June 05, 2010
Posted on | June 5, 2010 | No Comments
Shared by Rob
“Better to go smart in the hope that most of your audience will get it than to go dumb in the fear that most of your audience won’t.” I like that.
Whee! It’s been a while since I did a comic this thinky. A few years ago I was discussing with Chason whether I should do this one comic idea I had about philosophy. His argument was basically this: Better to go smart in the hope that most of your audience will get it than to go dumb in the fear that most of your audience won’t.
That’s been my guiding principle since. Hope you enjoy!
PS: Back to poop jokes tomorrow.
Speech to thought ratio:
Posted on | June 4, 2010 | No Comments
Shared by Rob
Burn.
Speech to thought ratio:Error: division by zero
(Ann Coulter)
Picture by: dunno source Caption by: JMonschke via Advanced Lol Builder
Ann Coulter – Conservatism – Politics – People – Celebrities
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: 35 Days From Space
Posted on | May 29, 2010 | No Comments
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Dear NASA, you are so good at some things. Keep it up.
From Our Universe Visualized on YouTube:
The MODIS instrument, on board NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites, is capturing images of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill began on April 20, 2010 with the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. This short video reveals a space-based view of the burning oil rig and, later, the ensuing oil spill through May 24, 2010. The oil slick appears grayish-beige in the images and changes due to changing weather, ocean currents, and the use of oil dispersing chemicals. Images in the video time series were selected that show the spill most clearly. The full image archive is available on the MODIS Rapid Response Web site at http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/
via MotherJones
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: 35 Days From Space is a post from: Open Culture. Visit us at www.openculture.com
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Maddow rocks; the oil industry sucks
Posted on | May 29, 2010 | No Comments
Shared by Rob
“Those who do not study history…”
Indications are that the "top kill" is not working. Surprise surprise. Meanwhile, just watch this astounding piece from Rachel Maddow. It tells you pretty much all you need to know about the oil industry.
Profoundly depressing. Kudos to Maddow for digging this out.
In letter to State Department, Kerry calls for greater control of $1.45 in aid to Pakistan
Posted on | May 28, 2010 | No Comments
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I was really confused by the omission of a quantifier in this headline, strikes me as something out of The Onion. Dear Globe: Do better, its not that hard to get your headlines accurate.
By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON — Senator John Kerry is urging the State Department to tighten controls over how $1.45 billion in aid is given to Pakistan this year, warning that if the money is squandered or stolen, a massive five-year effort to help the Pakistani people could collapse.
“Among the Pakistani population there is already a fear that the funds will merely enrich the corrupt elite,” the Massachusetts Democrat wrote in a May 25 letter obtained by the Boston Globe. “Channeling so much of the money through untested institutions so quickly could serve to confirm these suspicions.”
The aid is part of a landmark, five-year $7.5 billion assistance package to Pakistan that Kerry, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pushed through Congress last year. It is aimed at trying to roll back extremism by improving the lives of ordinary citizens through greater access to water, energy, education and health, as well as bolstering Pakistan’s fledging democratic government.
But the letter – Kerry’s most forceful statement yet on how he believes the money should be spent – is a sign of unease among some on Capitol Hill over the administration’s plans for the money.
Richard Holbrooke, the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, intends to funnel more than 50 percent of the funds directly through Pakistan’s government or through local Pakistani organizations, bypassing the American organizations and companies that the US government usually hires to deliver aid abroad. Holbrooke has said US entities have higher overhead costs and relying on them creates the perception that US aid benefits Americans, rather than the intended recipients.
But Kerry, who has oversight responsibilities over the funds, fears that Pakistani organizations might not be ready yet to effectively spend so much money, and that incidents of corruption in Pakistan will make accountability a challenge.
“The danger is much greater than merely the possibility of a portion of funds being poorly spent,” he wrote in a letter addressed to Holbrooke. Referring to the aid bill that bears his name, he wrote: “lf significant portion of the Kerry-Lugar-Berman funds are, for example, siphoned off to private bank accounts, political support for continued appropriation of the money could evaporate in Washington and Pakistan.”
Dan Feldman, Holbrooke’s deputy, said, “We are grateful for Senator Kerry’s very constructive feedback and input on using this significant amount of money, which he spearheaded and shepherded. We are all seeking maximum impact from this assistance, and to do this most effectively, we’re always open to ways to operate in a manner that enhances sustainability, transparency, and accountability, as Senator Kerry has called for, and which are already core precepts that we have been built into our assistance programs.”
Senator Kerry’s office declined to comment on the letter, but Frederick Jones, a Kerry spokesman, said that Kerry “wants to work cooperatively with the Administration to think through the potential pitfalls that could occur.” He said Kerry does not oppose funding for Pakistani institutions, but wants to ensure that the right controls are in place for adequate monitoring, such as pre-award and post-award evaluations of development contracts.
The letter urges more attention on Pakistan’s criminal justice system, and greater coordination with World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, who have spent decades trying to build dams and improve water delivery systems in Pakistan. Kerry also suggested launching a website that tracks how the money is being spent.
“To date, this process is still largely opaque to the broader public, including our Pakistani friends and partners,” he wrote. “This lack of transparency can generate suspicion and distrust, defeating the core intent [of the aid.]”
Farah Stockman can be reached at fstockman@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at fstockman.
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