The Rev. Chapin’s morning comics are particularly good today.
Archives for 2003
Shut the F— Up.
Sorry for the profanity, but I might as well post my real thoughts when I read this:
WASHINGTON – President Bush’s new $15 billion initiative to fight AIDS globally includes the largest amount ever, American or otherwise, devoted to treatment of those infected with the disease in the poor world, US officials said yesterday.
But activists said the proposal also suggests that the United States wants to act unilaterally and does not trust global coalitions.
In other news, lifeguards, vineyards, and MADD all lodged complaints when Bush walked on water and then turned water into wine.
Seriously, I am not trying to claim Bush is Christ-like or some sort of hero for this, because he isn’t. First, it is our money he is spending. Second, this is a drop in the bucket and LONG overdue. But for goodness sakes, is there anything you carping suckweasels won’t BITCH ABOUT?
*** Update ***
Jay Caruso feels the same way I do.
Computer Advice
My cat dumped a glass of cranberry juice in my new keyboard (along with on my crotch, ruining my new flannel pj’s and slippers). At any rate, the moisture did no damage, but now keys stick when I type (or try to). What can I do other than buy a new one? Can I jump in the shower with it for a second to get the stick out, and then use a hair dryer on it again? Or should I just say to hell with it?
Any help would be appreciated.
New Links
New Permalinks. Welcome Trojan Horseshoes and Occam’s Toothbrush.
Adios Arianna
Arianna Huffington has been canned from one of her gigs. Expect much bitching from the usual suspects about the ‘conservative media.’
A Plausible Explanation?
STEVE VERDON notices something I hadn’t — my traffic for this month has already surpassed its previous monthly high. This will no doubt disappoint some, who seemed to be hoping that InstaPundit had passed its peak.
Of course, traffic here won’t keep growing forever, and I wouldn’t be terribly surprised (or, for that matter, all that disappointed) to see it level off or even decline as the blogosphere grows. This is the Internet, and nothing is forever. (Which isn’t to say that I don’t enjoy disappointing those folks this time; I’m only human.)
It’s especially interesting, though, in light of this figure from this OJR piece, showing big-media traffic trends. What’s interesting is that they look a lot like mine, only with a few more zeros. I wouldn’t have guessed that.
I think there are several plausible explanations for the increase in traffic:
1.) More and more, internet access and use is becoming commonplace, and as people become more familiar (Glenn frequently notes the assimilation of mainstream writers into the blogworld) wit the internet and internet news sources, they become more frequent consumers. Four years ago, my father did not have a computer. Now we can not get him offline. This is not an isolated incident.
2.) The growth of the blogosphere as a source of opinion and in many cases a convenient portal for here-to-fore difficult to find information has whetted people’s appetites for news. It really is an addiction. Combined with the exhilaration of not having to rely on being spoon fed from traditional news sources, and this could explain part of the increase.
3.) These are uncertain and rocky times. The highest turn-outs in elections are when there is a contentious election of great importance or a pressing issue. Right now, with the perception of a horrible economy, the war on terrorism, and the unpleasantness in Iraq, it only makes sense that people would be looking to inform themselves. It only makes sense that people would engage in more information-seeking behaviors. That is one great benefit of an educated public.
There are other reasons, including the wider availability of internet access in the workplace (thus allowing for more time to be wasted surfing- always a better alternative to work), but those are the main ones. Sound off below if you have other ideas.
Unbelievable
The always outstanding TalkLeft points to a shocking outrage:
Miami’s last cocaine cowboy rode into the sunset last week.
Salvador Magluta, considered one of Miami’s most notorious narcotics dealers, was prosecuted in federal court for having witnesses murdered and for laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds. A federal judge then punished Magluta with a 205-year sentence. Magluta, 48, will live in prison till the day he dies.
But Magluta was never convicted of the homicides for which he was sentenced. A jury of his peers found Magluta not guilty of the murders, and guilty only of the nonviolent money-laundering charges — crimes that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. The jury’s verdict notwithstanding, the judge decided that Magluta was responsible for the homicides and sentenced him accordingly.
It is not racheting up the rhetoric, nor is it baseless hyperbole to state that the “War on Drugs” is one of the greatest threats our nation has ever encountered.