A personal blog by a Jewish guy living in Seattle, working at the University of Washington as a scientist, working on blood vessels while taking pictures, and commenting on science, religion, politics and other taboos.
OK, I have an ego.I know that.But I do like to learn from others and was very disappointed by a meeting this afternoon.
Years ago we joined a synagogue in Seattle. This community has a long and honorable record of social activism.Founded during the intense years of civil rights by young, socially active Jews, the Temple has a number of very impressive members with real talent.
As our kids grew up, the imperatives of Jewish community became less imperative but we continued the membership mainly for high holidays and for our admiratiion for the Rabbis.
The rabbis, a couple, are among the "best" I have met. Rabbi J is a wonderfully thoughtful guy, tolerant of my didactic approach to Judaism and wiliing to listen to any idea. Rabbi B brings a deep knowledge of Jewish mysticism that transcends the all to often sterility of ritual. Both care deeply about society.
I have talked a number of times with our Rabbi J. of finding a way to be useful to the Temple while serving causes that interest me.He keeps encouraging me so, this afternoon we attended a meet-up convened by some neighbors who are Temple members.
The ostensible purpose was to bring together members interested in social activism beyond the usual charitable activities of a liberal Jewish synagogue
Sounds good? ……….not so good.
Somewhere, someone has written a manual on how to assure that a meeting stifles discussion.I suspect the title is “Convenorship” or “Meeting Management for Middle Level Naval Officers” or “Maoist Manual for Communal Discussions.”The room had a number bright people but we were all treated like children scripted for a high school performance on MLK day.
About 30 folks so …we were led by the convener in the usual go around the room to say, “Who Am I?”.Pointedly missing was any invitation to say what causes interested us.Two exceptions to this rule .. politely and subtly, it was made clear that a major agenda for the hosts was universal health care. I was, by this time pretty certain I was not having a good time so I mentioned my interests in crossing the racial gap and promoted this blog.
Next on the agenda?All the students were told to choose a pair. Not four or five folks, but pairs of folks new to each other.I was forced to remember reading a leadership manual someplace (Navy?) about not letting groups larger than three get together if you wanted to maintain control.
Of course the pairs were given, well prepared, written instructions.For ten (not 15) minutes we pairs were supposed to trade a history of our families and how that history led us to be socially conscious Jews.One member of thr pair was supposed to record this on a yellow Post-It.I am not sure why they wanted us to use the Post-It, the ancestry shtick never came up again and notes were not stuck up the wall for the class to read later.I think the intent was to release a few drams of serotonin-blocking endorphins in each of us.It was pleasant.
Following step 3 of the Manual, each member of each pair was then supposed to list up to 4-5 things that kept them up at night.This was to include BOTH personal issues and issues that might be appropriate for joint action.A few folks asked why the personal issues were relevant, but I suspect they (including me ) still had not reached the correct level of serotonin.
My pair volunteered his urinary problems and I countered with worries over my brother.Then we each rolled out our personal causes.As it turned out, Walter is a Professor Emeritus of presidential governance.An interesting guy!Walter and I share some ideas about the decay of participatory democracy, global corporate statism and need for a reversal of Bush-Clinton era classism.A lot to find out in 7 minutes, but by then .. somehow, we also realized this was not the place?We agreed to tal;k later.
The convener then had each pair do a show and tell.You remember the drill? Each student in the class explained what they had done last summer.Our meeting was not quite that divers.The pairs’ lists were as predictable as one might expect of a group of largely over 60 middle class, reform Jews:healthcare, retirement, violence against (women, people of other classes), Israel, drugs, schools, bad social effects of twittering, the decay of our aging minds ………I was tempted to raise my great concern about hungry pet bears but thought better of it.On the other hand, we just finished Passover so maybe the idea was to recite the ten plagues?
As is usual for such meetings, there was only about 10 minutes left.Most of that was taken up by the host’s husband making his spiel about health care.He is obviously knowledgeable.Naturally, there was no time to explore other ideas.Even if there were, the convener told us The Committee would use the data from the Post-Its to decide where to direct the Temple’s efforts.
