04/08/2006

From today’s New York Times:

An internal staff report by the United States Embassy and the military command in Baghdad provides a sobering province-by-province snapshot of Iraq’s political, economic and security situation, rating the overall stability of 6 of the 18 provinces “serious” and one “critical.” The report is a counterpoint to some recent upbeat public statements by top American politicians and military officials.

Shocking, simply shocking. Not only are things pretty bad in Iraq, but problems aren’t being discussed by the “upbeat” people running the show.

04/07/2006

As a follow-up to yesterday’s news about the immigration bill in the Senate, it looks like a few of our esteemed senators have had a sudden inexplicable infusion of brain cells, and voted down the measure 60-38.

Today’s tally:

Supporters of immigration reform : 0
Common sense : 1

04/06/2006

The coolest picture you’ll see today:

A photo from the International Space Station showing the total solar eclipse of March 29 as the shadow of the moon passes over Turkey.

04/06/2006

Today the Senate agreed on a landmark bill dealing with immigration. Here are some quotes from The New York Times describing the proposed changes:

Under the agreement, illegal immigrants who have lived here for five years or more– about seven million people– would eventually be granted citizenship if they remained employed, paid fines and back taxes and learned English.

Okay, that sounds pretty good in principle, but I find it hard to believe that seven million migrant workers would be willing to pay at least five years’ worth of back taxes, additional fines, and become proficient in English. The financial burden alone would make it nearly impossible, much less the requirement to learn another language. They can just remain where they are, doing what they’re doing, speaking Spanish (or whatever) and avoiding the IRS.

Illegal immigrants who have lived here from two to five years– about three million people– would have to leave the country briefly and return as temporary workers. They would also be eligible for citizenship over time, but they would have to wait several years longer for it.

Ooh, that will work well. I’m sure it’s no big deal to deport three million people. It’s working so well with the current laws, right? Perhaps the lawmakers are assuming these immigrants will hear about the new law and decide, “Hey, that sounds great! Let’s pack up all our stuff, go back across the border, wait a while, and then come back to America.” Again, the financial burden is going to be a deal-breaker.

Those immigrants who have been here less than two years– about one million people– would be required to leave the country. They could apply for spots in the temporary worker program, but there would be no guarantee.

Umm, yeah. Because once again we all know how effective our border control has been for the past few decades. Why do the senators believe some new legislation that declares “if you fall within this category, you need to leave now” will suddenly work?

I don’t have an astounding solution for the whole issue, but it seems clear to me this “landmark bill” is just another piece of worthless legislation designed to cater to voters and make our Congresspersons look like they actually care about something besides corporate greed and pork-barrel projects.

I’m such a cynic.

04/05/2006

I’m working on some web stuff for a client, and I needed a picture of a burger (don’t ask). A quick search on Google Images turned up the World’s Largest Burger– a fifteen-pound monstrosity.

I’m not sure if this guy is going to finish it, but I feel bad for his arteries.

04/05/2006

Whee! More shenanigans from the RIAA!

A college student at MIT was caught with illegal music, and is being sued for $3,700 by the RIAA. She is attempting to negotiate her “settlement”, since she’s in college and hardly has that kind of cash. In her blog, she tells the story of her conversations with the Settlement Center, asking what sorts of options are available to broke college students.

The response from the Settlement Center was astounding:

The RIAA has been known to suggest that students drop out of college or go to community college in order to be able to afford settlements.

Admittedly, this is just one unsympathetic drone in the Settlement Center, and perhaps that’s not official company policy. But to tell a college student (at MIT, no less!) that she should drop out of the university and jeopardize her career and lifetime of earnings in order to pay a couple thousand dollars to the RIAA for some pirated music is unbelievable.

04/05/2006

A fun poem demonstrating the quirks of English spelling:

When the English tongue we speak,
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it’s true
We say sew but likewise few?
And the maker of the verse,
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?
Beard is not the same as heard
Cord is different from word.
Cow is cow but low is low
Shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose, dose,and lose.

04/05/2006

Back in high school, we always knew that Aron would be a politician. Although he’s made a nice career thus far out of doing statistics and analysis (who knew?) he just took his first step into the political arena by being elected an alderman of Racine, Wisconsin.

And so it begins. When he’s President I’m hoping he appoints me the Director of Homeland Security. Whee!