David Brooks column

Last paragraph from his latest column (3/11/10):

In a sensible country, people would see Obama as a president trying to define a modern brand of moderate progressivism. In a sensible country, Obama would be able to clearly define this project without fear of offending the people he needs to get legislation passed. But we don’t live in that country. We live in a country in which many people live in information cocoons in which they only talk to members of their own party and read blogs of their own sect. They come away with perceptions fundamentally at odds with reality, fundamentally misunderstanding the man in the Oval Office.

Goog Books and Copyright

Maybe we need to start with the fact that searchable books is an amazing thing. We've had online articles for years, but to make hundreds of years of millions of books searchable is a feat. When writing my master's thesis several years ago, I was able to find additional important information on a person central to my thesis because I was able to search netLibrary.

Searchable and readable online books might take away a library's final reason to force people to visit us in order to do research. But library as place (ok, and internet access) is now our central reason d'être anyway.

Google is actually trying to broaden our ridiculously narrow interpretations of Fair Use. They are saying orphaned works (in copyright, but not in print) can be scanned and parts be put online without the copyright holders express consent. It is the attempt to settle the issue that has caused the the worst problem with the settlement - the monitizing of these out of print books. It makes every book, maybe even line of every book, open for a possible lawsuit or a claim of copyright infringement.

A concern is that Google has such an advantage in the digital book market, that they will set high prices for libraries and individuals to purchase books or subscription packages. While this may be an issue, competition will grow and libraries have already started their own service: HathiTrust

We needed someone to stand up to the out of control copyright laws we now have in the United States. Lets hope Congress finally starts taking action in the opposite direction. Thank you, Google.

Campaign financing decision and judicial elections

While the new Supreme Court decision is disheartening, I think it again is another reminder of how important reform of judicial elections has become. I have always disliked electing judges like they are politicians - I hate the site of seeing judges raise money and campaign. Now that they can raise unlimited money from organizations and corporations, I think it really undermines the integrity of our third branch.

Let's stop all judicial elections!

massachusetts and health care

I don't get it. Mass has nearly universal health care. Why didn't anyone argue that Mass. residents costs would go down - maybe costs for nearly universal health care would be spread around the country.

In general, people perceived the whole health care bill as covering more people, and nothing about reducing costs. Of course, most of the costs are hidden by employers. My employer sends us a fancy brochure each January telling us how much we made, and they include the total cost of our health care. I see literally $10k more than my actually salary listed.

Most voters are probably people who already have health care.

paid pages on washingtonpost.com

A bit sketchy, although I guess they sometimes allow this sort of thing in the print edition (like magazines often do)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-adv/advertisers/russia/

news I'm following

Obama's speech Thursday in Cairo - the small possilbity be could better our relationship with Muslim countries was a major reason for my support. This speech is big.

Hudson River dredging - the fight with GE was at its height when I was living in Albany. The dredging (the first part) has finally begun...

Senate sides

Here's a thought: why do the Deocrats and Republicans have to have sides on the Senate floor? Let's seat them by geographic locationand not sides of the aisle. They may actually talk to each other.

ironic

Microsoft was forced to separate IE from Windows - like this will somehow stop a monopoly. While Apple constantly touts the greatness of their integrated of hardware and software solution all from one company.

Ohio Holds Public Redistricting Competition

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/628012

Cool. Ohio's Sec of State is sponsoring an open, public competition to fairly redistrict the state. Mapping and other software offered free to contestants.

(Senator) Burris

This latest news that Burris basically did promise money (helping him fundraise) to get the seat is mindblowing. It made so much sense not to seat the person Blagojevich picked. I still don't understand why the Senate Dems agreed to seat him. Was it purely to have another Dem vote? Quinn could have named the Senator the first day he was in office, and this new person could have still voted for the recovery bill...

one more on old(er) people

it's weird when I watch an older couple order food at my deli. Every time the counter guy asks a question (how many sugars, what kind of jelly) the orderer has to ask his or her spouse what they want. If you've lived together for 50 years, you would think those questions would be common knowledge by this point.

angry old people

I really hate to see angry older people. I think it's one of the saddest things. They've lived for 80 years and are bitter about their life and the world. Really sad.

"Country First"

The McCain sign - what does it mean exactly to the people who wave it around?

I really have no idea... do they thing Obama is putting something else before the United States?

Or is a country versus urban thing?

Someone please inform me.

Republicans and Democratic Wives

Doesn't there seem to be this instant hate for the wives of Democratic candidates and presidents? Michelle to Teresa to TIpper to Hillary, the Republicans seem to truly detest them. The stronger the woman - Hillary, Michelle, (and TIpper) the stronger the vitriol. What's with that?

Note to self: File in good paper idea category...

Energy and the election

gas prices will be a big debate point this fall. We need both a short term and a long term plan of action. The long term plan is obvious - massive government subsidies for research and manufacturing of solar and other renewable energy resources. Tax breaks for individual users too. But the short term options are rough. (in fact they are really only a political necessary but c'est la vie.) so what are the options? Drilling is a medium term plan unless the mere allowing of drilling would reduce the price of barrel. Opening the strategic reserve is just crazy. Lots of developing countries subsidize gas prices but that has horrible environmental implications and I don't think it would fly here. So what else? Natural gas?...

california redistricting

I was sorry, but not surprised, to see Pelosi has come out against Prop 11. I sort of dream that it's a Republican Party thing to try to retain power through these means, but of course it is a "whoever is currently in power" move.

The legislation was drafted to carefully to try to appease all parties, but it looks like it won't have a chance this fall...

obama and the muslim women

Kind of a scary story - two women say Obama aides (actually they were volunteers) pushed them away from a photo-op with Obama. This puts a really bad message out to the Muslim world - and that was THE reason I've been such an Obama supporter (see last post).

Bush, McCain, and Oil

So McCain and Pres. Bush announce their intentions to allow for more drilling and oil exploration just hours apart - could it be any easier for Democrats to link the two together? (!)

Tom Friedman article on Obama and Islam

Exactly what I've been saying for the last 16 months.

A few quotes from the op-ed:

"it would mark a sea change in America-Muslim world relations."

"It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Democrats’ nomination of Obama as their candidate for president has done more to improve America’s image abroad...than the entire Bush public diplomacy effort for seven years."

See: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/opinion/11friedman.html

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...