One or two folks tried to offer other suggestions but were assured that they were not necessary. Ourm two hour meeting ended on time.
Sad thing is that the host seemed unaware that there were a number of people in the room who probably actually could have been recruited to bring some good ideas to the table.My ego aside, I suspect several folks left the room unlikely to do much more that join in the TBA Task Force of Universal Health Care.
By Mazher Mahmood, 19/04/2009 THE poverty-stricken father of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali plans to become a millionaire himself-by SELLING his nine-year-old daughter. .... demanding millions of rupees worth £200,000.
As he offered the shocking deal to the News of the World's undercover fake sheik this week, Rafiq declared: 'I have to consider what's best for me, my family and Rubina's future.' ........................... As he tried to fix the illegal adoption deal, real-life slum dweller Rafiq declared: 'We've got nothing out of this film.'
Science News / Nanoclusters Seem To Skirt Physics Law: "Nobody’s above the law. But tiny clusters of colliding atoms may duck below the second law of thermodynamics. In simulations, researchers in Japan found that in rare cases, tiny clusters of atoms ricochet off each other faster than their approaching speeds. The results, which appeared in the March Physical Review E, seem to violate the second law’s requirement that any work squanders a little bit of energy in the form of waste heat, leaving the system a little more disheveled, with higher entropy."
DTP likely to win stronghold: "The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, is expected to win local elections in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır but the result is not foregone. National politics have often crowded the quality of municipal services out of the debates. Most observers believe that the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, will make a strong showing in the local elections this Sunday, but not strong enough to topple the DTP’s Osman Baydemir as mayor of Diyarbakır.
'This local election is, at the moment, between the DTP and the AKP,' said Hülya Çetin, the chair of the Diyarbakır Businesswomen’s Association. 'It is not certain the DTP will sweep these elections. Anything is possible.'
Noting that 'the DTP has won the past two local elections in the region despite the fact that local services are seriously deficient,' Çetin said that though the AKP may not win the Diyarbakır mayoral post, it will see gains in junior municipalities."
Although oil prices have fallen rapidly, the airline industry is still clamouring for alternative fuel sources. In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, chief Boeing environmental strategist Billy Glover explains how a giant mass of algae may fuel jets in the future. more..."
Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, now a symbol of German unification, is being defaced by the presence of performers in Cold War uniforms, say Berlin politicians. The fake soldiers argue that they're making the area more attractive to tourists. more..."
Maid's costumes, musicial negligee and remote-controlled underpants: You'd be surprised what you can find in a Damascus market. Syrian underwear is now so famous that it is exported throughout the Middle East -- and Palestinian women, reportedly, have the wildest taste. By Ulrike Putz in Damascus more..."
While Germany opted for creating the dubious Obama Fingers, France has gone a more tasteful route. A female vintner, originally from Africa, has created an Obama wine -- and is donating all the profits to an NGO in Darfur. more..."
Big Boston Cuts Underscore National Transit Crisis | Autopia from Wired.com: "The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, known as the T, announced that without a big cash infusion, it will make severe cuts to its network while also raising fares. Similar scenarios are being played out across the country, where cities and states are trying desperately to close giant budget gaps while maintaining essential services like police and fire. Transit systems are taking a hit despite the fact that in 2008 systems in the US carried 10.7 billion passengers, their busiest year since 1956."
Danger Room - Wired Blogs: "On Monday, the Office of Naval Research awarded contracts to both Raytheon and Boeing worth an initial $6.9 million each for preliminary design work on a new free electron laser, or FEL. This model would be about seven times strong than any similar laser -- reaching up to 100 kilowatts, or weapons-grade. Eventually, that could pave the way for a directed-energy weapon that can replace the Navy's current system for close-in ship defense, the radar-guided Phalanx gun.
The Phalanx system -- which also protects against rocket and mortar attacks on land -- is limited by the range and magazine capacity of its 20mm autocannon. In theory, a laser-based system would offer greater range, and a potentially unlimited number of shots. Plus, it might be fast enough to defend against 'new, challenging threats, such as hyper-velocity cruise missiles,' as Boeing puts it. Directed energy is also an appealing option for countering rocket and mortar fire, because it could theoretically be used to defend populated areas."
