I honestly don't even know what to do with this:
Bush Sees a Chance for Change to Sweep Mideast
By DAVID STOUT
WASHINGTON, July 28 — President Bush, vowing to turn conflict in the Middle East into a “moment of opportunity” for broader change, said today that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would be dispatched back to the region on Saturday with a plan for a multinational force that would help Lebanon’s army take over from Hezbollah in the southern part of the country.
. . .
Mr. Bush said that, despite the bloodshed in Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, democracy is taking root in the region and will flower “unless we lose our nerve.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/28/world/middleeast/28cnd-mideast.html?hp&ex=1154145600&en=12e22262bf272690&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Do you think the "multinational" force in Lebanon will be as diverse as the ones in Afghanistan & Iraq? Do you think the people will be as welcoming? Do you think change will be as successful? Do you think Bush will pay for it with more tax cuts? Do you think people will wonder why we let Israel flatten cities and blow up power plants, and then pat ourselvs on the back when we build them tin huts and hand out energizers?
on the iPod:
Coldplay, X&Y;
U2, Joshua Tree;
Drive by Truckers, 4/22/06;
28 July 2006
27 July 2006
It's like an alarm clock
A guy I work with told me "I always set my alarm early enough that I can get to work before it's nine-
-ty degrees outside."
Walking down those last 2 blocks from the metro station with the sun beating down on my back, when the day isn't old enough for the air to have dried out from the morning dew so the humidity is even higher than the 99% I usually deal with, I continually try to find the perfect speed that will allow me to get out of the sun as soon as possible while generating a slight breeze, but not so fast that I actually have to exert myself and start sweating - because god knows the moisture that is condensating on my body right out of the air is enough without me contributing my own juices.
-ty degrees outside."
Walking down those last 2 blocks from the metro station with the sun beating down on my back, when the day isn't old enough for the air to have dried out from the morning dew so the humidity is even higher than the 99% I usually deal with, I continually try to find the perfect speed that will allow me to get out of the sun as soon as possible while generating a slight breeze, but not so fast that I actually have to exert myself and start sweating - because god knows the moisture that is condensating on my body right out of the air is enough without me contributing my own juices.
26 July 2006
Waking Life
These are today's NYT headlines:
Israel to Occupy Area of Lebanon as Security Zone
As the war between Israel and Hezbollah continued, four unarmed U.N. observers were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit their observation post near the Israeli border.
Battle for Baghdad Boils Down to Grabbing a Slice at a Time
The plan is a version of the “ink blot” strategy of grabbing a piece of terrain, stabilizing it and gradually expanding it.
Senate Removes Abortion Option for Young Girls
The bill would make it a crime to help an under-age girl escape parental notification laws by crossing state lines.
No wonder I woke up in nightmares this morning.
on the iPod:
Soundtrack to the movie, Until the End of the World
Israel to Occupy Area of Lebanon as Security Zone
As the war between Israel and Hezbollah continued, four unarmed U.N. observers were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit their observation post near the Israeli border.
Battle for Baghdad Boils Down to Grabbing a Slice at a Time
The plan is a version of the “ink blot” strategy of grabbing a piece of terrain, stabilizing it and gradually expanding it.
Senate Removes Abortion Option for Young Girls
The bill would make it a crime to help an under-age girl escape parental notification laws by crossing state lines.
No wonder I woke up in nightmares this morning.
on the iPod:
Soundtrack to the movie, Until the End of the World
25 July 2006
Quote of the Day
"Law, as an instrument of justice, has infinite capacity for growth to meet changing needs and mores. . . . The law should be based on current concepts of what is right and just and the judiciary should be alert to the never-ending need for keeping legal principles abreast of the times. Ancient distinctions that make no sense in today's society and that tend to discredit the law should be readily rejected." Kriegler v. Eichler Homes, Inc., 269 Cal. App. 2d 224, 227 (Cal Ct. App. 1969) .
on the iPod:
Paul Weller, Heavy Soul
on the iPod:
Paul Weller, Heavy Soul
23 July 2006
me not posting is a good indicator that:
1)- I have too much free time
2)- Nothing funny is going on in the world
3)- Nothing screwed up is going on in the world
4)- I'm wasted
5)- I wish I was wasted
6)- O.T.S.S.
