Just read the current Reuters story about the earthquake in Japan--- worse than I had gathered from the early reports. Magnitude 7.6, intensity greater than 6, lots of aftershocks, in an area with relatively few roads from the looks of it. ----Alan
Apparently, that Coast Guard plane the JAL flight crashed into was preparing to fly supplies into the quake zone. All aboard the Coast Gard plane killed, while all the JAL passengers, miraculously, got out and survived. Still, a terrible accident.
just a a comment, I am mildly annoyed with the way the media refers to this as the "Jan. 6th" indictment. Trumps involvement with the events of Jan. 6th is arguable. His involvement with the fake electors is not.
I have not been paying close attention, but do wonder how a person of such apparently limited public relations skills could have become Harvard's president. Then again, I am reminded of observations I heard in academia almost sixty years ago that Harvard was academically inbred and that it was open to question whether the professors could even distinguish between excellent and mediocre academic performance. Similarly, an "A" at Stanford was equivalent to a "B" or perhaps a "C" at UC Berkeley. It might not have been a bunch of sour grapes. ----Alan [Who also shakes his head when considering how common fraternity membership has been among US Presidents.]
I asked the InnerTubes, and Joe Biden is not and was not a fraternity member. He graduated with a double major (unusual in those days, as memory serves me) in history and political science, followed by a JD. All the more reason to vote for him this time. (I voted third party last time because I had long considered Biden rather too far to the right for my tastes, particularly in foreign affairs, but I figure he has done about as well as President as anyone could.) I also very much liked Jimmy Carter. LBJ, too, although he was a very complicated person and had the bad luck to inherit the Viet Nam War (as well as the mess JFK made of relations with Cuba). ----Alan
Definitely voting for Biden this time. Voted Green last time because I was furious at the Dem Party for some reason. But then, I'm usually furious at the Dem Party for some reason or other. I would very much prefer if Massachusetts had open primaries. As it is, you have to ask for the ballot of the party you're registered in. And, that means you have to be registered Dem if, for instance, you want to vote for Markey or Warren in their primary. I would much rather be registered Green and then be able to pick and choose which Dems to vote for. But, it is what it is, I guess.
I like the way Illinois does it. You aren't registered by party. When you show up, you specify which primary you want to vote in. But you can only vote in one party's primary.
Can't say as I like California's new jungle primary system; it was allegedly implemented to decrease the proportions of extremist candidates, but it also weakens third parties. It doesn't affect presidential primaries, though. Dems allow non-Dems to vote in their contests, but since I vote in an all vote by mail precinct, I temporarily re-register as a Democrat if I want to vote for one of them in a primary, then re-register as a Green. Not that I think much of the California Greens, but it is the number of registered voters that keeps them on the ballot, and I favor that. Since California nowadays reliably votes Democratic by a big margin, I needn't worry that my voting third party will have a bad effect. ----Alan
[Video] Trump’s Own Words to Come Back to Haunt Him in Filing [Click] “Special Counsel Jack Smith has located Trump’s briefs in a prior case where he took an exact opposite position than the one he is taking to argue that he is immune from criminal prosecution as a former president for acts he committed while president.” ——Alan (Who regrets not having any guacamole to go with his tortilla chips, but recalls that he has on hand some Wensleydale cheese with cranberries waiting in the refrigerator.
Costco stocks a pretty tasty guacamole in small containers-- eight single-serving size containers, as I recall. Haven't yet tried the Wensleydale, but if Wallace likes it, how far wrong can I go? ----Alan
{listener}
ReplyDeleteMy next door neighbour turns 93 today! Quite an achievement.
Heck of a good start!
Delete----Alan
Just read the current Reuters story about the earthquake in Japan--- worse than I had gathered from the early reports. Magnitude 7.6, intensity greater than 6, lots of aftershocks, in an area with relatively few roads from the looks of it.
ReplyDelete----Alan
Apparently, that Coast Guard plane the JAL flight crashed into was preparing to fly supplies into the quake zone. All aboard the Coast Gard plane killed, while all the JAL passengers, miraculously, got out and survived. Still, a terrible accident.
Delete8,000 Year old walled settlement found in western Siberia [Click] definitely predates agriculture; the people were hunter-gatherers. Decorated pottery also discovered.
ReplyDelete—-Alan
Wow!
Delete
ReplyDeleteLabour Crushing the Conservatives in Britain [Click]
—Alan
Inside the Trump Plot to Turn His Jan. 6th Trial Into a ‘MAGA Freak Show’ [Click]
ReplyDelete—Alan
just a a comment, I am mildly annoyed with the way the media refers to this as the "Jan. 6th" indictment. Trumps involvement with the events of Jan. 6th is arguable. His involvement with the fake electors is not.
DeleteWomen Who Are Not Pregnant Are Ordering Abortion Pills [Click] In case of future need.
