Last year President Bush proposed a Social Security privatization plan–workers could divert some of their payroll taxes into private savings accounts–as a way of heading off a financial crisis in the Social Security program at some point in the future. In Bush’s view, making workers more responsible for their retirement needs would reduce the burdenContinue reading “On Social Security Privatization”
On former President Carter and Wiretaps
Did President Bush violate the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act when he authorized wiretaps without court authority? Former President Jimmy Carter has a unique perspective on the issue–he was the President that signed FISA into law when it was passed in 1978. Said Carter, “If my voice is important to point of the intent of theContinue reading “On former President Carter and Wiretaps”
On a Random Observation
If you take used coffee grounds, seal them (and the used filter) in shrinkwrap film, and zap it with a heat gun, then you get something incredibly gross.
On Sideshow Bob
I watched an episode of The Simpsons tonight–first time I’d done that since I don’t know when. Sideshow Bob, long-time homicidal nemesis of Bart Simpson, turned up. The plot, such as it was, had Homer and the kids travel to Italy, entrusted with picking up an expensive sports car and bringing it back to theContinue reading “On Sideshow Bob”
On Teaching Faust
An elementary school teacher with a background in music in Bennett, Colorado, decided to expose her students to opera. She got a video, entitled “Who’s Afraid of Opera,” and showed it to her classes of first, second, and third graders. The video contained scenes from Charles Gounod’s nineteenth-century opera “Faust.” Parents in this town outsideContinue reading “On Teaching Faust”
On Life in General
Jesus. Fucking. Christ. Today has been something of an emotional roller-coaster. Someone whom I hired, someone whom I used to work with day-in and day-out, someone whom I consider a friend, called me today to talk about his future. And it wasn’t an optimistic conversation — I couldn’t really give him a good reason whyContinue reading “On Life in General”
On "The Lieutenant and the Doctor"
I should have known better. Oh, I should have known better. Jean Airey’s The Doctor and the Enterprise. Many years ago I tracked down a copy of this story, years later I found it online. A few years ago, I learned that Airey had written a sequel to her Trek/Who crossover story, entitled “The LieutenantContinue reading “On "The Lieutenant and the Doctor"”
On Underworld: Evolution
Hard to believe, but it’s been over two years since Underworld bowed on the screen. For those unfamilar, Underworld told the story of Selene, a Death Dealer (basically, a vampire that hunts down werewolves), who discovers a conspiracy that could break open the vampire/werewolf conflict. It wasn’t a great movie, but it wasn’t without itsContinue reading “On Underworld: Evolution”
On Senator Kerry's Filibuster
Massachusetts Senator Kerry today called for a Senate filibuster of Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito. I don’t know how the votes will break down, if the Democrats will have enough votes to hold off a cloture vote. If the cloture vote to end debate fails, would the Republicans then unleash the nuclear option, rewritingContinue reading “On Senator Kerry's Filibuster”
On What the White House Knew
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction of New Orleans President Bush and his advisors stated repeatedly that no one could have predicted that a Category-4 hurricane could breach the levees protecting the city, that no one could have predicted the flooding and the devestation the city suffered. Recently released documents prepared by the DepartmentContinue reading “On What the White House Knew”