7)- I am getting psyched for 5 weddings in 6 weeks between Aug 12 & Sept 23
2)- Nothing funny is going on in the world
3)- Nothing screwed up is going on in the world
4)- I'm wasted
5)- I wish I was wasted
6)- O.T.S.S.
7)- I am getting psyched for 5 weddings in 6 weeks between Aug 12 & Sept 23
17 July 2006
8 grand
I ran an 8k this weekend - it is probably the farthest & longest I have ever run without stoping. I finished and felt pretty goos about the whole thing - it was a blast and I am deffinitely worried that I may be getting hooked. I don't think I want to be one of those crazy runners, but I am going to do the 2007 marine corps marathon.
This weekend I averaged 9:20 minute miles on what I am told was a fairly hilly race.
I finished 84th out of 105 runners in my age group. Wednesday is my birthday. If the race had been held next weekend, I would have placed 71st out of 120.
The next race on my calendar is the Marine Corps 10k sometime in the fall - October I think. My tentative goal at this point is 9 minute miles. I have no idea how unreasonable or too easy that would be. We shall see.
This weekend I averaged 9:20 minute miles on what I am told was a fairly hilly race.
I finished 84th out of 105 runners in my age group. Wednesday is my birthday. If the race had been held next weekend, I would have placed 71st out of 120.
The next race on my calendar is the Marine Corps 10k sometime in the fall - October I think. My tentative goal at this point is 9 minute miles. I have no idea how unreasonable or too easy that would be. We shall see.
14 July 2006
because the world really doesn't work right
I cherish the days I get to complain about jerks on the metro and people driving SUVs in the left lane going slow while talking on their cell phone.
I try to block out the bad news in the world - like what Israel is doing or the guy who was killed in Georgetown last weekend. For all the wonderful niceness, there is also a lot of terrible stuff in the world.
But you can only block out so much when something terrible happens close to home. I never had a class with Prof. Lash, but some of my best friends did. I often saw him standing outside on the common-area balcony rocking a purple suit and smoking a cigar before class. There really is nothing to say about this. It's just beyond comprehension.
Father Kills Self After Shooting Son
By Tom Jackman, Stephanie McCrummen and Daniela DeaneWashington Post Staff WritersFriday, July 14, 2006; 3:28 PM
A George Mason University law professor shot his 12-year-old son dead and then killed himself at their home in McLean after an apparent domestic dispute with his wife, police said Friday.
Fairfax County police identified the victims as William Lash III, 45, a GMU faculty member and a former Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and his 12-year-old son William Lash IV, known as "Will."
Police found the two before dawn Friday after hearing gunshots from the house hours before. They were called to the residence in west McLean by Lash's wife, they said.
Police said in a statement that a "preliminary investigation indicates this case is a murder/suicide with William Lash III shooting his son, William Lash IV, and then himself."
. . .
Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez issued a statement this afternoon that said: "Bill was a passionate, committed and hard working individual who was much loved and respected by his colleagues at Commerce. He was a vivacious, expansive, and tenacious Assistant Secretary who served this department and his country with dedication and extraordinary effectiveness. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
"This just doesn't belong to the normal range of human experience and we're all just heartbroken for his family, his community and for ourselves," said Daniel D. Polsby, dean of the George Mason University Law School.
Full article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071400502.html
I try to block out the bad news in the world - like what Israel is doing or the guy who was killed in Georgetown last weekend. For all the wonderful niceness, there is also a lot of terrible stuff in the world.
But you can only block out so much when something terrible happens close to home. I never had a class with Prof. Lash, but some of my best friends did. I often saw him standing outside on the common-area balcony rocking a purple suit and smoking a cigar before class. There really is nothing to say about this. It's just beyond comprehension.
Father Kills Self After Shooting Son
By Tom Jackman, Stephanie McCrummen and Daniela DeaneWashington Post Staff WritersFriday, July 14, 2006; 3:28 PM
A George Mason University law professor shot his 12-year-old son dead and then killed himself at their home in McLean after an apparent domestic dispute with his wife, police said Friday.