ReplyDelete——Alan
Maine Official Who Disqualified Trump Swatted [Click]
ReplyDelete——Alan
Police arrest man they say held guard at gunpoint at Colorado supreme court [Click] Evidently unrelated to court decisions.
ReplyDelete——Alan
NRA Chief Faces Trial That Could End His Reign [Click]
ReplyDelete—Alan
ReplyDeleteClub for Growth Surrenders to Trump [Click]
—Alan
A perfect microcosm’: one town’s lawsuit and the rightwing battle for California schools [Click] Egad.
ReplyDelete——Alan
The Atlantic: When Did Humans First Start Wearing Clothes? [Click] “No one can know exactly, but archaeologists have found a few unexpected clues.”
ReplyDelete—Alan
Neanderthal bone tools for working leather. [Click] Learned from H. sapiens, or invented independently? Could be either.
DeleteEyed needles, necessary for sewn clothing, seem to have appeared in Eurasia only with H. sapiens. [Click]
—Alan
Claudine Gay resigns the presidency of Harvard University
ReplyDeleteRev. Al Sharpton's civil rights organization to picket in protest of Gay's resignation
DeleteI have not been paying close attention, but do wonder how a person of such apparently limited public relations skills could have become Harvard's president. Then again, I am reminded of observations I heard in academia almost sixty years ago that Harvard was academically inbred and that it was open to question whether the professors could even distinguish between excellent and mediocre academic performance. Similarly, an "A" at Stanford was equivalent to a "B" or perhaps a "C" at UC Berkeley. It might not have been a bunch of sour grapes.
Delete----Alan [Who also shakes his head when considering how common fraternity membership has been among US Presidents.]
I asked the InnerTubes, and Joe Biden is not and was not a fraternity member. He graduated with a double major (unusual in those days, as memory serves me) in history and political science, followed by a JD. All the more reason to vote for him this time. (I voted third party last time because I had long considered Biden rather too far to the right for my tastes, particularly in foreign affairs, but I figure he has done about as well as President as anyone could.) I also very much liked Jimmy Carter. LBJ, too, although he was a very complicated person and had the bad luck to inherit the Viet Nam War (as well as the mess JFK made of relations with Cuba).
Delete----Alan
Definitely voting for Biden this time. Voted Green last time because I was furious at the Dem Party for some reason. But then, I'm usually furious at the Dem Party for some reason or other. I would very much prefer if Massachusetts had open primaries. As it is, you have to ask for the ballot of the party you're registered in. And, that means you have to be registered Dem if, for instance, you want to vote for Markey or Warren in their primary. I would much rather be registered Green and then be able to pick and choose which Dems to vote for. But, it is what it is, I guess.
DeleteI like the way Illinois does it. You aren't registered by party. When you show up, you specify which primary you want to vote in. But you can only vote in one party's primary.
DeleteYes, that's the same way we do it in Vermont...voter's choice.
DeleteCan't say as I like California's new jungle primary system; it was allegedly implemented to decrease the proportions of extremist candidates, but it also weakens third parties. It doesn't affect presidential primaries, though. Dems allow non-Dems to vote in their contests, but since I vote in an all vote by mail precinct, I temporarily re-register as a Democrat if I want to vote for one of them in a primary, then re-register as a Green. Not that I think much of the California Greens, but it is the number of registered voters that keeps them on the ballot, and I favor that. Since California nowadays reliably votes Democratic by a big margin, I needn't worry that my voting third party will have a bad effect.
Delete----Alan
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals says Texas can ban emergency abortions despite federal guidance. [Click] Well, the established method of enforcing compliance with federal government hospital rules is to cut off their access to that terrible socialist money from the government.
ReplyDelete—Alan
It seems I have been hogging the space here today; Blogger has been cooperative with me.
ReplyDelete----Alan
Don't worry about it. You always have really interesting things to post.
DeleteI second that, Cat!
DeleteAh, flattery will get you anywhere! I do try not to be a Johnny One Note, though.
Delete-----Alan
[Video] Trump’s Own Words to Come Back to Haunt Him in Filing [Click] “Special Counsel Jack Smith has located Trump’s briefs in a prior case where he took an exact opposite position than the one he is taking to argue that he is immune from criminal prosecution as a former president for acts he committed while president.”
ReplyDelete——Alan (Who regrets not having any guacamole to go with his tortilla chips, but recalls that he has on hand some Wensleydale cheese with cranberries waiting in the refrigerator.
Ooh! That sounds ever so much tastier than guacamole!
DeleteSomething about this makes me think it's time to make popcorn.
DeleteCostco stocks a pretty tasty guacamole in small containers-- eight single-serving size containers, as I recall. Haven't yet tried the Wensleydale, but if Wallace likes it, how far wrong can I go?
Delete----Alan
Anton Petrov: SETI Just Talked to a Whale To Test Alien Communication Ideas [Click]
ReplyDelete—Alan