Moscow News: "Defence workers turning militant By Anna Arutunyan Trouble is brewing in the factories that supply Russia's defence industry, with previously loyal unions staging protests over months of unpaid wages."
'The water level has gone down below 250 feet here. It used to be at 40 feet a few years ago,' Shatrughan Sahu, a villager in one of the districts, told Down To Earth magazine.
'Most of the farmers here are indebted and only God can save the ones who do not have a bore well.' Mr Sahu lives in a district that recorded 206 farmer suicides last year. Police records for the district add that many deaths occur due to debt and economic distress."
Emmert said he was 'offended' by the funding proposals coming out of Olympia. Across the nation -- including hard-off states such as California and Michigan -- no states are proposing such drastic cuts to higher education funding, he said.
Nationwide, Washington is ranked 30th in state funding for four-year institutions, Arkans said. After the proposed budget cuts -- using either the House's or Senate's budget proposals -- Washington would drop to a rank of 42nd.
'We're running out of adjectives and adverbs,' Emmert said. 'It's unprecedented in the state's history. What's happening in the Senate and the House may be unprecedented in the States -- the United States -- in the post-war era.'
The budget cut is estimated to take 10,000 students per year out of the state's four-year university system. That means, Emmert said, that Washington's major employers -- such as Boeing and Microsoft -- could end up recruiting more employees from other states.
'And our sons and daughters will be washing their cars,' he said.
The 100 or so people at the discussion nervously laughed.
'Now I'm not saying all of this to depress you,' Emmert told them later. 'I'm saying it -- maybe to make you mad.'"
The game of musical chairs at the newly-acquired Genentech has begun. And it's starting at the top.
Genentech CEO Arthur Levinson (photo) has been handed the role of chairman of a new board of directors, which will be drawn from Roche's executive ranks and also include outside directors. And Susan Desmond-Hellmann (photo), the highly-lauded president of development at Genentech and a key player in the advancement of a slate of cancer blockbusters, will stay on until the middle of the year and then hand over the assignment to someone else. She will take an advisory role and join Genentech's scientific resource board.
Richard Scheller, now the executive vice president with Genentech Research, will lead an independent center that will pursue the biotech's research and early development activities. Roche had said at the time it forged the $47 billion deal to buy the outstanding shares of Genentech that it would keep that work separate from Roche's other development work.
Pascal Soriot has been named chief executive at Genentech North America, which will combine Roche Pharma North America and Genentech. Genentech CFO David Ebersman and Steve Juelsgaard, chief compliance officer, are leaving the company.
Investors have been paying close attention to Roche"
NigerianNews::Nigerian News Portal; Unbridled and UnAfraid: "Pray for govt to be courageous, Yar’Adua tells Christians PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua, has urged Nigerian Christians to pray for him to have the wisdom and courage to take necessary decisions as the president of a nation which faces several challenges of nationhood. Vanguard"
Gmail - UCSF rises to second among top universities in NIH funding - UCSF News Office - Sent Using Google Toolbar - stephenm.schwartz@gmail.com: "The UW has historically been second only to Hopkins and first among state schools. While competition is not a great way of measuring success, it is interesting that UCSF and U Michigan are both state schools in States with bigger financial problems than ours. UCSF and U Mich. have strong records of receiving state support. The contributions of biotech to the economies of the Bay Area, Ann Arbor, Boston, and Pennsylvania argue that the long term failure of the State of Washington will have serious financial consequences for the state as a whole.
According to data posted by the NIH (http://report.nih.gov/award/trends/findorg.cfm), the top five recipients of its 2008 research funding were as follows.
Overall institutions: 1) Johns Hopkins University ($575.9 million) 2) UCSF ($444.3 million) 3) University of Pennsylvania ($437.1 million) 4) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor ($423.2 million) 5) University of Washington ($391.2 million)."
