The Klein/Time Controversy

Ken AshfordRight Wing and Inept MediaLeave a Comment

In a nutshell: Joe Klein printed something in Time about the FISA bill that was clearly objectively wrong.  Rather than read the bill and report what it actually said, he transcribed what a Republican told him it says.  Klein originally wrote: Unfortunately, Speaker Nancy Pelosi quashed the House Intelligence Committee’s bipartisan effort and supported a Democratic bill that — Limbaugh … Read More

Mamihlapinatapai

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

Wikipedia: Mamihlapinatapai (sometimes misspelled mamihlapinatapei) is a word from the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego, listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the "most succinct word", and is considered one of the hardest words to translate. It describes a look shared by two people with each wishing that the other will initiate something that both desire but … Read More

Romney’s Bad Answer

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

Christian Science Monitor: I asked Mr. Romney whether he would consider including qualified Americans of the Islamic faith in his cabinet as advisers on national security matters, given his position that "jihadism" is the principal foreign policy threat facing America today. He answered, "…based on the numbers of American Muslims [as a percentage] in our population, I cannot see that … Read More

Greenpeace Whale-Naming

Ken AshfordEnvironment & Global Warming & EnergyLeave a Comment

When whales are rescued, they get tagged.  They also get a rather unimaginative name — something like "Willy" (from Free Willy). Greenpeace has a poll where you can name the next rescued whale. Most of the choices are very earthy and multicultural.  For example: Aiko – means ‘little love’ in Japanese Gana – means ‘song’ in Hindi Kigai – means … Read More

Journamalism

Ken AshfordRight Wing and Inept MediaLeave a Comment

Real journalists hate bloggers.  From today’s Washington Post: Citizen journalism is bringing folks, young and old, into the public square, giving voice to those who, in the pre-Internet era, may have felt voiceless. But some challenge the value of all this citizen involvement. Questions pop up. Is it really "journalism"? Are "they" really "journalists"? What’s the difference between citizen journalists … Read More

Alternate Universe Discovered

Ken AshfordScience & TechnologyLeave a Comment

This is the discovery from last summer: The universe has a huge hole in it that dwarfs anything else of its kind. The discovery caught astronomers by surprise. The hole is nearly a billion light-years across. It is not a black hole, which is a small sphere of densely packed matter. Rather, this one is mostly devoid of stars, gas … Read More

Domestic Dog Violence

Ken AshfordPersonalLeave a Comment

Bo, the big one, apparently decided he had had enough of the little one’s antics.  Arrow is now missing 1/3rd of his right ear.  He is bandaged for a couple of days, and has to wear a lampshade until Wednesday. Arrow doesn’t mind the missing ear part.  He minds that bandage a little.  But he really HATES the lampshade.  He … Read More

An Open Letter To Matthew Johnson, Managing Editor Of Madison’s Who’s Who

Ken AshfordPersonal1 Comment

Dear      , I start off my open letter with "Dear      ," for one reason: because that’s how you addressed me in your latest email, in which you notified me that I was "recently appointed as a biographical candidate" to represent my "industry" in Madison’s ("Not-To-Be-Confused-With-Marquis’s") Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, and to let me know that you … Read More

$78,100

Ken AshfordRandom MusingsLeave a Comment

That’s how much it would cost to buy the 12 gifts mentioned in The 12 Days of Christmas.  I’m willing to bet much of that is due to the five golden rings which, when you think about it, is unnecesssarily extravagent. By the way, that’s up 4% from last year.

Goalposts Moved When You Weren’t Looking

Ken AshfordIraq1 Comment

In Iraq: With American military successes outpacing political gains in Iraq, the Bush administration has lowered its expectation of quickly achieving major steps toward unifying the country, including passage of a long-stymied plan to share oil revenues and holding regional elections. Instead, administration officials say they are focusing their immediate efforts on several more limited but achievable goals in the … Read More

Light Blogging For A Few Days

Ken AshfordBloggingLeave a Comment

Okay, well.  It’s the day before Thanksgiving and everyone is gearing up to go to Grandma’s house, or to get up at zero o’clock so you can drag giant Shrek balloons down Manhattan, or to do things that will stay in Vegas, or to spend a few days of much needed down time before tech week (that’s me), or to … Read More