I understand what they were trying to do (I think), but really?
Month: July 2008 Page 5 of 8
Had another theme lined up, but this dust-up over crackers had me thinking about Ritz crackers, when then leads to:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=VH2nQHPs4aA[/youtube]
the producer of which is also responsible for:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=mKxnaMeOK20[/youtube]
If you haven’t seen that before, give it a minute to get rolling. The payoff is worth it.
But really? I’m just tired, today:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=6-pmpgrYQgs[/youtube]
Will make up for the missed Midweek Makeover tomorrow (you didn’t miss it, did you? Didn’t think so.)
This has to be read to be believed. When you’re done, do PZ Myers a favor and lend him a bit of support.
Seriously, is there anything McCain isn’t copying out of the Bush playbook?
It was Sen. John McCain’s staff who asked security at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts to remove people holding protest signs at the venue — not U.S. Secret Service agents, who were not involved in Carol Kreck’s ouster from the galleria.
File this in the Photos I Wish I’d Taken folder.
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Speaking of photos, the kids over at BoingBoing are having fun with the Iranian missile ‘shop job (and surely I can’t be the only person who wondered if it was Cheney’s office doing the ‘shopping, there?). My favorite is the “AT&T More Bars in More Places” one.
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Tim Wu wonders why the answering machine was suppressed for 45 years:
Bell’s engineers had an answering machine invented by 1935.  However it wasn’t until 1980 or so that answering machines became widely available – why?
Interestingly, according to a great paper by Mark Clark that I came across recentlt, internal memos show that Bell was afraid that if there existed recording devices, people would stop using telephones.
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Susan Crawford finds a nifty bit of analysis on what it means to be a common carrier.
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I’m a huge fan of the Creative Commons project. I release most of my photos at Flickr under a CC license (and lots of people and organizations have found use for them). If you’re interested in contributing to a study of the Creative Commons license as it applies to photography, take a few minutes and complete this survey.
I try not to spend too much time thinking about George Bush these days, but he’s really outdone himself today:
The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a private meeting with the words: “Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.”
He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock
As sad as the death of Alice Swanson has been, the level of genuine interest in understanding what happened so that a repeat occurrance can be avoided has been very encouraging. As I posted yesterday, it’s appearing that the driver (in a large garbage truck) failed to see her in the bike lane next to him, and turned right into her, across her path. This is a situation that I think most of us who have used bike lanes have encountered. The solution I’ve arrived at – beyond the hypervigilance any rider should have – is to move to take the lane before any intersection. This puts you squarely in view of the driver behind you while barring the possibility of there being a vehicle next to you in a position to come across in front of you.
There are many different situations that require different tactics, of course. Yesterday, I linked to Dave Zabriske’s Yield to Life foundation, and they have some excellent tips – both for cyclists *and* motorists. As many have suggested, there’s also a role for larger education campaigns aimed at both groups. But in the end, I think it’s primarily a cultural issue – we simply have to be more aware of others. There’s no special societal prescription for that, I’m afraid. But whatever the path to it is, I bet it starts with each of us.
Recommended resources:
Bicycle Safe – Some excellent situational analysis, recommending smart tactics. Worth a quick look.
Lane Control video – A very informative video illustrating the benefits of taking the lane (from Cyclistview.com) I learned a few things from it. About 10 minutes.
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute – Helmets aren’t a guarantee, but they’re a damn smart hedge.
Related posts:
- The Facts of Alice Swanson’s Death
- DC Cyclist Killed
- Weighing in at Washcycle
- Gwadz recounts the difference that seconds make
Photo couresty Ryan Dudek
The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank has a column up about the continuing practice of barring media coverage of military funerals at Arlington, often against the wishes of families. Sad, but not particularly noteworthy, in the scheme of things. Here’s what caught my eye, though:
Geren, the Army secretary, added that “the policy has not changed, and I understand the practice hasn’t, either.”
That, however, is false. Through at least 2005 — during Rumsfeld’s tenure, no less — reporters were placed in a location where they could hear the prayers and the eulogies and film the handing of the folded flag to the next of kin.
Did you see that? Someone at the Washington Post actually bothered to not only verify the facts behind a statement, but had the wherewithal to declare a statement false.
A glimmer of hope, no?
I’m going to have to wait a couple of days to write about what epic failures some congressional Democrats have managed to become. Greenwald notes:
when the Congress was controlled by the GOP — when the Senate was run by Bill Frist and the House by Denny Hastert — the Bush administration attempted to have a bill passed very similar to the one that just passed today. But they were unable to do so. The administration had to wait until Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats took over Congress before being able to put a corrupt end to the scandal that began when, in December of 2005, the New York Times revealed that the President had been breaking the law for years by spying on Americans without the warrants required by law.
For a short (and well done) spoon fed summary of what it was the Democrats accomplished today, here’s Rachel Maddow and GW law professor Jonathan Turley:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmot0aZy4MM[/youtube]
For a more detailed analysis of what went down today, just go read Greenwald. I’ll be busy here sorting through the epithets. It may take a while.
Like a lot of people, I just can’t let this one go. There was a lot of speculation yesterday about exactly what happened that caused the garbage truck to run Alice Swanson over at the intersecti
on of 20th and R St. Many of us ride through there as a parallel option to Connecticut, know that there’s a bike lane there, and assumed she was in it. Other people thought she might have been riding on the sidewalk, and into the crosswalk. Well, this is what we’ve learned today:
The accident took place at 7:40 a.m. in the 1900 block of R Street NW, just north of Dupont Circle. Police said Swanson was riding in or next to a designated bike lane. She and the truck driver were traveling west on R Street when the truck driver turned right onto 20th Street, hitting her, police said.
Swanson was trapped beneath the truck, police said. An officer in the uniformed division of the Secret Service who was nearby pulled her out and unsuccessfully tried to revive her. [Emphasis supplied]
And what of the driver?
No charges had been filed in the incident as of last night.
Maybe they’re waiting for her to tell her side of the story?
Photo courtesty of The Middle East Institute
Update II:Â Please see Honoring Alice Swanson’s Memory: Share the Road.