Jan. 7th, 2005
(no subject)
Jan. 7th, 2005 10:20 amTsunami redraws navigational maps completely.
Water depths in parts of the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping channels off the coast of Sumatra, reached about 4,000 feet before last month's tsunami. Now, reports are coming in of just 100 feet - too dangerous for shipping, if proved true.
Thousands of navigational aides, such as buoys held in place by mushroom-shaped anchors, were carried off to new locations by 50-foot to 100-foot waves. Old shipwrecks marked on charts have been relocated, joined by new wrecks that will have to be salvaged, moved or charted.
But there might be a silver lining in the devastation.
"Maybe there's less pirates now," says Peter Doherty
Water depths in parts of the Straits of Malacca, one of the world's busiest shipping channels off the coast of Sumatra, reached about 4,000 feet before last month's tsunami. Now, reports are coming in of just 100 feet - too dangerous for shipping, if proved true.
Thousands of navigational aides, such as buoys held in place by mushroom-shaped anchors, were carried off to new locations by 50-foot to 100-foot waves. Old shipwrecks marked on charts have been relocated, joined by new wrecks that will have to be salvaged, moved or charted.
But there might be a silver lining in the devastation.
"Maybe there's less pirates now," says Peter Doherty
White House pays news commentator $240K US to support government policy.
The campaign, part of an effort to promote No Child Left Behind (NCLB), required commentator Armstrong Williams "to regularly comment on NCLB during the course of his broadcasts," and to interview Education Secretary Rod Paige for TV and radio spots that aired during the show in 2004.
Williams said Thursday he understands that critics could find the arrangement unethical, but "I wanted to do it because it's something I believe in."
The top Democrat on the House Education Committee, Rep. George Miller of California, called the contract "a very questionable use of taxpayers' money" that is "probably illegal."
"I respect Mr. Williams' statement that this is something he believes in," said Bob Steele, a media ethics expert at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies. "But I would suggest that his commitment to that belief is best exercised through his excellent professional work rather than through contractual obligations with outsiders who are, quite clearly, trying to influence content."
The contract may be illegal "because Congress has prohibited propaganda," or any sort of lobbying for programs funded by the government, said Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "And it's propaganda."
The campaign, part of an effort to promote No Child Left Behind (NCLB), required commentator Armstrong Williams "to regularly comment on NCLB during the course of his broadcasts," and to interview Education Secretary Rod Paige for TV and radio spots that aired during the show in 2004.
Williams said Thursday he understands that critics could find the arrangement unethical, but "I wanted to do it because it's something I believe in."
The top Democrat on the House Education Committee, Rep. George Miller of California, called the contract "a very questionable use of taxpayers' money" that is "probably illegal."
"I respect Mr. Williams' statement that this is something he believes in," said Bob Steele, a media ethics expert at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies. "But I would suggest that his commitment to that belief is best exercised through his excellent professional work rather than through contractual obligations with outsiders who are, quite clearly, trying to influence content."
The contract may be illegal "because Congress has prohibited propaganda," or any sort of lobbying for programs funded by the government, said Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "And it's propaganda."
Taken from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rimrunner
Jan. 7th, 2005 12:38 pmBlue Springs parents call for ouster of "The Giver" from reading lists.
The Giver is a novel by Lois Lowry. It's also one of the books I selected for the recommended reading list for schools begun by the Science Fiction Museum last summer. It's about a utopian world where almost all sources of difference, conflict, and confusion have been erased from people's perceptions in order to maintain peace. One person, called the Receiver, is the exception. His sole job is to contain all of humanity's earlier memories, in the event that the community encounters something outside its experience. He receives these memories from the Giver, and incidentally thereby experiences all of human suffering—so everyone else doesn't have to.
I give this summary (giving away some of the plot in the process) to explain why the parents' reasoning in this case is particularly ironic: "Everything presented to the kids should be positive or historical, not negative."
