News commentary 2006

Forget talk radio, I'm all about my family's nightly email. From yesterday:

The news seems to imply that Alito has said something significant in saying that he believes a judge should enforce the law.  The question, of course, is just what he believes the law to be.

Another interesting puzzle in the headlines is the claim that Iran has broken the UN seals on its nuclear research facilities.  If you read far down in the story, you find that the IAEA inspectors were there.  A couple of days ago, there was a story that Iran was expecting IAEA approval for resuming research aimed at power reactors rather than weapons, and intended to have the inspectors remove the seals as soon as they received that approval, which was expected within a day or two.  But not explained in the current stories is whether the UN inspectors did approve resuming the research - all the stories say is that the US and Britain are upset about it.

Just a reminder that we get about the worst healthcare among industrialized nations, while paying at least 50% more for it:

And another reminder about the air war in Iraq, with an explanation of why so many civilians are being killed:

You know those "interesting times" in the old curse? Yeah, we're still living in 'em.

Vote! 2005

I've just completed my absentee ballot and thought I'd share my opinions on this election.

I voted no on propositions 73, 74, 75, 76 and the "fox guards the henhouse drug pricing plan" 78. Fuck you, Governor. Thanks for wasting our money on this damn special election.

I voted no on prop 77 too; the selection of the panel for redistricting is positively byzantine*, the panel is very small and there is no appeal process.

I'm voting for prop 79 which is the reasonable drug pricing one and not majorly funded by drug companies.

I'm voting for prop 80, but feel least sure about this one. Don't feel like I got a deep understanding, but nothing about the descriptions bothered me and the endorsements swayed me to support it.

On the local San Francisco front, I'm supporting Sandoval (and then Ting) for Assessor-Recorder, Cisneros for Treasurer (with no ranked endorsements), and Herrera for City Attorney.

I tend to think bonds are actually a pretty reasonable method of funding public works (not sure why they aren't more popular with capitalists) and I approve highly of community colleges, so I have a strong yes vote on A and, since our sidewalks sure need a bit of help, I also said yes on B.

C seems reasonable and folks I respect endorse it, so that's a yes.

D doesn't make sense to me - didn't we just go through a decision on this? and hasn't transit been improving? - so no on that.

E seems practical, so that's a yes.

F is a yes, but I do wish it also had some stern requirements about improving efficiency.

G is a no-brainer yes. Fewer lanes of traffic in that gem of a public park? Duh.

H is a no, which might surprise some people considering how I feel about guns, but I have concerns about its impact on civil liberties and am not 100% convinced it would be effective in reducing crime. Reducing suicides, very probably, but drive-by shootings? I doubt it.

I is a statement of opinion and I find it interesting for a community to do this. Since I agree with the opinion - there's too much military presence in schools and scholarships to provide non-military alternatives are a good thing - I said yes.

Whee! Voting! Hooray for democracy!

*Magic: The Gathering is less complex, I tell ya.

First hand stories 2005

Partly I'm quiet because it's just a less bloggy week, partly because I'm busy getting ready for my big trip, but also what can you say after you read these first hand accounts of surviving Katrina?

Other than "how can America expect loyalty from people who it has abandoned?" and "what makes me any different from those folks if a disaster strikes my city?"

Meanwhile in Mississippi 2005

My cousin Jeanette lives in Biloxi, MS.

She was able to get back there earlier this week after having retreated to Mobile and then, after Katrina passed, to her mom's place in Athens, GA.

When she got back she found to her surprise and pleasure that her mobile home was not completely destroyed. Unfortunately, it was missing most of its roof.

Her friends found a billboard that had blown in and put that up on top so things were at least partially sheltered.

The billboard says "Welcome to Gulfport!"

Underpants! 2005

Brad is sending a little help to Hurricane Katrina refugee centers. Please help fund the simple, mundane dignity and comfort of clean underpants.

I'm sure if it goes over goal, Brad will just send MORE underpants (or maybe start adding in socks).

The Jailing of America 2005

My uncle Larry pointed me at this brief essay about the growing number of incarcerated Americans. Take a look at the graph showing the massive change over the last 3 decades compared to the prior 3.

It's a small bite of interesting thoughts, statistics and references. Give it a read.

The consequences of putting a greedy liar in charge 2005

Read this. Just read the whole thing. It's an account from an independent journalist who has spent a long time in Iraq and is heading back again.

Would you say the Vietnam war was damaging to our country? I think most people would. It would be hard to argue otherwise, given the number of combat-shocked soldiers still to be found on the streets of our cities. Given the 58,000 American soldiers who died in service in that war. It was certainly damaging to Vietnam, irretrievably altered, citizens, cities and countryside wounded, and so many lost lives, 1 in 10 people.

