Blacknell.net

Politics, open government, and safe streets. And the constant incursion of cycling.

Category: Society Page 56 of 69

Ban ’em

By

On November 1, 2007

In Society

As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t think that iPods/headphones have any place in crowded athletic situations. Apparently the USA Track & Field Association agrees: it has announced a rule change for its sanctioned events – no more iPods/headphones. Intentionally blocking out the signals that someone is next to or behind you isn’t just a bad idea for yourself, but those around you. I’d like to think that common courtesy would keep people from creating these dangerous situations for others (nevermind themselves), but it looks like it won’t. Why not? Thoughtful people like this:

“To ban them outright is just stupid, and if they want to disqualify me, they can,” Jennifer Lamkins, a teacher from Long Beach Calif., said before running the Marine Corps Marathon. “If they are banning them because we can’t hear directions, does that mean they should ban deaf people, too?”

Really. It’s that sort of person that requires implementation (and enforcement!) of a rule. Common courtesy is just too much to expect, it seems.

Rural Serenity

By

On October 22, 2007

In Cycling, Society, Travel

When I turned onto this road during a bike ride this weekend, I remarked to a friend next to me, “And this is where you bring someone to shoot them and dump them in the woods.”  A few moments later, we came upon this:

Television.  It’s an okay thing to waste.

Democracy Hurts: Bhutto’s Motorcade Bombed

By

On October 18, 2007

In Personal, Policy, Society

I harbor no illusions about Benazir Bhutto, but she doesn’t – Pakistan doesn’t – deserve this:

[T]wo blasts in Benazir Bhutto’s motorcade were suicide hits and have killed more than 52 people while injuring close to 80 [it has since reportedly risen to 85 dead]. The dead and the injured include security personnel and PPP supporters who had come to welcome Benzair from across the country including those from Lahore.

The motorcade was on its way to visit the mausoleum of the father of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah:

Jinnah Mausoleum

Would that everyone involved had paid more attention to Jinnah’s words and principles.

Update: NYTimes puts the dead at over 100.

Further update: I’m going to post my take on Pakistan’s current political situation here because it’s as good a place as any to post it. That said, there are far more informed and interesting places for a real discussion to take place (not that I’m going to point you to any of them. If you think partisanship makes discussion hard in the US . . . ). So, that said, here’s my take as distilled for a comment over at dKos:

 

Both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are crooks. Pervez Musharraf‘s a strongman who may have had the right intentions, but found that he quite likes being a dictator. The imams hover in the background (and while serious, they are not the enormous threat some would like everyone to think). And the other options are mostly political unknowns (hi, Imran!).

So, all in all, a real mess. But it’s a mess mainly of Pakistan’s making, and I don’t think that the US ought to get involved in picking a winner in this battle (not that it really could, if it wanted to).

Bhutto’s recent reemergence in Western political circles can be ascribed to 1) a general assumption that a woman in Pakistan has to be a good thing (thus they overlook what a crook she was/is), and 2) an incredibly well orchestrated (and funded) PR and lobbying effort of late. She’s got (a lot of) supporters, to be sure, but she’s no Second Coming (so to speak).

The picture above is from a rather peaceful day.  To see the awfulness of today, click here.  And imagine that that is your city.

Dems Cave on Telecom Immunity?

By

On October 18, 2007

In Distribution, Law, Politics, Society

[Update: Let’s put the Senate hold to a better use than porkbarrel politics – call Sen. Chris Dodd and urge him to put a hold on the FISA bill.]

If this Washington Post story is right, the Democrats have just hit the bottom of the credibility and effectiveness barrel. Handing out a blank Get Out of Jail card to telecom providers on the basis of the say-so of the Bush Administration? On *any* basis? That makes them not only fools, but dangerous fools.

This country was founded and has thrived on the rule of law. That is, the law is publicly known, and applies equally and predictably to all. You may scoff, thinking of some recent criminal case of injustice, but the rule of law really has been at the foundation of America’s success. It has provided for the certainty and safety of its people, who were not subject to the secret (and not so secret) whims and graces of individual men.

And now both the Republicans and Democrats are throwing that out in favor of . . . of *what*? What can possibly be gained by this? They’re still going to get their telecom industry contributions if they don’t do this. They’re not losing any safety – remember, this is *retroactive* immunity. So what is it? The sheer pleasure of knowing that you’re playing an integral part in deconstructing America? Didn’t want to let Bush get all the credit for that? Fools.

(When this comes down to a vote, I look forward to matching up those who vote for telecom immunity against those who voted against “amnesty” for illegal immigrants. Should be some interesting contrasts in rhetoric coming from the same people . . .).

Invisible Rider

By

On October 16, 2007

In Personal, Society

Found this bike in front of my house, yesterday AM. At first, I thought some kid had probably dropped a stolen bike. I thought I’d just haul it into my yard and report the serial to the Arlington PD. But when I picked the bike up, it became clear that it was very much the other way around – the bike dropped the rider. Ouch

As best I can tell, the rider’s laces (which you can see in the picture) got twisted around the pedal. This, in turn, took him down before tearing off. And he must have gone down *hard* – what you see here is not only a nearly bent off pedal, but a crank arm that has been bent back over the chainring and frame. Outside of the picture is a front wheel with a hub also pulled out of the forks. I expected to see blood on sidewalk, with a hit like that.

But nothing. Looks like the rider left under his own power. And the bike remains.

I’ve left it there in case he might want to come back and get it, but I’m doubting that it’s going anywhere. Much as it pains me to do it to a bike, it’s into the trash tomorrow. Absolutely nothing of value on this bike, and to repair and donate it would cost more (in even the cheapest parts) than to buy a new one at Walmart.

(Related: Invisible Riders. An excellent look at the people who form most of the market for this kind of bike. )

LUG to LUE?

By

On October 15, 2007

In Policy, Society

The US Army, proud purveyors of the execrable “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, is advertising on the (even more execrable) Tila “Did I mention I like boys AND girls” Tequila show. What, it’s all good until you enlist?

h/t to MJ

Support Planned Parenthood

By

On October 14, 2007

In Policy, Society

Bitch, PhD knocks it out of the park with this post. Which you should read. The primer for this is the following graph:

Planned Parenthood services, 2005

Keeping it in the family

By

On October 13, 2007

In Society

This is just . . . fascinating.

And not just because “His prices are insane!”*

*I suspect a very small subset of readers will get that reference, but they will appreciate it immensely.

The Original Reality Television

By

On October 12, 2007

In Society, UK

Prompted by the recent US airing of the most recent episode, I’ve started re-watching Michael Apted’s 7 Up series. It follows the lives of a dozen or so Brits from the age of 7 through 49. The first episode (7 Up) was filmed in 1964, and since then, Apted has attempted to include all of the original participants in an episode every seven years (e.g., Plus 7 (age 14), 21 Up (age 21), etc.) since then. It’s not only fascinating as a number of period pieces, it’s heartbreaking, as we watch the inevitable narrowing of life’s choices.

I imagine that the 49 Up episode will be available as a rerun on your local PBS station, but if it’s something that sounds interesting to you, you can find it at Amazon(or, as always, on the Internets).

Talk to your daughters (take 2)

By

On October 11, 2007

In Society

This was the video I meant to link yesterday, and it’s worth a second post to get your attention:

(It seems I’ve made a mess of all things YouTube in the past couple of days. Sorry about that.)

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