Fairfax County police identified the victims as William Lash III, 45, a GMU faculty member and a former Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and his 12-year-old son William Lash IV, known as "Will."
Police found the two before dawn Friday after hearing gunshots from the house hours before. They were called to the residence in west McLean by Lash's wife, they said.
Police said in a statement that a "preliminary investigation indicates this case is a murder/suicide with William Lash III shooting his son, William Lash IV, and then himself."
. . .
Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez issued a statement this afternoon that said: "Bill was a passionate, committed and hard working individual who was much loved and respected by his colleagues at Commerce. He was a vivacious, expansive, and tenacious Assistant Secretary who served this department and his country with dedication and extraordinary effectiveness. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
"This just doesn't belong to the normal range of human experience and we're all just heartbroken for his family, his community and for ourselves," said Daniel D. Polsby, dean of the George Mason University Law School.
Full article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071400502.html
11 July 2006
"we're less screwed than I thought we were"
It's all relative:
Bush heralds improved deficit figures
Annual deficit to come in at $296 billion, below original estimates
Tuesday, July 11, 2006; Posted: 1:36 p.m. EDT (17:36 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush touted new deficit figures Tuesday showing considerable improvement upon earlier administration predictions, saying it shows the wisdom of his tax cuts.
Bush himself announced the figures -- a task that for the most part has been left to lower-ranking administration officials in the past. The new figures show the deficit for the budget year ending September 30 will be $296 billion -- much better than the $423 billion that Bush predicted in February and a slight improvement over 2005.
...but not as good as the surplus we had when he took office. Oh, and the government is bigger than when he got here too.
On the iPod:
U2; Joshua Tree
Oasis; (What's the Story) Morning Glory
Bush heralds improved deficit figures
Annual deficit to come in at $296 billion, below original estimates
Tuesday, July 11, 2006; Posted: 1:36 p.m. EDT (17:36 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush touted new deficit figures Tuesday showing considerable improvement upon earlier administration predictions, saying it shows the wisdom of his tax cuts.
Bush himself announced the figures -- a task that for the most part has been left to lower-ranking administration officials in the past. The new figures show the deficit for the budget year ending September 30 will be $296 billion -- much better than the $423 billion that Bush predicted in February and a slight improvement over 2005.
...but not as good as the surplus we had when he took office. Oh, and the government is bigger than when he got here too.
On the iPod:
U2; Joshua Tree
Oasis; (What's the Story) Morning Glory
If those walls could talk
I don't know how much you know about what they know about the house that blew up / caved in yesterday. It looks like the owner blew it up (with himself inside) in order to avoid selling it as required by a divorce court. The building was, at one time, a meeting place for CIA spys. I could post links etc, but I don't have time - and I don't have much original material to add - but the NYT has about 4 stories on it today, and I'm sure other papers do too. Check them out.
08 July 2006
consolidation match
why does the World Cup have a losers game after the semis? I don't think I could get up for that if I was a player after losing in OT or whatever.
07 July 2006
bad start to a good day
There is nothing worse than thinking you have one or two more swallows of coffee and then turning up your cup only to get a mouth full of grounds.
06 July 2006
Word of the Day
"Defalcation" - [this one is real] n.
1 : failure to account for or pay over money that has been entrusted to one's care; also : an instance of such failure NOTE: Defalcation does not necessarily involve culpability or misconduct.
2 : a failure to meet a promise or expectation
Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
thanks to a www.dictionary.com
1 : failure to account for or pay over money that has been entrusted to one's care; also : an instance of such failure NOTE: Defalcation does not necessarily involve culpability or misconduct.
2 : a failure to meet a promise or expectation
Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
thanks to a www.dictionary.com
02 July 2006
whew
Moving really is no fun at all. I am mostly "moved," which means I am payimg rent and I have space that I can put my stuff in that is actually mine.
My iPod has yet to turn up, and I have identified various items that I know I left at each of the last 2 places I stayed. I hope to feel normal again by September or October.
My iPod has yet to turn up, and I have identified various items that I know I left at each of the last 2 places I stayed. I hope to feel normal again by September or October.
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