Motley Moose – Archive

I have been remiss when it comes to writing diaries for the Moose. I have lots of ideas, but they all involve heavy research and lots of work. That is a serious drawback for someone like me who’s main character trait is laziness mixed with a strong flavor of procrastination. But that isn’t the whole problem.

A bigger problem is that I don’t really feel any inspiration for any of the diary subjects I have in mind. One was a look at the current state of conservatism in the US. Another was a scholarly look at the meaning of progressivism and its role in society. Income and wealth inequality in the US is another topic that interests me greatly. Other ideas have come from some books on my recent reading list, like Daniel Dennett’s Breaking the Spell and the biography of Benjamin Franklin I’m currently reading. All of these seem(ed) like great ideas, but they also seem like a lot of hard work for little reward.

While President Obama has just returned from the Summit of the Americas, another Summit has begun in Los Angeles.

Standing back row from left: Ida Odinga wife of Kenyan prime minister; Hadjia Laraba Tandja of Niger; Penehupifo Pohamba of Namibia; Thandiwe Banda of Zambia; Maria da Luz Dai Guebuza of Mozambique; Mathato Sarah Mosisili of Lesotho and Sia Nyama Koroma of Sierra Leone. Seated front row from left: Adelcia Barreto Pires of Cape Verde; Chantal Biya of Cameroon; Ana Paula Dos Santos of Angola; Queen Inkhosikati LaMbikiza of Swaziland and Dr. Turai Umaru Yar’Adua of Nigeria. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Organized by US Doctors for Africa and African Synergy, an NGO of 22 First Ladies from Africa, Leadership for Health will focus on maternal health, as well as girls’ education and HIV/AIDS related issues throughout Africa.

A couple of weeks ago you were hard pressed to find any significant coverage of the murder trial of Angie Zapata, who was murdered last year in Colorado. As the trial began, according to GOOGLE stats, about 75 entities were covering and has quickly dropped back down to single digits, with an occasional blip to double digit coverage.

Rather than a recap, here are highlights that will bring all interested parties up-to-date. I anticipate the PROSECUTION will rest today and the DEFENSE will begin.

One of the most damning prosecution positions is that Allen Andrade knew Angie Zapata was transgendered at least thirty-six hours prior to the actual murder.

After a bunch of editing the system will not let me post below the break this morning. A good rundown of what I was trying to post can be found at NEWS.GOOGLE with key words “ANGIE ZAPATA”

Margaret Talbot’s article in the New Yorker comes on 4-20, but it brings up a topic that’s been around for years: Nootropics.

Margaret’s article brings up several points, beyond legality and ethicality of use in an academic and work environment.  

Well Motley Moose, you have finally done me in. You people are just too damned good. I cannot stand it any longer. I am leaving this blog and taking my simplistic notions, my need for concrete answers, and my hate and vitriol with me. How much rational and thoughtful dialogue can one person handle? I have reached my limit. The level of information, substance and depth at the Moose is too much. I cannot take it anymore. Well, that and I am moving. But thank goodness I am, because I think the quality here could overwhelm anyone. Holy shit, I actually have hope for the first time in many years. That cannot be good.

I may surf when able, but am not planning on restarting my full on internet access for a while. I need to get some work done on my computer and the internets are getting spendy. Less time spent on the interverse might not be so bad either. I may have decent access to messaging and email, so I will not be completely cut off. However, my infrequent posts will cease all together this week. Let us see how long I can hold out before getting another server. While I will miss surfing (though perhaps I will have that as well, on the phone device), I will not miss having to think so bloody hard. Damn you people and your significant thoughts, ideas and critical analysis!

And don’t think for a moment how you all have ruined me for any other web-site. After you have had the Moose, what else is there? You fracking bastids, look what you have done to me!

Bill S.773 – the Cybersecurity Act of 2009 – is on the table in Washington.  The Electronic Freedom Foundation is concerned that “the bill would create a major shift of power away from users and companies to the federal government”.  

I have taken a pass through the bill myself and, while I agree with the EFF that there is at least a need for clarification and modification of a few points I think it is overall an issue that must be addressed.  The cyber risk to physical systems (transportation, power, manufacturing, and automated systems) and to the free flow of commerce and communications is very real.  From a governmental standpoint it has been largely left to its own devices to date, and that may not be the best choice.  

I suggest reading sections 14, 17 and 18 for all the non-geeks out there.

[UPDATE] Steven Bellovin has written a decent commentary on the bill.

As we approach the highly mythologized “100 days” mark of the Obama presidency, I am generally pleased and unsurprised about the directions of his administration.  Without hard poll numbers, my impression is that most of us who supported Obama in the primaries, and many who supported Clinton but lined up behind the Democratic nominee in the general election, feel we received the president we voted for.  I even know some independents who voted for McPalin who are reasonably impressed and feel comfortable with our Chief Executive and Commander in Chief.  One such relative informed me yesterday that he is currently reading The Audacity of Hope, finds its arguments compelling, and thinks Obama’s initial policies and initiatives follow coherently from the principles he lays out there.  

Accordingly, I believe this is an appropriate moment to begin to discuss how applications of these principles are beginning to shape a doctrine.

Another grad student taught me this neat study trick to get A’s on all my exams without having to study.  The upside is that it is easy and perfectly legal.  The downside is that I had to try it 183 times before it worked.  Oh, and now I learn it might not be that legal.  But it’s a great study method, I swear!  You should try it.

I’m not that stupid, but those it appears that politicians and their right-wing cheerleaders who believe that everything they see on 24 is real are that stupid.  According to the New York Times, intelligence officials had to use water boarding more than 200 times to extract information from two detainees.  

Photo of waterboarding device used by the Khmer Rouge at S-21, a facility where political prisoners were tortured and held for execution.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Senator John McCain’s hometown sheriff, Joe Arpaio, is skipping out on a local Senate hearing Monday, organized in part by McCain, to appear on Comedy Central’s Colbert Report. The Phoenix hearing will feature three panels of state and local officials who will discuss the impact of border violence on Arizona communities.

Sheriff Joe, who is famous (and controversial) for his reality show, tent-based jails, and large contingent of immigration enforcement officers, says he never intended to appear before McCain and other senators at Monday’s hearing. Rather, Arpaio believes that submitting a written statement would better maintain the integrity of the hearings.

Crossposted from The Huffington Post

(Proudly cross-posted at C4O Democrats and OC Progressive)

Yesterday, Team Courage OC did another neighborhood canvass. This time, we went south to Dana Point and Laguna Beach to walk. And while many other folks were simply going to the beach to cool off on a warm day, we were there to heat up the movement for LGBT civil rights in California.