women and the church

At some point in the future it is likely the Catholic Church will ordain women as priests - maybe not for another 200 years but it will happen. For those wanting to see that happen sooner, why don't they start small? Begin with more female ushers and a Women's Club. How about female deacons? That might be a good start. It's a slow, but meaningful way for the congregation begin seeing women on the altar...

why do people call back people who called their cell phones?

I misdialed a phone number today, and it went to voicemail after 2 rings (i.e. she probably sent it to voicemail). I realized I had misdialed so I hung up. A few minutes later the person calls me back and asked why I had called her. Why do people do this? If I had wanted to leave a message I would have. It's a phenomenon that seems especially popular with cell phone users, but it's also happened to me with people who have caller ID on their landlines.

Often, people are screening their calls. I consider that a socially acceptable practice for unknown numbers in order to avoid telemarkers, bill collectors, and the like. But why, then, would you immediately call the person back to find out who they were? If you're that curious just pick up the phone in the first place!

obama vp

jim webb seems like a great idea - white male, swing state, military experience, good personality - great appearance on meet the press a few weekends ago

why do we elect judges?

it doesn't seem like a good idea, but I'm not sure why. the idea of money swaying a legal ruling is scary.

Great TAL Foreclosure explanation

Great This American Life episode a few weeks ago on foreclosures and the entire world monitory system. Shows how Wall Street is really ruining America.

Check it out (and see the link for the shorter and free NPR aired version):
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1242

the iran debate

So Clinton uses the word "obliterate" when talking about Iran - similar to McCain's "bomb, bomb, bomb" song. This is an excellent example of why I am for Obama. He is, or may be, a conciliator. Angry, threatening rhetoric will only get other countries and terrorists to hate us more, putting us in more danger. It's the same way I try to lead my life - I try to always be nice and I assume people will be nice to me in return. I take the calm, cool, collected approach - so does Obama.

landscaping... And immigration?

Now that spring is here I see landscaping trucks everywhere. From rumbling trucks waking me up in the morning to navigating around them on the way to work, it is truly amazing. Of courseit reminds me what an incredibly wealthy area we live in (ok - live near) and I see the incredible need we have for cheap labor. Literally all landscapers I have seen are Latino and I wonder how many are illegal. Landscaping and farm work are common examples of reasons we need a more liberal immigration policy. Just an observation - no insight.

Obama v Clinton: My Vote

Obama Positives:
-Simply his name and his look my change the way Muslims look at America
-May have the ability to change politics as usual
also:
-Inspirational: gets more (young) people involved
-Was against Iraq from the beginning: shows good judgement

Clinton Positives:
-Proven leader: good job for NY
-If another military crisis during general election, cannot lose b.c. of "inexperience"
-a plan for true universal healthcare
-proven to have worked on a bi-partisan basis

My key issues: universal healthcare, America's perception to the world, ...

I went with Obama. Why? Either has a good chance to win in November (not that McCain would be nearly as bad as most Republicans) but I figured why not? If he could be a major agent for change (i.e. trully change politics as usual) I am willing to take a chance.

My Presidential Primary Vote: Joe Biden

If he's still around on Feb. 5 (the new NY State primary date) I'll be voting for Senator Joe Biden. He's experienced, sharp, personable, and outspoken.

He's had useful things to say on Iraq and has had a workable plan for years. He has practical plans for education and universal healthcare.

Go Joe!

copyright and education

http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/files/pdf/Final_CSM_copyright_report.pdf

This is an excellent report which reminds us that much of the "rules" schools have adopted to stay within fair use guidelines are extremely conservative. The report is a call for new guidelines, and it should he heeded!

"must have" albums

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road -Lucinda WIlliams
Wishbones -Slaid Cleaves
Welcome Interstate Managers -Fountains of Wayne
I'm Wide Awake it's Morning -Bright Eyes
Lillywhite Sessions -Dave Matthews Band
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot -Wilco
Keb' Mo' -Keb' Mo'
August & Everything After -Counting Crows
O Brother, Where Are Thou? -Varied

Maybes...
Amos Lee -Amos Lee
Trace -Son Volt
Transatlanticism -Death Cab for Cutie
Trouble -Ray LaMontagne
Pneumonia -Whiskeytown
Greatest Hits: The A&M Years '87 - '94 -John Hiatt (yes, I am counting anthologies)
Room for Squares -John Mayer
Recovering the Satellites -Counting Crows
This Desert Life -Counting Crows
Under the Table and Dreaming -Dave Matthews Band

Distant Maybees...
Every TIme You Say Goodbye -Alison Krauss & Union Station
This Side -Nickel Creek
Ben Folds Five -Ben Folds Five
Eponymous -R.E.M.
Fireworks!, Red Hot & Blues -Jim Cullum Jazz Band
Garden State soundtrack -Varied
The Little WIllies -The Little Willies
River of Dreams -Billy Joel


Thoughts-
I don't think Ryan Adams has come out with a full "must have" lots of great songs and lots of great albums, but nothing full. I'll think about it...

iphone/iPod touch features

When January comes around and developers can finally start creating authorized apps for this new platform, I'd like to see a few things (I'm a touch user, so some of these things may already be available on the iPhone - but ATT coverage sucks around me, so I refuse to get an iPhone).

