I noticed the last time I purchased gas, that there’s a sign that says that there’s an automatic $50 cutoff limit for Visa card purchases for gas.
A year ago, that wouldn’t be a problem, but now fifty dollars buys you less than 13 gallons of gas at $3.90/gallon. That’s less than a full tank for me.
The cutoff was either not turned on or not working on the pump I used as you can see below. $61.83. Yikes!
From NYTimes.com: McCain: Troops May Be Home by 2013
Reading the text of McCain’s speech, I’m reminded of the South Park episode with the Underwear Gnomes. The gnomes stole underwear from kids because it was part of the plan shown below.
None of the Gnomes knew what Phase 2 was.
McCain in his speech sees a future through his leadership where we’ve:
Won the war in Iraq
Osama Bin Laden captured or killed
Inflation is low
World food crisis is ended
Reduced obesity in kids
Reduced dependence on foreign oil
And a lot, lot more.
To me, it fits the Gnome plan as follows:
Phase 1: Elect John McCain
Phase 2: ?
Phase 3: War is won in Iraq, Economy is roaring, Obesity is conquered, etc.
Lots of nice Phase 3 stuff here. But is there a Phase 2? It’s clear in the Bush Administration, there was no Phase 2. I’m not certain if McCain has a realistic Phase 2 either, especially for Iraq. Or Inflation, or reducing obesity in kids.
I know it’s the nature of politics that we’re voting more for the person than a concrete plan. All the candidates have lacked specificity in their Phase 2, especially for Iraq. I just am extremely skeptical about anyone claiming that we can somehow “win” the war in Iraq in the traditional sense that McCain is claiming that we’ll be able to do in 5 short years.
From NYTimes.com: Knife Skills: Creating Feasts for the Eyes
The pictures in the article and the slideshow are amazing.
From ESPN.com: Henin retires on top of rankings after early-season slump
I’ll always remember her one handed topspin backhand, probably the most beautiful shot in tennis, Men’s or Women’s. She got every once of her body into the shot and could with any woman in the game. I wish I could hit the ball like that!
Harry Wu, human rights activist, spoke yesterday at the University of Cincinnati about his experiences as a prisoner in China. Mr. Wu spent 19 years in labor camps even though he had never committed or formally charged with a crime. He was considered a “counter revolutionary” and was imprisoned for speaking out against the government.
Today, Mr. Wu is the executive director of the Laogai Research Foundation that was established to spread awareness of the prison labor camps and has since expanded its focus to:
– from the Laogai Research website
“to document and report on other systemic human rights violations in China, including public executions, organ harvesting from executed prisoners, the coercive enforcement of China’s population control policy, and persecution of religious believers.”
Harry Wu spoke extensively about the prison system and how products that we buy today are still being manufactured by prison labor. Products that are being sold in Walmart come from prison factories. Walmart is shielded from this by buying through trading companies that “certify” through documents that the products are not being manufactured by prisoners. However, all certification documents in China are relatively easy to obtain and really don’t mean anything. That’s why we can get food that’s contaminated or paint that has lead in it.
The prison labor is used to create products for almost every industry- electronics, heavy manufacturing, and consumer goods.
Many of the prisoners are convicted criminals, but there are political
prisoners amongst them sent to labor camps for “re-education”.
Mr. Wu also spoke about the executions that take place. China does not give out the numbers of prisoners that it executes per year, but Mr. Wu believes that it could be in the range of 10,000 to 20,000.
China is the second leading country in organ transplants. Approximately 95% of all organs transplanted in China are from executed prisoners.
Mr. Wu then went on to touch on the Bodies the Exhibition. He continually raised the point that if all the bodies were Jewish or African-American, what would we think? He showed pictures of executed prisoners that were taken by a former assistant to the plastination factory in China. Mr. Wu was told that the assistant knew that the bodies were from executed prisoners and that they were given free or purchased for $30-40 dollars.
Mr. Wu thinks that while he believes and is interested in science, that we need to remember that these are human beings.
My Reactions:
1. I was surprised by how much prison labor is still being used to manufacture products. Companies and the American public don’t seem to be aware of the situation or don’t care about it enough to do anything about it. Companies like Walmart only seek documents that allow them to deny any involvement. This is just akin to looking away.
2. Based on the questions asked during the Q&A, the general public in Cincinnati is NOT aware about a lot of the undisputed facts surrounding the Bodies the Exhibition that is being shown at the Cincinnati Museum Center. The bodies there are not donor bodies, but bodies of un-consenting individuals. It has been shown that some of the bodies at the exhibit may be executed prisoners.