Danger Room - Wired Blogs: "Pirates Beware: Next-Gen Snipers Could Get Guided Bullets, Super Scopes By Noah ShachtmanEmailApril 13, 2009 | 11:04:00 AM"
This is another example, along with the stealth B2 robot, of a technology that can change things across the board and not necessarily in the US interests. Smart bullets are not going to be easy to contain within US hands. Moreover, imagine these under control of a predator plane!
Push for yuan greatness: "Push for yuan greatness BEIJING - CHINA is pushing aggressively for the wider use of its currency abroad, but it will likely take decades before it assumes a truly global role and challenges the US dollar, analysts say.
The drive has seen a series of currency swap agreements in the past few months, while public criticism of the dollar-based global system by the central bank governor has given China's recent actions a more ambitious-looking edge."
As a first step for the yuan, China since December has signed six currency swap contracts totalling 650 billion yuan (96 billion dollars), with Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Belarus, Indonesia and Argentina.
The agreements make it possible for overseas importers of Chinese goods to borrow yuan from their central banks, reducing their exposure to volatility in the US dollar.
Science News / African Pygmies May Be Older Than Thought: "Despite their diminutive size, African pygmies have taken a giant step back in time. A new genetic investigation indicates that common ancestors of these hunter-gatherers and their taller, farming neighbors diverged approximately 60,000 years ago."
This puts the pygmies at the origin o homo sapiens sapiens, about 60,000 years ago was the time speaking, worshiping, innovative man appeared. I wonder how the pygmy and the 'san relate to one another?
An 18th century drawing of Khoikhoi worshipping the moon - San people of South Africa
Tonight, for the first time in history, our First Lady will attend a Passover Seder in the white House with her two daughters, as the President honors the Jewish people. For the last week she has been electrifying Europe with her warmth and her fearlessness in showing that she cares. She is adored wherever she goes for one simple reason: She brings hope. The hope that the world can be a caring and compassionate place, and the hope anyone of any color or background can fulfill their dreams.
It brought tears to our eyes when the children at the school Michelle Obama visited in London jumped up and down and hugged and hugged her and she hugged them back. We could see in their faces that, because of her, they too felt they had a chance. Her charisma and confidence make others feel comfortable in her presence. Deb, being English, was delighted to finally see someone arm in arm with the Queen!
A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things that renew humanity. -Buddha
<see original for full comments about Michelle>
A person who gives freely is loved by all. It's hard to understand, but it is in giving that we gain strength. But there is a proper time and a proper way to give, and the person who understands this is strong and wise. By giving with a feeling of reverence for life, envy and anger are banished. A path to happiness is found. Like one who plants a sapling and in due course receives back shade, flowers, and fruit, so the results of giving bring joy. Through continuous acts of kindness the heart is strengthened by compassion and giving. -Buddha
When people speak badly of you, you should respond in this way: Keep a steady heart and don't reply with harsh words. Practice letting go of resentment and accept that the other's hostility is the spur to your understanding. Be kind, adopt a generous standpoint, treat your enemy as a friend, and suffuse all your world with affectionate thoughts, far-reaching and widespread, limitless and free from hate. Buddha"
What could be more appropriate for Passover? Last year BHO attended an informal Seder on the campaign trail organized by Eric Lesser, a special assistant to White House official David Axelrod. At the end, they wished each other "Next Year in the White House!."
And that came to be! The photograph has a lot of content. Barack is at the end, not the head of the table. How do I know this? The Seder was overseen by Eric Lesser and he is sitting in the center seat. I note that the Seder plate is not in front of BHO .. and that there in , in addition to the Obama girls, at least one young person at the other end of the table. I assume this person. rather than the President read the four questions!
There is more ... the cushions at each place, the portrait on the wall, the crystal chandelier, the friends gathered to celebrate freedom. I hope this is the first step in a new American tradition of sharing the best of all cultures.
Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel, Israeli News Source: "Egypt detains 15 over building rockets to smuggle to Gaza Egyptian authorities say they seized parts of 60 rockets from a Sinai workshop next to Gaza border."
