Comments Posted By Steve
Displaying 121 To 130 Of 177 Comments
ENJOYING THE ACADEMIC FREEDOM TO BE AN IDIOT
Svenghouli,
Here is an article on whole language learning. Frankly, if I ever have kids, I'm going to be making sure they learn phonics at home.
Comment Posted By Steve On 12.07.2006 @ 16:03
http://my.execpc.com/~presswis/phonics.html
Just a minor point, but the Twin Towers were hit by two 767 aircraft, much larger than 737s. They carry a lot more fuel, too, especially for a cross-country flight.
It always amazes me that people will lend an ear to conspiracy theorists who have no background in the science & engineering involved nor any direct access to the site to have performed anything resembling an investigation of facts.
One thing the conspiracy theorist cannot explain is the lack of leaks that might prove their point. Heck, there seem to be leaks on about every other secret effort on the War on Terror, why are all of the leakers and whistle blowers quiet on this one?
Comment Posted By Steve On 12.07.2006 @ 09:44
SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS MOST OF TEXAS GERRYMANDER
Drawing political boundaries is, by its very nature, a political act. We can either have elected representatives in charge of redistricting ie people we elcect and can hold repsonsible"[, or we can pass this dirty but necessary chore off to the courts or some other body of "enlightened beings". Which seems to be the preferred option for those who believe polticis is just "too corrupt". (thank you John McCain)
If you are a proponent of constitutional orginalism or Scalia like textualism, you have to applaud their observation about the frequency of re-districting. The Constitution requires seats in the US House to be re-apportioned between the states every ten years. It does not perscribe nor does it require states to follow any fixed schedule for drawing the boundaries of federal congressional districts. That is a matter addressed by state constitutions and statutes. State laws also control the re-districting process for state offices.
The Court has correctly opined that "what is not forbidden is permitted."
Practically, I don't think you will see this cause as much disruption as some predict. Getting a legislature to draw boundaries is a difficult and lengthy process, and in many cases it also involves the infamous "pre-clearance" of the US Justice Department as well as numerous law suits by interest groups who purport to represent "the people" or some group of otherwise perpetually aggrieved citizens. Politicians as a class (homo sapiens) tend to avoid pain, so while you may see an occasional spectacle. It's not very likely.
Comment Posted By Steve On 28.06.2006 @ 22:07
I would have thought all smart pr-war writers would be avoiding this story like the plague ...it just makes them look silly.
Blister agent even if it was active is NOT WMD it is an unconventional weapon
Pet peeve:
There is a difference between unconventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. Most chemical weapons are unconventional in that they are not common, but most are a lot less deadly than many "conventional" weapons. the blister agents in this story were never going to cause "Mass Destruction"
For example, the US daisy cutter bomb is conventional but is so powerful it causes a mushroom cloud. Net, it is a WMD.
OK, that's my nitpick for the day
Comment Posted By steve On 22.06.2006 @ 11:49
TALKING TO IRAN A NECESSARY EVIL
Hello to the 32% dumb enough to still come here! I'm thrilled to be back myself! Congratulations rick, this essay is even dumber than the ones I read last month. You never dissapoint! How about that attorney general of ours? He is doing a heckuva job as they say. Is our progress in Iraq going well for you guys? Looks like george has to talk to Iran now in an attempt to save face. What an idiot! May his impeachment be swift! It will be fun watching John Conyers head the proceedings. I look forward to it. So long men!
Comment Posted By steve On 31.05.2006 @ 13:18
ILLINOIS KID'S BLOGS MUZZLED BY SCHOOL DISTRICT
But they are doing it "for the children".
I've always been sceptical of the whole "code of conduct" thing. Sure we don't want our football players and cheerleaders to be drunken louts and smoking is not good for your health BUT...these are kids and they are going to do things that are dumb.
It's one thing to require obedience to some "code of conduct" while they are on school grounds or functions, but to control their off campus behavior is more creeping statist nonsense.
By the way, Fr. Render rings a bell with me. You wouldn't happen to be an alumni of a certain all male Catholic high school in Arlington Heights, IL? I don't remember any off campus underground paper, but I do distinctly remember trying to get rid of ties (which happened), allowing smoking on campus (boy were we coddled!) and wearing jeans (which also happened).
I was there from Jan of 71 to Jan of 73.
Comment Posted By Steve On 24.05.2006 @ 13:57
You may recall that Evelyn, Martha's assistant, and her daughter were staying in a motel room. Evelyn was wounded in the shoot-out with Henderson. JAck and Wayne left them to go to the bank and pick up the recording that Evelyn stored in a safe deposit box.
Evelyn started to lose blood and her daughter called 911, not knowing that emergency calls were being monitored by the bad guys. Henderson showed up just after the paramedics showed up and he took out the paramedics. Although we were spared seeing it, I'm assuming that Henderson eliminated Evelyn and her daughter once he learned where Jack and Wayne were heading. Henderson doesn't believe in loose ends.
You'll recall that Henderson's men showed up at the bank where another shoot-out occured.
Comment Posted By Steve On 16.05.2006 @ 15:04
Does anyone have any guesses about who survives next week's show? I'm guessing Henderson goes down in a blaze of patriotic glory. I'm also wondering if Audrey and/or Mike Novick will bow out. I'll be disappointed if Aaron doesn't survive.
I also wonder what Sec. Heller's role will be next week. We learned last week that he survived the leap over the cliff and we haven't seen him since. Maybe some last showdown with Logan. After all, the only people left alive who listened to the tape are Heller, Jack and Audrey.
Comment Posted By Steve On 16.05.2006 @ 14:13
Logan said there is a hitman that is going after Jack. I wonder if the hitman is someone we have already seen in a previous episode. Someone, will attempt to kill Jack at CTU headquarters./
One input: Audrey will be the assassin. Jack will take her out with a bullet to the forehead.
Hey! I can hope!
Comment Posted By Steve On 16.05.2006 @ 11:33
CIA VS. THE WHITE HOUSE: McCARTHY AND THE DC REVOLVING DOOR
I say give her the benefit of the doubt. In fact, make her a candidate for sainthood.
As a member of the IG staff she received a complaint from a concerned employee that some aspect(s) of the CIA's detention program(s) may be a violation of CIA rules or US law.
She investigates and for some reason(s) is persuaded the charge(s) are correct. Something is rotten in Denmark.
What does she do? Clearly she has to present her findings to her superiors. That would be the people who make final decisions, the CIA IG, maybe even Porter Goss himself. And because she works in the IG office she would be exposed to all the legal arguments of the question at issue.
Ultimately, someone above her pay grade makes the call. And it goes against her opinion.
What does she do? She is confronted by the classic ethical dilemma. Her moral compass points one way, her professional obligations point in the opposite direction. She can be a good solider, salute, shut up and march on; or she can choose the "harder right" and go resign for reasons of conscience.
Like most sinners (ie 99.99% of the population) she chooses the "safe" course of action. She provides the information to the press and continues to draw her salary.
Regardless of her motivations, she has violated her obligations to the American public. We exepect our employees who handle secrets to keep secrets secret.
Is that asking too much?
Comment Posted By Steve On 23.04.2006 @ 08:56