The Museum Center is just like Walmart in the sense that they have chosen the lowest standard of ethical behavior. They don’t seek the truth of the situation amidst the allegations. This is a cash cow for them and they’re willing to look away. They have plausible deniability and beyond that, they don’t really care what the actual situation may be.
3. We are the land of the free, but we really don’t appreciate the freedoms that we have. We certainly do not do enough to help others around the world.
4. The interesting thing about Harry Wu’s 19 years in prison was a question into how he was able to survive that long. His answer, “I don’t know”, is kind of an amazing one. In the movies, it’s a dream, something that motivates you to survive.
5. Watching Harry Wu playing with a small child at the event was touching. Can you imagine how 19 years in a labor camp would change you? Life and freedom certainly seems much more precious.
From CNN.com: Obama T-shirts raise ire
The link above is for the CNN video of a bar owner who has made this Obama T-shirt.
The bar owner, Mike Norman says that it isn’t meant to offend- that he sees a resemblance between Obama and the monkey. “Look at those ears and the hair line”, he says.
So, I wonder what would make it racist for Mike Norman? Maybe if he added a couple of Klansman, a noose, and a burning cross.
If you think the Obama monkey shirt is funny, how about this shirt instead?
Buy it now at Cafepress!
From ABCnews.com: Sign of the Times? Clinton At Half Price
The pundits can argue all they want, her campaign may protest that she’s still in the game, but at the “America!” souvenir shops at Dulles International and Reagan National airports, the signs are clear as day.
“Sale!” “Clearance!” “50% off!” they blare.
A pink t-shirt with an image of Clinton’s head and the words “Madame President 2008: Making History.”
A black t-shirt that reads “Anyone but Hillary” with a drawing of the famous “scream” painting.
The “Hillary for President” bobblehead. And oh yes, even the Hillary nutcracker, “with stainless steel thighs.” All are marked half off.
Now’s a good time to get that nutcracker with “stainless steel thights”! The market is a pretty good indicator of what people believe. When things start to closeout, you know the game’s over.
Chinese Activist Harry Wu in Cincinnati to Discuss
BODIES: The Exhibition and Human Rights in China
Tuesday May 13, 2008 5:00-7:00pm
University of Cincinnati, Tangeman University Center, Main Street Cinema
Leading China critic and Human Rights activist Harry Wu will address the Cincinnati community from 5:00pm -7:00pm on Tuesday May 13th at the University of Cincinnati. He will address the controversy surrounding the BODIES: The Exhibition display at the Cincinnati Museum Center and other China human rights issues.
Harry Wu spent 19 years incarcerated by the Chinese government in the Laogai–the “Bamboo Gulag”–as a political prisoner. In 12 different labor camps Wu was forced to manufacture chemicals, mine coal, build roads, and plant crops. He survived beatings, torture, and starvation, and witnessed the death of many of his fellow prisoners. After his release in 1979, Wu moved to the United States determined to expose the truth about the Laogai – the most extensive forced labor system in the world. He has repeatedly risked his life returning to China to document slavery and human rights abuses.
Sponsors of the lecture include
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati: Catholic Social Action Office
Cincinnati Human Relations Commission
Japanese American Citizens League Cincinnati Chapter
Peace Village
University of Cincinnati Just Community
UPDATE 2/16/11
Bear McCreary is releasing a Battlestar Galactica Music Piano Book
Several weeks ago, when reading through Bear McCreary’s blog, the composer of the music to Battlestar Galactica, I noticed that beautiful solo piano piece Battlestar Sonatica from the Battlestar Galactica Season 3 Soundtrack
Buy your copy of Battlestar Sonatica
Here is the song being played in Battlestar Galactica
Ever wonder what the buttons are on the arm rest of Captain Kirk’s command chair on the Star Trek Enterprise?
I found the answer while watching the Star Trek episode “Court Martial“. In the episode, Captain Kirk was accused of jettisoning a crew member from a research pod without giving him time to escape during an ion storm. In the court martial, Captain Kirk was shown pressing the button below.
Of all the buttons you could possibly put on the Captain’s chair, there’s a dedicated button to “Jettison Pod” with no safety on it. You’re really asking for trouble putting “Jettison Pod” right underneath “Red Alert” since the Enterprise is almost always under “Red Alert”. You could just be one “Red Alert” away from jettisoning the pod again.
The good thing about the console design is that the Captain’s chair is built with expansion in mind. There are two unlabeled buttons on the console. Ready for “send alien babes to Captain’s Quarters” or something like that. All you need is a little sticker to stick next to the button.
The episode Court Martial does have a pretty cool Dr. McCoy line when he’s talking to one of Captain Kirk’s beautiful old flames:
“All of my friends look like doctors, all of his look like you.”