Our long war against Iraq, championed by the Bushs, father and son, is shaping up to be very bad as well. In the last two years and two months there have been 1,630 American casualties and, officially, over 12,000 wounded (though some argue that the count is as high as three times that number) [source] [see also]. The American military is not tracking Iraqi deaths, but the number of reported deaths of civilians is somewhere between 21,000 and 24,000 [source]. That number is much lower than the actual count since not all deaths are reported. The true number of civilians dead as a result of war is estimated to be closer to 100,000 [source], many of them women, children and the elderly (probably since air strikes are a pretty random sampling method of selecting members of a population and adult males would make up a minority in any random sample).

It's time to end this war. It was never justified. Our president lied to us and attacked another nation without valid reasons. That's wrong. That's dishonorable. That's not the American way, or it damn well shouldn't be. It's time to stop letting this fat cat oilman and his corporate cronies damage lives and our economy for their personal profit and power. It's time the American people and their elected officials stopped going along with this massive mistake.

Inauguration Day 2005

That was actually a good speech. Too much God in it, of course, but I expect that from national politics in the U.S. The freedom note was definitely struck and struck well.

The sad thing is that I don't think Bush really, truly believes it, or at least understands it very differently than I do. I don't think his administration wants the kind of "force of human freedom" which could take away their power.

The bad thing is that horseshit about an "ownership society". You know what "making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny" means? No safety net. You're on your own, sucker. Better hope daddy was rich. Better hope you live in a rich neighborhood or you won't have what some people have.

Listen to that phrase "ownership society". A country built on property. On commerce.

Yeah, Bush, well own this: you lied to us. You got us into a war and thousands died because of your deliberate lies.

"In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character, on integrity and tolerance toward others and the rule of conscience in our own lives."

Hello?

I gotta go get some dinner now before the hypocrisy makes me sick.

Blogging without borders 2004

Things to do on a rainy day instead of being glum about past sadnesses and the prospect of a cold night: help build tools to provide help and save lives.

I'm a new member of Bloggers Without Borders. Please stop by and donate if you can.

You might also want to weigh in with some of your ideas on my new forum post "Building a disaster alert system on existing informal networks".

The tsunami of December 2004 is a perfect example of a situation in which technologically-empowered social networks could have saved lives. As Xeni pointed out in her interview on Fox, some guy in France knew about the the quake and the wave 3 hours before it hit the beaches in Sri Lanka.

If that news had reached the blogging community, MetaFilter, Boing Boing, Slashdot, etc. at the same time, someone could have seen it who lives in those communities or someone who knows someone who lives there could have seen it and called them on the phone. The beaches could have been cleared, the boats called home.

Yes, there would still have been loss of life, but not so many. And the communication channels for spreading word about the conditions afterwards would have been established and that news could have come a little bit faster.

Some things are predictable. If there is a 10 foot wave hitting a community and it will wash through the town, there very probably will be public health issues with water supplies and sewage, so you can start mobilizing resources for health care and infrastructure right away.

Even without building giant sirens in every town on the Indian Ocean we could have a tsunami warning system. An increasing number of people have mobile phones and/or internet access. Let’s build a trusted network of communication paths. Let’s be a place for scientists to provide information and warnings. Let those pass through to the appropriate regions through websites, email, news feeds, SMS, and good old fashioned “pick up the phone and call somebody”. Let the people on the ground spread the word locally and report conditions back to the world.

On the quiet side 2004

I'm taking it easy this week, enjoying my holiday break. My creative urges have been steering most towards cooking & making things nice around my home, so writing is taking a back seat. Things are fine with me, just not much to say on the public stage.

My sympathies go out to those around the Indian Ocean. I hope my step-brother and his girlfriend come home safe from the Maldives, but since we know they survived the tsunami, the biggest emotional impact on me has been watching the death toll rise into the almost incomprensible. There is no bad guy to rage against, no way to undo the loss. A disaster like this just is. All we can do is remember most everyone reading this is rich by comparison and we should contribute to the relief efforts if we possibly can.

***

Some of you who know me in person instead of just online have noticed that the Hacker's Diet has been working for me and I have lost weight. I had planned this week to go get some new clothes and on my vacation give myself a treat, perhaps some new shoes or a trip to my favorite hot tub place.

Instead, I've sent $500 to the International Red Cross/Red Crescent.

If my outfits look a little poorly fitted, it's just because I'm wearing someone else's well-being instead of my size.