The Elders of Zion, the venerable and shadowy Jewish organization that controls the international banking industry, news media and Hollywood, has announced that it is disbanding so that members can retire to Florida and live out their golden years on the golf course.
“We had a good run,” said one senior Elder, reminiscing over old photographs of world leaders in his musty, wood-paneled office at an undisclosed location. “Maybe we ran the world for just a little too long. Anyway, now it’s Obama’s problem.”
After a humiliating year left most of its financial holdings, as well as the entire civilized world, on the verge of collapse, the organization has re-defined its mission in terms of bridge games and making it to restaurants for the Early Bird Special.
BACKWARD ASSOCIATION
The Wild Bunch: The Elders of Zion, pictured here in younger, more rambunctious days, are hanging up their fezzes and heading south. Noted Morris (third from left), ‘The only thing I’m looking to dominate now is a Piña Colada.’
The announcement comes after a year in which many of the Elders’ most prized institutions suffered disheartening failures. The vaunted global banking system, which lay at the heart of Jewish world domination for almost two centuries, collapsed with astonishing rapidity, requiring trillions of dollars in bailout funds. The newspaper industry, through which the Elders have controlled world opinion, is in shambles, with prominent papers declaring bankruptcy and forcing millions of readers to form their own opinions. And, in the unkindest cut, Hollywood suffered the humiliation of losing the Oscar for Best Picture to Indian film “Slumdog Millionaire.”
The organization’s reputation for financial probity had also taken a hit amidst rumors of billions in losses in private Kalooki games against Sheikh Hamad bin ‘Isa of Bahrain. According to inside sources, the organization also lost close to $1 trillion with disgraced investor Bernard Madoff.
Even before this past year, though, the Elders were facing hard times as they struggled to stay relevant and attract young members. The organization has tried to project a more youthful image, setting up a Facebook page and founding a new “Hipsters of Zion” youth division, which has sponsored a number of singles nights. But youngsters haven’t been interested.
“World domination just doesn’t resonate with the younger generation of Jews,” said Marvin Tobman, a professor of non-profit management at San Diego State University and expert on Jewish communal life. “They want the fun of fixing the world, not the responsibility of running it.”
These recent troubles have worried even some of the Elders’ sharpest critics.
“I always used to complain that Jews ran the world,” said Reginald Weber, author of “Zionists and Zookeepers: The Unholy Alliance.” “But now I’m starting to worry that nobody’s in charge.”
We all know that an overwhelming majority of Americans now proudly call themselves socialists, so it should come as no surprise that one might find a few of these newly popular socialists in the House of Representatives. According to Representative Spencer Bachus of Alabama, 17 faithful socialists already serve in the House! He didn’t name names, but we can assume one’s rhymes with “Fancy Schmelosi.” [The Birmingham News]
Moscow News - Comment - The great paradigm shift: "The G20 meeting was a micromanaged success. Participants wisely signed up to a number of initial compromises to deal with the global financial crisis. Much more needs to be done, but there is at growing awareness that the financial order called the 'Washington consensus' has run its course.
The liberal Anglo-Saxon economic philosophy that has ruled the world for over 60 years is slowly, but very surely being put to rest. In London, the Americans and the British fought to keep government and international regulation of financial markets off the agenda. They failed. The writing is on the wall - unfettered Western-style capitalism is on the wane. The real winners in London were China, what is called 'Old Europe,' and actually most of the world."
By now most of you have heard about the potential need to increase tuition because of the severe cuts in our state support. I am writing to clarify why this may need to happen and to explain the potential impacts.
Nobody, certainly not me, likes to raise tuition. We support a significant increase only because of the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves. The proposed cuts to higher education in our state are enormous, ranging from 23 percent in the Senate’s proposal to 31 percent in the House’s. Reductions of this magnitude would eliminate 10,000 student openings across higher education in the state, while at the same time significantly increasing the time it takes for students to receive their degrees. Instead of graduating on time, students would have to stay—and pay tuition for—an extra quarter or two to get the classes they need to graduate. Moreover, without some partial relief, these cuts would greatly diminish the quality of the educational experience at the UW. There would be larger classes, fewer courses offered, and fewer support services available to students, including advising.