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I love the reasonings people give to ban books.
The Giver is a novel by Lois Lowry. It's also one of the books I selected for the recommended reading list for schools begun by the Science Fiction Museum last summer. It's about a utopian world where almost all sources of difference, conflict, and confusion have been erased from people's perceptions in order to maintain peace. One person, called the Receiver, is the exception. His sole job is to contain all of humanity's earlier memories, in the event that the community encounters something outside its experience. He receives these memories from the Giver, and incidentally thereby experiences all of human suffering—so everyone else doesn't have to.
I give this summary (giving away some of the plot in the process) to explain why the parents' reasoning in this case is particularly ironic: "Everything presented to the kids should be positive or historical, not negative."
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I love the reasonings people give to ban books.
(no subject)
Jan. 7th, 2005 03:10 pmRed Sox player won't give game-winning ball back to club.
Red Sox fans have seen the video over and over again. A ground ball to pitcher Keith Foulke. He tosses it underhand to backup first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who raises it high as Boston celebrates its first World Series championship in 86 years.
Mientkiewicz still hasn't let go of the ball. But now the Red Sox want it back.
Calling the ball, "my retirement fund," Mientkiewicz stored it in a safe deposit box. Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino said Thursday he's going to ask Mientkiewicz to return it to the team.
"We want it to be part of Red Sox archives or museums so it can be shared with the fans," Lucchino told The Boston Globe. "We would hope he would understand the historical nature of it."
Mientkiewicz seems to understand it very well, which is exactly why he held on to it.
Mientkiewicz couldn't be reached for comment Thursday by the Globe after Lucchino said the club wanted the ball back. But on Wednesday, he left no doubt that he believes the ball belongs to him.
"I know this ball has a lot of sentimental value," Mientkiewicz said. "I hope I don't have to use it for the money. It would be cool if we have kids someday to have it stay in our family for a long time. But I can be bought. I'm thinking, there's four years at Florida State for one of my kids. At least."
Red Sox fans have seen the video over and over again. A ground ball to pitcher Keith Foulke. He tosses it underhand to backup first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who raises it high as Boston celebrates its first World Series championship in 86 years.
Mientkiewicz still hasn't let go of the ball. But now the Red Sox want it back.
Calling the ball, "my retirement fund," Mientkiewicz stored it in a safe deposit box. Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino said Thursday he's going to ask Mientkiewicz to return it to the team.
"We want it to be part of Red Sox archives or museums so it can be shared with the fans," Lucchino told The Boston Globe. "We would hope he would understand the historical nature of it."
Mientkiewicz seems to understand it very well, which is exactly why he held on to it.
Mientkiewicz couldn't be reached for comment Thursday by the Globe after Lucchino said the club wanted the ball back. But on Wednesday, he left no doubt that he believes the ball belongs to him.
"I know this ball has a lot of sentimental value," Mientkiewicz said. "I hope I don't have to use it for the money. It would be cool if we have kids someday to have it stay in our family for a long time. But I can be bought. I'm thinking, there's four years at Florida State for one of my kids. At least."
Hackman is hard to follow, but he'll do.
Jan. 7th, 2005 03:59 pmIt's a bird! It's a plane! It's Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor!
It's... ALIVE!
Jan. 7th, 2005 08:59 pmOh, dear lord, my new toy has ACRES AND ACRES OF SCREEN SPACE AND IT'S ALL MINE!
Bwahahahahahaha!
Now I must simply beat all of its settings into submission.
And then I must play games.
OH GOD THE GAMES!
I am in love. I will not be speaking to any of you for a while, possibly not ever again. You must live with this.
Ooooh, I wonder how big I can make the icons?
Bwahahahahahaha!
Now I must simply beat all of its settings into submission.
And then I must play games.
OH GOD THE GAMES!
I am in love. I will not be speaking to any of you for a while, possibly not ever again. You must live with this.
Ooooh, I wonder how big I can make the icons?