Now I understand why he stayed on the ballot 2004

Nader pays for ballot recount. If he does for hackable voting machines what he did for lemon cars, it will be a tremendous gift for democracy.

an apology to the world 2004

Sorry, everybody. We tried.

My Life Goes On 2004

From my reading chair in my main room I can see the park across the valley where people have brought their dogs out. The dogs are running, chasing each other, clearly having a great time.

The clouds are beautiful today.

I'm sad and sorry about the presidential election results and what it says about the United States. I fear many more will die as a result. The rich will continue to get richer, there will be more poor. Things will get worse before they get better. The silver lining is, I suppose, that Bush has to deal with some of the mess he's created. But it's sad to know that half the country sees the world in black & white, good guys & bad guys. Particularly sad that some of my dearest friends are seen as bad guys and are now to be legislatively told in many states that their love is not legitimate. Hatred for homosexuals and support of wars are the most shameful things about many so-called Christians in this country. I truly don't know how that hatred is reconciled with "Love thy neighbor" and "Thou shalt not kill".

But then what do I know about theology? I guess there's some clever trick to it.

Well, at least I live in the right city. A lot of good will be done here in the coming years. We can only hope it will teach some other communities ways to be more supportive of all citizens.

Vote faster! 2004

Remember, if the voting method in use at your polling station doesn't dictate use of the equipment in the ballot booth (e.g. marking the ballot with a pen for optical scan), then you don't have to wait in line to use a booth.

At my garage polling station this morning people were filling in ballots on car trunks, recycling bins, a clothes dryer & the floor. Much speedier!

Also remember that in California you have the right to request a paper ballot if you do not wish to touch screen vote.

Election Eve letter from our friend Michael 2004

You may not agree with everything he says or how he says it, but Michael Moore is an American voice worth listening to.

Things you can do sick in bed the day before an election 2004

Review all the political information you've received in the mail and decide how you're going to vote.

Here's my take on things in the United States, California, San Francisco, District 8.

President: John Kerry
Why? Because I think he'll be a decent president. Also because Bush has got to go.

U.S. Senator: Barbara Boxer
Why? I think she's done good work.

U.S. Representative: Nancy Pelosi
Why? Great work; I really want to see her continue it.

State Senator: Carole Migden
Why? Good local politician. Democratic candidate.

Member, State Assembly: Mark Leno
Why? Good local politician. Supports basic human rights causes which are important to me.

Member, Community College Board (vote for up to four): Natalie Berg, Milton Marks III, Rodel E. Rodis
Why? I liked their statements & endorsements in the Voter Information Pamphlet

Member, Board of Education (vote for up to four): Jane Kim, Eric Mar, Mark Sanchez, Norman Yee
Why? Jane: Like her platform, liked her in person, friends working hard on her campaign. The others: I liked their statements & endorsements in the Voter Information Pamphlet

State Propositions:
1A - Protection of Local Government Revenue: Yes
Why? This was a tough one. I'm dubious about some of the supporters - Governer Schwarzenegger especially - and Carole Migden's opposing comments regarding the lack of fiscal accountability in the official voter information guide are worth noting. However, it is endorsed by both the California Democratic Party and the San Francisco Democratic Party. In the end, I'll have to hope that increased local involvement will coincide with this increased local control to provide the needed accountability.

59 - Public Records, Open Meetings: Yes
Why? As the opponents to this measure say "it's better than nothing". I believe a step in the right direction is better than no step. Backed by League of Women Voters of California with whom I have tended to agree in the past.

60 - Election Rights of Political Parties: Yes
Why? As its opponents say "it does no harm". Again, a step in the right direction and a good offset to Prop 62.

60A - Surplus Property: Yes
Why? Once again, a step in the right direction which its opponents admit does no harm.

61 - Children's Hospital Projects, Grant Program, Bond Act: No
Why? I know there are some parents who will be angry about this, but I believe in this case the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Basic health care and education need to be a higher priority; the budget is already strained. More debt ($1.5 billion) is not in the best interest of the children of California who already have plenty to pay off.

62 - Elections, Primaries: No
Why? Limiting the general election to the top two vote-getters from the primary is bad for democracy. Fewer choices aren't better, particularly when they're based on who was able to garner the most votes 8 months previously. Facts change and it's not flip-flopping to respond to current reality and choose the best candidate to deal with the current situation.

