January 28th, 2009
The Associated Press reports that the House bill, designed to delay the digital tv switchover failed to pass. Reuters reports it passed. I love it when that happens!
AP: “The House has defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12.”
Reuters: “The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill to delay the nationwide switch to digital television signals by about four months, the final step that virtually ensures final passage.”
But wait… there’s more. This just in from Reuters: “The House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to pass a bill to delay the nationwide switch to digital television signals by about four months.”
So - Did it fail? I hope so. Let’s keep our promise to the people and end analog TV in February.
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January 28th, 2009
While the Whitehouse, the Post, and the Times report on Geithner’s efforts to limit lobbying for bailout money, Politico notes Geithner has just hired a lobbiest as his Chief of Staff. I find myself scratching my head at this one. At the same time, I think it makes clear exactly how hard it is to reform the system. In Washington, lobbiest is sometimes little more than code for “partisan consultant.” Consultant can mean anything from legitimate consultant to “unemployed, but looking for gigs.” If we are to have change, the lobbying community will essentially have to become firewalled off. Once a lobbiest, one will need to leave the profession for a few years before being eligible to return to government. Right now, doing this might eliminate some of the best candidates for positions. However, if these rules continue, it will become part of the Washington Routine and folks will know - if I go lobby, I’m severely limiting my ability to take other jobs.
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January 27th, 2009
Given the economy, increased crime is to be expected. The Monitor writes about community patrols springing up in response. In my Baltimore neighborhood, both the Northwest Citizens Patrol and Shomrim keeps a watch on things. When well organized and managed, it can make a significant impact. Of course, I’m curious why we have two groups, rather than one.
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January 24th, 2009
When I think of polio, of think of my paternal grandfather, whose face had partial paralysis. It always made it easy to tell him apart from his twin brother. I don’t think of it as a problem of “my generation.” Imagine my surprise to hear that, lead by the Gates Foundation with $255 million dollars, an additional $635 million will be spent over the next five years towards its erradication. This is discussed in more length in the Washington Post and Newsweek.
Even in the U.S., we continue to struggle with “old diseases.” The Star Tribune writes this morning of a disease, HiB, re-emerging 15-20 years after vaccinations for children began here. Of course, as long as there are those who don’t vaccinate, we’ll continue to struggle to eradicate diseases.
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January 24th, 2009
We’re all quick to read about and discuss the latest smart phone or newest Apple laptop. As we look to the future, though, the real advances that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and change our lives are likely to be hidden to us. One such example is discussed by the Christian Science Monitor in a piece about a vineyard’s solar powered, wireless, soil monitoring network. As such networks come on line across the world, the amount of data available will be spectacular. Likely, questions such as climate change will be answerable much more quickly. Even more, questions we don’t even know about today are likely to arise.
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January 23rd, 2009
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January 23rd, 2009
A New York Times blog entry this morning reported that biodiesel was implicated in the stalling of school buses. It was later updated to suggest that perhaps its reporting was based on inaccurate information and that good old fashioned diesel was to blame. This has to make me wonder, have these transportation companies bothered to read up on the basics of diesel, specifically, biodiesel? Diesel fuel has always had low temperature issues. Biodiesel has low temperature issues that are much more significant. This is not, however, new information. It’s also not insurmountable. The Baltimore Biodiesel Co-Op runs 50/50 biodiesel / kerosene in the winter to deal with this. Certainly if B99 or B100 is going to be in pumps across the country, this is perhaps of interest. As long as only the educated can get it, they need to make sure to educate themselves.
Even more, given it sounds like biodiesel wasn’t even to blame, I am curious if anyone was even paying any attention to what they were putting in their busses.
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January 23rd, 2009
Unitarian Universalists have long said, “Deeds not creeds.” (If UU’s have any creed, that’s it). Apparently, according to the Christian Science Monitor, Iraqi voters are getting on the bandwagon.
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January 23rd, 2009
The Christian Science Monitor wrote yesterday re: the rebound of pickup sales. It seems to me that this is no great surprise given the incredible incentives (we’ve seen “buy one get one free” here, as well as $10k off, etc.) and the new, reasonable price of fuel. Personally, I think those who think Detroit should “make smaller cars” are missing the point. The cars that *really* sell well are cars like the Hybrid Escape: those that may not be the largest on the block, but are healthy in size, let people haul all the stuff they bought on credit, and don’t involve too much of a vehicular trade-off. As the auto makers figure out how to produce fuel efficient pickups, pickup sales will thrive at all gas prices.
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January 22nd, 2009
A number of news outlets are reporting Obama’s impromptu visit to the press room in the White House. I hope they’re able to contain themselves such that he can continue to visit. I think it will significantly enhance the relationship.
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