a "Stain on the Department of Justice"

The unfolding department Justice scandal sheds light on an ongoing pattern of placing ideological "purity" over qualifications for job hiring.

Bush appointees illegally interviewed prospective employees for the justice department to determine their beliefs on unrelated matters like abortion, gay rights and other "hot button" topics.

This pattern of "stacking the deck" with ideologues is a stated part of Karl Rove's blueprint for a "permanent Republican majority".

It's not just happening in the DOJ either. This month a gay community based non-profit I work with was initially denied IRS 501(c)3 status when an employee at the IRS wrote to us saying "though we wish to apply the law equally, why should the IRS recognize an organization that espouses immoral and possibly illegal behavior?" (we do safer-sex education) This has nothing to do with the agent's responsibility to vet weather we meet the qualifications, and everything to do with enforcing a right wing Christian worldview on the country.

Similarly - the Bush administration has stacked the immigration department with unqualified Regent law school* political hacks with little or no immigration law experience. Do you suppose that this has anything do do with the face that my sister in law, who is Taiwanese, has been waiting nearly four years for her green card?

As is standard administration practice, this is being passed off as mistakes by "senior aides", while the higher up's (Gonzalez et al.) refuse to testify; citing either "executive privilege" or first amendment rights against self incrimination.
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*Regent is Pat Robertson's law school - and a favorite source for unqualified political appointees of the Bush administration. Regent's stated mission is to bring Christian teachings to bear with the force of law in this country. For many years the graduates of this school couldn't pass the bar, presumably because they spent so much time studying the legal ramifications on parking regulations of Jesus' riding dinosaurs into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

Tall ships to make a comeback for freight?

How cool is this? A 108 year old British schooner, the Kathleen & May, docked in Penzance (cue singing pirates) with a cargo of French wine. The commentators are all very quick to point out that it travels at half the rate of a modern freighter, but the bonus is simple - zero carbon output!

It is fascinating to me how many of the solutions to our carbon problem will be found in the re-invention of 19 century technologies. Sail & Rail represent a huge environmental opportunity, particularly given potential increased efficiency due to computer control.

It could also help to promote an economy that favors local consumption, as slower shipping times will increase costs for goods from far away. (This is logical, and in the long run will be good for the planet as well as local economies.)

Batman Dog

No particular reason, just a cute dog sitting in a Batman chair at the Wellfleet flea market.

- Will

A Funny thing about New Englanders...

As a lot, New Englanders are known for their pragmatic skepticism and thrift.  I notice this a lot when I return here from California, the land of wanton excess in all things, particularly in excess.

The local bird-watching shop (The Birdwatcher’s General Store, in Orleans Massachusetts) carries bulk bird seed in big barrels.   You scoop and fill your own container with the seed. 

They have two bins for thistle seed, one marked “Fancy” and one marked “Plain”, and both cost exactly the same per pound.  There is a sign calling attention to the fact that they cost the same, and are in fact identical, but for the name. 

It’s a funny thing about New Englanders;  the “plain” bin is always half empty - and the “fancy” one virtually untouched. 

Ayeh... 

Ahhhh Provincetown

Just got into Provincetown for a week.   This is the harbor as seen from the porch on the room I'm renting.    Ahhhhh.... 

- Will

Right Wing Distortion of the Week

In response to Barrack Obama's recent off the cuff comment that - 

"“...it’s embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is ‘merci beaucoup!’” 

The right wingers went bonkers.  As is so often the case,  the nativist "English only" argument is a cover for ugly xenophobia and racism. Writing in the "Dakota Voice", a particularly cosmopolitan media oulet, Anton Kaiser (I'm not kidding!) distorts this - alleging Obama said - "We are now told that every American child should learn to speak Spanish."    Huh?   When did he say that?  *

The science is in on this - learning languages improves brain function, employability,  cognition and widens our understanding of the world around us.  This is a bad thing?  

It is embarrassing.  I am always secretly a little pleased when someone assumes that as an American I only speak English.  When I've been overseas and respond in Spanish, French or Italian they always have a double take moment when the ask if I am really American.

(In the sprit of full disclosure - I should say my French doesn't go much beyond Merci Boucoup...")

Hmmm... 

"are you really 'merican?" 

a bit like Anton  Kaiser... 

*  I notice that whenever someone says "we are now told"  this seem to be a cue that what follows is a gross distortion.  From a neuro-lingustic perspective "we are now told" implies reactivity. (I am acted upon, and thus must react aggressively.)  Along with the infamous "some say" It seem to be a favorite phrase on Fox news as a way to attribute things people never said to them.