While we continue to argue aggressively for more state support, the fact is that our state faces a huge budget shortfall that makes some cuts necessary. We must consider larger tuition increases as one of the ways to reduce the damage these cuts would cause.
We support Governor Gregoire’s proposal for a 14 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduates during both years of the upcoming biennium. For next year, this would amount to about $875. Currently, the UW has the lowest tuition among our peers. An increase of $875 would not change that. For 2010-11, tuition would increase an additional $1,000. We have not made any decisions about graduate and professional school tuition or nonresident tuition.
While increasing costs during these tough times is regrettable, we are fortunate to have significantly increased financial aid to help thousands of students and their families manage these increases. Indeed, for many, their out-of-pocket costs will not go up at all, depending on a student’s annual household income. Our analysis shows that, with increased financial aid plus the expanded federal educational tax credit, students from households making less than $160,000 a year would not face additional out-of-pocket costs with a tuition increase of 14 percent in 2009-10. Families at the lowest income levels with taxes below $2,500 could actually receive a rebate of up to $1,000 with the expanded federal tuition tax credit. For 2010-11, our analysis shows that there would be no appreciable impact of an additional 14 percent tuition increase for families making less than $96,000 a year. This helpful chart illustrates how tuition increases would be offset for families at different annual income levels over the next two years.
We remain committed to the Husky Promise program, which guarantees zero tuition for our neediest students, those eligible for state need grants and Pell grants. Currently, twenty percent of resident undergraduates are Husky Promise students and pay no tuition.
If tuition were to increase as proposed, it would significantly mitigate the size of the budget cuts we face. The net effect, for example, of the increase in tuition and the Senate level cut of 23 percent would be an 11 percent overall reduction. That is still substantial and serious, but it is far more manageable than a cut of twice that size. Our over-arching goal is to make sure our students get what they pay for: a first-rate education at this great university.
Without a doubt, the most fun thing I've worked on in my five-plus years at PopSci is the Gray Matter column. Nearly every month since mid-2002, contributor Theo Gray has come up with new ways to illuminate the world of elemental chemistry, often by setting things on fire. But far from your average YouTube-loitering pyromaniac, Gray combines sharp, lively writing with a gifted professor's knack for making the complex simple.
Greece is on the brink of bankruptcy despite the fact that the global recession has yet to hit the country with full force. Strikes are paralyzing the country and the EU is putting on the pressure. But the government is still trying to put a positive spin on things. By Manfred Ertel more..."
That is a baby. The odd blob on his back? That's his brother, a nicely formed penis growing and thriving there. This is a case of fetus in fetu, in which a mass of cells, either an absorbed twin or a large teratoma (a surprisingly well differentiated, but abnormal, fragment of embryonic tissue), form a partial individual fused to a larger fetus. In this case, all that made it was a penis and what looks like some other adjoining tissues.
US President Barack Obama will celebrate Passover Thursday night with staff and friends in what is believed to be the first White House Seder attended by an American president.
Obama prays at the Western Wall on his visit to Israel. Photo: AP [file]
....
In his letter, Obama called the story of Jews' ascent from slavery to freedom in the Land of Israel as "among the most powerful stories of suffering and redemption in human history," accompanied by rituals and symbols that indicate "the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails."
He also said the holiday presented a message for all humankind. "As part of a larger global community, we all must work to ensure that our brothers and sisters of every race, religion, culture and nationality are free from bondage and repression, and are able to live in peace."
He concluded his letter with the traditional Hebrew greeting "chag sameach," or happy holiday.
Rabinowitz (Clinton Aide), "I'm only sorry that I won't be there to see the president and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel say at the same time, 'Once we were all slaves. Now we are all free.'"
Obama's seder - Haaretz - Israel News: "But only an Israeli government that seeks peace can convince the public that its order to the IDF to act was given free from ulterior motives. If Netanyahu's natural partner is Avigdor Lieberman, Obama is indicating that his natural partner is Tzipi Livni.