-stickes, I just want a quick place I can time notes and reminders to myself
-a word game, like TextTwist or WEBoggle
-a Flash plugin (obviously)
-a program that helps Safari remember passwords

I'll add to this...

a posting, not a blog

A blog entry is not, in and of itself, a blog. A blog is the entire thing, a post is one entry in the blog.

OK, think of it as a diary. The diary is the entire book - it is the blog. Each day is a entry - it is a post.

I'm so tired of people posting a new "blog" when they just mean a new entry ON their blog.

where do the real issues go?

From an NYT Fredman editorial:

“What happened to that Arctic story, Dad?” my daughter asked me. How could the news media just report one day that the Arctic ice was melting far faster than any models predicted “and then the story just disappeared?” Why weren’t any of the candidates talking about it? Didn’t they understand: this has become the big issue on campuses?

No, they don’t seem to understand. They seem to be too busy raising money or buying votes with subsidies for ethanol farmers in Iowa. The candidates could actually use a good kick in the pants on this point. But where is it going to come from?

again, I hate motorcycles

detest, despise

campaign financing and political bickering

I saw Clinton (Bill) on the Daily Show last week. He made a wonderfully insightful comment about the correlation between raising money and the political atmosphere in Washington. His thesis: because the race to raise money for reelection is nearly constant (always true for Representatives and for at least 4 years for Senators) they must spend every weekend traveling back to their home states to raise money. He said it used to be 7 months in Washington and 5 months at home. Today, politicians don't get the chance to meet their fellow colleagues at night for dinner, hang out socially, etc. Plus, he said, they are so tired from all of this travel and fundraising they are always in a bad mood. This alone, he believes, contributes greatly to the divisive politics of today.

It makes a lot of sense to me, and seems like another reason to work out public financing of elections...

when we pull out

Not even considering what would happen to Bagdad, Iraq, and the MIddle East... "Military officials recently told Congress that 45,000 ground-combat vehicles — a good portion of the entire U.S. inventory of tanks, helicopters, armored personnel carriers, trucks and humvees — are now in Iraq. They are spread across 15 bases, 38 supply depots, 18 fuel-supply centers and 10 ammo dumps."

From Time: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1644877-2,00.html

proven correct

What I wrote about a week ago about our presence in Iraq INCREASING the number of terrorists has apparently been proven true. A new National Intelligence Estimate says the war has "...energized Sunni extremist community, raised resources...recruit operatives..."

Makes sense to me...

Iraq, on the other hand...

Conservatives think we should stay in Iraq so we don't "lose the war" and to protect ourselves from terrorism. If any liberals think we should stay in the war, it's so we don't leave Iraq a mess - the old Gen. Powell doctrine.

I struggle with this a lot.

My first idea was to leave Iraq now and see what happens. Maybe there is so much fighting simply because the U.S. is in Iraq. Maybe it would stop. If a civil war or genocide begins, we could come back later, maybe with a U.N. imperative. But the cost of leaving, in itself, is incredible according to a recent Morning Edition story.

...

Defense or Offense to fight Terrorism?

Saw the documentary "Control Room" a few weeks ago - the thing that stuck with me is something said by a journalist for some Middle Eastern media outlet. He said Muslims see our war in Iraq as a Christian-Muslim war - the war is an attack against Muslims.

Also just listening to some right-wing radio talk show host (Laura Ingram), who is worried if a Democrat becomes President the U.S. would stop being on the offense in fighting terrorism, and that terrorism would simple be viewed as a "policing matter" (i.e. we'd be on the defensive).

But in my mind, and in the mind of many, W has created MORE terrorists by invading Iraq. So the longer we are there the MORE terrorists WE CREATE.

So, yes, I think fighting terrorism should be more of a defensive matter. Of course we should go after known terrorist leaders, but the majority of money should go towards defense like cleaning up nuclear weapons worldwide, checking our ports, and the like.

Therefore, we can defend ourselves and we DO NOT CREATE NEW TERRORISTS.