most of their time beneath the surface of any body of water. They often hide in the mud of the shallows with only their head exposed, stretching their long necks to the surface for an occasional breath. They are omnivores; eating both plants and animal matter.
Prime egg laying season is June and July and the female will travel considerable distance to find sandy soil for laying her eggs which can number from 25 to 80. Incubation is by the warm sand and can take from to 9 to 18 weeks depending on the soil temperature.
A common misconception is they can be safely handled by picking them up by the tail. This can damage the animal’s tail and vertebral column, and, they can damage the handler with the amazing speed and power of their jaws.
Curious? More information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapping_Turtle
Saturday, June 2, 2007
DOES ALCOHOL KILL BRAIN CELLS?—
From: “Life’s Little Mysteries” www.livescience.com/mysteries
If you’ve ever been drunk (or even tipsy), or seen someone who is, you know there’s definitely some cognitive impairment going on. Reaction time, coordination and speech are slowed. Judgment and decision-making abilities get a lot worse, sometimes wrongly convincing us we are more attractive to the opposite sex—or we can safely drive our car.
But is the impairment permanent or temporary? Some people believe the consequences of drinking alcohol are far worse than a nasty hangover; it can actually lead to brain damage because alcohol kills brain cells. During Prohibition, teetotaling temperance activists asserted this belief, citing it among the dangers of drink.
It is not the brain cells themselves but the nerve connections between them (called dendrites) which are most affected by alcohol. The communication signals are inhibited, thus slowing down mental processing and the central nervous system. But the brain cells themselves bounce back with no damage for the most part.
Long-term alcohol use, however, is another story. There’s plenty of research showing sustained alcohol consumption can--and does--cause irreversible neurological disorders.
BOOK REPORT--
Spare Parts by Buzz Williams
A US Marine reservist’s journey from campus to combat in 38 days; it is a penetrating view of the struggle to transform from citizens to soldiers and back again. One decorated veteran said the story “...brings honor and respect to our nation’s part-time warriors...”
I agree; it’s a good read.
From: “Life’s Little Mysteries” www.livescience.com/mysteries
If you’ve ever been drunk (or even tipsy), or seen someone who is, you know there’s definitely some cognitive impairment going on. Reaction time, coordination and speech are slowed. Judgment and decision-making abilities get a lot worse, sometimes wrongly convincing us we are more attractive to the opposite sex—or we can safely drive our car.
But is the impairment permanent or temporary? Some people believe the consequences of drinking alcohol are far worse than a nasty hangover; it can actually lead to brain damage because alcohol kills brain cells. During Prohibition, teetotaling temperance activists asserted this belief, citing it among the dangers of drink.
It is not the brain cells themselves but the nerve connections between them (called dendrites) which are most affected by alcohol. The communication signals are inhibited, thus slowing down mental processing and the central nervous system. But the brain cells themselves bounce back with no damage for the most part.
Long-term alcohol use, however, is another story. There’s plenty of research showing sustained alcohol consumption can--and does--cause irreversible neurological disorders.
BOOK REPORT--
Spare Parts by Buzz Williams
A US Marine reservist’s journey from campus to combat in 38 days; it is a penetrating view of the struggle to transform from citizens to soldiers and back again. One decorated veteran said the story “...brings honor and respect to our nation’s part-time warriors...”
I agree; it’s a good read.
Friday, June 1, 2007
PINE POLLEN—
During recent weeks there has been an eruption of Eastern White Pine tree pollen. Clouds of yellow have drifted from the woods with each passing breeze, leaving a colorful film over—everything!
In the photo above, pollen is produced in the angiosperm flower or male cone of this coniferous tree. While most pollen grains are round, the grains of pines, firs and spruces are wing-shaped.
In general terms, each grain of pollen powder contains the male gametes (sperm cells). The grains of pollen have a hard coat which protects those cells during the process of their movement in the tree’s reproductive cycle.
In the event you are now inspired to engage in the lifetime study of this fascinating subject, you will be known as a palynologist.
Finally, allergy to pollen is called “hay fever”. In the US folks often mistakenly blame the widespread goldenrod wildflower for allergies. That’s not likely true. Goldenrod pollen is not air-borne. It is heavy, sticky, and dispersed by animals and insects.
The only way to get its pollen into the nasal passages would be to stick the flower up one’s nose.
I think I am going to sneeze!
_________________________________________
A tip of the hat to one of my usual references; Wikipedia.org.
During recent weeks there has been an eruption of Eastern White Pine tree pollen. Clouds of yellow have drifted from the woods with each passing breeze, leaving a colorful film over—everything!
In the photo above, pollen is produced in the angiosperm flower or male cone of this coniferous tree. While most pollen grains are round, the grains of pines, firs and spruces are wing-shaped.
In general terms, each grain of pollen powder contains the male gametes (sperm cells). The grains of pollen have a hard coat which protects those cells during the process of their movement in the tree’s reproductive cycle.
In the event you are now inspired to engage in the lifetime study of this fascinating subject, you will be known as a palynologist.
Finally, allergy to pollen is called “hay fever”. In the US folks often mistakenly blame the widespread goldenrod wildflower for allergies. That’s not likely true. Goldenrod pollen is not air-borne. It is heavy, sticky, and dispersed by animals and insects.
The only way to get its pollen into the nasal passages would be to stick the flower up one’s nose.
I think I am going to sneeze!
_________________________________________
A tip of the hat to one of my usual references; Wikipedia.org.
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