63 - Mental Health Services Expansion, Funding, Tax on Personal Incomes Above $1 Million: Yes
Why? Now this is how you fund good services. There is no justification other than greed for those earning more than a million dollars a year being allowed to hang on to that 1% of their excessive income which could be used to make a real difference in solving this major problem. I'd really like to find out if those people opposing this would be personally affected by that tax. And come on, think about it. If you can't live on a million plus dollars a year, there is something seriously wrong with you and it ain't mental illness. It's called being a selfish asshole. You can earn personally 57 times the Federal Poverty Line figure for a family of four before being affected by this tax. Let's say that again another way (and take into account that many folks feel that Federal Poverty Line figure is about half what it should be): one hundred and fourteen people could be sustained on your personal earnings before you are affected by this tax.

64 - Limits on Private Enforcement of Unfair Business Competition Laws: No
Why? Backed by the California Taxpayer Association (with whom I have disagreed many times over the last 25+ years), major contributors are companies like Bank of America and Microsoft, opposed by an impressive list of organizations from AARP to Sierra Club California.

65 - Local Government Funds, Revenues, State Mandates: No
Why? No supporting argument submitted, replaced by 1A.

66 - Limitations on the "Three Strikes" Law, Sex Crimes, Punishment: Yes
Why? Focuses our state investment in punishment (through expensive methods such as prisons) on those more deserving of such treatment. Given that I'm somewhat unconvinced of the efficacy of the prison system in reducing violent crime in society, I'm even less inclined for these costly measures to be used against petty offenders. Also, Arnie's against it and the ACLU's for it.

67 - Emergency Medical Services, Funding, Telephone Surcharge: Yes
Why? Emergency medical services need more funding, especially in times of far-from-universal health insurance, and this proposition seems to provide good oversight and intelligent limits. Funding it through minor increases in phone charges seems quite reasonable. Note also that this is opposed by the afore-mentioned California Taxpayers' Association and the top 5 contributors against it were SBC, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T Wireless and Sprint, none of whom are particularly dear to my heart.

68 - Non-Tribal Commercial Gambling Expansion. Tribal Gaming Compact Amendments: No
Why? More and larger gambling facilities with less controls over their placement, fiscal handling and environmental & social impact are not good for the state. Yes, the Native American community deserves all sorts of compensation for the way their people were screwed over, but this is not the way to do it. Nor is it the way to help the state budget. I oppose both prop 68 and 70.

69 - DNA Samples, Collection, Database, Funding: No
Why? If you think its bad that your name can get on a no-fly list and you can't find out why or get it off, then think about government access to your genetic information. Innocent people's information would be mixed in a database with those actually found guilty of crimes. I'm firmly with the ACLU on this one; it is an attack on civil liberties and must be strongly opposed.

70 - Tribal Gaming Compacts, Exclusive Gaming Rights, Contribution to State: No
Why? As above, plus this one seems to have extremely poor oversight.

71 - Stem Cell Research, Funding, Bonds: No
Why? This was another tough one. I'm pro-choice, pro-scientific research, but I am not convinced that this proposition makes for good science. The arguments against in the official voter information guide raise very troubling questions. Is this a bid for state funding of an unproven approach over other research known to be productive? If so, who will benefit? Possibly some people who suffer from certain diseases, but most definitely certain corporations who will be conducting the research. I can't see putting the state another $3 billion into debt in a costly hunt for cures which has poor accountability. The direct health benefits of restoring $3 billion to preventative services would be much greater.

72 - Health Care Coverage Requirements: Yes
Why? This one pretty much boiled down to which team I want to side with. The proposition itself seems fine and it's supported by the California and San Francisco Democratic Parties and opposed by the governor.

Local Measures
A - Affordable Housing Bonds: Yes
Why? A good coalition of folks are supporting it and it includes consideration of environmental impact of projects. Plus it's opposed by the Republicans which means it's probably something good for anyone making less than $100,000 a year.

B - Historical Preservation Bonds: Yes
Why? Protects sites which are dear to me and which help define our fair city.

C - Health Service System: Yes
Why? Supported by the supervisors, opposed by the Chamber of Commerce. I know who I side with.

D - Changes to City Charter: Yes
Why? Matt Gonzalez's arguments in the Voter Information Pamphlet are very clear.

E - Police & Fire Survivor Benefits: Yes
Why? How can you argue against equitable compensation for the family of killed firefighters and police? They have some of the hardest jobs out there, not just because of the risk of injury and death. (And how can I take your opposing arguments really seriously when your name is "Starchild"? I'm sorry, but you sound like a My Pretty Pony.)

F - Non-citizen Voting in School Board Elections: Yes
Why? The arguments against are inaccurate, small-minded and zenophobic. (I can't say the Stonestown and Park Merced Residents Association is a particularly impressive ambassador for those neighborhoods.)