Very soon, in Netanyahu's visit to Washington and Obama's visit to Jerusalem, either a change will be imposed on Israeli policy, or a change will be imposed on the Israeli government."
A recruitment poster published in American Jewish magazines during WWI. Daughter of Zion (representing the Jewish people): Your Old New Land must have you! Join the Jewish regiment.
Politics, Political News - POLITICO.com: "Fighting cancer a win for both parties By MATTHEW DALLEK | 4/7/09 4:34 AM In an Ideas piece, Dallek says doubling federal cancer funding should be a bipartisan effort."
Bill Flanagan: In that song Chicago After Dark were you thinking about the new President?
Bob Dylan: Not really. It’s more about State Street and the wind off Lake Michigan and how sometimes we know people and we are no longer what we used to be to them. I was trying to go with some old time feeling that I had.
Science News: "Hobbit brain small, but organized for complex intelligence Evolution may have endowed a controversial species with small but humanlike brains equipped to support advanced thinking"
News From KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY of DPRK: "calendar>>April 5. 2009 Juche 98 Kim Jong Il Observes Launch of Satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 Pyongyang, April 5 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited the General Satellite Control and Command Centre to watch the process of launching the experimental communications satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 on Sunday.
He acquainted himself with the preparations made for the satellite launch.
After being briefed on the satellite launch, he observed the whole process of the satellite launch at the centre.
At 11:20 a.m. the satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, a shining product of self-reliance, soared into space by carrier rocket Unha-2. It was smoothly and accurately put into its orbit 9 minutes and 2 seconds after being completely separated from the carrier rocket.
Expressing great satisfaction over the fact that scientists and technicians of the DPRK successfully launched the satellite with their own wisdom and technology, he highly appreciated their feats and extended thanks to them."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
He's nearly 89 and his family claims he is seriously ill. But John Demjanjuk, the suspected concentration camp guard, will be sent to Germany from the United States on Sunday. His trial is meant to be held in Munich, but his son hopes the case won't get that far. By Cordula Meyer in Washington, DC more..."
A new law signed by President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan requires Shiite women to ask their husband's permission before leaving the home and forces them to have sexual intercourse. The West is outraged. By Matthias Gebauer and Shoib Najafizada more..."
Politics, Political News - POLITICO.com: "Franken puts Pawlenty in a jam By MANU RAJU | 4/2/09 8:44 AM The legal fight between Al Franken and Norm Coleman heads to the desk of Gov. Tim Pawlenty."
WASHINGTON (AFP) — A propaganda video by Islamic extremists in Somalia features appeals to foreign recruits from an 'American' fighter along with English rapping and songs, a US monitoring group said Tuesday."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
photo courtesy the internets↑ click to enlarge ↑The University of Washington can expect to hear from this child's lawyers.
Disaster struck the U District Monday, as a 6-foot, three-hundred-pound man-mouse hybrid escaped from containment at the University of Washington’s Comparative Genomics Center (CGC) and rampaged through the neighborhood, leaving a trail of terrified children and weirded out adults in its wake.
That said, I suggest there is a simple way to test the hypothesis that we can solve this.
Many of the part sof government have private counterparts. These include universities, colleges, prisons and hospitals.
In each of these cases studies have shown that the actual cost of services is far lower in the state run institutions than in the private sector. I suspect the same is true for the State Police.
Similarly, I suggest .. again for a start, that you sum up all direct payments, not admin costs, to children, mothers, etc.
Note how all this comes together
colleges prisons hospital welfare … al of these involve direct support to parts of our society.
So, take these budget items and add them up. For the moment, treat them as if they were necessary. If indeed there is no way that cutting costs in any of these sectors, then how much money is left in the “discretionary budget” where you believe there is a lot of fat?
I assume there other items NOT in the mandated budget (debt, federal, consitution) that we would bothe agree can nto be cut .. the Guv’s salary, heat and light for state buildings, slary for legislators … that probably are also unavoidable. BUT, even without correcting for these, I will buy you a beer at DL, a beer of your choice, if there is enough TOTAL money left in the sate budget to “pay” off this deficit.
