Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Archive for March 2013

The faces of anti-affirmative action


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Oh the irony!  

As the Supreme Court announced that it is going to place a second affirmative action case on its calendar, a review of Michigan’s Prop 2 affirmative action ban, which will join the case already before them (Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin), I thought I’d go back and review the right wing’s media presentation of all of this, and look at just who are the poster faces for the movement to eradicate programs in universities that help gain more access to higher education for those who are not privileged-blacks, latinos and native americans.  

Two white women and a black man are ostensibly leading the charge. I say ostensibly since the two women are named in legal cases and the third, the black man, claims to be a crusader for civil rights, but it only took a few moments to figure out that the same old right wing wrong-headed big money supporters of bigotry are forking over the green-backs to roll-back gains we’ve made since the 60’s.  

The Golden(s) Rule

Golden Retriever


The Golden Retriever was developed in Scotland and England in the late 19th century for the purpose of retrieving wildfowl on land and water. Its physical characteristics and its willing, adaptable, trainable nature have also fitted it for usefulness in many other endeavors such as service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs and search and rescue.

Layman’s Guide to Fracking Technology

This diary is NOT meant to argue for or against the highly controversial technology of hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’. There are many diaries and published pieces which argue both sides of the issue effectively. Instead, it is meant to inform more people about the technology of hydraulic fracturing. The goal is to avoid getting so deep into the details that readers give up.

According to this research study by the EPA published June 2010, ‘fracturing is a well stimulation process used to maximize the extraction of oil, natural gas or geothermal energy.’ The Saturday Essay of April 2, 2011, in the Wall Street Journal entitled Stepping on the Gas by Daniel Yergin, peaked my interest in the topic. I realized I had seen or heard the word ‘Fracking’ used for the technology countless times. But, I really had no clear idea what the concepts were behind it. As with most things, understanding is an essential part of being able to make informed decisions. And, this issue certainly begs for that.

With any of the following publications, consider the context and the source. The intent of this diary is to illustrate the basic processes.  I do not necessarily agree with the claims of the articles.

Please come below for more.

The Daily F Bomb, Tuesday 3/26/13

Top o’ the Tuesday to ya, Bombtemps!

Interrogatories

Is there anything special you are looking forward to right now? Is there anybody that you envy? What have you learned recently? It’s National Spinach Day, how do you like your spinach? Do you ever practice austerity in your own life, such as cutting back on chocolate or coffee?

The Twitter Emitter

RIP – Anthony Lewis

One of the great journalists of his era, and the man who revolutionized reporting about the Supreme Court, Anthony Lewis, died today from renal and heart failure.  Lewis was 85.

Lewis reported on the Supreme Court  for the New York Times first as correspondent and then later as a columnist.  He later headed the Times bureau in London and wrote extensively on foreign policy issues.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03…

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The Daily F Bomb, Monday 3/25/13

Happy Monday, Bomb-critters! It was a lovely weekend, wasn’t it?

Interrogatories

What is your primary form of transportation? (Mine are feet and bus.) Is there anything that you continue to do the old school way even though there are new, labor saving ways to do it? What labor saving device do you wish someone would invent? What stereotype that applies to your gender annoys you the most? What do you wish your life had more of? What do you wish your life had less of?

The Twitter Emitter

Motley Monday Check in and Mooselaneous Musings

Good morning Motley Meese! Hope your weekend was lovely. Remember to let your peeps know where you are!

Here’s today’s Motley Monday Shot of the Week. Right now I’ll be throwing in some favorites from my archives, but once the weather warms (assuming it ever does) I’ll post my week’s best shot.

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This photo was taken on a cold damp late Autumn day. The butterfly just crawled around on the bush and posed. It wasn’t until I looked at the shot that I realized what was going on. See the water droplets on the wings? The butterfly needed to dry out and the damp, overcast weather was keeping that from happening. It was gone in the afternoon when I came back by.

All The News Fit To Share: Seven Continents of Women

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One of my favorite women.  Photo: me.

Jan F, Laura and I are bringing you NEWS.  Please use as an open new thread until the next “All The News” is posted.

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Triggers of Economic Inequality

Bill Moyers.com; Troy Oxford and Lauren Feeney

In recent years, the rich have seen their wealth grow dramatically while the poor and middle class have basically flatlined. It’s no accident, argue Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson in their book Winner-Take-All Politics. The infographic below, which draws from Hacker and Pierson’s book, explains how our politicians – on both sides of the aisle – fell under the spell of corporate dollars and re-engineered our economic system to favor the wealthy. The dark green line shows the income trajectory for the top 1 percent since 1970, while the light green line shows the bottom 90 percent. Click the orange triangles to learn about critical turning points that helped create the skewed system we have today.

This is the most amazing chart, illustrating the path our country took to today’s inequities.  Social/economic/etc.  Please visit this site and explore.  Also, how can we make this better for all of our citiizens and everyone who lives in our country?

The Making Location: Palms, Passover, Madness

Welcome to the Making Location, the Moosely place for all things hand-made, home-made, crafted, fashioned, done yourself, hobbified, cooked, written, etc.  This is where we share, admire, and we can try to problem-solve too.  

I have a few things from around the tubes to share, and updates to my Lenten project, described in my previous WAYWO.  

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Daughter, in her newer, better, fuller pioneer skirt.  I must love her a lot for letting her use that beatiful Northcott-Monarch fabric from Jennifer Wheeling’s Victorian collection.  ðŸ˜‰

I also want to apologize for my lapse.  Baseball season started, and it has thrown the carefully  balanced chaos in Casa Jenn for a horrible loop.  Beading has all but stopped.  Suppers around the table are rare.  I am hoping the scheduling gets a teeny bit better after Easter, but this next week will be challenging.