G - Health Plans for City Residents: Yes
Why? More health care at no extra cost except to the beneficiaries and their employers - yay!

H - Naming the Stadium at Candlestick Park: Yes
Why? I'd rather pay more taxes (even to support facilities for a sport I have no interest in) than see the pace of commercialization increase in San Francisco. (And can someone tell me what benefit the 49ers being located here brings to non-football fans?)

I - Economic Analysis of Legislation: No
Why? Because I trust Ammiano & Gonzalez more than Alioto-Pier & Ma.

J - Sales Tax Increase: Yes
Why? Because I think sales tax is a reasonable approach to address a shortfall. A quarter percent isn't going to make people drive out of county to shop - not with the current price of gas!

K - Business Tax: Yes
Why? This would be too much of a burden on small businesses who already pay a lot, but there is an ordinance before the board of supervisors to limit this to those businesses with gross receipts of $2 million or more.

L - Use of Hotel Tax to Preserve Movie Theaters: No
Why? This is a scam opposed by, as far as I can tell, the entire local film-loving community. Bottom-line: don't hand $8 million to an unproven, unsupervised team.

N - Withdrawing U.S. Military Personnel from Iraq: Yes
Why? This statement needs to be made. San Francisco stood up against Vietnam; it's time again.

O - Use of Sales Tax Funds: Yes
Why? Nice to have the funds collected through passage of Measure J above specially earmarked for good causes.

AA - BART Earthquake Safety Bond: Yes
Why? This is overdue. U.S. Geological Survey experts say there is a 62% chance of a 6.7 magnitude or greater quake hitting the Bay Area within the next 28 years. I want the BART system to help pull us through that the way it helped in 1989. Also, since I ride BART many times a week, I'd really like the Transbay Tube to be as safe as possible. This is a such a simple "ounce of prevention vs. a pound of cure" proposal. I really hope it passes this time.

Recommended 2004

Eminem's video "Mosh"

Imagine it pourin, its rainin down on us, mosh pits outside the oval office
Someone’s tryin to tell us something, maybe this is god, just sayin we responsible
For this monster, this coward, that we have empowered
This is Bin Laden, look at his head noddin, how can we allow something like this, without pumpin our fists
Now, this is our, final hour
Let me, be the voice, in your strength and your choice, let me simplify the rhyme, just to implify the noise
Tryin to amplify to times it, and multiply it by six-teen million people are equal at this high pitch
Maybe we can reach alqueda through my speech, let the president answer our high anarchy
Strap him with a AK-47, let him go fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way
No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our own soil, no more psychological warfare to trick us to thinking that we ain’t loyal
If we don’t serve our own country, we’re patronizing our hero
Look in his eyes, its all lies, the stars and stripes, have been swiped, washed out and wiped,
And replaced with his own face, mosh now or die, if I get sniped tonight, you’ll know why, cuz I told you to fight

Vote!

Strongly Recommended 2004

Please visit Internet Vets For Truth and watch some of the clips there. If you choose just one, please watch John Kerry's testimony before a congressional committee at the age of 27. His statements about the attitude of the administration and the country toward the war in Vietnam ring very true to what could and should be said about the war in Iraq today.

If the honor of our nation matters to you, vote to get George W. Bush and his administration out of power. They are a black mark on our country.

If you believe "Thou Shalt Not Kill", vote to get George W. Bush and his administration out of power. They have initiated a war to increase their personal political and economic power. Thousands are dying because of their unjustifiable tactics.

If you believe that this country should be a democracy rather than an oligarchy, vote to get George W. Bush and his administration out of power. The poor pay the price with their lives so that rich can get richer. The top 1% of U.S. citizens have more personal income than the bottom 90%. Does one person really deserve to have so much when so many Americans are out of work and below the poverty line? This disparity is getting worse under Bush economic policies.

John Kerry isn't without flaws - no one is - but he is vastly more suited to lead our country. His administration would be a strong step in the right direction. If all Kerry can achieve in his first four years is to halt the damage that George W. Bush did in his first four, that would be wonderful.

There is too much at stake not to vote. Please do.

(Are you interested in teaching about economics? Reach and Teach looks like a fantastic resource. They have a lesson called Ten Chairs which teaches about the distribution of wealth in the United States. I think it is time for me to start taking my presentational skills out of the workplace and into some community rooms...)

An Endorsement 2004

Paper or Plastic? 2004

Remember: In California you don't have to vote using an electronic voting machine. You can request a paper ballot. Learn more and see the list of counties affected.