Now suppose that I am right. Then we are back at Goldy’s argument. Cuts in hospitals, colleges and prisons have long term costs. In effect we are hurting folks today AND imposing increased costs on our children. Does that make sense?
I do not have the time to do the exercise, but if you do let me know how it comes out. If I am correct, then you do not need to pay me the beer . as you will have done the work.
Tragedies such as the drowning of hundreds of migrants in a storm off the coast of Libya this week will become more frequent unless Europe changes its approach towards illegal immigration from Africa, write German media commentators. more..."
China is usually content to keep in the background at diplomatic events. But, ahead of this week's G-20 summit in London, Beijing has been offering ideas for a radical shake up of the international financial system. Their primary concern: that inflation could wipe out the value of their foreign currency reserves By Andreas Lorenz in Beijing more..."
Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama met Wednesday on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in London and announced a new round of talks to reduce nuclear stockpiles. German commentators see a new dawn -- not just in US-Russian relations, but in the politics of nonproliferation. more..."
Europe's last Communist regime is looking increasingly shaky. The population in Moldova, which holds parliamentary elections this Sunday, wants reunification with Romania -- and the EU membership it would bring. By Uwe Klussmann in Moldova more..."
NigerianNews::Nigerian News Portal; Unbridled and UnAfraid: "Unified Matriculation Exam to Replace UME , MPCE The Universities Matricu-lation Examination (UME), to be conducted on Saturday, April 4, 2009, by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), may be the last of its kind as the Board plans to henceforth conduct one matriculation examination for admission into all tertiary institutions in the country, beginning from next year. ThisDay" .
Science News: "Louse-y genome surprise 3.30.09 - Blood-sucking body lice store mitochondrial DNA in 18 mini-chromosomes"
Mitochondria are the energy engines of our cells but they began as seperate organisms, bacteria, that invaded ancestral cells and brought this useful talent along. Now, it appears that invaders can become chomosomes.
Study coauthor Ewen Kirkness speculates that the multiple chromosomes may bump up genetic variation. “We see bits of genes being swapped between different circles,” says Kirkness, of the J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Md. This gene mingling may have allowed lice to quickly adapt when something new showed up on the menu: human blood.
Sounds like a horror movie ... Invasion of the Body Snatchers!
RealClearMarkets - Articles - First the Politicians Come After the Rich...: "Several years ago New Jersey attempted to solve its persistent budget problems with a tax increase on those making more than $500,000 a year. But since Jersey still has budget problems, Gov. Jon Corzine recently proposed targeting a new group for a major tax increase: households earning $150,000. In high-cost Jersey, where a construction worker married to a nurse might be a $150,000 a year household, about 15 percent of all families will see taxes rise under the governor’s new proposal to eliminate their property tax deductions. These folks already pay more than two-thirds of the state’s income taxes and that proportion is going up—maybe way up."
Politics, Political News - POLITICO.com: "Obama, the nation's CEO By MIKE ALLEN & JIM VANDEHEI | 3/31/09 5:26 PM He is the most powerful player in U.S. business today.
$11 million of the $36 million bridge is going to be paid for by federal stimulus, whereas the other 17.5 will be paid by Microsoft. In Microsoft's defense, they say that the bridge will be open to the public. On the other hand, who in the public is going to use a bridge that takes you from Microsoft's technical buildings to its retail buildings?"
Danger Room - Wired Blogs: "Street fighting erupted in Baghdad this weekend after the arrest of Adel Mashadani, a Sunni militia leader and key figure in the 'Awakening' movement. Now, for the first time, Mashadani's Awakening council is being disarmed and disbanded; U.S. and Iraqi officials 'are not going to allow it to re-form,' according to the New York Times. This has sparked a lot of concern about a great unraveling in Iraq, even as the Obama administration shifts its attention to Afghanistan."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO makes the comments at a think tank, saying that her varied experiences would be an asset if she were to pursue political office."
So here’s 
We all know that an 
